Brownsville Truck Accident Lawyer

Our goal is to be the best Brownsville truck accident lawyer, one client at a time. Here are the facts. Trucking accidents can be deadly! Trucks are much larger than cars, of course, and our lawyers see many trucking accidents throughout Texas. If you or a loved one has been in a trucking accident, you may have suffered bodily injury or perhaps even death. What may be even more appalling is that now you have to fight with the insurance companies of the big trucking companies. Fighting for your rights against powerful Texas insurance company lawyers is not easy!

Your best step? Reach out to a trucking accident attorney for a FREE CONSULTATION. Javier Villarreal is a trucking accident attorney based in Brownsville but representing clients throughout Texas, including nearby Harlingen, San Benito, and McAllen. He’s also a top-rated personal injury lawyer in Brownsville, Texas, for more general vehicle accidents.

Truck Accidents: A Dangerous Problem

Trucks are large, powerful vehicles that are extremely useful for transporting large quantities of materials from one place to another. We know, as we are considered among the best trucking accident attorneys here in Brownsville and throughout Cameron County. The trucks roll down Interstates 69E, 68C, and 2 as well as the major Texas highways, not to mention the busy streets of Brownsville, Harlingen, and even South Padre Island.

However, with such convenience comes a greatly increased risk whenever truck accidents occur. Their sheer size puts all other motorists at great risk of injury in collisions with trucks, and the variety of ways a person can be injured in a trucking accident is unfortunate.

Trucking accidents happen, and when they do, people call one of the best – if not the best – trucking accident law firms in South Texas, the Villarreal Law Firm, and our team of trucking accident lawyers. Others think of us as the personal injury lawyers that “do trucking.”

Who Are the Potentially Liable Parties in Truck Accident Cases?

Determining who is at fault after a commercial vehicle collision is vastly different from a standard passenger car accident. In a typical car crash, liability usually begins and ends with the drivers involved. However, securing real accountability requires help from an experienced Brownsville truck wreck attorney who understands the commercial trucking industry and its complex web of corporate entities, federal regulations, and third-party contractors.

The Truck Driver

First and foremost, the truck driver is often a primary target of liability. Driver negligence frequently manifests as violations of Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, driving under the influence, speeding to meet tight schedules, or distracted driving. When a driver makes a reckless or exhausted decision behind the wheel, they are directly responsible for the damage they cause.

The Trucking Company

Second, the trucking company or motor carrier can often be held liable under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers responsible for the actions of their employees. Trucking companies can also be sued directly for independent negligence. Examples include negligent hiring practices, failing to conduct required background checks, failing to perform random drug and alcohol screenings, or forcing drivers to exceed their legal driving hours to meet unrealistic corporate delivery deadlines.

Maintenance Companies

Third, third-party maintenance providers and mechanics may bear liability. Federal motor carrier safety regulations mandate strict inspection and maintenance schedules for commercial rigs. If a maintenance company fails to properly service the brakes, replaces parts with defective components, or ignores bald tires, and that mechanical failure leads directly to a catastrophic collision, that vendor can be held legally accountable.

Cargo Loaders and Shipping Entities

Fourth, cargo loaders and shipping companies can be liable. Improperly loaded cargo can shift during transit, causing the truck driver to lose control or causing the trailer to jackknife across multiple lanes. Overloaded trucks also require a significantly longer distance to stop, drastically increasing the severity of an impact. If a third-party warehouse team negligently packed or secured the freight, they share the blame.

Vehicle Manufacturers

Finally, vehicle and component manufacturers can be held responsible through product liability claims. If a tire blowout occurs due to a manufacturing defect, or if a steering system fails entirely because of a design flaw, the corporation that built that specific part may answer for the resulting damages.

What Types of Compensation Are Recoverable In a Successful Truck Crash Claim?

If you have been injured in an accident involving an 18-wheeler or semi-truck, the physical, financial, and emotional toll can be overwhelming. Texas law allows victims of negligence to pursue financial compensation, legally referred to as damages, to help restore them to the position they would have been in had the accident not occurred. 

When working with a dedicated Brownsville tractor-trailer collision lawyer to build a successful truck accident claim, these damages are typically divided into a few categories. 

Economic Damages

Economic damages represent the quantifiable financial losses that you have directly incurred or will incur in the future because of the wreck. The most immediate component is medical expenses. This includes the cost of emergency room transportation, hospital stays, surgeries, diagnostic imaging like MRIs, prescription medications, and specialized medical equipment. 

Because truck accidents often cause catastrophic injuries (such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or amputations) economic damages also cover long-term future medical care, specialized rehabilitation, and necessary home modifications.

Another significant component of economic damages is lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from returning to work during your recovery, you can recover the income you missed out on. If the collision leaves you with a permanent disability that prevents you from returning to your previous career or working at all, you can seek compensation for the loss of future earning capacity. Property damage is also included, covering the cost to repair or entirely replace your vehicle.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages compensate you for the intangible, subjective losses that do not come with a neat receipt or invoice. This category primarily includes compensation for physical pain and suffering, which accounts for the actual physical agony caused by the injuries and subsequent medical treatments. It also covers mental anguish and emotional distress, recognizing the psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder that frequently follow a violent highway collision. 

Additionally, you may recover compensation for physical impairment, permanent disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life, which addresses your inability to participate in hobbies, sports, and daily activities you once loved.

Punitive Damages

In rare instances involving egregious behavior, punitive damages, known as exemplary damages in Texas, may be awarded. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are not meant to reimburse the victim. 

Instead, they are designed to punish the defendant for gross negligence or malicious conduct and to deter other trucking operations from engaging in similarly dangerous corporate behaviors.

Trucking Accidents And The Law: Questions, Answers, and Resources

We’ve represented more than our fair share of trucking accident victims. Our Brownsville trucking accident lawyers receive many questions about trucking accidents. While nothing on this page on our website should be taken as “legal advice,” here are some of the most common.

Q. I was hit by a semi-truck; what do I do?

First, seek medical help for your injuries. Second, preserve information about the accident. Take photographs not just of your vehicle but also of the truck. Third, do not admit fault. Whether you are at fault is a legal issue, and there is no benefit to you in preemptively admitting fault. You may not be correct. Fourth, contact a trucking accident attorney in Texas. To receive fair compensation from a trucking accident, you will need the best truck accident lawyer on your side. As seasoned truck crash lawyers in Brownsville, we get right to work and contact the insurance carriers immediately. A claim can include compensation for: vehicle repair and replacement, medical expenses, and the cost of future medical treatment. A quick settlement can help ease the financial stress after you’ve been hit by a semi-truck or 18-wheeler.

Q. How do I get insurance to pay me for injuries from a trucking accident?

Insurance makes its money by minimizing settlements. Our Brownsville truck injury attorneys and team can help you file a claim with your own car insurance carrier, but several parties can be liable for a trucking accident. Trucking companies carry commercial liability insurance and may be responsible for paying for damages. If other drivers are involved, their insurance companies could also be liable and owe you compensation. Our job is to help you receive fair and full reimbursement for all damages associated with a trucking accident.

Q. I hit a semi-truck; is it my fault?

Who’s at fault after a truck crash isn’t normally straightforward. Do not admit guilt to the other party, the police, or insurance, as you may not be correct. Speak with an attorney first. Before you respond to any of the insurance carriers involved, you can call one of our truck wreck attorneys in Brownsville. Each trucking accident is unique, and our experienced legal team will thoroughly examine the details of the crash. For instance, were you involved in a pile-up with a semi-truck? Was it an under-ride collision where your car was wedged below the truck? We investigate, collect evidence, and evaluate a trucking accident to find where the fault lies and who is legally responsible for your injuries.

Q. How many trucking accidents happen in Cameron County, Texas, in a year?

The Texas Department of Transportation data report reflects 211 crashes involving Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) in Cameron County for 2020. To review more details, including injuries from car and truck accidents, go to the website data page.

Q. What are the most common causes of truck accidents?

Driver error is the most common cause of truck crashes in Brownsville. Examples include distracted driving like texting, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving while fatigued, or ignoring traffic and road laws.

Other causes for truck accidents include extreme weather conditions, unsecured cargo, and mechanical defects with the vehicle. A common mistake by car drivers is moving into a large truck’s blind spot. This is where the truck driver cannot see the vehicle directly next to or behind them.

Resources for Trucking Accidents in South Texas

Here are some common resources for trucking accidents in South Texas. First, there’s the Texas Department of Transportation, which keeps statistics on trucking accidents in South Texas. Second, there’s the US Department of Transportation, which tracks truck accidents not just in Brownsville, Texas, or Cameron County or even the State of Texas but throughout the entire nation. Next, there is the Texas Trucking Association, with information about trucking and for truckers.

Statistics on Trucking and Truck Accidents

Texas deep-water ports, such as the Port of Brownsville and the Port of Houston, are popular cargo hubs for foreign trade on the Gulf Coast. The Port of Beaumont and Corpus Christi rank in the top 10 U.S. ports for total cargo volume. Trucks transport cargo to and from these massive ports. Indeed, Texas is ranked as the top state for exports. Trucks represent 12% of vehicle miles traveled in Texas annually. There are over 66,000  trucking companies in Texas. 73% of goods manufactured in Texas are transported by truck.

Consult a Brownsville Truck Accident Attorney for a Free Case Evaluation

In any event, it is important to have a skilled injury attorney on your side who can sort through the details of your accident and determine the negligent party at fault. At the Villarreal Law Firm, our knowledgeable truck accident lawyers will help you seek monetary compensation to help cover medical bills, physical therapy costs, and possibly even lost wages in the event that injuries sustained have prevented you from being able to go about your daily routine in life. People seeking honest, reliable, and best-in-class trucking accident lawyers in Texas come to our team of attorneys, and we fight for their rights. You won’t know what kind of settlement you may get without consulting a licensed attorney.

Please call us today at (956) 300-0000 for a free consultation, and a knowledgeable Brownsville truck accident lawyer at the Villarreal Law Firm will examine every aspect of your case to ensure that your rights are upheld in a court of law and that negligent parties are rightfully held accountable for their actions. With our offices in Brownsville, Texas, we’re convenient to all of Cameron County – from Harlingen to Los Fresnos, and everywhere in between.