Due to their massive size and power, large trucks and 18-wheelers require expert knowledge to operate safely. Most truck drivers are skilled professionals. However, when truck drivers ignore safety standards or aren’t trained properly, terrible things can happen.
One truck accident is all it takes to ruin your life. You’re injured, you can’t work, and your debt is piling up. Even worse, you can’t be there for the people who depend on you. A San Antonio truck accident lawyer can fight to get you the compensation you need.
Our team at Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys has recovered millions of dollars in damages for accident victims just like you. Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how our San Antonio personal injury lawyers can help.
Should You Take a Settlement After a Truck Accident?
In most cases, it is not smart to take a settlement after a truck accident without first speaking with an attorney. Unfortunately, some insurance companies try to take advantage of accident victims. They assume you don’t know what your case is worth, and they can get away with a low offer.
If you take the money, you may waive your rights to future compensation, even if your condition gets worse and you need more care. Meanwhile, the insurance company walks away with a little extra money in its pockets that rightfully belonged to you.
Our San Antonio truck accident attorneys will assess your case and calculate the compensation you deserve, then fight to make sure insurance companies are treating you fairly. We aren’t going to let them dictate what your injuries are worth.
Who is Liable in a Truck Accident?
Your San Antonio truck accident lawyers will investigate your accident and find out what happened. It is helpful if you write a narrative of events from your perspective. We’ll also review police reports, dash cams, witness statements, and other evidence.
Once we know how the accident happened, we can determine who was liable and how to proceed with your claims. While the at-fault party may seem obvious in a truck crash, there could be other responsible parties you were not aware of.
Liable parties in a truck accident can include:
- The truck driver, in accidents where they have operated the vehicle recklessly, negligently, or illegally and put public safety at risk
- A trucking company that imposes unsafe working conditions, does not train drivers properly, or engages in poor hiring practices
- A third driver that collides with the truck or causes it to swerve out of control
- The vehicle or parts company, if a defective part or poor design contributed to your accident and injuries
- The maintenance company or mechanic, if their negligence contributed to or caused the crash
- The victim: If you were partially at fault for the accident, you may still recover damages per comparative negligence laws
Comparative Negligence in Texas
Texas follows a doctrine of comparative negligence for accident liability. Even if you are partially at fault for an accident, you can still recover damages in proportion to your percentage of responsibility.
This is helpful, but it also means insurance companies may try to claim you were partially responsible when you were not. If you are deemed 20% responsible for the accident, you may only recover 80% of the damages you would have otherwise been entitled to.
Texas also has a 50% bar rule. That means you can only recover partial compensation if you are 50% or less responsible for the crash. If you are 51% responsible, you may recover nothing.
How Much is a Truck Accident Case Worth?
Truck accident claims can be worth thousands of dollars or millions. Your truck accident lawyer in San Antonio will calculate your maximum compensation based on your economic and non–economic damages. We can then negotiate for a fair settlement that will cover your costs.
While every case is different, some of the expenses we can recover include:
- Doctor visits and specialist consultations
- Medications required after your accident
- Ambulance transportation
- Emergency room care after your accident
- Surgeries and procedures
- Lost wages when you are unable to work
- Future medical costs and expenses
- Property damage, like the cost of repairing your car
You may also recover damages for things like pain and suffering and emotional distress. These are considered non-economic damages, and they are meant to address the emotional and psychological hardships you’ve endured as a result of the accident.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Our payment system for personal injury cases, such as truck accidents, is based on a contingency fee agreement. You pay nothing upfront, and your bill isn’t due until and unless we win your case. We’ll then deduct our fees from your compensation or award.
Doing business in this way ensures that our services are affordable for almost anyone who needs us. Insurance companies have teams of high-priced lawyers fighting for them. It only seems right that you have the same.
When you hire our firm, you level the playing field with insurance companies who are used to pushing victims around. We’ll stand up to them and fight to get you the compensation you need to pay your bills and begin to heal.
Get Help from a San Antonio Truck Accident Attorney
Every time we drive on a highway or major roadway, we trust other drivers to obey the law and operate their vehicles safely. That trust is never more important than when it applies to truckers who drive massive semis and 18-wheelers.
Most truck drivers take safety seriously, but when they violate our trust, they can cause horrible accidents and injuries. If you have suffered an injury in a truck accident, our San Antonio truck accident attorneys can help you hold the liable parties responsible.
Contact our team at Omega Law Group to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case. We have decades of combined experience advocating for the rights of injured victims. Let our family take care of your family.