From Crash to Claim - The 18 Wheeler Accident Claim Process in San Antonio, Texas

An accident with an 18 wheeler or big commercial truck can alter someone’s life substantially. Carabin Shaw’s San Antonio trucking accident lawyers are committed to restoring victims’ lives back to normal after one of these damaging accidents by pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent parties. If you or someone you love was recently impacted by an 18 wheeler accident in San Antonio, Texas, call us 24/7 at 800-862-1260 to schedule your free case review and learn more about your legal rights and options moving forward.

Our team at Carabin Shaw has represented personal injury victims and their families for over thirty years in the great state of Texas. We are committed to obtaining justice and compensation on your behalf to ensure that those injured due to another's negligence can begin to heal and restore their lives to normal. Our attorneys also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t owe us anything unless your case is won. English and Spanish-speaking professionals are available to assist you.

Navigating an 18-wheeler accident claim is complex and often overwhelming for laypeople without litigation experience, as most victims are. Multiple parties may also be involved, which are represented by multiple insurance agencies. State and national trucking regulations also muddy the waters for those who are unfamiliar.

Below are a few factors for those considering a personal injury lawsuit, but remember that hiring an experienced law firm is strongly suggested to maximize compensation and ensure a winning outcome. Contact a Texas attorney as soon as possible for more specific advice and support to discuss your legal options.

• Multiple parties can be held responsible for an accident, including the truck driver, trucking company, truck owner, maintenance company, parts manufacturers, cargo loaders, and more.
• Texas is an at-fault state, meaning that the burden of proof is on you and your legal team to prove negligence.
• You may be found partially at fault for the accident. If so, as long as you were under 50% responsible, you are still eligible for compensation. Your percentage of fault will simply reduce the damages awarded in accordance with your responsibility.
• Trucking companies and insurers often have deep pockets and powerful resources to fight claims aggressively. It is imperative that you have a lawyer on your side who has extensive experience with such cases to ensure victory.

After a semi-truck accident in San Antonio, those involved will quickly move to assign responsibility. Negligence is a legal concept defined as the failure to behave with a reasonable level of care. This carelessness may then lead to an accident and injuries to follow. The key elements of negligence can be broken down into the following:

1. The accused party must have owed a legal duty to the plaintiff to act with reasonable care. Commercial truck drivers have a duty of care to those who share the road due to their vehicles' size and potential danger.
2. The defendant (accused party) failed to exercise ordinary care, thus breaching their legal duty.
3. The defendant's breach of duty must have been the direct cause of the plaintiff's injuries. It is your lawyer’s job to illustrate this via evidence.
4. The plaintiff must have suffered actual harm or losses due to the defendant's negligence.

While items like hospital bills and car repairs are easily identifiable damages in these cases, emotional damage like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment of life are also financial burdens. After an 18 wheeler accident in Texas, victims are eligible to pursue damages that fall into one of three categories:

1. Economic: Includes items easily calculated like surgeries, medications, gas from traveling to doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, etc.
2. Noneconomic: Includes intangible costs like pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and more.
3. Punitive: These damages are assigned by a judge or jury for particularly reckless, endangering behavior.

Our law firm is committed to tirelessly advocating for and fighting on behalf of our clients. We empathize with the trying journey that victims of trucking accidents have to contend with after a serious accident and will do everything in our power to alleviate that burden.

Call 800-862-1260 now to schedule your free consultation to discuss your case and answer any initial questions you have. Our San Antonio injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw are ready and look forward to hearing from you. Get the justice and compensation you deserve, and begin your journey to healing and restoration by contacting us today. Hablamos Español!

For more information:

• Texas Statutes 41
• Texas Statutes 33
• Cornell Law