Truck Accident Lawyer Katy, TX - 18 Wheeler Injury Attorney
Call an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney in Katy Texas
When you've been involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle the experience can be both frightening as well as harmful, resulting in physical and emotional injuries. Truck drivers have a tough job - it requires long hours, driving through all types of weather and all hours of the day and night, and being constantly alert of nearby vehicles. But there's no excuse for a trucking accident to be caused by negligence of the driver. Driving while distracted, drowsy, or under the influence are all negligent acts which can lead to terrible consequences for others on the roadways.
Serving the needs of injured victims and their families across Texas, Joe Stephens is considered one of the best truck accident lawyers in Katy. Having been selected every year as a Texas Super Lawyer, Joe Stephens is a name injury victims can trust to handle their cases with professionalism and expertise. He is well renowned as a very assertive and driven Katy car accident lawyer with a legendary reputation for obtaining large settlements for injury victims.
Types of Katy Commercial Truck Accidents We Handle:
Jackknife
Truck Rollovers
Tire Blowouts
Truck Driver DWI
Wide Turn
Blind Spot
Read End Collisions
Brake Failure
Underride
Lost Load
Head-on Collisions
T-Bone Collisions
Why Hire an Experienced Katy Truck Accident Lawyer?
It's the job of your Houston personal injury attorney to clearly prove negligence was at the heart of the accident which lead to your injuries and losses. Without an ample amount of evidence it will be difficult to convince a court of guilt and make any demands for compensation. The Stephens Law Firm will conduct an exhaustive investigation on your behalf to gather all the evidence necessary to present a strong case on your behalf.
We Gather All the Truck Wreck Evidence on Your Behalf
When you've been in an accident with a commercial truck, gathering evidence often isn't the first thought that comes to mind. In extreme cases injuries can be severe and lead to an incapacitated state. In such events it is up to your legal team to begin obtaining all evidence related to the accident including citations, photographs of the scene of the crash, transcripts of interviews, medical records and more.
Our Attorneys Handle the Commercial Truck Insurance Companies
Truck drivers and trucking companies usually carry multiple lines of commercial truck insurance to cover different aspects of the trucking company, the trailer, the truck, and the driver. There may also be insurance specific to the type of materials the truck is hauling. This makes truck wreck cases even more complicated than a typical car wreck.
As you can imagine, the trucking industry has it's own agents, adjusters, investigators and a team of defense lawyers at the ready to rebut any claims against their client. They often present damaged parties with settlement offers that are much lower than what they could be awarded had they hired an attorney.
Joe Wins Katy Truck Accident Lawsuits
When your case requires the skill and knowledge of a seasoned truck accident law firm, Joe Stephens is the first choice. Having tried over 100 verdict cases successfully in his 35+ years as an experienced personal injury lawyer in Katy Texas, he has a reputation for achieving results for his clients. Cases involving semi-truck collisions can be very complex and present difficulty proving wrong-doing between the truck driver and the trucking company. However Joe Stephens understands how to uncover and present the facts in each case effectively. If you or a loved one was involved in a wreck with a tractor trailer, you need a skilled 18-wheeler trucking accident attorneys in Katy Texas on your case. Call the Stephens Law Firm today!
Hire a Local 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney in Katy, TX
After a big truck collision, the first priority for injury victims is to seek out medical assistance and treatment. That is why it is so important to hire a trucking accident attorney who can expertly handle every detail of your case. Joe Stephens will hire the right experts to reconstruct the case while gathering evidence and witness testimony in support of your claim. He has over 35 years of experience providing exceptional legal services for truck accident victims throughout Houston and has written numerous articles related to the trucking industry.
Trucking Company Safety: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issues a set of guidelines in which commercial motor carriers must adhere. Each federal regulation is created for safety and to prevent a commercial vehicle accident. Whether a drivers neglect the 11 hour driving limit or work over 70 hours a week, any resulting trucking crash requires legal action to be taken against them.
Texas trucking accident statistics show driver fatigue is one of the leading types of trucking violations and has been found to be similar to driving with a blood alcohol level of .10, well above the legal limit. Operating a semi truck while tired is extremely dangerous and should not be the reason a motorist is injured or killed. That is why the FMCSR has created federal regulations on how long a driver can consecutively drive a semi truck and how long their rests need to be. If the driver ignores those guidelines and causes a commercial trucking accident, they must be held liable for their mistake. Truckers or trucking companies involved in an accident who have a record of violations may be subject to levies of punitive damage as well.
Not All Katy Truck Accident Lawyers Are the Same
Many of the attorneys that advertise themselves as "an experienced truck accident lawyer in Katy" have never stepped foot in a court room to litigate a commercial vehicle injury case. They don't know the first thing about truck crashes or how to properly investigate and handle your case. They just want you to contact them so they can make a referral fee for doing nothing more refer you to another attorney.
Joe actually works directly with 18 wheeler accident victims in Katy and all across Texas. He's handled numerous types of truck accident cases and he's one of the few Katy truck accident attorneys who is double board certified in injury trial law. Joe has appeared before the Texas supreme court on behalf of his clients and has won many landmark trials.
