Car hit by truck

If you have been injured in an accident involving a big truck, you may be wondering, “Do I really need a San Antonio truck accident lawyer?” In a word, yes. When a passenger car, truck, or SUV is involved in a collision with a big truck, it is almost always a
very serious accident, resulting in permanent physical injuries or, tragically, wrongful death [link to Wrongful Death page]. Because so much is at stake, the insurance companies who represent truckers and trucking companies often have a team of professionals working on the case from day one. They all have one goal: to minimize the amount of damages that will ultimately be paid out to the victim of the accident. You need a San Antonio injury lawyer who specializes in truck accidents to safeguard your rights and protect your interests.

Investigation of the Accident

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, the cause of the crash may seem obvious to you – so obvious, in fact, that you cannot imagine that there will be a question as to who will be held liable. This could be because the trucker clearly violated the law, or even because you believe the accident was your fault. After years of representing individuals and families whose lives have been turned upside down due to collisions with big rigs, 18-wheelers, and other commercial vehicles, we know that “what you see” is not necessarily “what you get” when it comes to big truck accident litigation. Therefore, a prompt and thorough investigation into the cause of a truck wreck – preferably by a professional accident reconstructionist and not just the law enforcement officer working the crash – is essential to understanding exactly why the accident happened and who should be held liable. Our San Antonio truck accident lawyers will visit the scene of the accident; take photographs; interview witnesses; and work to obtain all documents relevant to your case.

 

Identifying Possible Defendants

Unlike an auto accident case, which typically involves one driver-defendant, a truck accident case can involve multiple defendants. The most obvious defendant is the truck driver, especially if he or she was cited for speeding, failure to yield, or disregard of a traffic control device. However, the inquiry should not end with the truck driver. Other parties might bear responsibility for the accident, and some of these individuals or businesses may have “deeper pockets” than the truck driver (or, more accurately, may have higher liability limits on their insurance policies). Given skyrocketing medical costs often necessitated by catastrophic injuries in truck accidents – not to mention the financial fallout for a family following a wrongful death – it is important for you and your San Antonio truck accident lawyer to diligently pursue every possible avenue of recovery from all potentially liable parties.

For example, an equipment manufacturer may be liable for injuries or wrongful death if it can be proven that the truck or trailer was defective or unreasonably dangerous. If the truck was improperly loaded, the loading company may be held responsible. In addition, the company who employed the truck driver may be potentially liable through the doctrine of respondeat superior (which holds a “master” liable for the negligent conduct of a “servant”), or it may be directly liable due to, for example, failure to obey laws regarding the maximum number of hours that a truck driver may be on the road during a 24-hour period.

 

A Prompt and Thorough Investigation is Critical

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, the insurance company already has someone working on the case, even if it happened only a few hours ago. As soon as a claim is called in by a trucker or trucking company, the insurance company goes to work on its investigation, looking for ways to minimize liability and put blame anywhere except on its insured. To talk to our experienced San Antonio truck accident lawyers, call us today or click on the Case Evaluation link on this page to reach us by email. The sooner you contact us, the sooner you can have a knowledgeable professional looking out for your interests!