San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer

San Antonio Truck Accident Attorney

The parts of the state near the West Texas oil fields and the Eagle Ford Shale formation are home to many trucks taking oil and supplies across our state. With increased truck traffic comes increased potential for accidents causing serious injury. If you have been hurt in one of these areas, the San Antonio truck accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C. will stick up for your rights.

Since 1994, The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C., has been standing up for the rights of Texas truck accident victims in San Antonio and West Texas. We have the resources and the guts to take on powerful opponents, such as trucking companies, in order to achieve a better future for innocent people who have been hurt as a result of negligence. To learn about your legal options during a free initial consultation, simply call us at 210-739-0626 or contact us online.

Common Kinds of Truck Accidents in San Antonio

Because of their large size and weight, commercial trucks are a serious risk to other drivers when sharing the state roadways. There can be a wide range of factors that can cause an accident involving these vehicles. Most commonly, these accidents are caused by overworked and fatigued drivers, the ignoring of safety regulations, and negligent or reckless behavior on the driver’s part, such as driving impaired by alcohol or drugs.

The most common kinds of truck accidents seen in San Antonio include the following:

• Rollovers: These accidents can occur when a truck driver loses control of their truck for reasons such as poor weather conditions, distracted driving, or trying to avoid animals or other roadway hazards, and the truck slides and rolls over onto its roof or side. This can also cause danger for any traffic if the truck lands in the lane of oncoming vehicles.
• Unsecured Freight: In cases where a truck’s load is not properly secured, the freight can fall from the bed of the truck, creating a situation for a potential multi-car pileup, or landing on vehicles beside the truck and causing severe damages.
• Underride Accidents: These kinds of accidents can occur when a vehicle collides with the trailer of a commercial truck, and that vehicle passes beneath the rig. This can often result in the most severe of crashes and can often cause death for the individuals in the vehicle.
• Blind Spot Accidents: Often, it can be difficult for the driver of a commercial truck to see the other vehicles on the road around them due to their own immense size. This can happen when the truck brakes, changes lanes, or turns. Truck drivers are trained to check their “no zones” first before making these moves to mitigate any chances of an accident. However, if the driver doesn’t check them, it can lead to devastating collisions.
• Jackknife Accidents: These accidents are typically due to slippery roads, the sudden stopping of a truck, or driving on steep inclines. In these situations, the trailer of the truck can swing out from the cab, often resulting in multi-car pileups.
• Rear-End Collisions: This kind of accident can occur when a smaller vehicle collides with the back end of a commercial truck. This typically happens due to driver inattention or sudden braking of the truck and can often result in extensive bodily injury and property damage.
• Head-On Collisions: These accidents occur when the front end of a smaller vehicle crashes into the front of an oncoming commercial truck. This often happens due to drifting into the lane of opposite traffic. These accidents are typically the most deadly or result in catastrophic injuries such as paralysis or traumatic brain damage.
• Intersection Accidents: Some of the most common kinds of accidents nationwide are those which take place at an intersection and are most often caused by failing to yield, failing to stop, poor weather, speeding, or tailgating.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident involving a large commercial truck, the San Antonio truck accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C. are here to help you seek the maximum compensation available in your claim.

The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C.: Fighting for You in a Truck Accident Claim

Truck accidents can be some of the most complex personal injury cases in Texas. They typically involve multiple vehicles, can cause extreme amounts of physical and emotional damage, and result in catastrophic injuries and death. When you find yourself standing in the aftermath of a San Antonio truck accident, contact an experienced attorney at The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C.

When you work with our skilled legal team, we can review your claim and begin an independent investigation into the accident. This investigation can help determine which party to hold liable for your injuries and can allow us to assign an accurate value to the amount of compensation we should seek in your claim. We can also assist you by taking the following actions:

• Gather and analyze all medical records pertaining to the case
• Assess all the damage and losses you have suffered, including lost wages and medical costs
• Determine the correct amount to pursue in your settlement
• Negotiate with involved parties on your behalf, such as the liable individuals, their legal teams, and the insurance companies
• Work to settle your claim
• Take your claim to courtroom litigation if necessary

While it is true that many of these claims will settle before court becomes necessary, we do have the resources needed to confidently fight the largest insurance companies on your behalf.

Causes Of Tractor-Trailer Wrecks

The sad truth is that most truck accidents are completely preventable. Common causes and contributing factors include:

• Drowsy drivers
• Distracted drivers
• Inadequate maintenance
• Improperly loaded cargo
• Defective truck parts
• Drunk or drugged driving

We thoroughly investigate 18-wheeler accidents to determine their causes and then pursue compensation from all available sources. These can include negligent drivers, trucking companies, parts manufacturers, and other parties associated with the trucking industry.

You can rely on our lawyers to handle all of your legal issues so you can keep your focus on recovering from your injuries and taking care of your family.

How Dangerous Are Truck Accidents?

For reasons that should be obvious, 18-wheeler accidents are more likely than other types of motor vehicle crashes to result in life-changing injuries, permanent disabilities or death.