If You Were Injured in a Truck Crash, Call the Katy Attorney That Isn't Afraid to Go to Court
If you were in a car accident involving an 18 wheeler or other commercial truck, you need to contact our law offices immediately for a free consultation. If Joe is able to represent you as your lawyer, he will work to immediately stop the truck companies from stepping on your rights or hiding evidence. He will request a copy of the accident report, send a special investigator to the accident scene, get witness statements, handle the insurance adjuster calls, get your medial bills taken care of, and much more.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
KATY 18-WHEELER ACCIDENT LAWYERS
We've prepared the following Katy truck accident FAQs to help you understand the accident claim process when it involves an 18-wheeler trucking accident.
If you were involved in an 18 wheeler wreck it is important to call the police immediately, get all of the truck drivers information, seek treatment for any accident injuries incurred and contact a personal injury lawyer to see if you have a truck accident claim.
Truck accidents in Katy are different from accidents involving other motor vehicles because of the severity of the injuries sustained. Tractor trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds which creates more force and severe injuries when involved with another vehicle. Also, a large truck has large blind spots which prevent the driver from seeing if another vehicle is present. If you were injured in a truck accident, contact the 18-wheeler accident lawyers at the Stephens Law Firm today!
While each trucking accident is caused by its own unique situation, the most common causes of a semi truck accident in Katy Texas are:
- Driver error (i.e. speeding, reckless driving, unsafe lane change)
- Distracted driving or drunk driving
- Improperly maintained vehicles
- Negligent hiring or retention of drivers (i.e. unqualified drivers or truckers with a history of poor driving, substance abuse, or medical conditions that would prevent them from holding a CDL)
- Inadequate safety training
- Violations of cargo securement or vehicle weight regulations
- Violations of Hours-of-Service Rules (which limit on-duty and driving time)
- Defective parts
- Poor road conditions
All trucking accident claims are unique. The causes of trucking accidents, parties involved, legal issues, and related challenges all differ when it comes to recovering compensation. That is why it is impossible to make any broad statements about how much an 18-wheeler crash victim can recover. To determine the compensation you may be eligible to receive, it is important to seek the help of a skilled personal injury attorney.
Compensation will vary depending on your case since there are so many factors taken into account. Typical compensation that your lawyer will fight to recover consists of vehicle damages, medical expenses, funeral costs, pain and suffering, lost past and future income, and lost comfort, car and companionship.
Once a thorough investigation of your accident has been conducted, it is easier to identify who is responsible for your injuries. However, common parties that are liable for accidents include truck drivers, trucking companies, product manufacturers, and other vehicles and drivers. Each case is different and may include some or all of these parties.
You may still be able to recover damages under Texas truck injury laws if you were partially at fault. Most states use comparative negligence which means that the contribution of each party is evaluated. Under Texas proportionate comparative fault scheme, even a severely injured victim can be barred from recovering if they are found to be 51% or more at fault. If they fall under that threshold, their recovery can still be reduced in proportion to the degree of their fault. So, if you suffer $1 million in damages, and you are 40% at fault, your recovery will be limited to $400,000. If you are determined to have been 51% or more at fault for the accident, it will be difficult to recover any funds. Note that these rules do not determine your truck crash settlement, though the defense will consider it when making an offer. It's often less expensive for a trucking company to pay your full damages rather than incur the expenses of trial.
It depends on whether an employment relationship is established between the truck driver and the trucking company. If such a relationship is shown, the company can be held legally liable for the driver's negligence under a legal theory known as "respondeat superior". Establishing the liability of a company can become problematic when a truck driver is an independent contractor of the company. In such a situation, the key issue becomes the amount of supervising exercised by the company and whether negligent hiring was a factor in the accident. As a top truck lawyer in Katy, Joe Stephens will be able to determine the specifics of your case and let you know what your options are.
It is important to file a lawsuit as soon as possible while the incident is easily remembered and all evidence is available. These types of lawsuits are also subject to the statute of limitations which requires a person to take legal action within a specific time period or else the claim is barred. In Texas, the statute of limitations for bodily injury claims related to a person's recklessness or negligence is two years from the date of injury (or the date when the injury could have been reasonably discovered). In some cases, this period may be "tolled" because the victim had a legal disability, including being a minor at the time of the accident. In general, if both parties agree on the matter, then the time allotted for filing an accident lawsuit may be shortened or lengthened.
We can't start negotiating with the trucking company until you've finished your medical treatment for the injuries you sustained in the wreck. From that point forward, negotiations typically take between three and nine months. When you hire a well known 18-wheeler wreck lawyer, insurance companies usually want to settle instead of go to court. However, if the case goes to trial, it may take one to two years before the trial date, although we can still negotiate a settlement during that time. Most cases do settle out of court, but there is a chance your case could go to trial.
Yes, it is always a good idea after any type of wreck to notify the police and document the scene. The police report will be an important part of you insurance claims as well. Traffic enforcement will provide an impartial eye to what occurred and can provide emergency services or speak with witnesses to the accident.
It is possible to still have a case despite a mechanical failure. It is possible to have multiple factors that lead to an 18 wheeler accident and should be investigated. Mechanical failure could have been caused by worn tires, defective brakes, or inadequate safety systems which could have been prevented if the trucking company kept up proper maintenance. These are all examples of plausible causes in an 18 wheeler accident lawsuit. Call our accident law firm today if you've been injured.