All commercial truck drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles responsibly and in keeping with state and federal laws at all times. A single moment of carelessness by a long-haul trucker or anyone involved in employing that driver, maintaining their truck, or providing their cargo could lead to a wreck with life-altering repercussions.
If you were seriously injured in a crash caused by a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence, guidance from a seasoned personal injury attorney could be crucial to making the most of your settlement demand or civil lawsuit. Whether you have past experience with personal injury claims or not, working closely with a San Marcos truck accident lawyer could make a tremendous difference in how your case ultimately plays out.
Who Could Be Liable for a Commercial Truck Wreck?
While negligent acts by individual truck drivers are often the main cause of traffic collisions involving tractor-trailers, filing a lawsuit solely against a single trucker is rarely the best course of action following a serious truck crash. An individual truck driver is unlikely to have enough personal assets or insurance coverage to repay all the short-term and long-term losses that crashes causes, so finding other parties to target is often essential to maximizing compensation.
Thankfully, it is often possible to hold the trucking company that employed a negligent driver vicariously liable for their employee’s misconduct, under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. Alternatively, some truck accidents stem primarily from negligence by a trucking company. For example, a commercial vehicle corporation might face blame if it causes fatigue by forcing drivers to exceed federal restrictions on maximum driving time.
Likewise, some wrecks stem mainly from negligence by third parties, such as mechanics who did not keep a truck in safe working order, manufacturers who provided defective truck components, suppliers who failed to secure cargo properly before transit, and even other drivers on the road who forced an otherwise responsible trucker into an unavoidable collision. A San Marcos truck accident attorney can play a key role in establishing exactly how a particular crash happened and proving who is responsible.
Getting Paid Fairly Within Filing Deadlines
Collisions between semi-trucks and commuter cars tend to cause devastating harm to anyone in the smaller vehicle, so a comprehensive claim built around a trucking wreck usually needs to demand compensation for physical, financial, and emotional losses. Common examples of compensation in truck accident cases include repayment for:
- Emergency medical bills and future care costs
- Lost future working capacity, plus lost short-term income
- Car repair/replacement costs, plus related expenses such as rental car fees
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Emotional/psychological trauma
- Lost consortium
- Lost enjoyment of life
Additionally, demanding compensation for a trucking crash quickly is important, since Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003 requires injury plaintiffs to file their case within two years of the accident. A proactive lawyer in San Marcos could help with respecting this deadline and keeping a truck accident claim on track.
Consider Working with a San Marcos Truck Accident Attorney
The recovery process after an accident involving any kind of commercial truck is a long and painful one. If you played no part in causing a truck crash to happen, the people who caused it should be the ones who pay for your medical bills and other setbacks.
Assistance from a San Marcos truck accident lawyer can be essential to ensuring the aftermath of your wreck plays out fairly. Call today to schedule your initial consultation.
