Waco Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been involved in an 18-wheeler collision in Waco, it's in your best interest to speak with a qualified Waco truck accident attorney about your case. Call Grossman Law 24/7: 855-326-0000

If you or a loved one has been involved in an 18-wheeler wreck in Waco, you may be wondering what you should do next. 

One of the most crucial steps after being involved in a truck accident is to hire a Waco trucking accident attorney. Having an attorney in your corner can help protect your rights.

Additionally, an experienced Waco truck accident attorney will work with you and advocate on your behalf to help you get the compensation you need to recover.

Examples of Our Texas Traumatic Brain Injury Settlements

Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.

$7,500,000.00 Settlement / Wrongful Death / Commercial Vehicle Accident

Following a fatal 18-wheeler accident, the family of a deceased woman hired Grossman Law Offices to investigate the matter and report our findings.

Our attorneys aggressively litigated the case, never allowing either defendant to escape responsibility for their contribution to the accident. Further, it would be a monumental understatement to suggest that this case took a lot of effort to successfully resolve.

Our attorneys took the depositions of dozens of people involved, travelling to several different states in the process. Further, we invested many hundreds of hours of man power into the case. Our philosophy was simple: if we allow the defendants a moment to catch their breath, they will treat the case as less of a priority.

So, from the very beginning until the the case was resolved, we made sure that no time passed from one milestone to the next. Eventually, the defendants relented and the case was resolved on the courthouse steps. From start to finish, a case that ordinarily would take most firms years to litigated, was resolved in 13 months, due entirely to our attorneys' diligence.

$1,750,000.00 Settlement / Wrongful Death / Commercial Vehicle Accident

An oilfield worker was driving into work out in West Texas. There was a light fog and it was just before dawn. Without warning, this gentleman struck the trailer of a truck that had blocked the entire highway, while making a left-hand turn. Our client suffered catastrophic facial fractures, a traumatic brain injury, and ended up in a coma.

I-35 Runs Right Through Waco and Is Often the Scene of Commercial Truck Accidents

I-35 provides an important avenue for interstate commerce. However, the unfortunate reality is that the prevalent use of I-35 by countless drivers each day results in numerous trucking accidents. 

Below are just a few examples of 18-wheeler accidents on I-35:

• On July 28, 2020, Waco Fire responded to an accident involving an 18-wheeler and a garbage truck;
• On May 25, 2020, emergency crews in Waco reported to the scene of a 3-vehicle crash involving an 18-wheeler; and 
• On February 13, 2020, the driver of a truck-tractor died in a crash involving multiple vehicles.

As you can see, trucking accidents in and around Waco are all too common. And due to the sheer size and magnitude of force exerted by commercial trucks, injuries can be severe, sometimes leading to death. 

Waco Commercial Truck Accident Crash Statistics

In 2019, truck accidents accounted for less than 3% of motor vehicle crashes in Waco. Despite this, however, commercial trucking accidents remain a serious safety concern. In 2019:

•  2 out of 5 truck accidents involved a commercial vehicle; 
• One-half of all truck accidents occurred on an interstate or highway;
• 88% of crashes happened on a straight road with no grade; and 
• Nearly 15% of truck crashes happened on a wet or flooded road. 

If you or a loved on has been involved in a trucking accident, consider contacting an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Waco today

Most Waco Lawyers Claim to Be Truck Accident Lawyers, but Few Actually Are

Finding the right Waco truck accident lawyer for you and your case is no easy task. In fact, a quick internet search for “waco truck accident attorneys” may yield more results that you may be able to account.

So how do you begin to narrow down the results to find the best Waco trucking accident attorney for you? 

One quick way is to search for an attorney with actual experience handling truck accident cases. This might seem obvious, but it is an important factor to keep in mind. 

Commercial trucking accident cases actually fall under the broad category of personal injury law. While all attorneys that handle trucking accident cases will have an understanding of personal injury law, not all personal injury lawyers will know how to handle a truck accident case. 

This is because there are specific laws and regulations and many intricacies involved in a truck accident case that may not exist in other areas of personal injury law.

Thus, it is crucial that you search for an attorney that has knowledge not only of personal injury law generally but also of truck accident law specifically. 

At Grossman Law Offices, we are confident that our Waco truck accident lawyers have precisely the knowledge and experience necessary to fight for your rights and help you with your case.

