Austin Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

Hurt In a Semi-Truck Crash? Let Us Fight For the Compensation You Deserve

At McMinn Law Firm, we use our experience to advocate for the rights of semi-truck accident victims. When trucking companies in Austin operate negligently, those they hurt need help. We are there to be their guidance, support, and legal advocate every step of the way.

Trucking companies protect their bottom line, not lives.

Regulations are in place to keep individuals safe during their daily commutes, however not all truck drivers or companies obey the laws. With a shortage of drivers, we have represented clients who were injured by extremely negligent trucking companies, such as those who employ unlicensed drivers with a history of dangerous driving. Holiday seasons and the pressure to deliver good on time has caused some companies to cut corners that put the public’s safety at risk.

We protect the rights of those injured in by dangerous truck drivers and trucking companies. If you or someone you know was injured, call today to learn more how to reach full recovery after the accident.

Watch and learn with this video created for truck accident victims by McMinn Law Firm.

Truck driver hits a driver of a car. Driver goes to hospital for injuries. Hospital sends bills to the driver. Now what?

Ask the Attorneys: Answers to your Truck Accident Case Questions

Many of our clients were injured by large trucks while driving on I-35. While Texas economies boom, that means more cars, trucks and people. Mopac even has a Twitter account outlining the daily traffic woes. It’s no secret that accidents and transportation are a major problem for Austinites. What isn’t always as obvious is what to do after a truck accident or who to seek for help.

How much can I get from my truck accident case?

In personal injury claims, a settlement’s value can be calculated by adding up the value of the medical bills, lost wages, and other money spent on recovery. Then, “pain and suffering” claims may be added. These are typically calculated from a multiplier of general damages.

Don’t forget that your settlement will depend upon your liability in the crash, your history, and the history of the truck driver. Investigations of the crash may be a factor including toxicology reports, driving history, and dangerous driving risks.

Every case is different. McMinn Law Firm settled a case in 2018 in which a man was injured when a truck driver fell asleep. What happened next wasn’t that the tractor trailer drove into the client’s lane, but rather into the guard rail. The guard rail was carried into several lanes of traffic. Unable to maneuver around the object, the client drove over the guardrail while traveling at 65 mph. Whether your injury happened due to a fatigued truck driver, an unsafe turn by a UPS truck driver, or a commercial truck speeding to their next job, a personal injury lawyer will be able to help you sort out options.

The best way to determine the value of your case is to contact a personal injury attorney today for a free consultation.If you believe that your insurance adjuster is looking out for you in settlement proceedings – think again. Don’t forget that your insurance adjuster is employed by the insurance company. Their purpose is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line.

Why should I hire a lawyer? I got an offer and need to pay medical bills.

If you have pending medical bills it may be tempting to settle a semi-truck accident claim quickly. But there are a few reasons waiting to settle can save you money in the long run.

• You may not be fully aware of your injuries.
• Additional treatments may be needed before the injuries can heal.
• The victim experienced unexpected pain and anguish in their personal life

You can avoid the risk of accepting a settlement claim that doesn’t fully cover you if you wait. An experienced personal injury attorney will help you to make the right decision on when to settle.In short, yes. There’s no set “calculation” for determining the value of a semi truck case. Looking at values from other truck cases in the area may not give you realistic expectations.

How do I calculate a truck accident settlement?

Even if two people were in similar crashes they won’t have the same outcome in a settlement or jury verdict. Say a middle aged man and a young woman were each rear ended by semis on the same stretch of highway. Though their crashes may seem similar, their recovery time, loss of work, and need for medical care will all be factors in determining the true value of their case.

Lawyers know how to negotiate with all parties involved in truck accident cases. McMinn Law Firm will notify the insurance company for the truck company of our representation. Then we will be able to determine how much money is available for your recovery. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) requires trucking companies to carry much larger minimum policies than individuals. Your truck accident law firm will demand a certified declarations (DEC) sheet from the truck company’s insurance policy. It’ll outline the specific coverage under the insurance policy.

It’s possible your attorney will be able to tell you how much money is available once they receive the DEC. Talk with your attorney about how much is available. They may be able to reduce the cost of some medical bills as a way of increasing your truck accident settlement amount.

If you are wondering how much your case is worth, contact an experienced personal injury for a free consultation. Accidents that cause significant, severe injury may leave a client with broken bones, a need for surgery, permanent disability, or cause death. In cases of extremely severe injury an attorney may request the entire amount of the insurance policy held by the trucking company.

