The Role of Trucking Companies in San Antonio TX Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Every San Antonio commercial vehicle accident involves the driver of the commercial vehicle. However, the trucking company also has responsibility for the condition of the truck, safety regulations, and the actions of their employees. When you hire a lawyer to seek compensation for injuries from a commercial vehicle accident, you may be filing a lawsuit against the trucking company.

At Carabin Shaw, our team understands the stress involved in suing a trucking company after a commercial truck accident. We do everything we can to reduce your stress, and we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, so you don’t have to worry about upfront legal fees. Call our toll-free number at 800-862-1260, and schedule a free consultation. We have English- AND Spanish-speaking staff available 24/7.

The courts can assign trucking company liability in Texas based on the company’s actions. However, many cases involve vicarious liability, or respondeat superior, whereby the trucking company is liable for their driver’s actions regardless of the company’s negligence. In other words, the company is responsible for the actions of their employees.

Companies are not vicariously liable when employees are not working, which can make commercial vehicle accident cases challenging. For instance, if the truck driver was running a personal errand in the commercial vehicle, the courts may determine that the trucking company was not liable for its employee during the travel to and from the errand. Your San Antonio TX commercial vehicle accident attorney will interview you and collect evidence to determine whether you should sue the trucking company.

Trucking companies can also play a more direct role in causing an accident. They are responsible for running their business in a manner that is not dangerous to the public. This means they must train their drivers, enforce safety rules, and maintain their vehicles to keep them safe on the road. An experienced lawyer will know how to prove that companies did not uphold acceptable safety protocols.

Examples of trucking company failures that contribute to an accident include:

• Hiring applicants without a commercial driver’s license or who haven’t completed entry-level driver training
• Neglecting to install safety devices on trucks such as approved safety flaps
• Failing to respond to driver complaints

A major advantage of hiring an exceptional legal team is their ability to investigate a large trucking company. These companies have large legal teams and commercial insurance companies arguing to negate the trucking company’s liability. A quality lawyer levels the advantages of a large corporation, so you can receive the compensation you deserve.

In a truck accident lawsuit in San Antonio TX, an injured victim must claim damages in order to seek compensation. Damages may be financial or nonfinancial, and an attorney will help to assign a dollar value to noneconomic damages. Damages the court will consider include:

• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage (car repairs)
• Disability
• Loss of income
• Disfigurement
• Loss of consortium
• Wrongful death

It is important to identify all current losses and predict future losses, so the amount of damages claimed in a lawsuit is sufficient. The courts aim to compensate injured parties for their entire loss

The San Antonio personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw have decades of experience, and we dedicate ourselves to providing our clients with the best legal representation in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. Our client reviews tell stories of our client’s successful lawsuits but also how we’ve helped our clients by being excellent listeners and easing the legal process. If you’re looking for a legal team to reduce the legal burden of a lawsuit, we’ve got you covered.

For more information:

• Texas Bar
• FMCSA
• Statutes Capitol Texas