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Truck Accident Lawyer In Houston, Texas

Over the past few decades, Houston has grown immensely and become not only the largest city in Texas but also the fourth largest population center in the country. While Houston may be a thriving city with a strong and growing economy, it can come with a price: The roads are full of commercial truck traffic.

Unfortunately, many of the drivers of the massive 18-wheelers that you frequently see on roads such as I-10, I-45 and I-69 do not always operate in a safe and reasonable manner. In many cases, the companies they work for focus more on profits than safety. When careless and reckless drivers and trucking companies cause truck accidents, the results can be catastrophic.

At The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™, our Houston truck accident lawyers know how to pursue compensation for those who have suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one in a collision with a tractor-trailer. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you with a free consultation. We have a fully bilingual, Spanish-speaking legal team, and we are available 24/7 to talk about your case.

How Our HoustonTruck Accident Attorneys Can Help You

At The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™, we are more than just attorneys. We are a devoted legal team that fiercely advocates for the rights of injured people throughout our region. When you call our firm, you will be greeted by a dedicated staff member who will help you to figure out what is going on and how we can help. Here are some of the basic steps that we typically go through when working with trucking accident victims and their families:

  • Free consultation – During this critical meeting with an attorney, you can discuss your accident and injuries. This is the time to bring up your fears and concerns. Maybe you are worried that the trucking company will say you were at fault. Maybe you don’t remember certain details about the crash. Or, perhaps, you are worried about how to get your car fixed. An attorney can help you to address these concerns and give you clear advice about moving forward. If we agree to work together, we will sign paperwork and launch into the next phase.
  • Swift and thorough investigation – When it comes to a truck accident traffic collision case, you can’t afford to wait too long to begin investigating it. Because injuries are often so severe, big trucking companies and their insurance carriers know that the stakes are high. They will work hard to conceal evidence and prevent us from speaking with drivers, mechanics and other witnesses about your case. The faster you contact us, the faster we can get started on performing an investigation of the crash.
  • A careful review of your injuries – Our legal team gathers and reviews medical records, and we often consult with legal nurse consultants and industry-leading medical specialists about the nature and extent of the injuries that our clients have suffered. Our goal is to secure compensation for the medical expenses that you have incurred and will incur in the future as you get the treatment you need.
  • Settlement negotiation – We leverage our hard work and preparation of cases to pursue settlements that fully and fairly compensate our clients. Insurance companies will take your case seriously when they see the evidence establishes liability and damages.
  • Taking the case to trial – Our attorneys have decades of combined experience litigating cases in and out of court. If your case must go before a jury, you can rest easy while knowing that our associated attorneys will fight skillfully and aggressively for you in court.

Additionally, you will pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. We don’t want concerns about paying for a lawyer to stop you from seeking legal help when you need it after a truck accident traffic collision.

Choose A Firm That Can Give You The Representation You Deserve

We can help get you the truck accident compensation and justice you deserve.

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Hilda Sibrian & Bryan Sibrian

Semi-Truck Accident Statistics

Texas is one of the country’s largest states and has one of the busiest oil industries in the nation, so it’s no wonder there are so many commercial trucks driving on our roadways every day. However, with more semi-trucks around, the likelihood of an 18-wheeler accident increase. Here are some frightening semi-truck accident statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the most recent years reported:

4,119 people died in large truck crashes for the year.
Nearly half a million truck crashes involving large trucks were reported to the police for the year. 107,000 of these were injury crashes.
82 percent of fatalities in truck accidents are people who are not occupants of the truck. The IIHS believes this is largely due to the weight and larger stature of commercial trucks.
Fatalities in truck accidents are disproportionate. While truck accidents represent a smaller portion of the total number of accidents involving all types of vehicles, 11 percent of semi-truck accidents were fatal.
83 percent of fatal crashes and 88 percent of nonfatal crashes occurred on weekdays.
Most accidents happen on highways and major roads.
29 percent of fatal big rig accidents occurred when the truck hits the passenger vehicle head-on.
24 percent of fatal semi-truck accidents occurred when the truck sideswiped a passenger vehicle.

These statistics show that trucks pose a serious danger to other motorists. Truck accidents often cause death and catastrophic injuries.

Sadly, the picture is bleaker for motorists in Texas. Year after year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that Texas leads the nation in the number of fatal truck accidents. For the most recent year for which data is available, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports there were 32,562 truck crashes in Texas. As a result of the 513 fatal crashes for the year, 581 Texans were killed. Another 1,245 people suffered injuries that emergency personnel suspected were serious.

