Truck Accident Lawyers – Personal Injury Attorneys Dallas

Truck Accident Lawyers

While large commercial trucks fill highways, interstates, and other public roadways, transporting billions of dollars worth of goods across the country every day, our truck accident lawyers are all too aware of the serious threat these large vehicles can pose to other motorists on the road. Because of their considerable size, any accident involving an 18-wheeler or other large truck is often far more devastating in its consequences than a typical car accident would be, potentially leaving drivers with life-altering physical damages or worse.

Aside from the pain and suffering that may be caused by the injuries resulting from a truck accident, there are many other consequences with which accident victims may have to cope. Among other repercussions, these often include expensive medical bills from treatment for the injury, both in the immediate aftermath and later on if physical rehabilitation is necessary, as well as potentially substantial losses of income, either from time spent away from work recovering or permanently reduced earning potential. More on this website @ https://www.accident-lawyers-dallas.com/18-wheeler-accident-lawyer/

No one should have to pay for these types of consequences by themselves. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a truck accident that was caused by the reckless or negligent actions of someone else, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. Contact our car accident attorneys today to speak with a qualified legal professional about the details of your case. We make it our priority to fight aggressively to protect the rights and interests of our clients when they are going through such a situation.

Truck Accident Injuries

Truck accident injuries may be caused in a number of different ways. The most significant cause is typically the impact of the accident itself. However, there are other issues relating to truck accidents that may have the potential to cause serious physical harm to the accident’s victims, including fires that may occur as a result of fuel tank explosions and exacerbation of injuries due to the attempts of medics to remove injury victims from the scene of the accident.

The actual injuries which may occur as a result of an accident with a large commercial truck can vary significantly. However, some of the most common truck accident injuries include the following:

Severe contusions
Broken bones
Internal organ damage
Severe burns
Spinal cord injuries
Traumatic brain injury

The consequences that these and other types of injuries caused by a trucking accident can have a devastating effect on the lives of those who are affected. Whether you have suffered these or any other types of truck accident injuries, our team of experienced legal professionals may be able to help you fight for the justice you are seeking.

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If you or someone you know has suffered injuries in a truck accident caused by another person’s negligence, the responsible party should be the one to bear the burden of their actions. Contact our car accident lawyers today to discuss your case with an experienced member of our legal team and find out how we may be able to help you hold these individuals liable for their transgressions. More here on this website

Truck Accident Attorneys – Part Of the Research

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) requires diligence on the part of a trucking company, not only when it employs a driver, but also after he/she begins operating one of its vehicles. In previous entries, we have discussed mandatory pre-employment background checks which must be conducted by trucking companies.

Section 391.25 of the FMCSR requires as well that a trucking company conduct a review of each of its driver’s driving records for the preceding 12 months. A motor carrier must also obtain reports from each of its drivers with a list of all violations of motor vehicle traffic law and citations of which the driver had been convicted and/or forfeited a bond or collateral during the preceding 12 months. More information here

A trucking company must not only obtain such reports of employee/driver accidents or violations but must also analyze these reports to determine whether any of the violations are such that the driver must be disqualified from driving for a period of up to one year. As an example, a disqualifying offense would be driving a trucking rig while under the influence of alcohol.

In addition, a trucking company’s supervision obligations include the duty to monitor the actual hours being logged by its drivers to make sure that they are not operating their rigs more than is allowed by law. The failure to monitor driver logs can be grounds for liability against a trucking company, particularly in situations where a fatigued driver causes a collision.

Thus, among the many duties imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, a trucking company must diligently supervise all of the drivers in its employ, not only checking out their background thoroughly before employing them but also during the period of their employ, constantly monitoring their activities to make sure they are in compliance with all applicable safety regulations.

Failure to properly supervise a driver can be an independent basis for liability against a trucking company – as it should be.

The applicable regulation is reprinted below:

Background and character

§391.25 Annual inquiry and review of driving record. (a) Except as provided in subpart G of this part, each motor carrier shall, at least once every 12 months, make an inquiry to obtain the motor vehicle record of each driver it employs, covering at least the preceding 12 months, to the appropriate agency of every State in which the driver held a commercial motor vehicle operator’s license or permit during the time period.

(b) Except as provided in subpart G of this part, each motor carrier shall, at least once every 12 months, review the motor vehicle record of each driver it employs to determine whether that driver meets minimum requirements for safe driving or is disqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle pursuant to §391.15.
(b)(1) The motor carrier must consider any evidence that the driver has violated any applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in this subchapter or Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR chapter I, subchapter C).

(b)(2) The motor carrier must consider the driver’s accident record and any evidence that the driver has violated laws governing the operation of motor vehicles, and must give great weight to violations, such as speeding, reckless driving, and operating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, that indicates that the driver has exhibited a disregard for the safety of the public.

(c) Recordkeeping. (1) A copy of the motor vehicle record required by paragraph (a) of this section shall be maintained in the driver’s qualification file.

(c)(2) A note, including the name of the person who performed the review of the driving record required by paragraph (b) of this section and the date of such review, shall be maintained in the driver’s qualification file. More on this website
Credit:http://www.federalregister.gov/select-citation/2015/04/23/49-CFR-391.25

Personal Injury Law – Should You Represent Yourself

Any resident of Texas has the right to self-representation. So you may, if you so choose, handle everything by yourself after a car accident, from conducting your own crash investigation to finding and interviewing witnesses, to filing legal papers, to negotiating a settlement. You may be successful. You probably could change your own car’s oil, do all your own plumbing, and re-tile your own kitchen floor, too. However, you usually don’t. Not because you can’t, but because you will put more effort into it and the risk isn’t worth the reward.

Know Your Limitations

Lawyers are specialists not only in knowing the laws but in verifying contract verbiage. In the instance of winning a case or judgment, they will check your work to make sure it’s accurate and complete. If you add or subtract a word here or there is a legal contract, the entire award can be compromised. More here

In other words, being a clear victim of a car crash doesn’t automatically give you an upper hand. Being intelligent doesn’t give you an understanding of the appropriate verbiage in a well-written contract. And watching The Good Wife religiously doesn’t qualify you to argue a case in front of a judge or jury. If you make a mistake it can’t be undone and the consequences of doing all this yourself may haunt you for years to come.

Think Long-Term

You must carefully consider the potential outcome of the decision to represent yourself. In most cases, you’ll be at a serious disadvantage. The driver who caused the accident will certainly have hired lawyers – all of whom are well-trained professionals who understand the complex system. They will know how to negotiate and assume that you don’t. They know you have little understanding of how things are actually done and they may throw obstacles in your way. And at some point, even if you determine you need help, you may have done enough damage to your own case that it’s no longer salvageable. More info here

Penny-Wise and Pound-Foolish?

Anyone who represents him or herself in a court of law or in any other legal capacity is acting pro se, or ‘on one’s own behalf.’ Of course, situations exist where it may make sense to act as your own attorney – but not when you’re the victim of a bad car crash. If cash is tight, and you’re trying to conserve, this is one area where the money spent is well worth the reward.

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