San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents are often complicated, involving multiple parties, extensive injuries, and significant damages. An experienced truck accident lawyer in San Antonio can help you navigate these complex legal issues, creating a unique strategy to secure the compensation you deserve.

This can involve:

• Gathering all the evidence related to your claim: Relevant evidence for a truck accident claim includes medical records and expenses related to the accident, any records of the accident itself, insurance transactions and claims, expert witnesses and testimonies, and more.
• Pre-litigation research: Your truck accident lawyer in San Antonio will research all the relevant statutes, laws, and previous case laws to support your claim.
• Negotiating with insurance companies: The insurance company of the party (or parties) responsible for your accident will likely reach out to you and offer a settlement amount. This is usually an attempt to lowball you and persuade you to settle now for a quick payment, but you are usually entitled to much more. Your San Antonio semi-truck accident lawyer will handle all communications with insurance companies to ensure you don’t receive less than you deserve.
• Negotiating with the truck driver’s lawyers: Whether the truck driver has a lawyer or if the truck driver’s company provides them with an attorney, having your own lawyer who understands the legal process will significantly benefit you.
• Filing a complaint: If discussions do not lead to a successful settlement, a truck accident lawyer will draft and file a complaint in court. It will lay out the legal standards, the facts of your accident, and the amount of compensation you’re requesting for your injuries.
• Discovery: Once both parties file the initial complaints or answers, the parties will engage in discovery, which involves gathering evidence to argue your case in court.
• Trial: Your San Antonio truck accident lawyer will represent you in court, introducing evidence, direct and cross-examining witnesses, and presenting opening statements and closing arguments to persuade the jury you’re entitled to compensation.
• Appeal: If either party is dissatisfied with the trial verdict, you can appeal the decision and have it reevaluated by an appeals court. Your lawyer will be there to guide you every step of the way.

Most cases end up settling out of court, but it’s essential to have a knowledgeable San Antonio truck accident lawyer by your side to guide you through these potential scenarios and ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to.

Some of the most common truck accidents in San Antonio, Texas, include:

• Jackknife accidents: These occur when the truck driver breaks suddenly and the trailer swings out to the side of the truck at a 90-degree angle. A jackknife accident can cause a truck to overturn or roll over, which can lead to catastrophic injuries to the truck driver and others on the road.
• Head-on and rear-end collisions: Similar to regular car accidents, this accident is when a large truck collides with another vehicle either head-on or from behind. Both are extremely dangerous types of accidents.
• Blindspot accidents: Commercial trucks have large blind spots. These make truck drivers lose sight of other drivers or motorcyclists, which can cause accidents when switching lanes, at exits, or if another vehicle is following too closely.
• Underride accidents: One of the deadliest types of truck accidents, these occur when a truck stops quickly, and the car behind it gets stuck under the tractor-trailer. The top part of the smaller vehicle is usually ripped off.
• Tire blowouts: Tire blowouts are common with any vehicle. However, large commercial truck tires are especially susceptible to tire failure. If the tire erupts, the driver can easily lose control of the truck.
• Rollover accidents: In any situation where a truck driver loses control, the truck could potentially roll over, making the truck itself and any cargo that falls out a hazard to other drivers on the road.

While we’d love to be able to give you a precise figure, the compensation you’ll receive after your truck accident will depend on several factors, including who’s at fault and your total losses. However, truck accident settlements can be significant and typically comprise the following:

• Medical expenses: These include any costs associated with the accident, such as ambulance costs, hospital bills, surgery and medication expenses, and any rehabilitation or follow-up treatment you need after an accident.
• Lost wages: If you can’t work due to injuries the accident caused, you can receive compensation for the income you lost.
• Lost future income: If you know you can’t work or can no longer perform your usual job functions due to your injuries, you can seek compensation for the lost income you could have earned.
• Loss of consortium or companionship: If you lost a loved one and are filing a wrongful death suit, you can receive compensation for the loss of companionship or consortium.
• Pain and suffering: These expenses account for any physical or emotional damages or distress you incurred due to the accident.
• Property damage: If a truck accident caused damages to your vehicle or any of your belongings, you could recover the costs as part of your claim.