Unfortunately, Harris County is the worst county for deadly big rig accidents. Across Harris County, there were the following types of accidents and injuries for the year that involved semi-trucks:

4,915 total crashes
41 fatal crashes
46 fatalities
94 suspected serious crashes
121 suspected serious injuries
326 injury crashes
450 injuries

Who Can Be Held Liable for Truck Accident Injuries?

Commercial Trucking accidents can be very complex. Often more than one party is responsible for the damages which victims suffer. Consider all the parties that can potentially share liability for causing a semi-truck crash in Houston. Here are the most common causes of truck accidents:

  • Truck driver - Obviously, all drivers are responsible for their own actions behind the wheel. If a driver’s negligence causes a crash, the driver should be held liable. In some cases, the driver may not own the truck involved in the crash. So, the owner may be on the hook for the damages caused by the driver.
  • Trucking companies - The trucking company, or carrier, may be liable if one of its drivers causes a crash while working, or it may be liable based on its own negligence. For instance, a trucking company may be liable for negligent hiring, training, and retention of a driver or for failing to inspect and repair the vehicles in its fleet.
  • Freight brokers – All too often, freight companies and warehouses will overload trucks beyond capacity, leading to braking failures, cargo shifts, and rollover accidents.
  • Truck manufacturer – Many crashes occur because a truck or its components are defectively designed and/or manufactured. Truck defects that frequently cause accidents are tires, brakes, steering mechanisms, and couplings.

The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ works hard to identify all responsible parties in a trucking accident in order to maximize the amount of compensation that our clients recover.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident in Houston?

If you have been involved in a truck accident traffic collision in Houston, make sure to take these five steps:

Gather information at the scene – Try to take photos of the accident scene, including all vehicles involved, and get information from the truck driver involved in the crash, including the driver’s name, employer and insurance information. You should also try to get the names and numbers of witnesses.

See a doctor – Don’t wait to get medical attention. If you are not taken to the hospital by emergency medical personnel, then see a doctor as soon as you can. The timely documentation of your injuries will play a key role in your case. Keep all doctor appointments and follow your physician’s’ recommendations at all times.

Keep everything – Collect and hold on to any and all paperwork related to your case, including the police report, medical bills, and records, insurance company letters or other items that you think might be relevant.

Do not talk with the insurance company – Insurance companies often try to take advantage of people who have just been involved in an accident. You should avoid talking with the truck company’s insurance adjuster until you talk with a lawyer first.

Contact us right away – The sooner you get in touch with us about your truck accident traffic collision case, the sooner we can begin an investigation, communicate with the insurance companies and take other steps to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Common Types of Truck Accidents in Houston

Trucking accidents can happen in or around Houston for many different reasons. Some of the most common types of crashes that we see at The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ are:

Distracted driving crashes

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) bans drivers from texting while driving or from talking on a cell phone if the phone is beyond reach, requires punching more than a single button to dial and involves holding the phone to talk. Still, many drivers violate these rules or allow other distractions to get in the way of safely operating their rig.

Fatigued driving crashes

The FMCSA also restricts the number of hours that truck drivers can be on the road without a rest. These are called hours-of-service regulations. Our Houston 18 wheeler accident attorney has spent years studying trucking regulations and federal rules applicable to the trucking industry. We understand the rules that truckers have to follow, and we are prepared to use those rules to establish your right to compensation.

Impaired driver crashes

Operating a truck while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or some types of prescription medications can lead to disaster. This is why commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders cannot operate a tractor-trailer with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 or higher (compared to 0.08 for drivers of other types of vehicles). Lawmakers recognize that driving a commercial truck is inherently more dangerous than driving a passenger car. Despite these laws, alcohol contributed to 25 percent of fatal accidents that occurred in Texas for the most recent year reported, according to TxDOT.

Jackknife accidents

When a truck driver loses control of the vehicle, a rig’s cab can spin around, and the combination can end up in the shape of a folding knife. This type of accident often occurs because a driver is speeding or going too fast for road conditions.

Tailgating collisions

Many truck drivers are true professionals who care greatly for the safety of others on the road. However, some drivers are prone to tailgating and other types of erratic and aggressive behavior. Rear-end collisions frequently occur because the truck driver fails to leave enough distance from the vehicle it is following.

Turning accidents

Due to their training and experience, truck drivers should know how, to make turns safely. However, too often, they make overly wide turns and fail to check their mirrors and blind spots.

No matter what type of truck accident you have been involved in, our truck accident attorneys are here to help you to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Get Help from Our Houston Truck Accident Attorneys Today

You have only a limited period of time in which to file a truck accident lawsuit after a crash or the loss of a loved one. If you fail to take timely action, you could lose your right to recover damages. So, don’t wait to get legal help.

Contact the hard-working, knowledgeable truck accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian™ today. A member of our bilingual legal team can provide an immediate, free consultation about your case help you to understand your rights and all of your legal options. Call or reach us online today to learn more.

Legally Reviewed by Attorney Hilda Sibrian.
Hilda Sibrian Lawyers

Truck Accidents

FAQs

The moments following a truck accident can be chaotic. You may be seriously hurt but don’t know what to do next. Here are some steps you should take to protect yourself:

  • Stop and report the crash to the police.
  • Seek medical treatment.
  • Exchange information with all other parties involved in the accident.
  • Obtain names and contact information of witnesses.
  • Take photos of the accident scene and your injuries.
  • Do not accept blame or say you’re sorry for anything.
  • Contact a Houston truck accident lawyer.

Your actions now can make a big difference when it comes time to file your personal injury claim for compensation. We encourage you to call us to learn more.

To claim compensation for your injuries after a truck accident, you must first prove that someone else was at fault. Proving fault means proving that someone else was negligent, or that they were careless or reckless and those actions caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. To prove that someone else was negligent, you need evidence. This may include:

  • Police reports can be used to prove negligence to the insurance companies. If your case goes to court, the officer who filed the report may be called to testify about what happened.
  • Trucks have what are known as black boxes that contain a lot of information about the truck at the time of the accident, such as the speed the truck was traveling and how long the truck driver had been on the road. This black box data can be used as evidence.
  • Evidence that the truck driver violated traffic law, such as running a red light, can also be very helpful to your case.
  • Using pictures from the accident scene, video surveillance footage, and computer software, accident reconstruction specialists can also prove negligence by showing how the accident happened.

Many people automatically assume after a truck accident that the truck driver was to blame for the wreck. This is often the case. If the truck driver violated a traffic law, failed to check blind spots, was driving while distracted, or acted negligently in any other way, the driver can be held responsible for the crash. However, in many cases, the trucking company is also to blame.

If the trucking company failed to meet any of its obligations, it can be found at fault for the accident. Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring they only hire skilled and trained drivers, check the driver’s criminal background and driving history before hiring them, and continue to provide training. Trucking companies are also responsible for ensuring their trucks are properly maintained and safe to be out on the road. When they fail to do any of these things, they can be found responsible for a crash.

In many cases, our firm can prove that the trucking company should also be held liable for your injuries. Because trucking companies have large insurance policies and skilled lawyers working on their behalf, though, it is important that you have the help of a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer from the beginning on your case.

Unfortunately, no one can determine how much your case is worth without fully examining the facts of your case. However, some of the types of damages you may be entitled to receive include:

  • Compensation for past and future medical expenses
  • Payment for lost wages
  • Compensation for a reduction in earning capacity
  • Damage to your vehicle
  • Payment for the pain and suffering you have endured

Our skilled truck accident lawyers can assess your claim for free and explain what full compensation should account for in your specific case.

The biggest reasons commercial trucks are more dangerous than other vehicles include:

  • Trucks weigh more, which means that when they crash into a smaller vehicle, it will result in much more severe injuries.
  • Trucks make wider turns than smaller cars which causes them to sometimes sweep other vehicles or crush vehicles located alongside them.
  • Trucks have more tire blowouts, which causes the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle. The debris from tire blowouts is also dangerous to other drivers.
  • Trucks take longer to stop, and when drivers are not careful while stopping, they may crash into vehicles in front of them.

These are just a few of the reasons trucks are more dangerous than other vehicles on the road.

The statute of limitations, or time limit, you have to file your claim in Texas is two years from the date of the accident. However, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure that all the evidence is preserved and that your claim is properly documented from the beginning.

There are a number of damages recoverable after a truck accident. These include:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Past and future lost income
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Past and future pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of household services

Insurance companies are not on the side of accident victims. They are more interested in keeping their payouts low and profits high. To do this, they offer lowball settlements that will not fully cover the cost of your injuries. If you simply accept the settlement, you are barred from going back to the insurer to claim more compensation and will likely end up paying for much of the cost yourself.

Our skilled truck accident lawyer can evaluate any settlement offer you receive and explain what a fair offer should cover.

Due to the fact that the insurance company will contact you soon after the accident, and the fact that the clock on the statute of limitations starts ticking immediately after the accident, you should hire a truck accident lawyer right away.

Our truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you only pay us if we are successful in your case. Then, our payment comes as a percentage of your settlement or award. If we do not recover money in your case, you owe us nothing.

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