Houston Semi Truck Accident Lawyer

Any accident on the roads in Houston can result in serious injury.

When the accident involves an 18-wheeler truck, tractor-trailer, or big rig, there is nearly always a greater chance of coming off second-best and sustaining a serious injury.

Fortunately, some lawyers have extensive experience in claiming fair compensation for truck accident injuries resulting from negligent or reckless truck drivers.

Ryan DeHoyos is an 18-wheeler accident lawyer experienced in such cases in the Houston area. He can help you claim the compensation you deserve and move on with your life.

Who needs a truck accident lawyer?

The sheer size and weight of a commercial truck mean that any collision with a passenger vehicle frequently results in extensive personal injuries and property damage.

18-wheeler accidents are invariably more complex than car accidents, often involving multiple parties. Determining fault may be no straightforward process.

If you sustain injuries, financial losses, and property damage from an accident involving a large truck in the Houston area, it is advisable to seek legal advice as soon as possible after you have had your injuries checked and treated.

Often, in the case of serious injuries, the family of the accident victim initiates contact with a truck accident lawyer.

18-wheeler accident lawyers are experienced at looking for the tell-tale signs of driver fatigue and other reasons that cause commercial truck drivers to be involved in accidents.

We can start gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, and help you determine the next steps regarding communications with the insurance company and trucking company, and getting your medical bills paid.

Why hire Ryan DeHoyos?

It is in your best interests to work with an attorney following any type of motor vehicle accident.

However, legal representation is especially important in a large truck accident case where injuries and property damage may be severe and complexities exist when determining fault.

At this time, you should focus on healing – not stressing about having to deal with insurance companies who are reluctant to pay fair compensation or truck companies who are denying liability. Insurance companies are notoriously reluctant to pay up for accidents until they are forced to.

Our lawyer will help you determine the at-fault party or parties and start to gather evidence to substantiate your claim. Ryan DeHoyos’s experience in handling insurance claims on behalf of truck accident victims ensures that you do not have to settle for less than you are entitled to.

We will push for the maximum possible settlement or take the matter to court. Ryan DeHoyos is equally adept at trial as in negotiations outside of the courtroom if no settlement is possible.

Recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2019, Ryan is intimately familiar with the local Houston court system as well as the procedures and laws involved in personal accident injury claims.

He will create a compelling argument that aims to hold the at-fault driver/trucking company and insurance company to account. If necessary, a jury will decide but we have a good track record of settling matters out of court.

We believe that victims whose past, present, and future lives have been impacted by an accident that was no fault of theirs deserve full and fair compensation for their physical injuries, financial losses, and emotional pain and suffering.

What to do if you’ve been involved in an 18-wheeler accident

If you have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, taking the following steps will safeguard your immediate wellbeing and also improve your chances of a favorable outcome in a personal injury lawsuit:

• Seek medical attention and a full checkup even if injuries are not immediately apparent. Many potentially life-threatening injuries, such as internal bleeding and organ damage, may be asymptomatic for days or weeks.
• Get the treatment that you need to create a medical record and timeline, which can be of great benefit if you choose to file an injury claim.
• Call the police. Doing so will create an official record of the event.
• Seek legal counsel from a personal injury attorney experienced in large truck accidents.
• Do not talk to insurance companies or answer questions from anyone other than your attorney – and do not sign any documents. Let your lawyer handle all communications even if you are physically and emotionally able to.

Your Houston truck accident lawyer Ryan DeHoyos will look after the entire claims process. This includes:

• Reviewing police reports and medical records
• Performing an investigation into the accident, including accident reconstruction if necessary
• Identifying the at-fault parties
• Gathering evidence, including eyewitness testimony
• Dealing with insurance companies and all parties involved
• Negotiating a fair settlement

Compensation for commercial truck accident victims

If you have been injured in an accident with an 18-wheeler or other truck due to the negligence or recklessness of the driver and/or truck company, you may be entitled to damages for your injuries and financial losses.

Commonly, the claimable damages include:

• Medical costs for emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, prescription medications, doctor visits, rehabilitation, etc.
• Lost wages – current and future income
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Call the police. You must dial 911 if you are involved in a car accident in Houston; you will need a copy of the police report to file a claim.
• Property damage
• Loss of quality of life (if applicable)

Common scenarios with truck accidents

Truck accidents are just as varied as car accidents – and happen for just as many reasons from multiple types of human error to mechanical failure and adverse road conditions. However, truck drivers are professional drivers. While this should mean that they are more careful on the roads, it can lead to another problem.

Truck drivers frequently spend hours behind the wheel covering massive distances. There is more chance of driver fatigue affecting them than most other road users. As trucking companies look to maximize profits, greater pressure may be placed on drivers to do longer shifts in some circumstances, which compromises safety.

Houston truck accident lawyers deal with cases where initial investigations fail to uncover the fact that the driver was on an excessively long shift behind the wheel at the time of the accident and driver fatigue was likely to have been a contributing factor in the accident.

The trucking company may be at fault as well as the driver in this scenario. And if the brakes are shown to be faulty, the truck manufacturer may also be liable.

As you can see, with multiple parties possibly at fault for the accident, truck accident compensation claims can rapidly become extremely complex. Tackling such a scenario without the assistance of an experienced lawyer is beyond most people’s powers.

‘Hours of Service’ rules

There are thousands large truck accidents each year in the US.

Accidents caused by truck drivers who fell asleep at the wheel were climbing until the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) instituted the hours of service rules.

These imposed strict limits on the number of consecutive hours that truck drivers can drive without a break. Currently, drivers can spend no more than 11 hours behind the wheel and must have 10 consecutive off-duty hours before they begin their next driving shift.

These rules have reduced the number of large truck collisions but there are still too many – and many drivers ignore the limits.

Injured in an 18-wheeler accident in Houston?

Whether a negligent or reckless truck driver was partly or wholly to blame for your accident, the team at DeHoyos Law Firm, PLLC will work tirelessly to help you claim compensation for your injuries and losses.

For a free case evaluation with an experienced truck accident attorney, start by booking online or call (832) 745-4878. We receive no fee unless we win compensation for your injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average settlement for a commercial truck accident with an injury?

It is impossible to answer this question meaningfully without determining fault and knowing the extent of the injury and other losses, including loss of earnings, pain, and suffering (physical and emotional), loss of quality of life, and so on.

We can usually provide an approximate estimate of compensation after your free case evaluation, where we will gather all the details of your accident.

What causes most truck accidents in Texas?

Common causes of accidents involving commercial trucks include:

• Lack of driver training
• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Speeding
• Defective or faulty truck parts
• Braking problems
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Prescription drug use
• Driver’s lack of familiarity with roadway
• Roadway hazards
• Trucking companies allowing unsafe truck drivers to continue driving

What is the Texas statute of limitations on truck accident claims?

If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident in the Houston area, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim.

Delaying the process or trying to handle a claim on your own may not result in a favorable outcome.