Dickinson Truck Accident Lawyers

There are various causes of 18-wheeler accidents.  However, those that involve negligence commonly include:

• Truck driver fatigue
• Truck driver error
• Violations of Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules
• Excessive speed
• Failure to follow the rules of the road
• Failure to properly accommodate blind spots
• Brake failure or other mechanical failure
• Debris or articles on the road
• Tire failure or separation
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Unsecured cargo or freight shifting in the payload section
• Unsafe driving practices
• Inadequate safety inspections

Discover the main reasons behind 18-wheeler accidents – driver fatigue and truck defects. Faulty tires, brakes, lights, and more are common culprits in injury claims. Stay informed to stay safe on the road.

• Truck Rollovers—These frequently deadly accidents occur when a truck loses stability and veers out of control. Rollovers are often caused by tire blowouts, cargo overloading, or improper cargo storage.
• Jackknife Crashes—If a driver slams on the brakes or otherwise loses control of the trailer, its back end may swing around.  Therefore, forming a 90-degree angle known as a jackknife. This can cause serious damage to the truck itself and serious injury or death to drivers and passengers in oncoming traffic.
• Trailer Detachment—When a malfunctioning faulty hitch unexpectedly releases the trailer while the truck is in motion, collisions can be impossible to avoid.
• Drive Under/ Under Ride Accidents —Among the most fatal accidents involving large trucks, under-ride truck crashes occur.  This is when a smaller vehicle slides under the truck during a rear-end or T-bone collision.
• Wide Turn Accidents—Due to their sheer weight and size, tractor-trailers need to swing out wide when turning. Smaller vehicles can easily get sideswiped or squeezed between the truck and guardrail/highway embankment.
• Falling cargo—When overloaded or improperly secured, freight breaks free and falls out of the truck’s trailer, serious injury and death may occur.

Cases involving 18-wheeler accidents are highly intricate and vigorously defended due to the substantial costs involved. If you find yourself in an 18-wheeler accident, it’s crucial to reach out to an experienced Friendswood truck accident attorney. They can conduct a thorough investigation into potential causes and advocate for the maximum compensation that you’re entitled to receive.

Contact Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers today at(281) 645-5000 for a free and confidential consultation about your case. Our Dickinson truck accident lawyers serve clients throughout Texas, including Galveston, League City, and the Greater Houston area.

Types of Injuries Common in 18-Wheeler Crashes

If you or a loved one has been involved in an 18-wheeler accident, it’s vital to promptly seek legal representation. This is crucial to protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Moreover, early involvement enables your attorney to gather evidence and build a strong case on your behalf. Secure the compensation you’re entitled to for the catastrophic injuries sustained in an 18-wheeler accident. Rely on Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers for experienced representation. Don’t settle for less after a serious collision! We’re dedicated to advocating for comprehensive compensation for past, present, and future damages. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.

Some of the most common injuries we see include:

• Spinal cord injuries can range from neck and back injuries to crushed vertebrae.  As a result, causing damage to this vital nervous system network. Partial or complete paralysis can result from injuries to the spinal cord. Because this damage cannot be repaired, the resulting paralysis is permanent and may become progressively worse over time. Many patients with spinal cord trauma require specialized nursing care for the rest of their lives.
• For accident victims lucky enough to escape direct spinal cord injury, the forces typically present in a collision with an 18-wheeler can cause chronic back pain.  As a result, this may cause a misaligned vertebrae, trauma to the lower back, and fractured bones throughout the spinal column.
• Pelvic bone injuries are also common in all types of motor vehicle accidents due to the intense pressure on this area.  This is caused by seat belts, airbags, and other restraint devices.
• The weight and forward momentum of 18-wheeler trucks during an accident increases the likelihood that the 18-wheeler victim will require emergency amputation services upon arrival at the hospital. In some cases, accident victims may suffer loss of limbs or crushed bones at the scene of the car crash.  This is due to severe impact trauma. Immediate medical care is required in these situations to prevent death due to blood loss.
• Damage to the lungs and heart can result from broken ribs and the crushing weight of 18-wheeler trucks that can come to rest atop passenger vehicles. Surgery is usually required to repair the damage to the heart muscle and to restore proper function to injured lungs. However, the scar tissue that develops as these organs heal can result in permanent reductions in the lung capacity of accident victims.
• Head injuries caused by 18-wheeler accidents are usually quite severe and may involve fractures of the skull.  In addition, swelling of the tissues and connective membranes surrounding the brain due to severe impact at the time of the collision. Individuals affected by these injuries often experience memory loss, a decline in cognitive function, and, in some cases, loss of speech and language skills. Damage to the optic nerves or brain can also cause blindness.
• Injuries to the abdomen may require emergency sectioning of the small or large colon or reconstruction of the stomach to allow the digestive system to regain function. Many 18-wheeler victims who undergo these procedures experience lifelong difficulties that may reduce their ability to absorb nutrients and can restrict their food choices significantly.
• The damage caused to internal organs in a crash involving an 18-wheeler truck can be catastrophic and may require multiple surgeries to repair. Some patients may require transplants or medical treatment to replace the function of the liver or kidneys after an 18-wheeler accident.
• Internal bleeding is also common due to the severe trauma caused by the impact. It should also be noted that internal bleeding may not produce visible injuries or symptoms for days or weeks, which is one of the many reasons it is so important to obtain immediate medical treatment after a truck accident, even if you don’t appear to be hurt.
• Flying glass and metal parts can cause catastrophic damage to soft tissues and may require multiple plastic surgery procedures to return the accident victim to an acceptable state. In some cases, patients may be permanently scarred and may suffer social disadvantages due to their disfiguring injuries. Soft-tissue damage is another type of injury that may not produce immediate symptoms.
• Broken bones and damaged muscle tissue may require months of rehabilitation and treatment. Accident victims typically cannot work during this time and may incur significant medical bills, creating serious financial difficulties that can impact the rest of their lives.