Victims lucky enough to survive often suffer serious injuries that include:

• Traumatic brain injuries can impair cognitive functioning for years or a lifetime and are very expensive to treat.
• Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries can have consequences ranging from chronic pain to limited mobility and even paralysis. Victims may be unable to continue the work that they did before the accident or unable to work at all.
• Crushed limbs that greatly limit daily activities, independence and quality of life. Truck accidents that occur near oil fields or construction sites often result in career-ending injuries for these workers, who typically cannot continue doing their jobs with one or more missing limbs.
• Severe burn injuries are highly painful, life-threatening and disfiguring. They require years and dozens of surgeries to treat. They are especially likely to occur in pile-up crashes and jack-knife accidents because multiple vehicles are involved and it is difficult for emergency responders to reach individual victims quickly.
• Other injuries can include severe burns, road rash, broken or fractured bones, paralysis, concussions, amputations, and internal damage to organs or nerves.

Sadly, the difficulties do not end after receiving medical treatment. Victims and their families are often forced to fight with insurance companies that intentionally undervalue their claim and make quick, low-ball settlement offers. They don’t care about making victims whole – they care about their own bottom line.

Insurance companies may be powerful, but you don’t have to fight them alone. Instead, put our experienced attorneys in your corner. Our team is highly knowledgeable about the laws and regulations governing common carriers, and they use their knowledge and experience to forcefully negotiate higher settlements. If needed, they are fully prepared to take your case to trial.

Damages Available in a San Antonio Truck Accident

In a San Antonio truck accident, there are several damages you might be able to pursue depending on the details of the accident and the severity of the injuries or personal property damage you have sustained. Our firm can examine the details of your case and determine the amount of compensation you may be able to receive. The damages potentially available to be recovered can include the following:

• Medical Costs: Whether your injuries are minor or catastrophic in a truck accident, you have the right to seek compensation for any medical expenses. This can include costs for transportation, doctor’s visits, hospital stays, medical devices, medications, surgeries, therapies, or rehabilitation. It can also include compensation for any future anticipated medical costs related to your injuries.
• Property Damage: This form of compensation can include repairs for any damage done to your vehicle, repairs or replacements for any damaged items inside your vehicle or on your person such as a cell phone or laptop.
• Lost Wages: You may be able to seek compensation if your injuries have impacted your ability to work and bring in income, especially in cases where there are multiple individuals who are dependent on you, such as a spouse and children. You may also be able to pursue compensation for your job loss or the loss of any future income if you become permanently disabled due to your injuries.
• Pain and Suffering: In many cases, the victim of a trucking accident can be compensated for experiencing the traumatic event, as an accident can have a severely negative impact on the life of the victim. This can include compensation for things such as emotional or mental anguish, the loss of the enjoyment of life, and the loss of consortium.
• Wrongful Death: If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident in San Antonio, TX, you may be able to seek damages for things such as lost income, burial costs, or funeral expenses.
• Punitive Damages: In very rare cases, you may be awarded punitive damages if the defendant’s actions are determined to have been egregiously reckless or negligent, such as in cases of drunk driving. These damages are imposed upon the defendant to persuade them to never repeat their behavior.

FAQs

What to Do Following a Truck Accident in Texas?

If you have been involved in a truck accident in Texas, there are a few crucial steps you can take, if you are physically able, to safeguard both yourself and your future claim. First, move yourself to a place of safety, if possible, and contact the authorities. When the police arrive, it is important that you obtain a copy of their report. You will also want to exchange contact and insurance information with the driver of the truck.

What Is the Average Settlement for an 18-Wheeler Accident in Texas?

In Texas, it can be difficult to offer an exact number as to how much the average settlement for an 18-wheeler accident might amount to. This is because there are several factors that can play into these cases, each one having its own impact on the final cost. These factors can include the severity and nature of your injuries, if you have suffered a job loss, and the extent of any emotional trauma caused by the accident.

What Are Considered to Be Large Trucks in Texas?

In Texas, it is important to understand how trucks are classified in order to determine liability in accidents involving these large vehicles. Large trucks in the state of Texas can include box trucks, fire trucks, school buses, city transit buses, long-haul tractor trucks, and garbage trucks. Depending on the type of truck involved in your case, the attorneys can determine if any trucking requirements were violated and hold the party in violation responsible.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury in Texas?

In Texas, the statute of limitations on personal injury cases is normally two years. This can include truck accident claims. This means you have a certain timeline for bringing forward your claim for compensation. If you do not file a claim within this two-year period, you will most likely lose your chance of recovering the damages you suffered. This time period can either begin from the date of the accident or the date you discovered your injuries.

Speak To A Skilled Truck Accident Attorney For Free

A semi truck driven or maintained by a negligent individual or company is a weapon capable of causing serious injuries and death. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a truck accident, it is important to realize that you do not have to face an uncertain future alone. An experienced personal injury attorney in San Antonio can help you identify your rights and seek out justice. Our office has handled many trucking accidents in every corner of the State of Texas.

In San Antonio, Odessa, Lubbock, Abilene and surrounding areas, you can find the help you’re looking for by contacting The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C.. Contact us today for a free initial consultation. There will be no fee unless we recover compensation for you.