Injured in a Truck Accident in Midland?

20+ Years' Proven Service: (432) 214-8125

No one is immune to the dangers of an automobile injury. But when a truck is involved in a collision, the injuries are catastrophic, and can even lead to death. If you or someone you love was in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver, you need the strong legal representation of the Dean Law Firm.

Our Midland truck accident lawyer is dedicated to serving justice for those who have wrongfully been injured. If you have received an injury due to the negligence of another party, now is the time to act. We have successfully won numerous jury verdicts for victims of truck accidents. Discover how we can help you.

How is Liability Determined?

In many cases, truck accidents are caused by truck driver negligence of some kind. Truck driver negligence can take many different forms, including exceeding federal hours of service regulations, skipping vehicle inspections, and improperly loading cargo. In order to prove this negligence, however, an injured person in a commercial accident must be able to satisfy three key elements.

Negligence cases revolve around the following elements:

1. The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to exercise reasonable care
2. The defendant breached this duty
3. The defendant’s breach of duty caused the plaintiff to suffer real damages

Defendants in truck accident claims can be more than just the truck driver. Depending on the unique circumstances of a person’s collision, a claim can potentially be brought against multiple defendants including the trucking company, the truck driver, the loading company, and possibly the manufacturer or shipper of any dangerous materials the truck may have been carrying. Truck accident claims are often much bigger than people initially believe as a result of these several potential defendants.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?

If you have been injured in a trucking accident, it is imperative that you call the police and seek medical attention as soon as possible. The officers will create a police report of the incident and help you keep the situation under control. Requesting a copy of this report later on can be vital to helping you determine liability for the collision. Seeking prompt medical help is crucial since many injuries in truck accidents can have delayed symptoms and can worsen over time. Failing to see a doctor can hurt your case as it can make it more difficult to prove your injuries were a result of your collision.

If possible, get pictures of the damage and your injuries to be used later as evidence. Do not discuss the collision with anyone except the police, your insurance company, and your attorney. Even seemingly innocent statements such as “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t see you” can potentially be seen as admissions of fault and expose you to liability. After it is deemed appropriate to leave the scene of the accident, it is important you contact an attorney from our firm immediately to start building your case.

Trucking Regulations May Strengthen Your Claim

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has put considerable effort into creating rules and regulations that truck drivers and their parent companies alike must follow at all times. Each rule is vital. Any violation is nearly guaranteed to jeopardize the safety of other motorists on the roads and highways. If our Midland truck accident lawyers can decidedly prove that an FMCSA violation had occurred before your collision with a big rig, it can be a monumental advantage for your case. Additionally, the trucking company responsible for the trucker will likely be fined by the FMCSA to deter them further; in some situations, you can also use evidence of an FMCSA violation to sue the trucking company.

Oilfields Put More Trucks on Highways

In the greater region of West Texas and more specifically the Midland-Odessa region, oil and gas companies are enjoying a considerable boom in the industry. As profits go up, so does production to get more of the precious minerals out of the heart of Texas and to refineries around the state and across the country. Increased production directly translates to more oil trucks being on the highways, which, in turn, increases a motorist’s chance of being hit by an oil tanker.

The problem of trucking accidents with oil tankers has become so widespread throughout the area that the Texas Department of Transportation (TDoT) has set up task forces and campaigns in the past to try to prevent negligent truckers from hitting other motorists. Serious legislative change may be required to actually curb the dangerous behaviors and business practices of certain oil companies that put profits over safety. By forcing exhausted truck drivers to work longer shifts to get more petroleum out of their production facilities, they negligently endanger their employees and innocent drivers on the highways.

Learn How We Can Help - Call (432) 214-8125

The aftermath of a trucking accident can be incredibly confusing and hectic. Aside from the pain and suffering that comes from a personal injury, you also have to deal with medical bills, insurance adjusters, and the confusing claims process that can make everything seem overwhelming. The Dean Law Firm is here to simplify your situation by providing compassionate and effective legal advice from start to finish.

Common causes of trucking accidents include:

• Unsafe loading or unloading
• Driver fatigue
• Speeding or reckless driving
• Poor truck maintenance and equipment
• Inadequate training for truck drivers

To determine and prove who is at fault, we take time to review the details of each case, investigate the causes of the injury, and deal directly with the insurance companies. You deserve to focus on your recovery. Allow our Midland injury attorney to handle all the details for you. If you have been injured in a trucking accident, time is of the essence. You have a limited amount of time to file a claim. Get started today.