What happens after I hire a truck accident lawyer?

Attorneys at McMcminn law firm know how to negotiate with the many parties that could be involved in the case. Unlike with a car vs car accident, a truck accident could have happened because of many more factors. A potentially overlooked, but very important area of safety is the weight and handling of the freight. How goods are transported from Point A to Point B is regulated by the Office of Freight Management and Operations in the U.S. Department of Transportation. This office conducts research and provides regulations for the transportation of goods industry. When trucking companies fail to comply with these regulations, they can put the community at risk.

Tractor-trailor Accident Compensation in Texas

Every crash involves unique circumstances. There is no set of rules for determining the value of a tractor-trailer case. Types of injuries sustained by the crash victim can be one factor in evaluating the amount of settlement in a case.

Trucks typically weigh 80 tons. To put that in perspective, that’s about the size of 10 large adult elephants. With their size, it’s no wonder that large trucks can cause damage. In 2014, large truck crashes caused 82,000 injuries. There were 1,648,000 total injury crashes that year.

The number of large trucks registered in the United States has doubled since 1975. However through sensible regulation and safety improvements to vehicles, the rate of fatal semi truck crashes has declined since 1975. Trends in truck-car crashes show that when truck companies comply with safety regulations, fewer injuries happen.

• In 1975, 4.58 fatal crashes occurred for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
• By 2014, the rate of fatality per 100 million VMT has been reduced to 1.23.

Wrongful Death Semi Crash Attorney

Due to the extreme consequences of truck crashes, some crashes result in the ultimate tragedy. Learn more about who can sue for wrongful death in Texas.

Fatal truck crashes have largely declined since 2015 – proponents of increased safety measures have marked this as a success of their initiatives.

• In 2014, large truck crashes caused 3,424 traffic fatalities in the United States. In total, there were 29,989 collision fatalities in 2014.
• Semi crashes made up 11 percent of total crash deaths.
• The percentage of fatal crashes involving large trucks has declined since 1975.

Dangers of Truck Accidents in Texas

Even with higher scrutiny on large vehicles, violations still occur and put Texans at risk for injury. McMinn Law Firm client Delaney Nelson endured a horrific truck crash that was caught on tape and quickly went viral in Austin, TX.

Cases like the 2222 gravel truck case, represented by Justin McMinn, unfortunately happen too often. Cases in which the truck never should have been on the road, or where the driver never should have been behind the wheel demand competent legal advocates.

Semi-truck and Tractor Trailer Accident Statistics in the U.S.

We see them on the road every day, but rarely stop to think about them. There’s a reason why semi and bus drivers need increased regulation and laws: their size makes them dangerous. This visual shows just some of the stats behind 18-wheeler injuries and wrongful deaths.

Huge truths about Semi trucks:

• 70 percent: Percentage of goods in the U.S. delivered by a semi truck. Semi trucks carry 15 million tons of goods each year.
• $112 Million: Amount spent each year on truck crash injury and loss of life in the U.S.
• 4,161: Total number of people who died in crashes that involved a truck.
• 1,441: Number of people who died in crash involving a car and truck in 2014.
• 369 people who were walking or on a bicycle died in truck crashes in 2014
• The average car weighs 2 tons, while the average truck weighs 40 tons

Where do most truck accidents happen?

• Most dangerous states included: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, North Dakota.
• In Texas, a fatal truck crash occurs every 400 – 500 million miles traveled by trucks.
• A third of all operating semi-trucks in the U.S. are registered in California, Florida, and Texas.
• Semi trucks make up about 15 percent of commercial trucks but travel 42 percent of all miles driven by commercial trucks.
• 140 billion: Average number of miles semi trucks travel each year in the U.S.

What causes truck crashes?

• Speeding of any kind is the number one cause of truck crash fatalities.
• 9% of truck drivers who died were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident
• Drunk driving truck accident: “Impairment (Fatigue, Alcohol, Illness, etc.)” was the second most common cause of fatal crashes for passenger vehicle drivers (such as a bus.)
• Antilock brakes have been required on tractor trailers since 1997. Since then, the number of jack-knife crashes has been reduced.
• Currently, the most dangerous tractor trailer and semi crashes are rollover crashes.

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