Austin Truck Accident Lawyer

Here in Travis County and the surrounding Hill Country, commercial trucks frequently travel our highways every day. When drivers get distracted, drive tired, or ignore safety rules, innocent people pay the price. After a collision, an Austin truck accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for your injuries.

Commercial truck accident cases involve multiple parties, intricate state and federal regulations, and significant financial stakes. A clear legal strategy helps hold the correct parties accountable for your losses. Call Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC today at 512-477-7333 to discuss your case.

Key Takeaways for Austin Truck Accident Lawyer

• Truck accident claims are far more complex than typical car crash cases due to federal trucking regulations and the number of potential defendants.
• Evidence like the truck’s black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records can be lost or destroyed if not preserved quickly.
• Multiple parties may share liability, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the vehicle manufacturer, and cargo loaders.
• Calculating the full value of a claim involves a detailed assessment of current medical bills, future healthcare needs, lost income, and diminished earning capacity.

Why Choose Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC for Your Austin Truck Crash Claim

When you face the consequences of a serious truck wreck, you need a law firm that combines legal acumen with a deep-rooted connection to the Austin community. 

From Hyde Park to Mueller, from Highway 290 to MoPac Expressway, our Austin truck accident lawyers help victims throughout Austin recover compensation to cover their losses.

Proven Experience in Complex Truck Wreck Cases

Claims involving commercial trucks are different from car accident cases and present unique challenges. Our attorneys know how to handle claims involving the 18-wheelers and semi-trucks that travel Austin’s busiest corridors. 

We know where commercial vehicle wrecks occur, from the congested lanes of I-35 to the fast-moving SH 130 toll road to Highway 71. We’re equipped to build effective legal strategies grounded in a thorough knowledge of trucking regulations.

We Investigate Every Detail

We mobilize our team to preserve crucial evidence that can define a case's outcome. We know how trucking companies and their insurers operate, and we prepare every case for the possibility of a trial from the outset. 

Our diligent preparation allows us to negotiate from a position of strength and shape a case designed for a positive outcome. We also issue preservation letters to demand that trucking companies protect essential data before it’s erased.

We Don’t Back Down From a Fight

A truck crash doesn’t just dent metal: it can derail every part of your life. Medical bills pile up fast. Insurance companies push you to accept lowball settlements. Meanwhile, you're dealing with serious injuries that might keep you from working for weeks or even months. 

That's exactly when you need someone in your corner who knows how to take on big trucking companies and their aggressive insurance teams. We build your case on a foundation of facts, shaping a narrative that clearly demonstrates fault to insurance carriers and, if needed, a jury. 

For a free consultation with an experienced Austin truck accident lawyer, call Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC at (512) 477-7333.

Establishing Liability in a Texas Truck Accident

Identifying who is responsible for a truck accident is rarely simple. While a driver's error may seem like the obvious cause, several other parties often share legal responsibility for the collision. An attorney's investigation helps reveal all at-fault parties.

The Truck Driver

Driver negligence is a leading cause of commercial truck crashes. Federal regulations limit the hours a driver can be on the road, but fatigue remains a common issue. 

Other dangerous driver behaviors that contribute to accidents in Austin include:

• Distracted Driving: This includes using a mobile phone, adjusting the GPS, or eating while behind the wheel.
• Speeding: Exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for road conditions makes a heavy truck much harder to stop.
• Impaired Driving: The use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or certain prescription medications can severely compromise a driver’s ability to operate an 80,000-pound vehicle safely.
• Inexperience: A driver without adequate training may not know how to handle adverse weather or a sudden roadway hazard.

The Trucking Company

A motor carrier has a duty to ensure its fleet and drivers operate safely. Negligence at the corporate level can directly lead to a serious crash. Our team works to reveal patterns of corporate carelessness. 

Some forms of trucking company liability include:

• Negligent Hiring: A company may be liable if it hires a driver with a known history of reckless driving or substance abuse.
• Poor Maintenance: Failure to perform regular inspections and repairs on a truck’s brakes, tires, and other critical systems creates a dangerous situation.
• Pressuring Drivers: Some companies encourage drivers to violate Hours-of-Service rules to meet unrealistic delivery schedules.
• Lack of Training: A trucking company is responsible for properly training its drivers on safety protocols and vehicle operation.

