Dallas 18 Wheeler Passenger Injured in Collision

Texas has the most 18 wheeler drivers in the nation, and not all of them drive alone. In Dallas, a freight hub, you might be injured as a passenger in a semi-truck moving at high speed on an interstate or traveling a less-developed route like state highway 175. No matter the site of your accident, a lawyer is a necessary resource for protecting your rights.

Each passenger scenario is unique, and you might be unsure about where you stand with the law. If you can claim damages, whose insurance company pays? Do you have no choice but to accept defeat when you’re denied? The Dallas personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw provide both clarity and possibility.

The sheer number of U.S. truck drivers (over 3.5 million!) means that semi-truck passengers need legal support more often than you might expect. Passenger rights in trucking accidents include seeking compensation, receiving fair treatment, and pursuing lawsuits when necessary. It’s also your right as an injured passenger to hire an attorney who understands the nuances of various passenger situations.

You might suffer injuries while approved to ride alongside a truck driver in one of the following roles:

• Team driver, taking turns on a long haul
• Supervisor
• Technician
• Inspector
• Travel companion, if company policy allows

If you’re on the job, workers’ compensation benefits may be available. Insurance policies held by the at-fault driver or trucking company can also frequently cover more extensive damages.

You face more obstacles to recovering compensation, especially from the trucking company, as an unauthorized passenger. You might be injured as passenger in an 18 wheeler in Dallas TX without obtaining the proper authorization in these scenarios:

• Emergency situation
• Hitchhiking
• Family or friend riding along

Although a company’s policies may not allow passengers, a trucking company could still assume financial responsibility for the negligent or intentionally harmful actions of its driver.

When a trucking accident happens, a number of insurance policies are in play. Our team at Carabin Shaw demands what you’re owed from every party who owes you.

The trucking company’s commercial vehicle insurance is likely to pay the most, if it accepts your claim. When an employed driver is at fault, the company’s liability insurance applies.

You can submit claims against the truck driver’s insurance if that driver is the self-employed owner operator of their vehicle. With over 10 percent of all drivers considered owner operators, no small number are legally liable on Dallas roads.

When another driver is at fault, their liability policy is usually tapped first. But if there are gaps in that coverage, you might pursue additional compensation options from the driver, the company, and your own policies.

Many factors influence available pathways, including:

• Driver’s employment status
• Your passenger role
• Fault determination
• Injury severity
• Complexity of the situation
• Disputes about liability or damages

To pressure an insurance company, a Dallas 18 wheeler accident attorney may pursue a lawsuit that’s settled in arbitration (a type of private mediation) or court. Extreme negligence or intent could also mean you have a criminal case, which opens up avenues for receiving victim compensation.

In all cases, Carabin Shaw reviews show that we’ll consider the value of time, fairness of the settlement offered, and likelihood of a strategy succeeding when we recommend options.

Our toll-free number 800-862-1260 is available 24/7, with staff members who speak Spanish and English ready to support you on the other end. After your free case review in Dallas, we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis. This means you’re protected from exploitative fees and upfront costs: you pay only a percentage of what we win.

For more information:

• BLS.gov
• Census.gov
• OOIDA