Alvin Truck Accident Lawyer with a Passion for the Fight and a Reputation for Success
Holland DeKeyzer was named Houston’s Top Lawyer in 2015 primarily for his success in handling challenging and complicated 18-wheeler commercial truck crashes. Because of the many nuances and regulations that apply to big commercial trucks, victims of these truck crashes need a smart, relentless Texas trial lawyer to maximize the victims’ financial recovery.
Most trucks are commercial vehicles, and that means that when they are involved in an accident, corporate attorneys and insurance teams quickly get involved to try to minimize losses for the business. They often employ tactics that make it difficult for accident victims to pursue their claims for damages. If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident, you deserve to have an equally skilled and experienced legal team fighting for your recovery. You need an Alvin truck accident attorney from DeKeyzer Law.
Why Truck Accident Injuries Are Often So Much Worse Than Those in Car Accidents
Big commercial trucks cause serious injuries and fatal crashes for numerous reasons. The average passenger vehicle weighs just over 4,000 pounds, but fully loaded commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Tractor-trailers are not only much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, but they also require much more time to slow down or change course. As a result, it’s harder for drivers to react in time to avoid collisions and when a collision occurs, the driver and passengers in the average car or even small truck are more likely to suffer serious injuries that can lead to death.
Federal and state lawmakers are aware of the dangers posed by having so many commercial trucks on the road, and they have enacted numerous regulations and safety standards to try to reduce the risk of injuries. Unfortunately, however, trucking companies often cut corners and ignore safety regulations to keep their profit margins high.
If you’ve been the victim of a motor vehicle-commercial truck accident, an experienced Alvin truck accident attorney at DeKeyzer Law can investigate to determine the causes of the crash and the companies who can be held responsible. Then, we fight effectively to ensure that you receive the compensation you need to cover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain, suffering, and all the other consequences of your injuries.
Get the Help You Need Right from the Start
While many people think they need to wait for a certain amount of time to pass before they contact a truck accident attorney in Alvin, it is better to get the right legal team working for you quickly after your accident. We invite you to contact us as soon as possible for a free consultation with Holland DeKeyzer.
Remember, insurance companies are like any other business. They’re trying to make money, and they know that denying or delaying claims, or offering undervalued settlements, is the best way to do that. In truck accident cases, you not only have to fight insurance companies but also commercial trucking businesses who are prepared to pitch a legal battle to avoid liability.
For these reasons, investigators and attorneys contact unsuspecting accident victims while they are still shaken up from the event and try to trick them into saying things that can be used to deny their claim. But when you have an Alvin truck accident attorney on your side, you can refer all calls to your legal team. This not only prevents you from unknowingly making a mistake that could hurt your ability to recover, but it also provides you the peace and quiet you need to focus on rebuilding your health.
Types of Truck Accidents in Texas
Large commercial trucks operate 24/7 on roads throughout America, and many of these big rig drivers are under intense pressure to deliver their loads on time and with minimal cost. These pressures force many 18-wheeler companies to cut corners and operate their trucks in unsafe manners, increasing the risk of harm to ordinary families. Some of the most common types of truck accidents include:
- Jackknife Accidents. When a large commercial truck skids on the roadway and the trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the truck, this is known as a “jackknife” accident. These accidents may occur for many different reasons, such as if a truck driver loses control on a slick surface, stops too quickly in traffic, tries to take a turn too quickly, or simply speeds too fast for conditions.
- Underride Collisions. When a smaller vehicle crashes into the rear or side of a commercial truck, and the smaller vehicle gets stuck underneath the trailer, this is known as an underride collision. These are particularly devastating, as the more minor vehicle occupants rarely survive and are usually severely injured even if they do survive.
- Rear-End Crashes. Rear-end truck crashes tend to be much more severe than rear-end passenger vehicle crashes. The massive force of a heavy truck smashing into the rear end of a typical passenger vehicle often leads to catastrophic injuries or death. The cause of rear-end accidents can often be attributed to a distracted truck driver, who may be impaired by drugs or alcohol or simply fatigued. When a truck driver is behind schedule, the driver may speed, follow another vehicle too closely, or otherwise drive recklessly.
- Defective Equipment or Maintenance. All vehicles should be subject to routine maintenance. However, large commercial trucks are subject to federal and state laws that require them to be inspected and maintained regularly. In addition, commercial trucks are more mechanically complicated than most other vehicles, so legally regulated maintenance and repairs make perfect sense. If a truck is not up to date, it could lead to a malfunction on the road that causes a serious accident.
Truck Accident Liability in Texas
One of the factors that severely complicates accidents involving large commercial trucks is the number of people or entities that may share fault for these accidents. That means that more than one person or company can be held legally liable, so it is necessary for a truck accident attorney in Alvin to investigate every possibility and gather evidence to establish liability against every potential defendant to ensure a full recovery for accident victims.
The legal team at DeKeyzer Law is prepared to take on the major corporations and to dig deep to determine other organizations or individuals that could have contributed to the cause of the accident. This includes:
- Trucking Companies. Trucking companies have an obligation to ensure that their drivers are adequately trained and qualified and that their trucks are safe. When trucking companies fail to ensure and verify that their drivers are properly trained and that their trucks are safe for long-distance hauling, they may be held responsible for any accidents resulting from such negligence.
