Houston Truck Accident Lawyer

Get an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer for Your Case!

Texas has more fatal truck accidents than any other state. The number of people hurt in collisions with commercial vehicles is also very high. Crashes between a car and a large truck almost always involve serious injury when at highway speeds. With a difference in weight between the car and semi, it’s no mystery who gets hurt.

Hurt in a commercial vehicle accident? Call our Houston truck accident attorneys at (281) 587-1111 and talk with an Undefeated Houston truck accident lawyer with more than three decades of experience. Our personal injury lawyers sue truck drivers and trucking companies and we win!

What to Do to Protect My Rights After Getting Hit by a Semi?

The most important thing you can do to protect your right is to hire the most experienced truck accident attorneys. It is challenging to act when severely injured or grieving from losing a loved one. Yet that is when you should hire the right personal injury lawyer.

Act to get the quality representation you deserve as early as possible. A truck accident injury or a wrongful death case can be like a war with the adjusters. They will fight tooth and nail to pay out as little as possible. And hire the best defense attorneys. A truck accident lawsuit is never easy or quick when maximizing your compensation.

Delay favors the trucking company. The sooner you act, the better. When your accident investigation begins early, the better for your case. Let our semi-truck accident attorneys prove your case. And be your spokesperson to get you the compensation you deserve.

Why Hire a Houston Truck Accident Attorney?

When you get hit by a commercial vehicle, it isn’t easy to know what you should do to protect your rights. Our Texas truck accident attorneys know how to maximize your settlement for spinal cord injuries or other severe injuries.

We have represented truck wreck victims in Houston and Texas for over three decades. Compensation for an accident with an 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle can vary greatly. Which Texas truck accident lawyer you hire matters.

Our founding Houston personal injury attorney is undefeated in commercial truck accident cases. And have countless multi-million-dollar results! Put our experienced truck accident attorney to work on your truck accident claim.

You need truck crash case experience.

You will need an experienced personal injury attorney who has won truck crash lawsuits for decades. Our personal injury attorneys in Houston, TX, are experts in helping truck accident victims get maximum compensation from trucking companies. Our semi-truck accident attorneys have won commercial truck accident lawsuits for over 35 years. We can help you too!

We know the trucking rules.

Retaining our experienced tractor-trailer accident attorneys is the right move. The law that applies to commercial drivers and federal motor carrier safety regulations contains hundreds of rules.

Contact our Houston truck accident lawyers early.

The sooner you contact our Houston truck accident lawyers, the better. We will fight for justice for you!

Investigate the Texas trucking injury lawyers you are considering hiring. Before signing paperwork with that firm. Find the most experienced and successful lawyer for your Houston truck injury case. Our experience and proven results speak for themselves.

What does a Houston truck accident attorney do?

Big rig accident fact-finding is more complicated than simply a car accident involving only drivers in their personal vehicles. It takes more time to get evidence and go through all the data related to a truck accident claim. Finding experienced trucking accident lawyers for a truck accident lawsuit is vital.

Here is what commercial truck accidents include:

Evaluate How Truck Accidents Happen?

The first thing most attorneys will look at is the accident. What led to the accident and, as a result, which driver is responsible for the incident? Look at the police report, assess camera footage, or consider witness statements.

Experienced Texas truck accident lawyers can obtain and evaluate the facts needed to prove your case.

Was the Condition of the Truck a Factor?

Big trucks require regular maintenance. Federal regulations cover maintaining the big trucks. Those regulations ensure that trucks remain in working order and that their drivers can safely use them out on the road.

A lawyer may look at the truck and the trailer. And the maintenance records kept by the company in determining who caused your accident. The attorney wants to know if the large commercial truck received the maintenance needed and if the vehicle played a part in the collision.

Did the Driver Violate Regulations?

In addition to mandating the maintenance required for big trucks, Federal law also sets driving hours. The rules limit the number of hours a driver can spend on the road each day and throughout a workweek.

What does the Computer or Black Box Crash Data say?

Many trucks, like airplanes, contain “black boxes” that help record information about the truck’s path. These black boxes or Event Data Recorders provide critical evidence after a severe accident.