If a Family Member Died in an 18-Wheeler Wreck, You Need to Understand Your Rights Under Texas Wrongful Death Law

If someone in your family died in an 18-wheeler truck accident, you might be able to bring what is called a “wrongful death” claim. Understanding your rights and remedies under Texas wrongful death law is crucial to your recovery.

What Is a Trucking Accident Wrongful Death Claim?

Under Texas Statutes section 71.002, a person is liable for wrongful death if that person’s “act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default” caused the death of another.

Thus, if another person’s wrongful actions in connection with a Waco truck accident caused the death of your loved one, you may have a legal claim for damages.

“Damages” refers to the sum of money that the law provides to help compensate for injuries sustained as a result of another party’s wrongful actions.

Damages in a trucking accident wrongful death case are designed to help the surviving family members of the deceased recover for their losses stemming from the death. Examples of recoverable damages might include: 

• Lost earning capacity of the deceased; 
• Loss of care and support of the deceased;
• Loss of love and companionship of the deceased;
• Lost inheritance or benefits from the deceased; and 
• Mental anguish, pain, and suffering of the deceased’s surviving family members. 

While no amount of money will bring back your loved one, a wrongful death claim can help provide support and compensation to get you through this extremely difficult time.

Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in Texas? 

Texas law limits the right to file a wrongful death claim to certain relatives of the deceased. Per Texas Statutes section 71.004, only a few specific parties are eligible to bring a wrongful death claim. Specifically, wrongful death claims are reserved for:

• Spouses, including those who are officially married and those who have common law marriages under Texas law;
• Children of the deceased, including adoptive children; and 
• Parents of the deceased, either biological or adoptive.

Siblings, grandparents, cousins, friends, and unmarried partners of the deceased are not eligible to bring a wrongful death claim, regardless of the relationship's duration or nature.

The Most Common Injuries Caused by Waco Truck Accidents

Due to the sheer size of commercial trucks, being involved in an accident with one can result in severe injuries. Some of the most common injuries that occur as a result of an 18-wheeler accident include: 

• Head and brain injuries,
• Internal injuries,
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis, 
• Neck and back injuries,
• Broken bones, and 
• Rib and torso injuries. 

If you have sustained injuries in a Waco truck accident, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention. Even if you don’t notice any injuries or feel that the injuries you did sustain are insignificant, don’t make any determinations on your own.

Rather, you should always seek a diagnosis from a medical professional. In fact, doing so is essential to proving what damages you may ultimately be entitled to recover. 

Due to the extent and severity of their injuries, truck accident victims will often incur thousands of dollars in medical expenses as they work toward recovering. 

An 18-wheeler accident victim may incur medical expenses such as: 

• Ambulance costs, 
• Emergency surgery, 
• Diagnostic tests, 
• Hospital stays, 
• Future doctor visits,
• Prescription medication, and 
• Physical, occupational, and other rehabilitation therapies. 

While these expenses can certainly add up, you may be able to receive compensation to help recover these costs. This is precisely why it is so important to seek medical attention and have high-quality, experienced legal representation.

An experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Waco can help you assess what damages you may be entitled to and fight to maximize your recovery.

While Not Always the Case, Commercial Truck Collisions Are Often the Result of Driver or Company Negligence

Based on research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 4,136 people died in large truck crashes in 2018. Of those deaths: 

• 16% were truck occupants,
• 67% were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 
• 15% were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. 

Further, these accidents resulted in more than 100,000 serious injuries and almost 5,000 deaths, compared to only 3,200 deaths in 2009. But what are the most common causes of these accidents?

Fatigued or Unqualified Drivers

Because of the heavy load commercial vehicles carry, drivers are commonly under pressure to stay on the road for long stretches of time. They might also be pressured to make back-to-back trips.

As a result, drivers are often burdened with fatigue, despite federal law mandates that drivers take periodic breaks and rest stops. Additionally, because of an increase in demand for truck drivers, companies will frequently hire under-qualified drivers.

These drivers are often unfamiliar with the complex machines they must drive and do not obtain the skill and care required to drive an 18-wheeler. This undoubtedly leads to accidents that could have otherwise been avoided. 

Distracted and Impaired Driving

Just like drivers of passenger vehicles, truck drivers have devices that may distract them from the road. Recent federal crackdowns on using cellphones while operating 18-wheelers have attempted to remedy this issue, but it remains a fairly common occurrence.

Impaired driving is also a prevalent issue that leads to trucking accidents in Waco. In our time litigating truck accidents, Grossman Law Offices has seen multiple instances of drivers operating 18-wheelers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

Failure to Maintain and Cargo Loading Issues

Trucking companies are responsible for performing maintenance on their vehicles. These companies will either maintain the 18-wheelers themselves or hire a third party to do so. A failure to properly maintain the trucks and their equipment is a common cause of commercial trucking accidents.

Failure to adequately inspect and maintain equipment can lead to catastrophic problems such as blowouts and brake failure. If the accident occurred because of an equipment or maintenance failure, that is negligence on the part of the trucking company, not the driver.

Additionally, when a truck is negligently or improperly loaded, it can easily cause an accident. Federal law requires 18-wheelers to carry no more than 80,000 pounds of weight.

However, trucks are frequently overloaded to save money on fuel costs by reducing the number of trips necessary. Overloaded trucks are more likely to overturn when making sharp turns or maneuvering through traffic, making this a very dangerous decision. 

Whatever the cause, if you are involved in a trucking accident caused by the negligence of a trucking company or the individual driver, you may have a claim for relief. 

I Am Friends with an 18-Wheeler Accident Victim; What Can I Do?

You cannot bring the lawsuit, but you can put the victim in touch with a qualified truck accident lawyer. We are confident that the attorneys at Grossman Law Offices have the experience and resources necessary to take on your friend’s case. But don’t take our word for it.

We are proud of our client testimonials and believe they speak to our ability to connect with our clients. In fact, client reviews and testimonials are often one of the best ways to see whether an attorney might be a good fit for you. 

Consider encouraging your friend to schedule a free consultation to speak with one of our attorneys and discuss their case. 

Grossman Law’s Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers Don’t Have an Office in Waco; Does That Matter?

Not at all. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for truck accident victims across the state, and we are ready to help you too. 

We regularly travel across the state and throughout the county to represent our clients. If you are a truck accident victim in need of representation, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.

Regardless of where you are located, we will be happy to discuss your case with you and see what we can do to provide you with the representation you deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Waco Truck Accident?

Although being in a truck accident can be a traumatic experience, it is important to act quickly to ensure you are able to recover.

Pursuant to Texas Statutes section 16.003, a truck accident victim has only two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations for filing your claim. 

Failure to file within the two-year timeframe could result in losing your claim entirely. Thus, it is imperative that you contact a Waco truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights and ensure that you bring your claim on time. 

If you have questions about when your clock started ticking or whether the time has passed to file your claim, contact us as soon as possible to discuss your claim and potential next steps. 

What Injured Truckers Should Know About Seeking Compensation

Many trucking accident claims are brought by victims who were injured by a negligent truck driver’s action. However, this is not always the case. 

In fact, Grossman Law Offices has represented numerous injured truck drivers to help them get the compensation they need to recover. Circumstances in which a truck driver might be entitled to compensation include: 

• Being hit by a drunk driver; 
• Manufacturing defects in the 18-wheeler that the driver was unaware of; and
• Truck drivers who sustain injuries because the trucking company improperly maintained the truck. 

If you are a truck driver that has been injured in a trucking accident, know that you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our team today to discuss your case and see how we may be able to help. 

Will I Be Obligated to Hire a Waco 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer If I Get a Free Consultation?

Absolutely not!

Grossman Law is happy to provide free consultations to those who would like an evaluation of their potential case. However, this does not obligate you to hire a Grossman Law truck accident attorney.

A free consultation is a great tool to evaluate your case as well as determine whether an attorney may be the right fit, but you should hire one of our truck accident lawyers only if you think it would be in your best interest to do so.

How Do I Talk About My Truck Accident Case with an Attorney? 

Talking to a truck accident attorney about your case can seem intimidating if you have never done so before. But don’t worry, there is nothing to worry about. 

Nobody knows the facts of your Waco truck accident case better than you do. If you are ready to move forward with your case, contact our team today. 

Our team of Waco truck accident lawyers has been working for decades to help injury victims recover, and we want to help you too. Feel free to give us a call at (855) 934-1342 or reach us by email today to set up your free consultation and see what Grossman Law Offices can do for you.