Austin Truck Accident Lawyers

As Austin’s oldest and most established personal injury law firm, we have been handling truck crashes for six decades. Put our decades of experience to work for you.

The people who suffer the most severe injuries in commercial truck accidents are not the truck drivers but the victims who are in the other vehicles involved in the truck crash.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that out of the nearly 4,000 people who died in the U.S. in truck accidents during one recent year:

• 69 percent were car and other passenger vehicle occupants
• 15 percent were pedestrians, motorcyclists or bicyclists

There is a reason for this: The tractor-trailers (or 18-wheelers) we encounter on our roads are massive. They often weigh 20 to 30 times as much as passenger vehicles. They also have greater ground clearance. Smaller vehicles can readily “underride” a semi when a crash occurs.

As we have seen at Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, most of these commercial truck accidents should never happen in the first place. They result from careless decisions made by truckers, trucking companies and others in the trucking industry.

We Protect The Rights Of Austin Commercial Truck Accident Victims

Our personal injury lawyers help truck accident victims and their families in Austin and throughout Texas hold negligent parties accountable. We are committed to aggressively pursuing all compensation our clients are due.

Our personal injury firm offers experienced litigators who are well-versed in the many complex issues involved in commercial truck accident cases. We bring more than 60 years of personal injury and wrongful death law experience to the clients we serve and a record of delivering positive results.

Our truck accident lawyers have received high praise, accolades and ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, Texas Super Lawyers in Texas Monthly magazine, Best Lawyers in U.S. News & World Report, and others. We encourage you to read their profiles and learn more about their highly professional, compassionate and ethical approach to serving clients.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a collision with a commercial truck, we want to help you. Taking immediate action is crucial. Commercial trucking accidents require swift action to safeguard important evidence, including inspections of the vehicles involved before they can be tampered with. Connect with us today for a consultation. We can discuss your case at our Austin office by phone or at a location that is most convenient for you.

Truck Accident Case Testimonial

“I hired Don to represent my three-year-old son who sustained a permanent brain injury resulting from a collision between an automobile and a passenger bus. In what became a rather complicated case, which eventually went to trial after several years, Don displayed the knowledge, ethics and passion for which he is known.”

— Raif C, bus accident client

How Can Our Attorneys Help After A Crash With 18-Wheeler?

Our experience with cases involving large commercial trucks and 18-wheelers makes a difference for our clients. There are many causes of trucking accidents in Texas. We understand the many challenging aspects of these cases, including:

• Types of accidents — Unlike collisions that involve two passenger vehicles, underride crashes (where the car goes beneath the trailer) and jackknife accidents (where the trailer spins away from the tractor at an angle) can occur when one of the vehicles is an 18-wheeler.
• Immediate investigation — You must act quickly to preserve, gather and analyze evidence after a truck accident. This evidence can include photos from the accident scene, black box data, driver logbooks, inspection and maintenance records, and the tractor-trailer itself. Driver’s drug and alcohol test results must also be preserved.
• Involvement of multiple parties — In addition to the truck driver, many other parties may be responsible for an 18-wheeler crash such as the trucking company, mechanics, warehouse operators, shipping brokers and truck manufacturers. A claim must identify all these parties, including those based in different states or countries.
• Violations of state and federal regulations — A complex network of state and federal rules governs the trucking industry in Texas. Many of these regulations are designed to prevent accidents, such as rules that require mandatory inspections or limit the number of hours that drivers can be on the road. A violation of these rules may establish negligence in a commercial truck accident claim.
• Commercial driver insurance policies — Texas law and federal law set higher minimum liability insurance requirements for commercial motor vehicles. The limits are significantly higher if a truck carries hazardous materials.

The accident lawyers of Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, will use their skill, knowledge and resources to tackle these issues and pursue maximum compensation for you and your family through a truck accident settlement or verdict. We may also consult with highly qualified experts in accident reconstruction, engineering, trucking industry safety standards and other fields.

Do I Need to Hire an Austin Truck Accident Lawyer to Represent Me?

If you were severely injured in a truck accident due to a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence, you could be entitled to significant compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. You need a skilled personal injury attorney who has a long track record of successfully representing truck accident victims. At Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, we know how to build a strong case and seek all types of compensation for injured clients.

Truck accident cases often involve several layers of complexity. A dedicated truck accident attorney can guide you through every stage of your injury claim and handle all of the legal legwork so you can take the time you need to focus on your recovery and heal.

A truck accident lawyer can also handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance companies. Insurance adjusters may use various tactics to try to get you to take the smallest payout possible. For example, they may try to get you to make a recorded statement or say something that could potentially be used to minimize your claim. Your attorney will be able to prevent that from happening. They’ll leverage the strength of the case they develop on your behalf to assertively negotiate for the full compensation you’re due.

When you work with an attorney at our firm, you can feel confident that your case is in the best possible hands.

