Trucking Company Negligence
A truck accident attorney you can trust to pursue justice
Any motor vehicle has the potential to cause severe injuries in a collision, but commercial trucks are especially dangerous because of their sheer size. Semi-trucks, big rigs, 18-wheelers and tractor trailers can all weigh up to 80,000 pounds. That’s why trucking companies are held to high legal standards: to protect motorists. But too many trucking companies fail to act responsibly and put profits ahead of safety. When they cause truck accidents, you need an experienced lawyer to hold them accountable.
Fort Worth truck accident attorney Coby L. Wooten understands how devastating truck accidents can be. If you’ve been injured due to a trucking company’s negligence, Coby and his legal team can help you fight for the compensation you need.
How we uncover trucking company negligence
Trucking companies are required by law to make sure their trucks are safe and well-maintained, and that their drivers are responsible and properly trained. But many trucking companies fail in these responsibilities. Some forms of negligence we investigate after a truck accident include:
- Negligent hiring: The trucking company may have failed to conduct a background check, or hired a driver even after the background check raised red flags. Or the trucking company may have hired a driver who was not properly qualified to operate a commercial vehicle.
- Negligent retention: If the trucking company continued to employ a driver after becoming aware of a serious safety concern such as drunk or reckless driving, we may have a case for negligent retention.
- Negligent supervision or training: Trucking companies are responsible for training and supervising their drivers to make sure they are operating their vehicles safely. Negligence in this area can have serious consequences.
- Failure to follow hours of service (HOS) laws: Federal law requires truck drivers to take mandatory rest breaks. But instead of upholding those regulations, some trucking companies put pressure on drivers to work through those breaks in order to make deliveries faster.
- Negligent maintenance of vehicles: The truck itself needs to be kept in good working order. Some trucking companies delay addressing serious safety issues, such as brake and engine problems, in the name of profits.
- Negligent loading of vehicles: There are many ways to improperly load a truck. It may be overloaded, making the vehicle unstable. Conversely, underfilling a tanker truck can cause loss of stability when the liquid moves around inside the tank (sloshing). Not properly securing loads can also cause a loss of stability when the load shifts, or create a direct hazard to other vehicles when objects fall on the road.
In order to find the key evidence that a trucking company’s negligence caused your accident, we need to move quickly. Otherwise, the evidence we need to build a strong legal case might n no longer exist if we wait too long to start our investigation. That’s why you need to contact us right away. Many of the records we need to review are the trucking company’s property, and swift legal action is needed to preserve and recover those documents. We’ll check the truck’s black box, or event data recorder, as well as the hours of service (HOS) logs and other key records. As soon as you retain Coby L. Wooten, Attorney At Law, P.C., we’ll go to work to make sure your rights are protected.
Holding negligent trucking companies accountable
A truck accident can leave you with serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment. You may need diagnostic tests, MRIs, CT scans, lab tests, surgery, hospitalization, medication, physical therapy and multiple follow-up appointments with doctors. Medical expenses can add up quickly and become overwhelming.
We determine the total amount of damages you suffered and demand compensation. This includes current and future medical expenses for treating your injuries, as well as lost wages if you were unable to work. We may also seek compensation for damages such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
Our firm builds strong cases that trucking companies and their insurance carriers have to take seriously. Many times, we are able to negotiate a settlement. But we are not interested in making quick deals that help insurance companies save money. We know you deserve more than their lowball offers. Any resolution of your case has to be one that meets your needs, whether that’s through a settlement or a jury verdict.
Talk to a truck accident attorney right away
In Texas, the statute of limitations for taking legal action is two years from the date of your truck accident. But it’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible. It can take several months to gather evidence and build a strong case. Over time, evidence can be lost. It can be destroyed. Witnesses can forget important details.
The sooner we can get started on your case, the better. And because we work on a contingency fee basis, it costs you nothing as we move your case forward. There are no upfront fees or other charges. We only get paid if we recover financial compensation for you. One of our attorneys will personally work on your case. We don’t use case managers here.
Our attorneys have been fighting for the injured for more than 30 years. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, we can help you hold the trucking company accountable and fight for the compensation you need to rebuild your life. Contact us online or call 866-408-0940 for your free consultation.