McAllen Truck Accident Lawyer

McAllen Truck Accident Lawyer

Did you get hit by a truck in McAllen? In an accident involving an 18-wheeler or semi trailer, you’re much more likely to suffer severe injury or death compared to an average car crash. If you were injured in an accident with a truck, you need to hire a lawyer who specializes in the complexities of a truck wreck claim.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in the Rio Grande Valley

In McAllen and all of South Texas we see a lot of international trucking which can increase your chances of being hit by a truck. Some of the most frequent causes of truck accidents in McAllen include:

• Tired Driver: Too many hours behind the wheel can make drivers drowsy. That’s why driving while tired significantly raises the risk of an accident. 
• Distracted Driving: Truck drivers using phones or other distractions can cause severe accidents. 
• Speeding: Speeding reduces the time available for the driver to respond to sudden changes in traffic conditions.
• Tailgating: Following too closely behind other vehicles can lead to rear-end collisions.
• Failure to Inspect and Maintain a Tractor-Trailer: Poor maintenance can result in mechanical failures.
• Mechanical Defects: Faulty brakes, tires, or other defective vehicle parts can lead to accidents.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Impaired driving is a serious and dangerous cause of truck accidents.

Common Types of Semi-Truck Accidents in McAllen, Texas

Truck accidents come in various forms, each with its own set of risks and consequences. Some of the most common types include:

• Jackknife Accidents: This occurs when the trailer swings out from the cab at a 90-degree angle, often causing multi-vehicle pile-ups.
• Tire Blow Outs: When a tire fails, this can force the truck off the road.
• Rollover Accidents: Trucks sometimes overturn, often due to high speeds or abrupt maneuvers.
• Underride Accidents: Smaller vehicles may slide under the truck’s trailer, usually resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

What are the most common injuries from a big-rig accident in McAllen?

Injuries from an 18-wheeler accident are often more severe than other types of car accidents. The size of big-rig trucks along with increased blind spots can spell disaster for car drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Severe injuries can include:

• Brain injuries – Any accident that involves injury to your head can result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain injuries can include concussions, contusions, bleeding or bruising of the brain, or skull fractures. These types of injuries require immediate medical attention and can lead to on-going and even permanent disability.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Like brain injuries, spinal cord injuries can lead to life-long disability. These injuries can prevent you from working and deprive you of the ability to do tasks that require lifting, balance or coordination.
• Burn Injuries – Truck accidents can cause fires or chemical spills that burn accident victims and destroy property. Burn injuries can include disfigurement, nerve damage, chronic pain and amputations.
• Fatal Injury – Truck accidents can unfortunately lead to the death of the accident victim, often called an accident fatality. As with wrongful death claims, its is often the loved one of the accident victim who must sue for justice for the deceased.

Frequently Asked Questions about 18-Wheeler Accidents in the Rio Grande Valley

Who is at fault in a Texas truck accident?

It can be tricky to determine fault in truck accident cases. Fault may be shared among multiple parties, from the truck driver’s employer, the trucking corporation, the vehicle owner, or even the vehicle or parts manufacturer. Your attorney can help you investigate the cause of the accident and which party or parties may be responsible for your injuries. 

How do I choose the right truck accident lawyer for my case?

When deciding on a truck accident attorney, there are four things you should ask yourself and the lawyer you’re considering.

The first is that whether or not the lawyer is a personal injury trial lawyer. By personal injury, I mean, first of all, that’s all he does: personal injury cases. He doesn’t handle wills, divorces, or bankruptcies.

Second, is he a trial lawyer? Is he a lawyer that will take this case from beginning to end? Will he go to court with you? Will he fight for a verdict for you in front of a judge and jury?

The other thing you should ask is if they are a trial lawyer that has achieved successful results in the courtroom. He should be able to show you his past results.

Lastly, that he has board-certification, the highest honor the state bestows on a lawyer. Only 3% of the lawyers in the state are recognized as board-certified in a particular area of law.

By asking those four questions, you should be able to build trust between you and your lawyer. If you have any questions for us, feel free to call our office.

Should I talk to the truck driver’s insurance company after an accident?

You should NOT talk to the insurance company for the truck driver without a lawyer, and certainly not without representation for any other injured people. It’s in the trucking insurance company’s best interest to pay you less than you deserve. Every cent they pay goes directly to the bottom line. Let your lawyer do the talking for you. 

What types of compensation can I get after a truck accident?

Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to money damages, including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Long-term care costs
• Rehabilitation expenses

The types of damages you may be eligible for will depend on the details of your case. 

How long do you have to sue after a truck accident in Texas?

You have two years from the time of the truck accident to file a lawsuit for your personal injury claim. This is called the statute of limitations. This statute of limitations means that if you haven’t filed a lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident, you lose the right to pursue your claim, even if you have a serious injury.

What are Some Tips for a Successful Case?

At the scene of the accident, there are several things you want to do. First, if you’re able to, you should take photos of the area and your injuries.

This might include photos of both vehicles, tire marks on the road, and the debris left scattered around.

You will want to get all contact information from the witnesses of the accident as their testimony can be very helpful for you when you pursue your case.