Provide valuable information about the force in the crash, braking, and even evasive actions. Black box data can help determine the truck’s speed at the incident and verify data included in the driver’s logbook.

Our tractor-trailer collision attorneys have caught many drivers with false logbooks by cross-checking evidence.

Are the Cargo Records Consistent with the Logbooks?

In some accidents, a big truck’s cargo is looked at if it may have contributed to the wreck. Improperly loaded cargo can even cause an accident. Flatbed truck drivers must properly secure loads to prevent falling or shifting load accidents. Cargo that isn’t appropriately secured can pose a potential hazard. Shifting cargo can increase the risk of jackknife or rollover accidents.

Has the Trucking Company Complied with Hiring Requirements?

The trucking industry is notorious for putting inexperienced drivers behind the wheel. An 18-wheeler lawyer may want to look at the company’s hiring records. Questions asked to include:

*Did the trucking company screen the driver’s history before hiring?

*Was the driver qualified to drive?

*Did the driver have prior accidents?

These questions are part of a personal injury attorney’s review of the driver’s qualification files.

Will the Police Investigation be Adequate for My Claim?

With catastrophic injuries or wrongful death crashes, an officer will usually examine the scene. However, do not assume all the evidence you need will be obtained by the authorities.

Crucial evidence is not always included in the crash report or the police investigation. Often, it is after we file a personal injury lawsuit that we learn of regulation violations by the driver or his company.

Put our truck accident law firm in Houston in your corner. We have been winning truck accident cases for over thirty years.

What to Do at the Scene of a Semi-Truck Accident?

We suggest doing the following at the scene if you were hit by a large truck:
* Call the police if you are able
* Cooperate with the police officer
* Exchange Information with the other driver
* Identify witnesses
* Take photos or a video of the scene and vehicles
* If injured, report it to first responders
* If necessary, take the ambulance to the hospital

Call an Experienced Law Firm for a Collision with a Commercial Vehicle?

Our Houston truck accident lawyers have decades of experience getting top damages in tractor-trailer crash cases. We have protected Texan’s financial interests from an accident with a commercial vehicle for more than 35 years.

Talk with a truck accident lawyer by calling (281) 587-1111. Or fill out an online consultation request for a FREE consultation.

What Compensation Is Available for My Injuries?

Texas damages for truck accident victims can include the following:

* Reasonable and necessary medical expenses, both past and future
* Physical pain and mental anguish, both past, and future
* Lost earning capacity both past and future
* Physical Impairment
* Disability and Disfigurement
* Exemplary or punitive damages in some cases
* Wrongful death and survival damages.

The settlement value of a semi-truck crash will vary depending on the facts of your case. An 18-wheeler truck accident attorney at Baumgartner Law Firm will evaluate your case for free.

It costs nothing to have a skilled lawyer from Baumgartner Law Firm evaluate your damages from a large truck claim. We will advise you on protecting your rights and the next steps.

How Much are Truck Accident Settlements?

Compensation and settlements from a commercial vehicle accident will vary from case to case. Many fatal accidents or severe injury accidents bring multi-million-dollar results.

Each case is evaluated individually. We will be happy to assess your case.

We evaluate each case based on three factors in our decades of expertise in semi-truck accident personal injury claims. The three factors are 1. Liability 2. Damages, and 3. Ability to get paid

Other factors should also be considered when appropriate. Questions to ask when considering how much a case is worth:

• Are their enhanced liability facts? Things like multiple rules violations? Or drug or alcohol use?
• How bad did your car look after the crash? Was the vehicle repairable or a total loss?
• When was your first medical care? Were you admitted to the hospital? What was the extent of your medical care?
• Did you have any positive medical testing? Such as an MRI or CT scan?
• Did your injury require a specialist? Like an Orthopedic or a Neurologist?
• Did you require surgery?
• Do you expect future medical expenses from injuries caused by the crash?
• Where is the venue for a lawsuit?
• Who did you hire for your case?

Our truck accident attorneys have handled hundreds of big truck injury and wrongful death cases in Houston and across Texas.

Commercial vehicle collisions are valued higher than car-to-car accidents. The driver of a semi-truck must be professional and follow the safety rules. Violations of the safety rules are compelling evidence in Texas and can enhance your damages.

Jurors in Texas tend to look skeptically at professional drivers’ excuses after an 18-wheeler accident. Because a big rig can weigh 80,000 pounds, the impacts are usually severe and substantial injuries.

If the driver or company knowingly violated the regulations, your damages can reflect carelessness.

We have years of experience maximizing compensation after a severe injury or fatal truck wreck. Let our expert law firm help you!

Some of Our Recent Truck Accident Results

In over 35 years our truck accident attorneys have never lost a truck accident case.  We help families after a serious injury accident with a commercial vehicle.

Here are a few examples of some recent cases we have won:

• In one recent case, we represented a truck driver.  Our client died after he lost control of his semi and jackknifed across the roadway, killing two innocent people.

The family of the two victims filed a lawsuit against our client, and we sued our truck driver’s employer and the maintenance company.

After many depositions, we dug up safety violations of the trucking company. We recovered millions of dollars for the truck driver’s family. And got much more money than the other “truck accident attorneys” obtained for the two innocent people killed when our client jackknifed across the road.

• Another recent wrongful death truck accident case we won involved the defense attorney on-site in an hour.

The defense lawyer was able to speak with officers at the scene and document the crash with video and photographs. The trucking company denied liability and blamed our client for the accident.

Our experienced truck accident lawyers filed a lawsuit and obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement for the family before trial. The payment was a record -the highest ever paid by the trucking company—another example of our expertise in truck crash litigation paying off for our clients.

• We fought a trucking company after its driver jackknifed across the road, killing a wonderful woman.

Our law firm filed a lawsuit. And we took many depositions uncovering numerous safety violations including an unqualified truck driver.  The insurance company then paid our demand for a record multi-million-dollar settlement to avoid trial.

It was the largest settlement ever paid by the trucking company. The driver retired from commercial truck driving.

• We represented a woman who was hit while in the blind spot of a semi-truck. The company denied responsibility.

But once our 18-wheeler accident lawyers got hired, the case settled for a substantial sum before litigation. Our client was thrilled with the money she received. And she got the money less than 6 months after recovery.

• Our accident lawyers in Houston represented a young man with a brain injury from getting hit from the rear.

The initial offer by the insurance company was a joke. We filed a lawsuit. And won the case. Our client knew that he would not worry about medical care or money for the rest of his life.

We secured a multi-million-dollar settlement. The award was so large that the company demanded a confidentiality clause to prevent others from learning how much they had to pay our client.

How 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers Use the Safety Regulations?

Truck drivers and truck companies must follow safety laws. The rules are in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and adopted by the state of Texas. We have used these laws for decades to win cases against trucking companies. Here are some of the significant regulations we use in lawsuits:

What are the Hours of Service Rules?

One rule limits when a commercial vehicle driver can be behind the wheel or on the clock. The hours-of-service regulations for commercial drivers specify when a truck driver can drive.

The regulations require:
• 14-hour duty limit (minimum 10 hours of rest after 14 hours on duty)
• 11-hour driving limit (minimum 10 hours rest after 11 total driving hours)
• 60/70-hour duty limit

Proof of violations helps us make the company pay fair compensation to people injured. At Baumgartner Law Firm, we are skilled at finding law violations. Out Texas law firm reviews logbooks and even cell phone records and cross-references load to discover rules violations.

What is Required in Commercial Driver Training?

Truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license. Some trucking companies simply turn drivers loose on the highways to deliver the loads.

At the Baumgartner Law Firm, we believe that merely having a CDL is insufficient safety training. Extra training is necessary for a commercial driver operating a vehicle that can weigh 80,000 pounds.

Motor carriers must ensure that their drivers are adequately trained. And manage the safety of the drivers and vehicles. Ongoing safety training must be a part of all motor carrier operations. We have expertise in evaluating the safety programs of motor carriers.

