A commercial truck needs more room than a passenger vehicle to move between lanes. When a driver merges without checking traffic or allowing enough clearance, the trailer can sideswipe a car or force another motorist off the road. Truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in Brownsville may leave you facing painful injuries and lost work time.
One of our seasoned truck accident attorneys can investigate the maneuver and determine how the truck driver and the carrier each contributed to the crash. At Javier Villarreal Injury Law Firm, we focus on personal injury cases and use a team approach to protect your claim while you recover.
An 18-wheeler has large blind spots along its sides and directly behind the trailer. Before moving over, a commercial driver must account for vehicles that may disappear from mirror view because the trailer can drift or strike a vehicle even when the cab appears to have cleared the lane.
When a truck operator makes an unsafe lane change in Brownsville, our legal team can pinpoint the mirror-check or clearance error that caused the collision. These crashes may involve severe side-impact or underride events that produce lasting injuries. They often happen on busy corridors and highway on-ramps around the city, where trucks and cars merge at very different speeds.
Texas Transportation Code § 545.060 requires a driver on a roadway divided into marked lanes to remain within one lane as nearly as practical and to move from that lane only when the movement can be made safely. Tex. Transportation Code § 545.104 separately requires a driver to signal an intention to change lanes. Violating either duty can provide evidence of negligence.
Our lawyer handling a Brownsville truck crash caused by an improper lane change may look beyond the driver. A trucking company could share responsibility if it hired an unqualified operator or imposed an unreasonable schedule. Maintenance records may also matter when defective mirrors or steering components contributed to the wreck.
Commercial vehicle cases often depend on records that injured motorists cannot obtain alone. Evidence may include:
For a Brownsville truck collision due to an unsafe lane change, our legal team can send preservation notices and review records that a carrier may retain for only a limited period. We can then communicate with insurers and build a claim that reflects the full impact of your injuries. Because much of this proof is under the carrier’s control, acting quickly to demand it is vital for a case.
A successful claim may include compensation for medical bills and lost income, along with property damage and physical pain. The value depends on the strength of the evidence and the severity of your injuries. Serious truck-crash injuries can require months of treatment, so we account for future care rather than only the bills in front of you today.
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001 governs proportionate responsibility. You cannot recover damages when your percentage of responsibility exceeds 50 percent. In addition, your assigned share of fault reduces any award. After a Brownsville commercial truck accident involving a dangerous lane change, our lawyers can challenge unsupported blame and present evidence that shows how the truck driver caused your harm.
Truck accidents caused by unsafe lane changes in Brownsville require investigation because they may involve several parties and sources of evidence. You deserve a team that understands commercial vehicle claims and will fight to make it right.
Contact Javier Villarreal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. Our 100 percent bilingual staff is ready to hear your story and pursue the compensation available under the law. Call the Law Champ and win by knockout with a team ready to fight for you.