- Insurance Companies. Trucking companies are subject to specific laws, rules, and regulations concerning everything from insurance to inspections. As a result, it can be difficult and time-consuming to sort out what insurance coverage a truck, trucking company, or third party must-have. Still, failure to do so may result in liability for an accident.
- Third-Party Contractors. Most trucking companies use a variety of third-party contractors to handle everything from inspections and maintenance to driving. This may also be to shield themselves from liability. We investigate to determine all the parties that could be at fault, whether it’s a company that loaded a trailer improperly and left it unbalanced or a maintenance firm that did a shoddy job performing repairs.
- Drivers.Truck drivers are sometimes solely responsible for the negligence that caused the 18-wheeler crash. Sometimes big corporations try to shift the blame to the truck driver by claiming the driver is an independent contractor rather than an employee. This independent contractor status sometimes reduces or prevents the transportation company’s financial liability but we work to show that the company retains ultimate responsibility.
Commercial truck crashes are far more complex than your normal auto accident cases because the injuries are generally much more serious, the federal regulations are complex, more potential defendants could be involved, and there is a greater financial risk/reward analysis required. These additional factors require an experienced trial attorney like Holland DeKeyzer with a proven record of success and a passion for fighting the big corporations that put profits over people.
Compensation Available for Truck Accident Victims
When your Alvin truck accident attorney is able to demonstrate that one or more companies should be held liable for your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation to make up for numerous different consequences resulting from the accident. Specifically, you should receive compensation to make up for your economic and non-economic losses, and you may potentially be able to receive punitive damages as well.
Economic Damages for Past and Future Monetary Losses
After liability is established, accident victims in Texas are generally able to receive damages to make up for economic losses, which are the expenses and reductions in income attributable to your injuries. They are referred to as economic losses because it is possible to calculate an economic cost. These losses include amounts to cover:
- Past medical bills from doctors, hospitals, and other providers
- Anticipated future medical needs, including medication and therapy
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Modifications to the home or equipment to enable you to function after your injuries
- Wages lost due to time off work
- Reduced ability to earn in the future (either short-term or long-term)
It is important to keep records of expenses you incur for evidence. Your attorney can calculate the cost of future needs.
Non-Economic Damages for the Intangible Effects of Your Injuries
While paying hefty medical bills and dealing with property damage can be challenging, particularly when you are unable to work due to your injuries, it is usually the intangible effects of the accident that prove to be most harmful in the long run. These are factors such as pain, suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience, and loss of enjoyment of elements of your life. It is impossible to put a price on suffering, but there is no way for an attorney to turn back time and erase your injuries or restore the aspects of life that you’ve lost. Receiving an award of monetary damages for non-economic losses at least provides a sense of justice and helps you provide for the future for yourself and your family. The amounts provided for non-economic losses are often the largest part of a damage award.
Punitive Damages in Extreme Situations
When accident victims suffer harm caused by grossly negligent, extremely reckless, or deliberately wrongful actions of others, their legal team can ask the court to award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish wrongdoing and deter similar conduct in the future. The amounts for these damages are generally capped at twice the value of the economic losses.
How An Alvin Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Most people tend to avoid going to court for anything. The legal process can be complex, time-consuming, and intimidating. As a result, many people involved in an accident with a commercial truck are tempted to simply accept a low-ball insurance settlement, especially with the lure of instant cash. After all, the sheer power of the forces aligned against the victim is specifically designed to frighten people into submission. Adding to the temptation may be a reluctance to hire an attorney to fight for their rights, especially if they believe they simply can’t afford one.
Trial attorney Holland DeKeyzer will never ask you to pay him any out-of-pocket fees or expenses. Holland is an experienced Texas truck accident attorney and accepts cases on a contingency basis, meaning you only pay him if you get paid. Call Holland DeKeyzer and see how he can help. Consultations for truck accident victims are always free.
Even if you don’t go to court, an Alvin truck accident lawyer at DeKeyzer Law, PLLC, can and will help you navigate the complex claims process with any insurance company involved. We will collect the evidence you will need to support your claim, handle any communications, fight for your rights, negotiate a favorable settlement or go to trial on your behalf.
It’s difficult to know whether you should file a legal claim at the outset, so this is one reason it is so helpful to consult an attorney with extensive experience handling truck accident cases. You may not even be aware of what your medical expenses might be, as many injuries are not symptomatic until days, weeks, or even months after the accident. You can rely on guidance from Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer to help you reach the most beneficial outcome. Commonly, any decision to go to court is made after all other options, including settlement, have failed.
Contact an Alvin Truck Accident Attorney for Help If You’ve Been Involved in a Truck Accident
Holland DeKeyzer is a skilled Texas trial lawyer who will prosecute any legal action necessary to ensure you receive all of the compensation you deserve if your claim cannot be settled favorably. Remember, despite all of their posturing, insurance companies hate to go to court. We will handle all of your insurance and legal claims so that you can focus on your recovery. Contact us today to speak to one of our experienced attorneys if you were injured in a truck accident in Harris County, Brazoria County, Galveston County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, or anywhere in Texas.