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Truck accidents can stem from multiple forms of negligent conduct. For instance, a crash may happen because a truck driver or a third-party motorist committed a reckless maneuver behind the wheel. Alternatively, a catastrophic accident may occur because a trucking company engaged in careless cargo securement practices.
In the aftermath of your truck accident in Carrollton, our legal professionals can perform a thorough investigation to determine who is to blame. After identifying the at-fault party, we may begin building your case and negotiating for monetary damages on your behalf. We will work diligently to recover the maximum payment available to you.
Get assistance from our experienced truck accident attorneys by calling The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797.
Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Carrollton, TX
There are several requirements that must be adhered to when filing a truck accident lawsuit in Texas.
First, you must bring your case to court on time. The time limit to file a truck accident case in Texas is set forth by Tex. Civ. Prac & Rem. Code § 16.003. Accordingly, you will generally have to file within two years of the date your crash occurred. If you do not act in accordance with this deadline, then your case may be dismissed.
Even though you may have up to two years to file, you should begin working on your truck accident lawsuit right away. In order to obtain damages from a defendant, you must present evidence that proves your accident was their fault. There are many types of evidence that may be used. However, this evidence can become hard to collect or preserve as time goes on. For instance, an eyewitness may forget an important detail pertaining to your collision. Further, a piece of physical evidence may deteriorate or be misplaced. The more quickly you seek help from our truck accident lawyers, the more efficiently we can gather the information we need to win your case.
Moreover, other conditions must be satisfied in addition to filing on time. For instance, you must bring your case to the right court, attach necessary supporting documents, pay any required filing fees, and serve named defendants. Thankfully, our legal professionals can help ensure you follow the correct process for filing your specific case.
Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents in Carrollton, TX
Truck accidents can produce a wide array of painful and debilitating injuries. If you suffered any of the following as a result of your crash, then you might be entitled to significant compensation:
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are an especially severe form of harm suffered by truck accident victims. These injuries can cause significant amounts of pain and discomfort. Further, in severe cases, spinal cord injuries may lead to partial or complete paralysis.
Accordingly, these injuries can produce highly detrimental effects on the quality of victims’ lives. In many cases, those with spinal cord injuries are prevented from working or partaking in the hobbies that they enjoyed before their crashes.
Brain Injuries
Like spinal cord injuries, brain injuries are a highly serious form of truck accident injury that can have long-term impacts on victims’ lives. In many cases, these injuries are sustained when people suffer blows to the head during the course of their collisions.
Brain injuries can cause significant cognitive impairments. For instance, many of those with brain injuries experience memory loss and have difficulty concentrating, communicating, and controlling their emotions. Therefore, many truck accident victims who incur such harm will require long-term medical care and support.
Soft Tissue Damage
Soft tissue damage can come in many different forms. For instance, a truck accident victim may suffer damage to a muscle, tendon, or ligament anywhere in their body. These injuries can cause a great deal of pain and immobilization. In many cases, those with soft tissue damage will have to spend time away from work during their recoveries. Further, they may require surgical operations, orthopedic devices, and physical therapies in order to heal properly.
Burns
Truck accident victims can suffer burns because they come into contact with flames, hot air, hot liquid, or dangerous chemicals during their collision. Burn injuries are especially common during accidents involving tanker trucks that transport hazardous materials like fuel.
Burn injuries are some of the most excruciatingly painful injuries that truck accident victims can incur. Moreover, in severe cases, surgical operations and skin grafting procedures may be necessary to treat people’s burns.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are another especially common type of injury caused by truck accidents. There are many ways such injuries can occur. For instance, a driver may suffer a broken bone because they were tossed against a hard object inside of their vehicle during their truck accident. Further, a pedestrian may suffer a broken bone because a truck driver struck them while making an illegal turn.
In any case, broken bones can be highly painful and immobilizing. Many of those who sustain such injuries must undergo surgical operations and casting in order to heal properly.
Internal Organ Damage
Internal organ damage may also result from truck accidents. Some common organs that may be affected include the liver, spleen, and kidneys.
While internal organ damage can produce very serious symptoms, these symptoms may not be noticeable immediately after a collision. If you believe that you may have sustained internal organ damage because of your truck accident, then you must see a doctor as quickly as you can. They will be able to perform a thorough assessment to uncover the full extent of harm you sustained.
Psychological Harm
Experiencing a truck accident can be highly traumatic. It is possible that truck accident victims may incur a wide range of psychological injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. These types of injuries can produce significant emotional scars that prevent victims from functioning in daily life. Fortunately, the damages caused by psychological harm may be accounted for in truck accident lawsuits.
People Who Might Be Responsible for Truck Accidents in Carrollton, TX
Collisions with large trucks tend to be dangerous and confusing. Trucks are very large, and it is often difficult for other drivers to get a good look at what is going on before they are injured. They might only see a large vehicle toppling over, but they might not know much else. Our legal team can help you go over the facts and details of your accident to determine what went wrong and who is responsible.
Truck Drivers
The truck driver involved in a collision is often responsible in one way or another. Perhaps they were negligent behind the wheel. They might have been speeding and could not slow down in time to avoid hitting another vehicle. Maybe they turned too sharply and collided with the cars next to them. Maybe the trucker tried to change lanes without checking the traffic next to them, and they hit someone with their trailer. Anything is possible, and the trucker should be thoroughly investigated.
Trucker fatigue is another major problem on the road. Even when truckers do their best to remain safe, they might be too tired and doze off. This is not uncommon, especially when truckers have to make very long trips. Often, trucking companies push their drivers to drive for as long as possible, making for very tired truckers.
Truck Businesses and Companies
If the truck driver is in some way negligent and responsible for the crash, we might also be able to hold their employer responsible. Under the legal theory known as respondeat superior, an employer may be held vicariously liable for injuries caused by a negligent employee. The key is that the employee must have been acting in furtherance of their normal duties when the negligence occurred. Under this theory, trucking companies may be held responsible for accidents caused by negligent truckers.
Other People or Entities
Not every truck accident results from a negligent truck driver and their employer. Some accidents are the result of defective truck parts, and negligent manufacturers may be held responsible. For example, maybe the truck’s brakes failed because they were faulty. Maybe the hitch keeping the trailer connected to the truck was defective, causing the rig to fall on the highway. We may be able to hold the manufacturer liable for your injuries in such a case.
Still, other drivers on the road might have had something to do with the accident. Perhaps the truck driver was speeding, making them negligent. However, maybe another driver in a car cut off the trucker in a dangerous and reckless way. Their actions caused the trucker to slam the brakes and cause an accident because they were going too fast to stop. Both the trucker and the other driver may be held responsible.
How Long Your Truck Accident Case in Carrollton, TX Might Take to Complete
One question that many injured plaintiffs have before initiating legal action is about how long the case might take. While most people would like to get the financial compensation they need, not everyone is ready or willing to start a legal battle that might last for months or longer. The answer to this question may depend on the unique factors surrounding your case, and you should discuss it with your attorney.
Serious truck accident cases tend to take a while to complete. Multiple injured victims might file their own claims, and the authorities will likely investigate a thorough and lengthy investigation. When multiple victims have large claims for damages, and thousands or even millions of dollars are on the line, courts tend to take their time and make very careful decisions. As such, cases may take a long time to complete.
We should also consider how many other injured victims are filing claims. These cases might begin individually, but courts sometimes merge them for efficiency’s sake. Will the court consolidate all these cases or try them one by one? Cases involving numerous plaintiffs have been known to take years to complete. If the trucker or other responsible people face criminal charges, civil cases might be put on hold until criminal proceedings are complete.
Is the trucking company putting up a fight? When defendants choose to defend themselves more aggressively, cases tend to move slower. If the trucker or trucking company is more willing to cooperate and admit to wrongdoing, at least to a certain extent, the case is likely to move a bit faster.
If you are willing to wait, the payoff might be quite substantial and worth your while. However, it is understandable to want to avoid a protracted and lengthy legal battle. Your attorney might be able to work out a private settlement so you can get compensation faster or look into other potential legal options.
Call Our Law Firm for Help After Suffering a Truck Accident in Carrollton, TX
Get help from our experienced truck accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm by calling (817) 476-1797.