Texas Truck Accident Lawyers

Protecting Clients Injured in Commercial Truck Accidents

Big rigs are a common sight throughout Texas. Unfortunately, their presence on the road presents a risk to all other drivers. Due to their massive size and weight, when truck accidents occur, they often impact other motorists disproportionately, and the injuries suffered by the victims tend to be severe. If you or your family members have learned this firsthand through being involved in a semi-truck accident in Texas, you should seek legal advice from an experienced truck accident attorney who can help you recover financial compensation.

At the Law Office of Raul A. Guajardo, P.L.L.C., our skilled legal team is dedicated to providing injured truck accident victims with guidance through the legal process of pursuing damages. We understand how devastating commercial truck accidents can be for drivers and their passengers on the Texas roads and freeways, so we work hard to ensure the liable party pays for any losses incurred. If you want to learn if you’re entitled to fair compensation as you heal from your truck accident injuries, call our law firm for a free consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer.

What Injuries Do Truck Accident Victims Suffer?

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 400 commercial vehicle crashes occur in Hidalgo County each year, with many involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and other big rigs. These truck crashes result in as many as 10 deaths and hundreds of potentially serious injuries.

The large size of big rigs often serves to protect truck drivers during a crash. Unfortunately, this means it is often other motorists on the road who suffer the most serious harm. Attorney Raul Guajardo can help victims like this get the compensation they need to recover. As an experienced truck accident attorney, he represents clients who have suffered the following common truck accident injuries:

Soft tissue injuries, such as muscle or tendon strains, sprains, and tears
Dislocated joints and multiple bone fractures
Severe lacerations and burns due to contact with road surfaces or hot engine fluids and parts
Crush injuries, causing damage to vital organs, such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, stomach, and lungs
Back and neck injuries, including whiplash, fractured vertebrae, and spinal cord injuries
Head injuries, including concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Some of these severe injuries can lead to permanent disability, paralysis, or wrongful death. This is why it’s so important for truck accident victims to seek financial compensation to ensure they can pay for the medical treatment they’ll need, such as surgery, physical therapy, and medical devices.

Even victims whose truck accident injuries are expected to fully heal will face expensive medical expenses while recovering and should be entitled to compensation from the liable party as a result. If you or a family member suffered severe injuries in a Texas truck accident, call our law firm today to speak with a skilled truck accident attorney about your personal injury claim.

What Are the Different Types of Semi-Truck Crashes in Texas?

When a large truck suddenly collides with your vehicle, it’s common to feel caught off guard and confused about what just happened. Even after you leave the accident scene, you might not be aware of how the truck accident happened or what part of your car was struck. Your truck accident lawyer can likely provide you with this information after completing an investigation that includes accident reconstruction efforts. As you await that information, consider the most common types of tractor-trailer crashes and how they occur:

Jackknife accident: This type of crash occurs when the truck driver tries to stop too fast, causing the truck’s trailer to swing out to the side and become perpendicular to the cab
Rear-end collision: This can occur when the truck driver is tailgating or waits too long to start slowing down, colliding with the back of the car in front of them
Rollover accident: Taking a turn too sharply or too fast can cause a semi-truck to tip over and even roll several times, striking other cars in the process
Underride collision: When a passenger vehicle rear-ends or side-swipes a semi-truck, it could slide under the truck and become stuck there
Lost load accident: When cargo is not correctly loaded or secured on a truck, it can fall onto the road and be struck by other vehicles
Blind spot accident: If a truck driver changes lanes without seeing the smaller car traveling in their blind spot, they could collide with the side or front of the vehicle
Tire blowout: If one of the truck’s tires bursts on the road, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, causing them to veer into the next lane and strike one or more nearby cars
T-bone crash: When a truck driver fails to stop at a red light or stop sign, they could strike the side of the vehicle that has the right of way
Head-on collision: This is among the deadliest types of truck crashes since it involves the front of a truck colliding with the front of a passenger vehicle, usually due to one driver falling asleep behind the wheel or being too distracted to notice they’ve entered the lane of oncoming traffic

Any of these common types of truck crashes could have the potential to cause serious injuries or death for the drivers and passengers involved. Whether you’re curious to learn what type of crash you were in or already know and want to pursue damages, contact our truck accident law firm today. Our compassionate attorney can help you through the legal process of requesting compensation from the trucking company or other at-fault parties. Call us today for a free consultation.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Crashes?

Big-rig accidents are complex events, and numerous contributing factors are often involved. Identifying who can be held responsible when a crash occurs is key to getting the compensation to which you are entitled. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the most common causes of truck accidents include the following:

Reckless actions on the part of the truck driver, such as speeding, driving while distracted, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Lack of proper training by the employer, leading to truck driver errors
Poor truck maintenance, which can result in tire blowouts and brake failure
Improper loading practices, making rollovers more likely
Trucking company practices that make big-rig accidents more likely, such as requiring impossible schedules and not allowing drivers adequate breaks

Skilled truck accident attorneys have the legal knowledge and experience to discover the underlying cause of the crash after taking on your truck accident case. This step is required to move forward with pursuing damages that should include current and future lost wages and medical expenses, as well as compensation for the pain and suffering you endured. After all, you must know who and what caused the crash before your lawyer can begin negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company.

As an experienced South Texas truck accident attorney, Raul Guajardo can advise you on how to hold all liable parties accountable in your truck accident claim. This could include the truck driver, the trucking company they work for, the truck manufacturer, and more, depending on the cause of the truck collision. If you’re curious to find out who and what caused your truck accident in Texas, call our law firm to speak with a personal injury lawyer.

Who May Be Held Liable for Texas Truck Accidents?

While any car accident case can benefit from the legal guidance of experienced accident attorneys, it’s especially helpful to hire a lawyer after a truck accident. This is because the at-fault driver is usually not the only liable party due to the fact that they’re representing their employer while behind the wheel. This means the trucking company that employs them is also often considered legally at fault. There may be additional liable parties depending on the details of the truck accident.

Experienced truck accident attorneys know how to identify potential liable parties, which can include:

The truck driver: If there is evidence the truck driver was speeding, driving recklessly, or driving while distracted, drowsy, or impaired, they may be held liable in your truck accident claim
Trucking company: If the trucking company encouraged the truck driver to speed, ignore traffic laws, or drive while tired, they could be partially liable for the crash. The same is true if they failed to properly train a driver or did not adequately maintain their trucks, resulting in a truck accident
Cargo loader: If the truck accident was caused by improperly loaded cargo, the person or company in charge of loading and securing the cargo could be liable for any losses
Truck manufacturer: If there is evidence the truck accident was caused by a defective truck or truck part – such as the brakes or suspension – the manufacturer of the vehicle or part could be held liable in your truck accident claim
Poor truck maintenance: If the trucking company hired a mechanic to inspect and repair their trucks, and that party failed to perform this job, they could be considered a liable party
Government agencies: If the truck accident investigation finds that poor road conditions led to the crash, the government agency responsible for maintaining the roads could be blamed. Some examples of poor road conditions include missing or hidden signs, broken traffic lights, and uncleared snow or debris in the road, all of which can pose a hazard to drivers

Most Texas truck accident cases involve one or more of these liable parties. If you’re interested in learning which ones your truck accident claim will involve, it’s time to contact our truck accident law firm to begin the investigation. Our skilled legal team is well-versed in the intricacies of the commercial trucking industry and can therefore handle truck accident cases of all kinds.

Once you complete your free consultation at our Texas truck accident law firm and we have a complete understanding of your case, you can count on our trusted truck accident lawyer to work hard to get you the maximum compensation. After all, we understand that accidents involving large trucks are often devastating and painful for victims and their families. If you’re seeking financial relief during your recovery so you can pay for your medical expenses, car repairs, and more, we’re here for you. Contact our truck accident law firm to schedule a free consultation with a caring truck accident lawyer today.

What Compensation Can You Collect After a Big-Rig Accident in Texas?

As you recover from an auto accident involving a large commercial vehicle, you can expect to get bills for the medical care and car repairs you needed directly after the crash. During this time, you’ll likely be unable to work due to serious injuries, which means your income will be lower than it was before the collision. That’s why you should consider pursuing financial compensation from the at-fault party.

While getting a settlement check won’t take away your injuries and car damage, it can ensure you’re able to afford the treatment and repairs you’ll need to fully recover from the crash over time. If knowing you can pay your upcoming bills will let you breathe a sigh of relief during the healing process, it’s time to talk to truck accident attorneys about seeking compensation.

The damages you can get from your truck accident case will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the total cost of the bills related to the crash, and the overall impact on your life. Your truck accident lawyer will let you know what economic, non-economic, and punitive damages you should expect from your truck accident case once they understand the specific details. In general, the most common damages truck accident attorneys can help injured victims collect include:

Medical bills for your medical care immediately after the truck accident
Future medical bills for ongoing treatment, such as surgery, medication, and physical therapy
Property damage so you can repair your vehicle damage or buy a new car
Lost wages for the time you took off work to heal from your injuries
Loss of future earning capacity if your injuries leave you unable to return to work
Pain and suffering
Disfigurement
Mental anguish
Emotional distress

These are the most common damages most truck accident victims qualify for when making personal injury claims. If you lost a close family member in a serious truck accident, you should contact a Texas truck accident law firm for help initiating a wrongful death claim. This type of legal action allows you to collect compensation for the costs associated with your loved one’s sudden death, such as funeral and burial costs, hospital bills, and the loss of their income. You might also be able to request financial damages for the loss of companionship, loss of support, lost inheritance, and more.

Whether you plan to initiate a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the at-fault party, you should schedule a free consultation with a trusted truck accident lawyer who can carefully review the circumstances of your car accident before determining which damages you’re entitled to. At that point, they will communicate with the liable party’s insurance company to get you the fair compensation you deserve. If necessary, they’ll initiate a truck accident lawsuit against the at-fault party, whether it’s a trucking company, truck driver, or any other individual or company in the trucking industry. Call our Texas law firm today to learn more about how a truck accident lawsuit can help you after a tragic truck crash.

How Can Texas Truck Accident Lawyers Help You?

When 18-wheeler and big-rig accidents occur, injured victims and their families can benefit from legal support and compassion from caring truck accident attorneys. After all, the aftermath of a devastating truck accident often involves painful injuries, expensive bills, and concerns about who should be financially responsible for ongoing costs. If you’re worried about how to pay for car repairs, future medical costs, and more, call the Law Office of Raul A. Guajardo, P.L.L.C. for legal guidance.

When you hire our truck accident law firm for legal representation, you can rest assured that Attorney Raul Guajardo will act as a strong legal advocate on your side. Our team knows what type of evidence to collect from the accident scene to prove that the professional truck driver, trucking company, or other parties should be held liable for the crash. We’ll request and review everything from truck driver logs and test results to photo and video evidence to find out if the driver or trucking company ignored federal trucking regulations before the crash occurred.

Once we know what led to the truck accident, we’ll work on getting maximum compensation from the liable party’s insurance company so you can pay for any expenses associated with the crash. Our goal is to ensure you’re not dealing with debt due to an auto accident you did not cause. If you’re ready to seek the financial compensation you’re entitled to as you heal from your truck accident injuries, call our Edinburg truck accident attorney at 956-276-8819 to request a free consultation with our team.