After an 18-wheeler collision, it’s typical for the trucking company to send a representative to the scene to interact with victims, with the goal of protecting the company’s and driver’s interests. If you suffer injuries in an 18-wheeler crash, it’s essential to promptly seek guidance from a knowledgeable Dickinson 18-wheeler accident lawyer to protect your rights and obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries.

If you have been in an accident with an 18-wheeler, legal representation is critical. You need an attorney who is knowledgeable in the particulars of federal and Texas trucking regulations to aggressively protect your rights and fight for the maximum compensation available to you.

• You need an attorney who has fought major trucking companies and insurance companies and won.
• You need representation from a team that can counter the aggressive tactics used by insurance and trucking defense teams.

The Importance of a Thorough Investigation

Trucking companies and their drivers must follow strict state and federal trucking regulations that govern driving hour logbooks, time sheets, and other criteria such as:

• Commercial vehicle licensing
• Vehicle tracking
• Safety and maintenance inspections
• Hiring practices
• Driver medical exams
• Insurance coverage

A thorough investigation immediately following an 18-wheeler accident is crucial. Our Dickinson truck accident lawyers will meticulously document evidence collected at the accident scene, the location where the vehicle’s contents were loaded, where vehicle maintenance occurred, and at the offices of the company that owns and operates the truck.

Time sensitivity is paramount, as crucial evidence can deteriorate. Taking prompt action is essential to hold negligent parties accountable for any injuries sustained. If you’ve recently been involved in a commercial truck accident or in the past, seeking legal counsel is imperative. While gathering evidence may become more challenging as time passes, negligence may still be established to recover damages for your injuries.

If you are involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler truck, you need guidance and representation to secure the full and fair compensation you deserve. You need a lawyer who will be on your side 100 percent of the time.  Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers has been serving victims and their families with high-caliber legal representation since 1970. We handle cases for 18-wheeler victims throughout Texas, including Dickinson, League City, Galveston, and the Greater Houston area, and we have recovered hundreds of millions for our clients.

• Be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible. During your appointment, explain your injuries accurately and follow up with specialists as advised.
• Do not release your medical records to the trucking company’s insurance adjusters.
• Speak with an experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney about thoroughly investigating the incident.
• Photograph the accident site if you can, and wait to have your car repaired until after you have taken pictures of your damaged vehicle.
• Save all your bills and receipts that relate to the accident. For instance, keep your prescription receipts, doctor bills, hospital expense statements, car repair bills, and car rental receipts so you will have verification of your total costs.
• Document your health and your recovery daily. Take pictures and write about your condition.
• Follow all medical treatment guidance, and be sure to make it to all your medical appointments as soon as you are able.

The aftermath of being involved in an 18-wheeler collision can be further complicated by how insurance companies handle claims. To facilitate this process, individuals injured in such accidents should thoroughly document every detail they can recall about the incident and any subsequent injuries, and then promptly contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer.

Although the police typically arrive at the scene of the collision and compile a police report, it’s still essential for those involved to take their own notes. This is because individuals directly involved in the collision may possess insights that the responding police officer may not have.

After sustaining injuries in a truck accident, it’s essential to notify the insurance company of the at-fault driver about your claim for damages. This responsibility falls to the insurance provider of the driver responsible for the accident. Following the claim filing, you may receive communication from their claims adjuster. Depending on the specifics of the situation, they might propose a settlement or request to review your medical records and evidence from the crash scene. However, it’s crucial to understand that any settlement offered may not fully reflect what you’re entitled to receive.

Truck accident lawyers are well-versed in the amount of non-economic damages they can seek, and they possess the skills to battle insurance companies to secure the rightful compensation for their clients. A Dickinson 18-wheeler accident attorney understands precisely what evidence is necessary to substantiate a client’s case, and if required, they can litigate in court to safeguard their client’s rights.