The length of time your truck accident lawsuit will take depends on how long any evidence-gathering or investigation procedures take, how many parties are liable, and how well negotiations go between parties. The severity of your injuries can also impact how long the process takes, as it’s wise to wait until you’ve recovered as much as possible so you can recover maximum damages. This avoids your condition potentially getting worse after you settle, after which point you won’t be able to claim additional compensation.

As a result, truck accident claims can take several years. While you always have the option to accept an early settlement offer, this will usually be less than what you’re entitled to and may not be enough to cover all your expenses.

The statute of limitations to file a San Antonio truck accident claim in Texas is two years from the accident date. However, two years fly by quickly, and evidence can be harder to gather the longer you leave taking action.

It’s always advisable to speak to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to find out where you stand and what your options are for recovering compensation.

While it can be tempting to accept an offer early on, especially if you have medical bills and can’t work, you should never sign any paperwork before running it past your San Antonio truck accident lawyer. The initial offer on the table is unlikely to cover the total expenses you will incur from your injuries. Our experienced attorneys can inform you of how much compensation you’re entitled to and postpone payment of your medical bills until you reach an agreement, so you’re not left struggling to make ends meet.

You do not need to hire a truck accident lawyer after an accident, but it’s highly recommended. Truck accident law is complex and can be difficult to navigate alone, especially if you’re recovering from severe injuries.

An experienced truck accident lawyer in San Antonio can gather evidence, conduct a full investigation into how the accident happened and who’s responsible, negotiate a settlement with multiple liable parties, and tap into their network of experts to secure testimony that supports your case.

Based on 2020 data from the National Safety Council (NSC), Texas takes the top spot when it comes to trucking accidents.

That year, 643 people were killed in large truck crashes in Texas, and the state leads by a considerable margin. California — in second place — saw 398 truck accident deaths, 245 less than Texas.

In terms of the percentage of trucks involved in fatal crashes, Wyoming takes the top spot with 19%. However, it’s important to put this into context — in this state, there were just 33 trucks in fatal crashes.

According to the NSC, in 2020, 107 thousand large trucks were involved in accidents resulting in injury. Of those, 4,842 trucks caused fatal accidents. While this is a 4% improvement compared to 2019, truck fatalities have notably increased by 33% since 2011. Actual fatalities totaled 4,965, up a staggering 31% since 2011. Of those, 71% of victims were occupants of other vehicles, with just 17% being truck occupants. The other 12% of fatalities comprised pedestrians and bicyclists.

Truck accidents are caused by any number of factors. Among the most common are:

• Driver fatigue — This is a common cause of accidents when a trucker violates Hours of Service regulations and is on the road for longer than legally allowed, whether because they choose to or feel pressured to do so by their employer.
• Distracted driving — Truckers are not immune to the same distractions as other motorists, such as texting while driving.
• Driving under the influence — Drivers may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving. Truckers may even take stimulants to stay awake for longer and combat driver fatigue.
• Unlicensed or untrained drivers — Trucking companies are required to ensure their drivers have proper training and the correct license for the type of truck they’re driving. If they fail to do so, they can be liable for any accidents that result.
• Overloaded trucks — Trucks have a strict weight limit. If a truck is overloaded — whether by the driver, the trucking company, or the cargo company — the cargo can come loose or tip the balance of the truck and cause an accident.
• Poorly maintained trucks — Trucks require regular maintenance to ensure they’re fit for the road. Multiple parties can be liable for a mechanical defect, including the manufacturer (if they were aware of the fault), a mechanic (if they spotted the fault and failed to fix it), and the trucking company (if they failed to arrange vehicle checks).