Dallas Truck Wreck Lawyer With a Track Record of Success
Were you or a loved one severely injured in a truck accident in Dallas? You could have the right to pursue a claim for damages against the at-fault party. Accidents involving large 18-wheeler trucks are complicated, which is why you need to have a savvy legal advocate on your side. To learn more about your legal rights following an 18-wheeler truck accident in Texas, speak with a Dallas truck wreck lawyer at The Francis Firm today.
We understand the nuances of resolving these claims and the unique laws applicable in Dallas. A truck accident lawyer from the Francis Firm has years of experience handling complex Dallas wreck claims. These types of claims work differently than most other accident claims. The possible recovery amounts are higher, and the injuries are more serious. In addition, truck companies and drivers may be protected by teams of attorneys and insurance companies with deep pockets.
Be cautious of firms that advertise themselves as Dallas truck accident lawyers. Ask to see results, as some firms don’t know how these cases work. To learn more about your legal rights following an 18-wheeler truck accident in Texas, speak with a Dallas truck accident lawyer from The Francis Firm today.
Every decision in a truck accident claim can impact your potential settlement. That’s why it’s crucial to hire a knowledgeable Dallas truck accident lawyer who will help protect your rights. We'll Take Care of Everything Else. Submit the Form Below to Schedule a Consultation.
What to Look for When Hiring Dallas Truck Accident Lawyers
Hiring the right Dallas truck accident attorney takes some research. Choosing the wrong lawyer can break your case and cost you the compensation you deserve. To start, you want a lawyer who has experience handling cases similar to yours. Beyond that:
Choose a Dallas Truck Accident Attorney with Trial Experience
Ask about the lawyer’s trial experience. Have they taken any similar cases to trial? If so, what was the outcome in these cases? Some less-experienced attorneys will shy away from taking a case to trial.
While many cases do settle out of court, there is always a chance that your case is the one that goes to trial. You don’t want a lawyer that doesn’t have the skills, experience, or financial resources to handle a trial. Look for a Dallas Truck Accident Lawyer who has experience negotiating, settling, and winning cases in and out of the courtroom.
Ask About Satisfied Clients
Read client testimonials and check reviews online. You want an attorney who has satisfied clients. Good Dallas truck accident lawyers get results for their clients and clients are happy to provide positive testimonials.
Choose an Accident Lawyer with Industry Contacts in Dallas
Truck accident claims almost always need one or more expert witnesses. Examples of expert witnesses you may need include:
- Accident reconstruction
- Commercial vehicle mechanics
- Medical doctors
- Engineers
- Forensic scientists
- Vocational experts
These experts may need to testify about liability or that your injuries were related to the accident. You want a law firm with established relationships with expert witnesses who testify well in court and whom a jury will like.
Choose a Lawyer You Feel Comfortable With
Feeling comfortable with your lawyer is very important. You will be spending a lot of time with this person and will communicate with them regularly. If you don’t feel comfortable with them or don’t like them, how do you expect a jury to relate to them?
Are you looking for a Dallas truck accident attorney with all these qualities? Contact the Francis Firm. Our compassionate attorneys work tirelessly for our clients and handle details, including helping them find medical care, and we work with a network of professionals and expert witnesses ready to help you. Attorney Michael Francis has more than thirty years of experience litigating cases and is Board Certified in Personal Injury by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has successfully faced some of the largest truck carriers and companies in the region and has won over $50,000,000 for his clients.
Common Causes of Truck Wrecks
Most truck wrecks are caused by driver error, such as distracted driving. Drivers may be distracted by their phone, radio, GPS, or for another reason. They may be eating or drinking and take their eyes off the road momentarily. They may also be daydreaming and not fully focused on road safety.
Some accidents result from driver fatigue. There are laws in place that regulate how many hours truck drivers can be behind the wheel, but it’s not uncommon for drivers to exceed the limits. Unfortunately, some trucking companies push their drivers to work longer hours since they are paid by the delivery.
Traffic offenses, driving under the influence, and mechanical problems also account for many large truck accidents. It’s not uncommon to have more than one contributing factor to an accident. A truck driver might be tired and distracted and commit a traffic offense such as running a red light. An experienced Dallas truck accident attorney can investigate all possible causes of your crash to uncover all liable parties so you have the best chance for securing fair compensation.
Driver inexperience is a growing reason for truck accidents in Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding communities. The industry is experiencing a driver shortage and unfortunately this can mean less-qualified drivers are hired or less focus is placed on driver training as companies face pressure to get trucks on the road. Inexperienced drivers may make preventable mistakes on the road or may not have the training to know how to avoid collisions in specific situations.
Determining Liability in a Texas Truck Accident
Trucking companies may be held responsible for the actions of their employees, but they can also be held directly liable. That means you might have a cause of action to sue the trucking company for their own actions as well as those of their employee who caused the accident.
For example, a trucking company might hire a driver without conducting the proper background checks or without conducting any training. Maybe the trucking company assigned an unqualified driver to operate a particular truck or forced the driver to work well beyond the legal driving limits. These are just a few examples of situations where you may sue the trucking company directly.
Texas is a modified comparative negligence state with a 51% bar for determining liability in a truck accident. What that means is that as long as you are not more than 50% at fault in an accident, you can still recover a portion of your damages.
The defendant’s insurance company will do everything possible to show you are at least 51% at fault, because it may mean they don’t have to pay as much. In a truck accident with significant injuries, this could save the trucking company hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What Can an Experienced Dallas Truck Wreck Attorney Do For You?
You need a legal advocate who can protect your rights and keep you from being taken advantage of by the defendant’s insurance company. When you retain The Francis Firm, we will conduct a thorough independent investigation and work tirelessly to prove liability against the defendant.
Gathering evidence early on is crucial in these matters. We need to inspect the truck and request evidence such as:
- The truck’s black box
- Police reports
- Cell phone data
- Drug and alcohol tests
- Driver log books
- The driver’s medical history
- Maintenance and repair records
- The driver’s fitness assessment
We need to gather all evidence before anything is lost or the truck is repaired. We also need to speak with potential witnesses and preserve their possible testimony for trial. When you’re in a truck accident, the clock is ticking, and crucial evidence could be slipping away. For this reason, it’s never too early after an accident to hire a lawyer. You can be sure the trucking company and driver are contacting their powerful insurers and attorneys, and you deserve to have someone protecting your interests, too.
After a truck accident, you may be focused on getting medical care and may not even be sure you want to file a claim. Even if that’s the case, you may want to contact the experienced attorneys at the Francis Firm. We can help you explore your options so you can make an informed decision and help you understand how much your injuries may cost. We may even be able to help you get the medical care you need. There is no cost and no risk involved in an initial consultation with us, so it can be a powerful way to get answers.
What Factors Impact Your Potential Settlement Amount?
In addition to liability arguments, other factors will influence your potential settlement in a truck accident claim. Several examples include:
- Type and severity of your injuries
- How much treatment you received
- The amount of time you lost from work
- Your overall prognosis
If you need future medical treatment or surgery, cannot go back to work, or have permanent injuries, these factors must also be considered. To maximize your potential settlement amount, you need an experienced Dallas truck accident lawyer who is not afraid to negotiate with large trucking companies.
Contact Our Dallas Truck Accident Attorneys Today
Let us put our decades of experience with Texas truck accident claims to work for you. We can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you are owed. Our top priority is ensuring all responsible parties are held liable, so you get justice and the compensation you deserve. To learn more about how we can help, contact our experienced Dallas personal injury lawyers at The Francis Firm today.
We serve communities throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area and across the state of Texas.