Third Parties

In addition to the driver and their employer, other entities can also be held liable for a wreck. A comprehensive Austin semi-truck crash claim examines every link in the supply chain for potential fault. 

These parties may include:

• Cargo Loaders: Improperly loaded or secured cargo can shift during transit, causing a driver to lose control or the truck to overturn.
• Vehicle Manufacturers: A defect in the truck’s design or a component part, such as faulty brakes or a defective tire, may lead to a mechanical failure that causes a crash.
• Maintenance Companies: If a trucking company outsources its maintenance, the third-party mechanic may be responsible for a failure to properly service the vehicle.

The Evidence That Shapes Your Austin Truck Accident Claim

Substantial evidence is the backbone of any successful truck accident case. The trucking industry is heavily regulated, which creates a significant paper and electronic trail that can be used to build a claim. Your attorney acts quickly to gather and analyze these different forms of proof.

We work to get a complete picture of the events that led to your injuries. We use this information to chisel away at the defense's arguments and show exactly what happened. 

Here are some of the key types of evidence:

• Black Box Data: Officially known as an Electronic Logging Device (ELD) or Event Data Recorder (EDR), this device captures critical information about the truck’s operation, such as speed, braking, and service hours.
• Driver Qualification File: Trucking companies must maintain a detailed file for each driver, including their employment history, driving record, and drug test results.
• Maintenance and Inspection Logs: These records can show whether a trucking company neglected its duty to keep its vehicles in a safe, working condition.
• Police and Accident Reports: The official report contains the investigating officer's initial findings, witness information, and diagrams of the crash scene.
• Witness Statements: Independent witnesses may provide an unbiased account of the events, which can be invaluable for confirming the truck driver’s fault.
• Photos and Videos: Images from the scene, surveillance footage from nearby businesses on roads like South Congress, or dashcam recordings can offer clear proof of how the accident occurred.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Truck Wreck in Austin?

A collision with a large truck often results in serious injuries and substantial financial strain. The goal of a personal injury claim is to provide compensation for these losses, both economic and non-economic. 

An Austin truck crash attorney can help you identify and document the full extent of your damages to seek an appropriate settlement.

Economic Damages

These are the verifiable financial losses you have sustained because of the accident. Proper documentation proves these costs; we gather all the bills and receipts to build your claim. 

Economic damages often include:

• Medical Expenses: This covers everything from the initial ambulance ride and emergency room visit to ongoing physical therapy and future surgeries.
• Lost Wages: You may recover compensation for your lost income while you couldn’t work.
• Diminished Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or earning the same income, you may receive damages for this future loss.
• Property Damage: This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and any other personal property destroyed in the crash.

Non-Economic Damages

These damages compensate you for the significant, non-financial ways the accident has affected you. While these losses don’t have a specific price tag, they’re still a real part of your harm. 

Non-economic damages may consist of:

• Pain and Suffering: This compensation accounts for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries.
• Mental Anguish: This includes anxiety, depression, and other psychological effects of a traumatic event.
• Disfigurement: You may recover compensation for permanent scarring or physical alterations resulting from your injuries.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: This damage applies if your injuries prevent you from participating in hobbies and activities you once enjoyed.

How an Austin Truck Accident Lawyer Protects You Against Insurance Companies

Shortly after an accident, you can expect a call from an insurance adjuster representing the trucking company. These adjusters are highly trained negotiators whose primary job is to minimize the amount the insurance company has to pay. They are not on your side.

When you hire a law firm, all communication with the insurance company goes through your legal team. This protects you from tactics adjusters use to weaken your claim. 

Here is how we manage interactions with insurers:

• Handling All Communications: We take over all calls, emails, and correspondence, so you can focus on your recovery without the stress of dealing with an adjuster.
• Rejecting Lowball Settlement Offers: Insurance companies frequently make a quick, low settlement offer before the full extent of your injuries is known. We evaluate every offer to determine its fairness and can advise you on the best path forward.

Negotiating a Full Settlement: Your Austin truck crash lawyer will compile a comprehensive demand package detailing your losses and use it to negotiate for a settlement that covers all your damages.

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Hurt in a Truck Accident?

Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC will help you seek the compensation you are owed. We’re on top of it!

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