Houston Truck Accident Lawyers

There are myriad causes of 18-wheeler accidents, but 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.

18-wheeler accident cases are extremely complicated and defended due to the high costs at stake. If you are involved in an 18-wheeler accident, it is vital to contact an experienced Houston truck accident attorney.  They can fully investigate the possible causes and fight for the maximum compensation available to you.

Contact Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers today at(281) 645-5000 for a free and confidential consultation about your case. Our Houston 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 is important to seek legal representation as soon as possible. This will help protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.  In addition, it will allow your lawyer to gather evidence and build a strong case on your behalf.  Get the compensation you deserve for catastrophic injuries in an 18-wheeler accident. Trust Burwell Nebout Trial Lawyers for experienced representation. Don’t settle for less after a serious collision!  We’ll fight to secure full compensation for past, present, and future damages. Contact us today for a free 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.

In the event of an 18-wheeler crash, the trucking company will send a representative to the scene to speak with victims in an effort to protect the company and driver. When you are injured in an 18-wheeler crash, it is imperative that you speak with a qualified Houston 18-wheeler accident lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights and ensure 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 meticulous investigation is very important immediately following an 18-wheeler accident. Our Houston truck accident lawyers will document evidence collected at the accident scene, 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 is of the essence as vital evidence can vanish. Taking swift action is imperative to hold the negligent parties accountable for any injuries sustained.  If you were involved in a commercial truck accident recently or in the past, seeking legal counsel is essential. While collecting evidence may be more challenging after some time has passed, negligence may still be proven 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 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.

What can add to the pain that people suffer after they have been hit by an 18-wheeler is how insurance companies handle these claims. To make this process easier, those injured in a crash with a large truck need to make sure that they write down in detail everything that they can remember about the collision and any subsequent injuries and immediately contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer.

After a collision, the police often arrive at the scene and prepare a police report. This will help those who suffer injuries in the crash, but taking your own notes is still going to be necessary. The reason this is the case is because those who are involved in the collision will have insight that the police officer who arrives after the accident will not have.

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, make sure to inform the at-fault driver’s insurance company about your claim for damages. The insurance provider of the driver who caused the accident will handle this process. After filing a claim, you may be contacted by their claims adjuster. Depending on the circumstances, they may offer a settlement or request to review your medical records and evidence from the crash scene. However, it’s important to note that any settlement offered may be less than what you are entitled to receive.

Truck accident lawyers know how much in the way of non-economic damages they can request, and they know how to fight insurance companies for the compensation that their clients deserve. A Houston 18-wheeler accident attorney knows exactly what evidence will be required to prove a client’s case, and if necessary, he can fight in court to ensure that their client’s rights are protected.