Suffering from a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Big Springs, Texas?
One of the most prevalent and dangerous industries the United States is commercial trucking. You see them everywhere, especially on the highways around Big Springs, Texas. And because of the increase in trucks on the roads, there has been a corresponding increase in trucking accidents—nearly 500,000 in this country alone every year. On top of that, big rig accidents tend to be far more dangerous and injurious than typical accidents involving passenger vehicles, because trucks are so large, and much heavier, than cars.
Are you suffering from a commercial vehicle accident in Big Springs, Texas? If so, you may be unsure of what to do next, or if you may have a viable personal injury claim. The Big Springs commercial vehicle accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw want you to know that we are here to help you in this time of need.
Damages From Trucking AccidentsThere are two types of damages in a potential lawsuit after a commercial truck accident in Big Springs: economic, and non-economic.
Economic damages refers to things with a specific monetary value, such as:
- Both past and future medical expenses (including surgeries, doctors’ bills, physical therapy, and more)
- Property damage
- Lost wages due to missed work
- And more
Non-economic damages refers to things without a specific value, but whose value can be estimated by your Big Springs accident lawyer and negotiated in a settlement, or, if the case goes to trial, ultimately determined by a judge and jury. These include:
- Pain and suffering, including psychological damage and mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Wrongful death
- Punitive damages
- Other intangible losses
In order to win any damages, however, your attorney must be able to prove liability in your lawsuit. To do this, your lawyer will need extensive evidence—for example, photographs from the scene of the accident, or witness testimony—as well as a medical record and police report.
With this in hand, your Big Springs accident lawyer will attempt to prove that there was negligence and in a commercial truck accident in Big Springs, there can be negligence on behalf of several parties, including:
- The driver
- If the driver was driving recklessly, such as driving while fatigued or distracted (like texting), or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they will be held liable for your injuries. This also holds if the driver broke standard driving practices, such as speeding, not obeying stop signs, or not using a turn signal.
- The commercial vehicle company
- A company that owns the vehicles may be held liable for a number of reasons; for example, if they do not inspect their trucks regularly, or if they load them improperly, or if they force their drivers to drive more than the legal maximum number of hours per day they are allowed to drive.
- A parts manufacturer
- If a faulty part, such as the brakes, are the cause of your accident, then the parts manufacturer can be held liable for your damages as well.
Since commercial truck accident cases are so complex, we strongly recommend your reach out to an experienced attorney to help you navigate the process. An experienced lawyer can help you gather evidence, call in experts, and stay on the timeline so you don’t pass the statute of limitations on your suit. For Texas, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a claim, and though it may sound like a long time right now, those months pass very quickly when you're focused on recovery.
An knowledgeable Big Springs commercial vehicle accident attorney can also help you negotiate with insurance companies, who will try to offer you the lowest amount of money possible for your settlement. They can also help you battle against the team of lawyers that work for the trucking company, who will try to minimize the company’s liability.
The Next Step You Should TakeAre you suffering from a commercial vehicle accident in Big Springs, Texas? If so, we know how difficult it can be. Call the Big Springs, Texas office of Carabin Shaw at 432-620-0544 for a free, no obligation consultation with an attorney, and let us help you get the compensation you deserve. You don’t need to face this ordeal alone.