What Inspections are Required of Truck Drivers?

Further, the Federal Regulations require truck drivers to check the semi-truck before beginning any trip. The truck driver must inspect:

Air Lines and compressor Brakes Fuel system Lights Steering Safety Equipment Axles Coupling devices Wheels and tires Numerous other equipment.

When the trip ends, the commercial vehicle driver must re-examine the truck. And each item is covered in their driver’s daily vehicle inspection reports. Not following safety regulations can cause accidents.

All dangerous conditions or defects must be in such reports. The driver must report it to the motor carrier before taking the big rig out on another trip.

Failure to inspect or act on inspections can be significant evidence of negligence.

What are the Recent Changes to Truck Accident Law in Texas?

Texas law regarding truck accident injury lawsuits has just changed. The changes now more than ever require you to get a lawyer with expertise in commercial vehicle accidents for your personal injury claim.

How Long Does a Truck Accident Case Take?

It is difficult to predict how long an 18-Wheeler settlement will take without knowing the cause of the truck crash. When liability is contested, the case will take longer. Semi collisions are more complex and involve more issues than a simple car wreck.

If responsibility is clear, cases that do not involve severe injury might be resolved as soon as six months after medical care is completed. But truck crashes involving severe injury or a fatality will take more time to maximize your compensation.

One to two years can be a general guideline for a serious injury or wrongful death case. But long depends on the lawyers, courts, and collision facts. The truth is the more money at stake, the longer your case will take.

Put the experienced lawyer at Baumgartner Law Firm to work on your injury accident.

Texas Fatal Truck Accident Statistics?

What are Common Causes of Trucking Crashes in Texas?

Several factors can cause severe trucking accidents on Texas roadways. Common causes and contributing factors of truck accidents include:

Truck Driver Fatigue?

Driver fatigue is a serious problem. Fatigue accounts for one-quarter of fatal and severe accidents each year. Most commercial truck drivers work under hectic and tight schedules that put them under immense pressure. Failure to deliver their consignments on time results in penalties from their employers.

Unreasonable schedules push most drivers to work for long hours. Without adequate sleep, the driver is much more likely to crash

Excess Speed and Following too Closely 

Speeding causes many severe crashes. Large trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds, about 20 times more than an average car. Speeding with such massive weight makes the trucks challenging to control or stop in traffic.

A big rig takes one-third longer to stop than a car or pickup. Add in speed, and the stopping problem for 18-wheelers gets worse. Truckers know they must allow more space between their truck and vehicles ahead.

Overloaded Cargo?

Truck overloading is not only a safety concern but also a cost concern. Commercial trucks must carry loads up to specific limits. An overloaded vehicle poses a safety risk.

Mechanical Defects 

Truck overloading is not only a safety concern but also a cost concern. Commercial trucks must carry loads up to specific limits. An overloaded vehicle poses a safety risk.

Truckers Under the Influence 

DWI accounts for up to 28 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. When a truck driver is drunk, the consequences can be devastating.

Alcohol or drug use by a CDL holder can lead to punitive damages after a commercial vehicle crash.

Who Can Be at Fault in a Trucking Accident?

Determining liability in trucking accidents is not as easy as it might first seem. Contact an experienced trucking accident attorney at Baumgartner Law Firm if you have been involved in a trucking accident. We have been recognized as among the best truck accident lawyers in Texas.

We will help investigate the crash and determine the fault party to be held liable for your injuries. Some of the possible parties to blame for trucking accidents include:

• The driver
• His employer – the trucking company
• A truck manufacturer
• A shipping or loading company
• Truck maintenance company
• A passenger vehicle driver

Talk with us about your accident with a commercial vehicle; the initial consultation is free and without obligation! Call (281) 587-1111 or request a consultation.

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

Texas imposes a two-year statute of limitation. For filing a lawsuit related to personal injuries in a car accident. It is crucial to keep in mind that the deadline clock starts ticking from the date of the accident. The sooner you make your claim, the better.

Never wait until the last minute to hire a truck accident attorney. Generally, the earlier you get an experienced law firm, the better.