Trusted Texas Truck Accident Attorney
Big rigs, tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers and semi-trucks
Have you been injured in an accident caused by a reckless truck driver? Get the Texas truck accident lawyers Texans trust. Get Tracey Fox & Walters. Our truck accident attorneys have extensive experience holding negligent truck drivers and trucking companies responsible for their actions.
A truck accident can be devastating. Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. And when they crash into a car or small truck, people often suffer severe injuries.
When you've been injured in a truck accident, we take action. Here are just a few of the results we've been able to get for clients:
- $2,000,000
Settlement for surviving family members of worker killed in a trucking accident
Attorneys' Fees & Expenses: $800,000.00 - $1,250,000
Settlement for student killed in truck accident
Attorneys' Fees & Expenses: $502,731.33 - $550,000
Settlement for a man who injured his back in a trucking accident
Attorneys' Fees & Expenses: $285,735.32
Each case is different. That's why we strongly encourage you to come in for a free case evaluation. One of our attorneys can review the details of your case, including the extent of your injuries and the conditions of the accident. Then we can help you determine the value of your case and seek compensation from the negligent party.
Both truck drivers and trucking companies are required by law to follow guidelines set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These guidelines cover how many hours a driver can stay on the road, drug and alcohol use, training and other aspects of trucking. If a driver or company is found to have violated one of these guidelines, it can help establish negligence in your case and increase the chances of getting maximum compensation for your injuries.
There are many different causes of truck accidents. Examples include:
- Trucker Was Distracted
- Truck Was Speeding
- Cargo Fell Off Truck
- Asleep-at-the-Wheel Trucker
- Truck Rear-Ended Car
- Hit Car While Passing/Illegal Maneuver
- Drunk/Drugged Truck Driver
- Truck Jackknifed
- Poor Road Conditions
Our attorneys are familiar with the legal complexities that often arise in accidents involving a large vehicle, including bus accidents.
It's important to get legal advice as soon as possible after your truck accident. There is a statute of limitations on filing injury claims in Texas. More importantly, it is crucial to gather evidence in the crash soon after it happens. Accident scenes get cleaned up, evidence gets lost, and witnesses can forget critical details as time goes by. When an experienced attorney is on your side, he or she can quickly gather evidence that helps prove negligence and strengthen your claim.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, don't delay. Contact us today and schedule a free case evaluation. If we take your case, you don't pay us a penny unless we win.
Truck drivers can become distracted while driving, just as car drivers do. Distracted driving is engaging in any activity that takes your attention away from the road. For example, a truck driver may be using an on-board computer, talking on a CB radio, changing the radio station or eating. He or she may be texting while driving, even though FMCSA rules prohibit drivers from doing this. Any one of these activities could take the driver's attention away from the road, leading to a serious accident.
Truck drivers spend many long hours driving, but that is no excuse for distracted driving. If you've been injured in a truck accident, we will look closely for signs that the driver was distracted. This many involve reading police reports, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence on our own.
Speeding is dangerous for all vehicles, but it is especially dangerous for big trucks. A truck that weighs up to 80,000 pounds takes much longer to bring to a complete stop. And when a big truck can't stop in time, collisions can result in severe injuries or death.
Even though it's against the law, truckers may speed to try to make a deadline or cover more miles each day. If you were injured in a truck accident, we will retrieve data from the truck's "black box" (also known as an electronic log system, electronic data recorder and electronic control module). This data includes the speed the truck was traveling just before the crash and can help us prove negligence on the part of the driver.
A large flatbed truck is driving down the highway. Suddenly, the cargo comes loose from the back and falls onto the road-and onto cars directly behind the truck. It's a terrifying situation that can lead to serious accidents and severe injuries.
How does this happen? All cargo on a truck must be properly loaded and secured per federal regulations. But regulations aren't always followed and mistakes are made. That is unacceptable. If you are injured in a truck accident involving cargo that came loose, we can conduct a thorough investigation of your accident. We will review paperwork and interview witnesses to look for any indication that the cargo was not properly loaded.
Drowsy driving is another factor in many truck accidents. Spending hours behind the wheel can get tiring. That is why the federal government created "Hours of Service" laws. Under these laws, truck drivers can only spend a certain number of hours on the road each day and each week. But drivers may break the law to get in more miles each day, or because they were given an unrealistic schedule by their company. This often leads to drowsy driving. And drowsy driving often results in slow reaction times and impaired judgment - and serious truck accidents.
If you've been injured in a truck accident caused by a driver asleep at the wheel, Tracey Fox & Walters will look for any evidence that the hours of service regulations were not followed. We will review all driver's logs, schedules, police reports and other evidence. If we find there was negligence, we will seek compensation for your injuries by holding the driver-and if appropriate, the trucking company-responsible.
When a large tractor-trailer rear ends a car, the damage can be extensive and the injuries severe. Though the driver of the truck that rear-ended another is generally considered to be at fault, the truck driver and trucking company may deny responsibility. They may even try to make it look like you were somehow to blame.
That's why you need an experienced attorney from a law firm that has been handling truck accidents for years. If you were injured after your car was rear-ended by a truck, we will look for evidence that the driver was speeding, distracted or driving too close to the car in front. We'll determine the compensation you are owed and will fight to get it, either through a negotiated settlement or in court.
Hit Car While Passing/Illegal Maneuver
Some truck accidents are caused when a truck is attempting to pass other vehicles. There are legal and practical considerations a truck driver needs to think about before passing. Even in situations where a truck driver is allowed to pass, extreme care needs to be taken. When a truck driver takes unnecessary risks, a crash can occur and people can get hurt.
Truck drivers are not allowed to pass at an intersection, in a "no passing" zone or in a construction zone. And when passing in situations that are allowed, a truck driver must use the proper signals, check blind spots and take extra care if visibility is limited due to weather. If you were injured in an accident by a passing truck, we will review all the evidence and look for signs that the driver was negligent.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is dangerous. Impaired drivers make poor decisions and have slower response times. When the impaired driver is behind the wheel of a large tractor-trailer traveling at high speeds, it is an even more dangerous situation. The driver's impairment can cause a serious accident in which people are hurt or killed.
Because it so dangerous, drivers of commercial trucks are held to a higher standard. A truck driver who has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .04 or above is considered legally impaired. If you were injured in a truck accident, we will investigate the crash and look for signs of driver impairment. In some cases, a police officer may have tested the driver for drugs and alcohol. In other cases, we may be able to prove that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Jackknifing can happen when a truck driver is traveling at a high rate of speed and brakes suddenly, causing the tractor-trailer to skid. Before the truck comes to a complete stop, the trailer can swing (or "jackknife") out. This is a very dangerous situation that can cause serious accidents and severe injuries.
If you've been injured in an accident involving a jackknifing truck, it's important to contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Proving negligence in a jackknifing accident can be difficult. One of our attorneys can investigate the accident and look for signs that the driver was negligent. For example, the driver may have been speeding, distracted or received poor training.
The risk of an accident increases when road conditions are poor. These poor conditions can be caused by road construction or inclement weather, such as rain or snow. But truck drivers, like all drivers, are expected to make adjustments to their driving when road conditions are poor. For example, by reducing their speed and increasing their following distance.
If you've been injured in an accident and the road conditions were poor, contact an experienced truck accident lawyer. The attorneys at Tracey Fox & Walters have extensive experience with truck accidents and know how to look for signs of negligence. If a driver or trucking company's negligence led to a crash, we can help you seek financial compensation related to your injuries.
Like tractor-trailers and other large vehicles, buses are difficult to maneuver and make wide turns. Bus drivers need additional training in order to safely operate these vehicles and are held to higher legal standards in order to protect their passengers and other motorists. When they don't meet those standards, devastating accidents can follow.
The Texas bus accident attorneys at Tracey Fox & Walters know how to get full and fair compensation in these cases. We represent motorists injured in collisions with buses as well as bus passengers injured in collisions with other vehicles. Whatever the circumstances of your accident, contact us today to seek financial compensation for your injuries. We'd be glad to meet with you for a free consultation.