18-wheeler trucks make up the backbone of cross-continental shipping in the United States. Trucking agencies expect their operators to work long days while carefully maintaining the safety of their cargo, not to mention the other drivers around them. Truck drivers are human, though, and prone to mistakes. Unfortunately, those mistakes can prove deadly.
If you get into an 18-wheeler truck accident, Dallas lawyers can help you recover. Zinda Law Group’s Texas personal injury lawyers can specifically guide you through the process of filing a claim against the party liable for your losses. You, in turn, can fight for the compensation you need to address your post-accident expenses.
When to File an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Claim
If you want to take legal action after a truck accident, you need to do so within the deadline established by Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 16.003. This personal injury statute of limitations generally gives you no more than two years to act on your losses. If you can’t file a claim within that two-year period, you may lose your right to accident-related compensation.
How are you supposed to take legal action against an offending entity if you’re contending with severe injuries, though? You can turn to a Dallas, TX, 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer for support. Our team can calculate your due damages and assign liability for your losses while you work with doctors to restore your previous quality of life.
When to Contact an 18-Wheeler Truck Crash Lawyer
Because you’re operating on a two-year timer, the sooner you contact an attorney, the better. Why, though, should you work with an attorney when Texas allows you to represent your best interests in civil court?
The short answer is that truck accident cases can often involve a considerable amount of contract law. If you don’t know how to distinguish between an independent contractor and an employee, you may fail to hold the right party accountable for your losses.
What’s more, if you’re contending with severe injuries, it may be difficult, if not impossible, for you to investigate the negligence that led to your accident. Our attorneys can return to an accident scene while you’re recovering while also relying on our vast professional networks to gather additional information about what compensation you may deserve.
If you’re reluctant to act, you can meet with an attorney to discuss their services without committing to a case. Zinda Law Group invites truck accident survivors to join their attorneys for free, no-obligation case consultations in the weeks or months following an initial crash. These meetings let us get to know each other and plan your roadmap to recovery.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationBuilding an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Claim
When you begin building an 18-wheeler truck accident claim, you need to touch on the following information:
Evidence and Liability
Who do you hold liable for an 18-wheeler truck accident claim? The answer depends on the evidence at the accident scene. Your Dallas 18-wheeler truck crash attorney needs to bring forward evidence of negligence if they want to hold any party, from a corporation to an individual, responsible for your losses.
That said, contracts can also change who you can name responsible for your accident. Independent truck drivers, for example, must take the blame for any accidents they cause if the evidence depicts their negligence behind the wheel. That said, trucking agencies and corporations can assume responsibility for employees.
You can work with an attorney to determine how contracts might influence your right to hold certain parties accountable for roadway negligence as you investigate the cause of your accident.
Your Desired Damages
Your 18-wheeler truck accident may entitle you to compensation for billable and non-billable losses. You must submit proof of your billable losses, ranging from your medical expenses to property restoration, if you want to include those losses in the total of your case’s value.
Our team can then rely on state standards to calculate the value of your non-billable losses, including your post-accident shock, emotional distress, or pain and suffering. We can discuss which of these losses applies to your case during an initial assessment of your accident’s severity.
Some of the most common damages to appear in 18-wheeler truck accident cases include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Property damage and restoration
- Depreciated property value
Once you have the sum total of your applicable losses, you can refer back to that estimate of your case’s value in private negotiations or a public trial.
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationHow to Secure a Truck Accident Settlement
There are several different ways to go about securing a settlement after you file a personal injury claim, and all of them are unique. When you’re recovering from an 18-wheeler crash, for example, you may undergo some combination of settlement negotiations and trial proceedings. It’s up to you, a lawyer, and the liable party to dictate how your case progresses.
Most trucking agencies and truck drivers want to avoid spending time in court. As such, these parties tend to negotiate with you. You can request that an 18-wheeler truck collision lawyer in Dallas oversee these negotiations and refer the liable party back to a pre-established estimate of your desired damages.
Unfortunately, there can come a point where the liable party will no longer recognize your right to the compensation you deserve. In these cases, you may have to take your case before a judge. While 18-wheeler truck accident trials can prove lengthy, they also put the onus for a liable party’s behavior on a judge.
You can discuss which of these processes best suits your fight for 18-wheeler truck accident damages with Zinda Law Group’s attorneys.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
Standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ready to answer in your time of need.
Available 24 / 7|Free ConsultationZinda Law Group Can Walk You Through the Legal Process
Navigating the civil system without help can prove challenging for even the most stalwart truck accident survivors. Don’t feel as though you have to go about investigating your accident alone. Call on Zinda Law Group instead. Our 18-wheeler truck crash lawyers in Dallas, TX, and beyond can file a complaint in your name while you recover from your injuries.
Before initiating a case, you can talk with our attorneys to learn more about the services we offer someone in your position. To schedule a case consultation, call our office or reach out through Zinda Law Group’s online contact form.
Jason Aldridge
Attorney
We have successfully represented clients in a wide variety of cases across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation