Your Odessa Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. These are some of the most common causes of trucking accidents:

• Distracted driving
• Shifting load accidents
• Drunk driving
• Drowsy Driving
• Speeding
• Ignoring the rules of the road

The statute of limitations is a time limit the state puts on how long a person has to file a truck accident claim. In Texas, you have two years from the date of your accident to begin the process of filing your claim. Talk to one of our experienced attorneys about potential exceptions to the statute of limitations and how they may apply to you.

If someone else caused your truck accident and you believe that you have grounds for a claim, even if your accident does not fit within these exact criteria, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Braker White can help determine whether you have a claim and fight for the maximum settlement amount you’re owed.

Negligence is the legal term for careless actions or responsibility in an accident. At its most basic, it means someone acted in a careless or reckless way. To prove negligence, your trucking accident attorney has to establish three facts. First, that the other driver violated a duty of care to operate the truck in a responsible way. Second, that this irresponsibility caused the accident. Third, that you were hurt as a direct result of the accident.

Texas uses what is called modified comparative negligence. That means your settlement will be reduced by the percentage of fault you are found to carry. If it’s more than 50%, you can’t collect compensation at all.

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t owe us a penny unless we secure compensation for you.

You really don’t have to talk to the insurance adjuster. You can tell them to speak to your lawyer, and you should never sign or agree to anything without talking to a truck accident attorney first.

You most likely will not have to go to court. Most cases are resolved through negotiation, which is better for all involved. Sometimes, however, negotiations stall or the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount and a trial becomes necessary. In the negotiation stage and the courtroom, our Odessa, TX, truck accident lawyers will fight hard to get you justice every step of the way.

After a big truck accident, time is of the essence. Evidence that can grant you compensation for your losses has a shelf life, so it’s important to get an experienced truck accident attorney on your case right away to ensure they can begin collecting the necessary evidence as soon as possible. Braker White is ready to get started on your case right now, and they are just a phone call away.

The ways a commercial truck driver can contribute to an accident are broader than a passenger car accident. Commercial truck drivers have more duties and requirements than non-commercial drivers. Some examples of ways a truck driver can be at fault include failing to clear a roadway in a timely manner, failing to use proper hazard devices, such as flashing lights and cones, and failing to take breaks at the appropriate intervals required by law.

Commercial truck drivers also have a duty to secure their cargo load properly and may be liable if their cargo became loose and contributed to the collision. Braker White understands the laws surrounding trucking accidents and what duties a commercial truck driver has and can help you determine who was at fault for your accident.

Insurance is required for all commercial trucking companies by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The minimum coverage required for vehicles over 10,001 pounds is $750,000 per accident, but it may be higher depending on the type of freight the vehicle has. When you work with Braker White, we will seek the maximum possible compensation for your injuries from all at-fault parties.

In most cases, both the truck driver and the trucking company are at fault for an accident. The truck driver may have caused the accident, but the trucking company may be responsible for its driver’s failure to act with care. Trucking companies may also be responsible for any lapse in training, retaining a driver with a poor driving record, or pushing the driver to meet deadlines by violating the hours of service regulations about driving time.

Other possible at-fault parties may include the freight company, the truck owner, or the local government body that maintains the roadway, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Braker White will seek compensation from all the at-fault parties involved in your accident.

A strict timeline, otherwise known as a statute of limitations, applies in truck accident lawsuits, but that doesn’t mean you should wait until the deadline to begin the process of seeking the compensation you deserve. Truck companies don’t have a duty to preserve evidence on their vehicle for any period of time unless it’s requested, so the sooner you get a claim started, the more evidence you’re likely to have.

Braker White will help you preserve critical evidence regarding factors that may have contributed to your accident, such as black box data from the truck or marks on your vehicle that help to reconstruct the accident circumstances.

After a trucking accident, the trucking company will call on a team of attorneys and their insurance company to come up with a defense. The trucking company will likely hire experts and investigators to reconstruct the accident’s circumstances. Because of this, it’s important to have a lawyer to represent you and protect your rights. Our experienced Odessa, TX, truck accident lawyers at Braker White have experience handling truck accident claims and working with trucking companies and their attorneys to seek compensation for those injured in accidents.

Trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger cars, often weighing upwards of 70,000 pounds compared to the few thousand pounds of a passenger vehicle. The considerable difference in size means that the passenger car’s occupants are more likely to experience severe or fatal injuries when these vehicles collide. In many cases, a truck accident results in life-altering or permanent injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, which is why it’s so important to contact an experienced truck accident attorney at Braker White. Braker White can ensure you seek the maximum amount of compensation for all of your accident-related expenses.

Truck accidents can involve many types of private and commercial trucks besides big rigs and semi-trucks. Accidents may include garbage trucks, recreational vehicles, tow trucks, flatbed trucks, and tanker trucks, all of which are more likely to cause damage than a passenger car or passenger truck. If you’ve been involved in an accident with any of these types of trucks, be sure to contact an attorney at Braker White for help in seeking the compensation you deserve for your losses.

Truck drivers have to follow many federal and state regulations, including traffic laws like the speed limit and height maximums on roadways. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Department of Transportation regulations also have regulations for how long a driver can be on the road. An experienced truck accident lawyer can investigate and uncover any potential rules that have been violated and caused the accident.

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, a truck driver may be fired by their employers if they were involved in an accident. This is usually if the accident’s circumstances involve reckless behavior. Truck drivers are expected to be licensed, follow their hours of service regulations, take breaks when necessary, and operate their vehicles with care. However, some truck accidents are caused by safety violations or poor safety policies in the trucking company that are revealed through an investigation. If this happens, the trucking company may be forced to make changes that improve the safety standards company-wide. With so much at stake, having an attorney on your side is vital to ensuring the case is fully investigated.