Pearland Truck Accident Lawyer

A trucking accident in Pearland can upend your and your family’s lives and leave you with costly, painful, and lasting injuries. But you have rights, and an experienced Pearland truck accident lawyer at DeHoyos Accident Attorneys is prepared to help you protect yours. With your attorney’s help, you can seek compensation for your losses.

Pearland is a fast-growing community, and it is easy to understand why. Located southeast of Houston, Pearland is known as one of the safest cities in Texas, and the city boasts top-ranked public schools.

Many residents of Pearland are attracted to its master-planned communities, including Sunrise Lakes, Southern Trails, Southdown, and Shadow Creek Ranch. Attractions in this bustling city include Old Settler’s Cemetery, the Pearland Town Center, and Centennial Park.

The city’s growth requires ever-increasing amounts of goods to be shipped to, from, and through Pearland using commercial trucks. Whether you live in Pearland or are just visiting, you are bound to see these massive vehicles traveling the roads and highways. Remember that DeHoyos Accident Attorneys is here to help you when you are hurt in a crash.

Why Choose DeHoyos Accident Attorneys as Your Pearland Truck Accident Attorney?

Any motor vehicle crash can cause serious injuries, but the risk is far greater when you are involved in a truck accident. For this reason, you need an experienced and aggressive Pearland truck accident lawyer who is not afraid to go toe-to-toe with trucking companies, their insurers, and the law firms that represent them.

Pearland has numerous freeways, including FM 518, State Highway 288, and the Texas State Highway Beltway 8. Any of these freeways or the surface roads that lead to them can be the site of a collision with a commercial truck.

Truck accidents can leave you with traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and other forms of mental and physical harm that can cost thousands of dollars to address and years to recover from.

In Texas, trucks that weigh over 26,000 pounds must carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance. Trucks that weigh at least 10,001 pounds and transport goods across state lines must have at least $750,000 in coverage. However, accessing these benefits is not always easy without a skillful Pearland truck accident attorney who can hold these companies accountable.

DeHoyos Accident Attorneys has the resources to retain investigators, specialists, and experts to support your case. Pearland truck accident lawyer Ryan DeHoyos is not afraid to do what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve. This includes taking your case to trial, if necessary.

Alarming Texas Truck Accident Facts & Statistics

According to the National Safety Council, 5,700 commercial vehicles were involved in fatal truck wrecks during 2021. This number is an 18% increase from 2020 and is nearly 50% higher than in 2011. Even though large trucks represent only 5% of all registered vehicles in the U.S., they account for nearly one out of every ten vehicles involved in a fatal crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2019, 5,208 vehicles of all types were involved in fatality collisions. Of those, over 12% were large commercial vehicles. Over 650 commercial trucks in total were found to have played a role in a fatal traffic collision that year.

Other sobering statistics include:

• 716 people were killed in Texas truck accidents in 2021, an increase from 579 just two years earlier
• The rate of truck accident fatalities in Texas is almost twice that of California, which has the next-highest rate
• In 2021, there was not a single day where someone did not die on a Texas road due to an accident
• A reportable crash occurred in Texas every 57 seconds

These statistics reveal the real challenge facing the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The agency has stated its goal of eliminating traffic fatalities, including those caused by trucks. However, as long as truck crashes and resulting fatalities continue, this goal cannot be achieved.

Moreover, as trucking accidents increase, so do supply chain and transportation costs. Higher insurance premiums are passed on to consumers, leading to increased prices for goods and shipping.

Fixing these issues is no easy task. If these numbers are to improve, both the public and the private sectors must commit to making real and lasting changes to the trucking industry. Only then can residents of Pearland and elsewhere hope to see a reduction in the number of fatality and injury accidents involving large trucks.

Why Are Truck Accident Claims More Complicated Than Other Claims?

Several features of truck accident injury claims make them more challenging than the typical motor vehicle crash. The chief feature that makes these accident claims unique is that a corporate entity is often involved. When a truck driver is hauling cargo, typically, the company they are working for must indemnify them in the event of a crash.

Additionally, the trucking industry is regulated by numerous federal and state laws. These authorities govern how truckers are to operate their rigs safely, and drivers who violate them can be held civilly and criminally responsible.

Your Pearland truck accident lawyer will explore whether any rules were violated; violations may indicate that the driver was responsible for causing the accident.

Lastly, large insurance carriers that insure trucking companies tend to aggressively defend their clients against claims. Their focus is on minimizing their own losses and payouts. As a result, you can face immense pressure to settle your case quickly, often for less than you need or deserve.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Pearland, TX

Many truck accidents are avoidable and occur because the truck driver or some other person was in a hurry and acted negligently. Sadly, this sort of behavior manifests in preventable tragedies:

Speeding

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), speeding was a factor in 32% of all fatal truck crashes. The faster a truck travels, the more energy it has and the more powerful its impact on a passenger car. Additionally, a truck’s stopping distance increases greatly with its speed.

Therefore, a truck that is traveling faster than the speed limit represents a risk to other drivers. This is true even if the trucker only goes a few miles per hour over the speed limit.

Distracted Driving

There are numerous sources of distractions in the cab of a semi-truck. From the radio to the driver’s cell phone to animals or passengers, a truck driver can be tempted throughout the workday to divert their attention from the road.

Unfortunately, even a moment of inattentiveness can lead to disaster. Because trucks take a significantly greater distance to stop than passenger cars, truckers need to begin braking as soon as possible in an emergency. The FMCSA found distracted driving and inattentiveness to be the second most common factor in fatal crashes.

Other common circumstances that can lead to trucking accidents include:

• Abusing hours of service rules and driving while tired
• Changing lanes on the highway without checking blind spots and giving appropriate signals
• Driving while impaired by drugs or intoxicated by alcohol
• Getting behind the wheel of a truck without being properly licensed or trained

Sometimes, the cause of a truck crash has nothing to do with the driver or their abilities. A trucking company or mechanic’s shop that fails to maintain a truck in good working order makes the vehicle a danger on the road. Additionally, faulty parts or poor installation can lead to a part failure on the road, rendering the truck uncontrollable.

Common Injuries From Truck Accident

Catastrophic injuries are common in truck accidents, given the greater size and weight these vehicles have over passenger cars. Severe injuries like traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and back injuries can be inflicted on you and others in your vehicle. However, there are other injuries you can suffer as well:

• Injuries to your ribs, shoulders, and chest caused by your seat belt
• Lacerations to your arms and face from broken glass
• Bruising to your face caused by airbag deployment
• Severe burns, if fuel or other flammable material catches fire
• Broken bones, especially those in your arms and legs

Some individuals sustain fatal injuries. For the surviving family members of these victims, a wrongful death lawsuit may be able to provide compensation for their losses.

Establishing Fault in a Texas Truck Accident Case

When fault is disputed in a truck accident, sorting out who is responsible comes down to evidence. An experienced Pearland truck accident lawyer will get to work quickly, preserving evidence to build a case against the truck driver. A lawyer might collect the following evidence:

Electronic Data

Many modern semis have onboard computers that register when the vehicle was stopped and in operation, how fast the truck was going, and whether brakes were applied before a crash. This critical evidence can paint a vivid picture of what the trucker was doing just before the crash.

Dashcam Footage

Some trucking companies require their rigs to have one or more cameras mounted inside or outside the vehicle. These cameras show the driver’s actions and what was happening around the truck.

Records and Logbooks

The FMCSA and state authorities impose certain requirements and limitations on truckers and the operation of their rigs. Physical or digital logbooks may prove or disprove a driver’s compliance with these regulations. A driver who is not following them is a risk to others on the road and may be the cause of your crash.

Witness Statements

If there were multiple witnesses to your truck accident and their recollections are similar, they can offer convincing evidence of fault. In this case, a truck company or its insurer may opt to settle on terms favorable to you rather than risk a trial verdict.

Diagrams and Reconstructions

Law enforcement officers who investigate your crash will draw one or more accident scene diagrams. From there, they will attempt to construct a narrative that tells how the crash occurred and who is responsible.

In addition, a reconstruction expert can examine this diagram and other available evidence, rendering an informed opinion on how the crash unfolded.

How Is Compensation Determined in a Trucking Accident Case?

Every trucking accident case in Pearland is different. As a result, what one person receives for their claim can be different from what you would receive, even if the facts of your two cases are similar. You can expect to receive a higher settlement if you:

• Sustain permanent injuries or impairments
• Are not able to return to work or to your previous career
• Require ongoing medical care for months or years
• Develop anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder

One circumstance that could dramatically impact the size of your compensation award is if you hire the wrong truck accident law firm. When a firm has not previously handled these types of claims, your lawyer may not have enough experience to negotiate for a fair settlement.

DeHoyos Accident Attorneys is committed to helping you receive just compensation for your injuries. When that cannot be accomplished through a settlement, we will take the responsible parties to trial to get you justice.

Pearland, Texas, and the Trucking Industry

Given its inclusion as part of the Houston metropolitan area and proximity to numerous highways, Pearland drivers do not need to look far to find large commercial trucks. These heavy vehicles are found on State Highway 288, FM 518, and Main Street/Telephone Road.

Texas State Highway Beltway 8 also contains a large number of commercial trucks. Beltway 8 completely encircles the city of Houston and is essential for commercial and general traffic looking to travel around Houston and to outlying nearby cities.

An Experienced Truck Accident Law Firm in Pearland, TX

Do not trust an inexperienced attorney with something as important as your truck accident injury claim. Your ability to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses may depend on proper and timely preparation and legal action.

The legal team at DeHoyos Accident Attorneys knows the stakes are high when you have been hurt by a negligent truck driver. We’re ready to hold negligent drivers and trucking companies accountable for their carelessness.

Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, your Pearland truck accident law firm, and let us start fighting for your rights.

FAQ

Truck accident victims like you often ask their truck accident lawyer these questions:

Who Is Responsible in a Truck Case, the Driver or the Trucking Company?

Depending on the circumstances, the truck driver, the trucking company, a passenger car driver, or someone else may be at fault for the crash. This underscores the need for an experienced truck accident lawyer to help you with your case.

A lawyer might make inquiries to determine fault, such as whether the driver was an independent contractor or an employee. They may also investigate whether the driver was following company policy when the crash happened.

In many cases, the trucking company must indemnify their drivers if their truck drivers are involved in a crash. Thus, the trucking company or its insurer often pays after a truck accident.

How Long Will My Case Take?

A case that reaches a settlement will generally resolve faster than a case that proceeds to trial. However, forecasting exactly how long a truck accident case will take is impossible.

You and the other parties involved might reach a settlement within six or seven months. If your case must proceed to trial, it can take over a year before your case sees the inside of a courtroom. The appellate process can add time to your case if the losing party appeals an adverse verdict.

What if Someone’s Loved One Died as a Result of the Accident?

The surviving spouse, children, or certain other family members of the deceased may bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Such a lawsuit compensates these individuals for the unique harm they suffer from having their loved one taken from them prematurely.

Will I Need to Appear in Court?

You do not need to appear in court if your case can be resolved through a fair settlement agreement. If one is not possible, you may decide to file a lawsuit and take the case to court. Your attorney can help prepare you if this becomes necessary.

Will I Have Direct Access to an Attorney?

You deserve a lawyer who offers direct access and openly communicates about your case. At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, we pride ourselves on the personalized attention we offer throughout your claim, providing direct access to your truck accident lawyer and recovery team.