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Truck accidents are arguably some of the most dangerous kinds of collisions on our highways and roads. People injured in these accidents often face very long roads to recovery and deal with very high costs. You deserve financial compensation from the people responsible for the accident, and our legal team can help you get it.
Damages in a truck accident case should account for your financial costs, emotional or mental distress, and various other losses, costs, and injuries. The person or people responsible for these damages are often the truck driver, the trucking company, and others who are somehow connected to the accident. Your attorney can help to determine exactly who should be held accountable. Your lawyer can also help you gather evidence, evaluate your damages, and file your case before the statute of limitations, which sets a rigid time limit of only 2 years.
Call (817) 476-1797 and speak to our team at The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. to get a private review of your case for no charge from our truck accident lawyers.
Possible Damages and Injuries in Truck Accident Cases in Pasadena, TX
Truck accidents are known to be severe, and many drivers, passengers, and others are badly hurt. In a lot of cases, people experience broken bones, cuts and lacerations, head and neck injuries, back injuries, and even traumatic brain injuries. Many of these injuries can come with serious medical complications. A back injury could lead to paralysis, or a brain injury might leave you with cognitive disabilities. These complications can seriously diminish one’s quality of life.
Your damages should accurately reflect how your injuries have cost you financially, physically, and psychologically. Economic damages may stem from the numerous costs of the accident and your injuries. You are likely dealing with high medical costs, expensive car repairs, and possibly losing time at work because of your injuries. In short, a truck accident is not only painful but very expensive.
Your non-economic injuries may be harder to pin down as they are inherently subjective and rooted in your personal experiences. For example, if you experience serious physical pain from injuries, so much so that you cannot function as normal, you can claim damages for that pain. Similarly, you may claim damages for psychological or emotional trauma caused by the crash. If your injuries come with permanent complications, scarring, or disfigurements, you may claim damages for those, too.
People Who Might Be Responsible for Your Truck Accident Injuries in Pasadena, TX
Truck accidents are often so large and affect so many people that it is often difficult to determine exactly who is at fault. While we should not assume anything until our truck accident attorneys have had a chance to review the facts of the case, there are some common culprits you might want to talk about with your lawyer.
Negligent Truck Drivers
First, we must consider the behavior of the trucker. Often, truck accidents are a direct result of negligent truckers. Just like other drivers on the road, truckers sometimes make mistakes behind the wheel. The only difference is that truckers operate much larger, heavier vehicles, and the resulting accident may be far more serious.
Some common examples of trucker negligence include distracted driving, failing to signal, and inexperience. Drivers must always be alert, but they often become very tired after many hours of driving, and it is not unheard of for truckers to zone out or even fall asleep at the wheel. Another possibility is that the trucker failed to signal when they turned or changed lanes. Since trucks carrying long trailers take up so much more space, turn signals are extremely important. Finally, some accidents happen because truckers are new to the job and lack the experience necessary to drive safely. In many such cases, employers should never have put these truckers on the road in the first place.
Other Drivers
It might also be possible that other drivers involved in the accident contributed to it. A common example is a driver in a car recklessly cutting off a trucker. Often, the trucker is speeding and cannot stop in time to avoid a collision with the negligent driver in front of them, so they swerve away and end up hitting others. The entire situation could have been avoided if the trucker and the other driver had been more careful.
The Trucking Company
If we believe the truck driver should be held liable for the accident, we should also explore the possibility that their employer, the trucking company, may be vicariously liable. Generally, when an employee does something negligent and causes injuries, their employer may be held liable for the employee’s behavior as long as the employee was acting in the normal course of their duties. Including the trucking company in the case may be a good idea, as they likely have more financial resources to help pay for damages.
How Long to Wait Before Filing a Case for a Truck Crash in Pasadena, TX
The aftermath of a truck accident can be brutal, and you might be out of commission for quite some time. While you should take the time you need to rest and recover, you should speak to a lawyer about your situation soon, as you have limited time to take legal action.
The statute of limitations in Texas personal injury cases, according to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a) is 2 years. If you have not filed anything 2 years after the accident, there is a good chance you have lost your right to sue for the accident. However, this might depend on what you are suing for.
What if you are suing for wrongful death? According to subsection (b), wrongful death claims must be filed no later than 2 years from the date of your loved one’s passing. It is important to note that the limitation period in wrongful death cases does not necessarily begin on the date of the truck accident. If your loved one did not pass away immediately, your limitation period would not begin until later, when they succumbed to their injuries.
To Discuss Your Case and Get Legal Assistance, Call Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Pasadena, TX
Contact us at The Queenan Law Firm, P.C., and get a private review of your case for no charge from our truck accident lawyers by calling (817) 476-1797.