Yes, hiring a truck accident lawyer is often worth it, especially if you've suffered injuries, significant property damage, or disputes over liability. Truck accident cases tend to be far more complex than regular car accidents due to factors like federal trucking regulations, corporate liability, and the severity of damages. Here’s why hiring a specialized attorney is a smart move:
1. Determining Liability in Complex Cases
Truck accidents often involve multiple liable parties, including:
- The truck driver (e.g., negligence, fatigue, DUI)
- The trucking company (e.g., negligent hiring, poor maintenance)
- The cargo loaders (e.g., overloaded or improperly loaded cargo)
- The truck manufacturer (e.g., defective parts or mechanical failure)
- Government entities (if road conditions contributed)
A lawyer will investigate and determine all responsible parties, maximizing your chances of fair compensation.
2. Understanding Federal & State Trucking Regulations
Unlike regular car accident cases, trucking accidents involve federal regulations enforced by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), such as:
- Hours of Service (HOS) rules (preventing driver fatigue)
- Maintenance and inspection requirements
- Drug and alcohol testing rules
- Weight and cargo restrictions
A truck accident attorney understands how to leverage violations of these regulations to strengthen your case.
3. Handling Insurance Companies & Maximizing Compensation
Trucking companies often have high-limit insurance policies, and their insurers will aggressively fight to minimize payouts. They may:
- Deny liability or shift blame onto you
- Offer lowball settlements before you know the full extent of your injuries
- Delay payments in hopes that you’ll settle for less
An attorney can negotiate aggressively to ensure you receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Wrongful death (if applicable)
4. Gathering Evidence Before It’s Lost
Key evidence in a truck accident case includes:
- Black box data (electronic logging device recording speed, braking, etc.)
- Dashcam footage (if available)
- Truck driver logs (to check for HOS violations)
- Maintenance records (proving negligence)
- Witness testimony and accident reconstruction reports
A lawyer can preserve this evidence before it's altered or destroyed by the trucking company.
5. Taking the Case to Trial (If Necessary)
If negotiations fail, an experienced truck accident attorney can file a lawsuit and represent you in court. Trucking companies have powerful legal teams, so having an aggressive lawyer on your side is crucial.
When Is Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer NOT Worth It?
- If the accident was minor (no injuries, minimal damage)
- If liability is clear, and the insurance company offers fair compensation upfront (rare in truck accidents)
- If legal fees outweigh the potential compensation
Final Verdict
If you’ve been involved in a serious truck accident, hiring a truck accident lawyer is almost always worth it. The complexity of these cases, along with the high stakes, makes professional legal representation critical to securing maximum compensation.
All motor vehicle accidents that occur in Texas are stressful and costly, but truck wrecks are particularly serious. These types of auto accidents can leave victims with severe, catastrophic, and disabling injuries. Victims of truck accidents may even lose their lives during impact or after the accident.
When a truck accident happens, the costs can be significant. During such a time, you’ll want to recover the full compensation that covers your injuries and other damages. This is when you may wonder why you need a truck accident lawyer.
If you are wondering whether to hire a Dallas truck accident lawyer, then it’s best to hire one. Why? So that you can get the justice and financial compensation you deserve after a truck collision in Texas.
Top Reasons To Hire a Truck Accident Attorney
Keep in mind that every accident is a little different. An experienced truck accident lawyer will look at the facts surrounding your truck wreck case and provide the best legal options and tailored advice based on your situation.
Here are some of the top reasons to hire a truck accident attorney.
1. Trucking Regulations Are Complicated
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the federal agency that regulates the trucking industry. Its primary role is to prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities involving buses and large trucks on U.S. roadways.
Since truckers in Texas are working on the clock, the FMCSA requires them to maintain certain standards while driving, including:
- Logging hours and rest breaks
- Tracking scheduled truck maintenance
- Keeping up with annual inspections
- Maintaining commercial driver qualifications
Still, there are also state laws that govern the trucking industry in Texas. That being said, trucking companies often pressure truck drivers to meet strict schedules and deadlines. Although many truckers are responsible, some truck wrecks that happen within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex happen when drivers don’t have enough rest and violate FMCSA’s hours of service (HOS) regulations.
2. Several Parties May Be Liable
One of the top reasons to hire a truck accident attorney is to identify all at-fault parties and establish negligence. When filing a truck accident claim in Texas, you can recover damages from anyone responsible for your crash. To secure financial compensation, you must prove the four elements of negligence:
- Duty. The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- Breach. The defendant breached their duty.
- Causation. This breach led to your injury.
- Damages. You suffered losses as a result of the accident.
Often, liability for truck accidents falls on the at-fault driver.
However, there are instances where other parties may be fully or partially at fault for the accident, including:
- The trucking company
- The truck or parts manufacturer
- The company offering repair services
- The truck owner
- The truck driver’s employer
- The cargo loading company
- Another driver on Texas roads
- The county, city, or state government
Determining who is liable for your truck accident can be a difficult and complex process. Take note that the more potential parties involved in your truck wreck case, the more complex the accident case becomes.
A lawyer with truck-accident experience can gather evidence, investigate details of the accident, and identify all liable parties.
3. Damages Are Often More Serious
The sheer weight and size of 18-wheelers or semi-trucks can lead to significant damage during a collision. Remember, an 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 lbs, or about 20 times as much as a passenger vehicle. The consequences can be even worse when a truck is loaded with flammable or hazardous cargo.
Damages from Texas truck wrecks are often higher due to the significant medical bills involved, more time off work, as well as emotional damages. Many people also lose their lives in truck wrecks, especially the occupants of passenger vehicles.
Insurance companies won’t want to cover your significant damages. They may offer quick compensation that doesn’t cover your future medical bills and pain and suffering damages.
An experienced truck accident lawyer in Dallas can investigate your case to determine all available damages and push for the best settlement. At Francis Injury, our lawyers won’t accept lowball offers that don’t reflect the true worth of your Texas truck accident claim. We will also help you get the best medical care after your truck accident.
4. Trucking Insurance Is Different
The intricacies involved in trucking insurance can be just as complex as federal and Texas trucking regulations.
In truck accident cases, there are often several insurance policies in place. The trucking company, the truck itself, and the trucker may all have active covers. In some cases, the cargo may also be insured.
The claims process can become quite confusing when many policies are involved, complicating the recovery process. Plus, insurance carriers are in business. They want to save money by offering victims the least payout. Enlisting the services of a reliable truck accident lawyer from Dallas or Fort Worth will ensure you don’t have to worry about dealing with claims adjusters from different insurance companies.
Your lawyer will handle all talks with insurance companies on a contingency fee basis. At Francis Injury, we will investigate each insurance policy, determine where you should file your injury claim, and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
This gives you time to focus on healing and being with your loved ones, as Francis Injury handles talks with different insurance companies.
Other Reasons To Hire a Truck Accident Attorney
Here are some other reasons you should consider hiring an attorney:
- Develop the best legal strategy for your claim
- Ensure you say the right things
- Protect your legal rights and interests
- Dodge scare tricks and tactics
- Relevant truck-accident experience and knowledge
When Should I Hire a Trucking Accident Attorney?
The sooner you reach out to a trucking accident lawyer in Texas, the better. Time is of the essence when it comes to personal injury claims. Remember, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a truck accident claim in Texas.
Hiring a lawyer immediately after your accident ensures you don’t lose evidence at the scene of the accident. Marks on the pavement can fade, debris can be cleaned, vehicles can be moved, and surveillance footage can be deleted.
If you delay for too long, the trucker and/or the trucking company can gain an advantage. This, in turn, may hurt your truck accident claim.
Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Texas Today
At Francis Injury, our trucking accident lawyers have been helping injured victims in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and all over Texas secure maximum compensation for their injuries and other damages. Our legal team is passionate about working with truck accident victims and helping them win the settlements they deserve. Contact us today to get started with a free consultation. Our reliable lawyers will discuss the details of your case and answer any questions that you may have. We are here to help you.