Victims of truck accidents may find it challenging to recover physically and emotionally from their losses. Financially, the process of claiming losses and receiving compensation seems simple, but it rarely is. Insurance companies are often aggressive in taking steps to minimize any compensation paid.
At The Doan Law Firm, an Amarillo truck accident lawyer is available to answer your questions and guide you on your legal rights. Let our experienced Texas truck accident lawyers seek maximum compensation for your losses.
The Importance of Selecting a Trusted Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents are complex. More than one party could be to blame, and insurance adjusters are notoriously less willing to make the process easy. Hiring a Texas truck accident attorney from our firm who is working on your behalf can change the outcome. There are several reasons why our clients come to us:
- We have helped other victims of truck accidents recover extensive damages. Having a proven track record helps us know how to hold those at fault responsible.
- Our attorneys fight aggressively. Most cases settle out of court, but with extensive trial experience, you know your lawyer is not going to give up because of the difficulties you are facing.
- You pay us nothing unless we win. Because we operate on a contingency basis, there is no risk to you. If you do not win your case, you do not pay any attorney fees to our firm.
There are many other reasons to turn to our truck accident lawyer, including founding attorney Jimmy Doan. We are passionate about helping victims, providing them with true compassionate support at a difficult time. You need an ally, and we have the experience that you want on your side.
The Severity of Truck Accidents Makes Filing a Claim Challenging
One of the reasons why we recommend working with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Amarillo is that the damages you have are likely significant. These trucks cause serious accidents that often require months or longer of recovery. Many of our victims struggle with receiving fair compensation because of the sheer impact of their losses. If you have any of the following injuries or losses, we strongly recommend working with an experienced truck accident attorney:
- Traumatic brain injuries, including cognitive function decline or severe concussions
- Spinal cord injuries with or without paralysis
- Broken bones, including complex fractures
- Loss of hearing
- Loss of vision
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement, including from burns, scars, and amputations
- Emotional trauma, including the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder
Any person who has extensive injuries that are not likely to recover fully, called catastrophic injuries, needs an experienced attorney to fight for them. Your recovery requires compensation to help with your ongoing medical and healthcare needs and to rebuild your life. Let us help you.
Why Truck Accidents Happen in Amarillo
Amarillo’s growing population has led to truck traffic not only along I-40 but throughout much of the city and surrounding areas. Trucks themselves are not dangerous unless they are driven unsafely or, as is often the case, not maintained. Understanding the cause of your injuries is very important to securing full and fair compensation. The following are some of the most common causes of truck accidents and who may be liable for them.
- Driver errors: Driver errors often stem from reckless vehicle operation, such as speeding, illegal lane changes, or following too closely. Drivers are responsible for how they operate and maintain control of their vehicles.
- Driver fatigue: Drivers are also responsible for having enough time off during and after shifts to ensure they are well-rested. The driver’s employer may also be responsible when federal Hours of Service laws are not met.
- Mechanical errors: Failure to maintain the vehicle could lead to injuries if it breaks down suddenly. Vehicle owners are responsible for maintaining a log of maintenance and repairs.
- Poorly loaded cargo: Third-party cargo companies that load trucks are held responsible when their mistakes cause injury, such as failing to secure cargo properly.
- Manufacturing defects: If a truck fails due to a poorly manufactured component or a defect in the truck’s design, the manufacturer could be held accountable.
With a thorough investigation, our truck accident attorney in Amarillo will work closely with you to determine who is responsible for your losses. Often, this is more than one party. We can then seek to claim any losses you have from all involved parties.
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Examples of Potential Damages You May Recover
Truck accident victims may seek fair compensation for any losses they have caused by the incident against the at-fault party. Your attorney’s job is to maximize your claim to ensure you are recovering all losses the law allows. Examples of some of the most common damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Ongoing healthcare or medical needs
- Lost wages from missed hours
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
- Disability
- Loss of quality of life
By reviewing all the evidence in your case, our legal team will build a comprehensive claim that outlines all aspects of your loss and the impact this incident has on your life. We can then require the insurance company to pay the loss you deserve. Our attorneys handle the entire negotiation process, and if necessary, we will file a lawsuit to ensure they take you seriously. Do not go to court without an attorney.
Critical Evidence We Seek to Build Your Amarillo Truck Accident Case
After a truck accident, your focus needs to be on recovering. While you focus on doing so, expect our Amarillo truck accident attorney to build your case and claim for you. To do so, we will seek as much evidence as possible, often far more than what you may be able to seek on your own. Some of the types of data we seek include:
- Black box data from the commercial truck
- Hours of service logs to determine if the driver had enough time off
- Witness statements demonstrating what happened prior to the accident
- Dash camera footage showing what the driver was doing before the accident
- Accident reconstruction tools that demonstrate what occurred and who is at fault
- Maintenance records demonstrating the vehicle was properly maintained
One of the reasons to work with our legal team is our extensive experience in obtaining these types of complex evidence. Because of our deep understanding of state and federal trucking regulations, we know what trucking companies must do to keep others safe. When they fail, we work hard to take action against them.
Who May Be at Fault in a Truck Accident
The data we collect often helps our Amarillo truck accident lawyer better understand all parties at fault, even if they are only partially at fault. This data can prove valuable because it may allow us to identify other parties that may owe you compensation for your losses beyond just the truck driver. Others that may be held accountable include:
- Truck drivers, especially for reckless operation, impairment, and aggressive driving
- Cargo loading companies if they fail to follow best practices for securing cargo
- Truck companies that hire truck drivers and sometimes own the vehicles themselves
- Maintenance crews who fail to properly maintain the vehicle
- Truck manufacturers, if they fail to ensure the vehicle’s safety in its design and function
Since your truck accident may include a significant amount of loss, we need to identify any third party that may have played a role in your accident. That gives you more opportunity to seek full compensation for all of your medical losses, pain and suffering, and implications to your life.
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What Happens If You Are Partially at Fault in a Truck Accident in Texas
In some situations, the insurance company may determine you are partially at fault for the accident. The state allows modified comparative negligence, which means you can still file a claim if you hold some responsibility in the case.
The court or insurance company will assign a specific percentage of fault attributed to you based on the mistakes made by each party. IF you are found to be 50% or less at fault, you can file a claim that is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you. If you are found to be 10% at fault, you can recover 90% of the losses you have.
However, if you are found to be 51% or higher at fault, you lose the opportunity to seek any compensation for your losses. Our Amarillo truck accident lawyer will work carefully to build an evidence-based case that limits any type of fault applied to your situation. We fight back to protect you from financial losses caused by unfair blame.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Amarillo Truck Accident Attorney Now
Put your future in our hands, and The Doan Law Firm will fight for your recovery and compensation for your losses. With the guidance of an Amarillo truck accident attorney with a proven, local reputation, you can feel confident moving your case forward with us. Set up a free consultation now. Talk to us about what you are facing. Then let us get to work building a strong case on your behalf.