Bedford Truck Accident Lawyer
Being involved in a truck accident can be a devastating experience. Catastrophic injuries are most likely to occur when a heavy truck—perhaps loaded with hazardous materials—collides with a much smaller passenger vehicle. The airbags and seatbelts in the smaller vehicle simply aren’t enough protection from an 80,000-pound semi-truck and trailer. You may feel overwhelmed, alone, and unsure of what you need to do to protect your rights.
At a time like this, you need a highly experienced Bedford truck accident lawyer to advocate on your behalf. You deserve someone who will have your back and work hard on your behalf for a full and fair settlement. The attorneys at Noteboom—The Law Firm understand that money does not make up for your present condition. It can, however, help you get the medical treatments you need, compensation for your pain and suffering, and the ability to pay your monthly bills.
You could have severe, even catastrophic injuries and those injuries may prevent you from returning to work. Your injuries may be so serious that you are unable to return to work for weeks, months, years, or forever. You may have a resulting disability from the accident—perhaps a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, a limb amputation, or a facial disfigurement. You deserve a strong legal team that will fight for the best outcome possible on your behalf.
Texas had a total of 38,909 accidents in 2023 that involved commercial vehicles, including semi-trucks. In North Texas, Dallas County and Tarrant County had the most commercial vehicle crashes and fatality accidents. The four largest counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, (Dallas County, Tarrant County, Denton County, Collin County) combined for a total of 7,274 commercial vehicle accidents resulting in 71 deaths. According to LMT Online, from the top most dangerous counties for large truck drivers in the United States between 2017-2021, Texas is home to five of those. Commercial vehicle crash data was analyzed from the NHTSA, with Reeves County, TX taking the top spot for a number of fatal truck crashes. Howard County, TX, a little north of Reeves County, is the fourth most dangerous county for Texas truck drivers. Coming in at number 5 out of the ten most dangerous is Fayette County, with Midland and Erath Counties in seventh and eighth position, respectively.
How Noteboom—The Law Firm Can Help
The Bedford truck accident lawyers from Noteboom—The Law Firm have been handling catastrophic personal injury claims since 1982. Our experience, knowledge, and skills are exceptional, and we have a passion for obtaining the best outcome possible for our clients. Our well-earned reputation is stellar in the industry. We have consistently and successfully settled more than 90 percent of our claims. We do this by preparing every case as though it will go to court.
This means we are never unprepared, no matter the twists and turns a case may take. With integrity, dedication, and attention to detail, we work tirelessly to resolve every case positively. We are so certain of our legal skills that we tell potential clients “If you can find a better law firm, hire them.” If you are looking for a high-quality Bedford truck accident lawyer, our attorneys and entire legal team are ready to help. We ensure your questions are all answered thoroughly while regularly communicating with you throughout the case.
What is the Primary Cause of Truck Accidents in Texas?
The primary cause of commercial truck accidents in Texas and across the United States is generally grouped under the “driver error” umbrella. This includes distracted driving, impaired driving, careless or reckless driving, and driving while overly fatigued. As more and more pressure is placed on truck drivers to get their loads delivered quickly so they can make a fast turnaround, these drivers are getting less sleep than ever. This means that trucker fatigue has quickly moved up the list under “driver error” and may be at the top spot. Studies sponsored by the FMCSA have not only recognized truck driver fatigue as a major safety concern—they revealed that 65 percent of truck drivers reported “often” feeling drowsy or fatigued while behind the wheel.
Half of all the truck drivers surveyed admitted they had fallen asleep while driving at least once within the past year. Most truck drivers are paid by the mile rather than by the hour and may spend up to 70 hours a week behind the wheel. This incentivizes truck drivers to drive longer hours to make a living wage.
The Sleep Foundation found that after being awake for 18 hours, a driver’s reaction time, vigilance, and multi-tasking skills were equal to a driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent. A driver who has been awake for 24 hours is comparable to a driver with a 0.08 percent BAC, which is the legal limit. Truck drivers must sleep in narrow berths in their trucks, often at noisy truck stops, which significantly affects the number of hours they sleep as well as the quality of the sleep they do get.
What Happens Following a Truck Accident?
Immediately after a truck accident, the trucking company will begin marshaling its defenses and contacting its attorneys. The goal of the trucking company will be to shift liability away from their company and their driver. As the victim of a truck accident, you need your own lawyer who knows every trick the trucking company may try to avoid responsibility. You need an aggressive, trustworthy attorney who will fight for you and your future.
If you cannot call 911, you need to ask someone at the scene to do so. Medical assistance is essential, and the police report will be a valuable addition to the evidence used by your attorney to prove liability. Once you have attended to your injuries and are home, contact your own insurance company to tell them about the accident. Next, contact a knowledgeable Bedford truck accident lawyer from Noteboom—The Law Firm.
What Helps Determine a Settlement Following a Truck Accident?
The biggest determinant of whether you are entitled to a settlement involves liability or fault. If you were not responsible for the accident in any way, your attorney will prove this by using the police report, an accident reconstruction if necessary, and expert witnesses who can accurately evaluate the scene of the accident and assess fault. Your settlement is directly tied to the determination of liability, so having a Bedford truck accident lawyer who knows how to gather the relevant evidence is crucial.
How is Liability Determined in a Truck Accident?
All drivers have a duty of care to other drivers on the roadways. Truck drivers have an even bigger duty of care because their large vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries to others. When this duty of care is breached—i.e., the driver was driving while overly fatigued, impaired, distracted, or driving carelessly or recklessly—the first step in proving liability is taken. If the breach of duty of care caused injuries, and those injuries caused damages (medical expenses, physical pain, emotional trauma, lost wages), then the driver and/or the trucking company, loading company, maintenance company, or manufacturer of a defective truck part may all be held liable.
If the trucking company was aware the driver was exceeding his or her hours of service or it neglected to ensure the driver was properly trained or conduct a thorough background check it could be held partially liable. If shifting cargo caused the accident, the loading company may be partially liable. If bad tires or brakes caused the accident, the maintenance company could be partially liable. As you can see, liability for a truck accident is much more complex than determining liability for a two-car accident. An experienced Bedford truck accident lawyer from Noteboom—The Law Firm can comprehensively evaluate your accident to determine liability.
Hiring an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Near Bedford
When you hire a truck accident attorney, you may ask for referrals from friends, family members, or co-workers. You could also choose to look online at the truck accident attorneys in your area. Once you have narrowed your list, you can set up consultations—which are usually free—visit the law firms and speak to an attorney. You will likely get a good sense of which lawyer will work best for you and your situation. At Noteboom—The Law Firm, we understand that you have choices. We strongly believe that once you have spoken to a knowledgeable, compassionate attorney at our firm your choice will be clear.
How a Bedford Truck Accident Lawyer from Noteboom—The Law Firm Can Help
A highly skilled Bedford truck accident lawyer from Noteboom—The Law Firm will speak with you and answer all your questions. Our firm consistently gets good results for our clients while offering highly personalized service. We will handle all legal matters while you get the time you need to heal from your injuries. Our firm will go the distance for you and will have your back at every turn. Contact Noteboom—The Law Firm today.