You should also seek out the contact and insurance information from any and all vehicles involved in your accident. Do not leave the scene without this.

You may have the police arrive on the scene to get a full report of the accident. We can get a copy of this report later on to help us out with your case.

Lastly, this is something you should avoid doing. Never say to anyone that you are at fault for the accident. Avoid saying it was your fault because even if you think it was your fault in the moment, it might turn out to not be your fault at all.

If anyone has on record that you owned up to causing the accident, even if you really didn’t, then you could be hurting your case.

How long will my truck accident claim take?

A case involving a commercial tractor-trailer accident can often take 18 months to resolve. That’s on the low side. If it’s a severe truck accident, it could take up to three years. Why? Because those are some of the most devastating accidents there are involving some of the most horrific injuries there can be.

We have to examine the injuries, what it took to heal, how much it will cost, and whether or not the insurance company will be fair. If the insurance company doesn’t bring forward a reasonable offer, then that makes us have to file suit.

If we have to file a suit, then we have to look at the court’s docket to see how many cases are in front of us before we can have a trial date. If you have any questions about how long your case will take, please contact our office.

How much is my truck accident claim worth?

You may be wondering how to determine the value of a truck accident injury claim. The way to achieve this starts with assessing the injuries the victim suffered.

Medical expenses for treatment of the injuries must also be considered, as well as future costs that will be incurred for any ongoing treatment.

The potential for physical impairment must be determined, both present and future.

The negative impacts of injuries, including that of future impairment must be factored into damages.

Will the injuries damage the person’s earning capacity, preventing them from earning their pre-accident income?

How is the person’s quality of life going to change as a result? In addition to the physical issues, the correlation between mental anguish and quality of life must be assessed, both present and future.

On top of these issues, the conduct of the at-fault parties must be examined. Was the behavior of the responsible party egregious to a degree that punitive damages may be available?

There are many elements that must be examined when determining the value of a truck accident claim. Looking at what happened, how it happened, and why it happened all contribute to establishing fault and causation

The connection between the actions of the at-fault party to the injuries sustained by the victim. Both fault and causation must be successfully established to win your claim.

What should I do after being injured in a truck accident?

One of the first things that needs to be done after a truck accident is to make sure the local government agency is notified.

For example, the local police, DPS, or sheriff’s office, depending on where the accident happened.

It’s also important that you seek immediate medical help. This includes not only going to the hospital but your own medical provider.

Typically, when you’re going to a hospital, they’re going to look at only life and death situations. At the end when they release you, they’re going to tell you to follow up with your doctor.

Please don’t ignore that. It’s important that you follow up with your own doctor because there may be injuries that you have that were untreated at the hospital that may need further examination.

It’s also important that you hire an experienced lawyer in handling trucking accidents. There are specific federal and state regulations that may apply to a trucking company. A lawyer who doesn’t handle truck accidents isn’t going to be aware of the various laws.

When hiring an experienced trucking lawyer, you can make sure that you are properly protected. This means that any investigation that needs to be done is not only done, but it’s done timely.

There may need to be a download done of the 18-wheeler that hit you, which means getting the information off their computer system to see what speed they were traveling at.

There may need to be an expert that gets hired to look at the area where the accident happened.

There may be surveillance video around the area from different stores that need to be obtained. All of this is crucial to a case. If you have any questions, we are here to help.

What mistakes should I avoid after a truck accident?

One of the common mistakes that people make when they’ve been involved in a truck accident is that they don’t seek legal advice right away and that they don’t contact attorneys who are specialized in trucking accidents.

This is very important because they are better equipped to advocate for you and fight for your rights.

Another mistake that we typically see is that they don’t seek medical attention right away, which is not only beneficial to your health, but it can also be damaging to your claim.

Another mistake that we typically see is that they don’t report the accident. They don’t call the police. They don’t report it to any employers or trucking companies, which can be damaging because then there’s no documentation or record of the accident.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. We’re here to help.

How long will my truck accident case take?

A case involving a commercial tractor-trailer accident can often take 18 months to resolve. That’s on the low side.

If it’s a severe truck accident, it could take up to three years. Why? Because those are some of the most devastating accidents there are involving some of the most horrific injuries there can be. We have to examine the injuries, what it took to heal, how much it will cost, and whether or not the insurance company will be fair.

If the insurance company doesn’t bring forward a reasonable offer, then that makes us have to file suit.

If we have to file a suit, then we have to look at the court’s docket to see how many cases are in front of us before we can have a trial date. If you have any questions about how long your case will take, please contact our office.

Contact Our McAllen Truck Accident Attorneys Today

If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident, please do not hesitate to give our office a call to set up a free case evaluation with our experienced and dedicated McAllen truck accident attorneys.

After gathering relevant evidence, reviewing your medical records and building the strongest case possible, it could take months to be ready to begin litigation. Beginning the process as soon as possible will help to ensure that you are not barred from certain actions depending on your state’s legal deadlines.

Your quality of life, your finances, and your loved ones’ livelihoods may all be permanently changed after a truck accident. You face the daunting task of seeking compensation to get you back on your feet. You need an experienced McAllen truck accident lawyer to help.