I Was Hurt in a Truck Accident Do I Need an Attorney?

5 Reasons Why You Need A Truck Accident Attorney in Houston

If you have been injured in a truck accident in Texas, please know that you are not alone and please take comfort in knowing that you have help available to you from qualified attorneys who know how to handle these cases.

Every day, we share our highways with millions of commercial vehicles, most of them 18 wheelers. Texas, where I practice law, has more miles of interstate highways than any other state. It also has more trucks registered in the state than all but one other state. Finally, according to the National Safety Council, in 2021 Texas led the nation in the number of people killed in truck accidents with 806.

Over the years I have represented hundreds of people injured in truck accidents, as well as the loved ones of people killed by trucks. And while each case requires the same basic knowledge and skills from me as an attorney, each case also builds on the previous cases to increase my knowledge and skills. I can tell you from my experience that if you have been injured in a truck accident, it is best to have an attorney experienced in handling them. This is because truck accidents are different from the everyday auto accident. Here’s why:

Truck Size Matters

Trucks are the biggest vehicles on our highways and they cause much greater impacts, leading to more serious injuries and death. The lawyer representing truck accident victims needs to know how to handle complicated, serious injuries that require accountants, day-in-the-life videos, life care planners, and medical professionals such as orthopedists, neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and physical therapists. And don’t forget the expert carpenter that can testify about the costs and labor involved in making a house wheelchair/Hoyer Lift accessible, and installing a ceiling lift track system.

Trucking Companies Don’t Want to Pay

Trucking companies have money and big insurance behind them. If you want to take their money, your attorney better be ready and able to go to court and fight for every penny you have coming. Taking a trucking company to court not only requires experience in litigation, but lots of money to spend on the experts required to not only prove your case, but to show the company you mean business.

Trucking Companies Are Prepared For Accidents

Most trucking companies have special teams that investigate and adjust accidents. Usually, members of these teams arrive at the scene of the accident within minutes in order to interview drivers and witnesses, take videos and photographs, construct diagrams, and take measurements of the scene. Since they work for the trucking company, you can bet their reports will be biased in their favor. You need an attorney who knows how to cross examine them and stack the odds back in your favor.

Truck Drivers Don’t Admit Fault

Consider that the driver’s livelihood depends on him keeping a good driving record and holding on to his Commercial Driver’s license. He also has to maintain a good safety record to keep from getting fired. Traffic tickets and traffic accidents are a threat to his financial future. This makes the driver a very biased witness. I am not saying that truck drivers commit perjury, but I will say that, in my experience, the driver will always remember the facts differently from the disinterested witness.

Truck Accident Cases Require Knowledge of Trucking Laws

The attorney handling truck cases needs to be familiar with the rules found in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) which cover interstate trucking, as well as the regulations required by the Texas Department of Transportation, which cover intrastate trucking. These regulations cover things such as commercial driver’s license requirements, Hours of Service that drivers must adhere to, gross weight ratings, hazardous materials transportation, and vehicle safety, inspection, and maintenance, to name just a few.

At the Law Offices of Robert Rodriguez, we have represented many victims of truck accidents. These are hard-fought cases that require time, knowledge, and expertise in order to get our clients everything they deserve. Your lawyer is a large part of your recovery and healing process, so it is important you choose the right one for you.  If you or a family member have been injured, or if a loved one has been killed in a truck accident, please reach out to our truck accident lawyer and let us answer your questions.

Robert Rodriguez

Law Offices of Robert Rodriguez