Types of Truck Accidents

At Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, we have experience handling numerous different types of truck accidents. Common types of truck accidents we see include:

Head-On Collisions

Also known as front-end collisions, head-on collisions are some of the most serious truck accidents that occur. A truck can be involved in this type of crash for a variety of reasons. A truck driver is more likely to crash head-on with a passenger vehicle when their brakes malfunction, they ignore traffic signs or stop signs, or they fail to exercise caution when overtaking a vehicle. Many head-on crashes also occur when a truck driver is speeding.

Rear-End Collisions

When passenger vehicles need to brake quickly, it can be challenging for large commercial trucks to slow down in time to avoid an accident if they don’t leave themselves enough space between vehicles. It’s recommended that truck drivers leave a five-second gap or more to avoid one of these accidents. If you see a truck tailgating you, pull over and allow them to pass. Rear-end crashes are caused by a number of negligent driving behaviors on the part of the truck drivers, including tailgating, distracted driving, impaired driving, and improper lane change.

Jackknife Accidents

Jackknife accidents can occur if the truck driver loses control of the truck and the trailer swings out at a 90-degree angle, forming a “V” shape similar to a pocketknife or jackknife. For example, if the truck driver brakes suddenly, the trailer could begin to swing wide into the path of other vehicles, posing a serious threat to everyone on the road. These dangerous accidents can result in serious injuries or fatalities.

Jackknife accidents sometimes happen when a driver loses control on a slippery surface or fails to use caution during bad weather. Jackknife accidents also happen when a truck driver fails to use caution when approaching a curve.

Underride Crashes

Commercial trucks have a considerably higher ground clearance than smaller passenger vehicles. In an underride crash, a passenger vehicle slides underneath a tractor-trailer from behind or from the side. This typically flattens the passenger compartment or even shears off the top of the car, seriously injuring or killing the occupants in the vehicle. Underride crashes are often fatal for those in the passenger vehicle. For those who do survive, their injuries are often life-changing.

Rollover Accidents

A rollover accident occurs when the truck’s wheels lose contact with the road, and the truck ends up on its side or upside down because of its high center of gravity. These types of accidents often occur when a truck driver takes a turn too quickly or when the driver loses control of the truck as a result of speeding. These accidents are among the most fatal for truck drivers and anyone else involved.

Sideswipe Accidents

Sometimes truck drivers sideswipe a passenger vehicle when they make a faulty move while traveling in the same direction and in an adjacent lane. They may also cause sideswipes when they enter your lane while traveling in the opposite direction.

Tire Blowouts

Because the tires of commercial trucks are placed under an extreme amount of stress, it’s crucial that the tires are monitored for wear and tear and replaced in a timely manner. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a tire blowout to occur. Tire blowouts can cause a truck driver to lose control of the truck. The blown-out tire itself can obstruct other vehicles and lead to catastrophic accidents.

Improperly Loaded Cargo Accidents

When a truck’s cargo is improperly loaded or improperly secured, the cargo could shift during transit and abruptly change the truck’s center of gravity, which could cause the truck driver to lose control. If the cargo is not strapped down properly on a flatbed trailer or the straps break, the load could slide off the trailer. A load falling in the road can cause serious damage to other vehicles on the sides of and behind the truck.

What Compensation Can You Recover In A Texas Truck Accident Lawsuit?

Truck Accident Injuries

Because of the huge discrepancy in size and weight between large commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, victims of large truck accidents can suffer serious or fatal injuries. Common truck accident injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Back and neck injuries
• Head and brain injuries
• Burns
• Internal injuries
• Rib and torso injuries
• Lacerations
• Seat belt injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis

At Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, we understand the severe impact of these injuries on victims and their families. We want to help them move on with their lives with a feeling of security.

Truck Accident Cases

In your truck accident case, we can seek damages that may include compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Loss of income
• Diminished earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Physical impairment
• Physical disfigurement
• Wrongful death damages
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages

We prepare cases for success in the courtroom. When the other parties in a truck accident case see that we are ready to win in court, we believe, they will be more likely to offer a settlement that justly compensates our client.

Our Austin Truck Accident Lawyers Are Ready To Help You

If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a traffic crash with a large commercial truck, it is important to consult with a skilled and knowledgeable Austin truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.

When you work with Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP, you will receive personal attention directly from your attorney. You can count on our firm to work diligently in the pursuit of a favorable outcome for you and your family.

We founded our firm 60 years ago on the principles of honesty, integrity, hard work and professionalism. We continue that tradition today.

Contact us to discuss your case in a timely consultation.

Sources/More Information

• Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2015, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
• Large Truck Crash Causation Study — Analysis Brief, FMCSA
• Texas Motor Vehicle Crash Statistics — 2015, Texas Department of Transportation
• Large Trucks, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety