San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer
Collisions with 18-wheelers and other accidents involving trucks are among the most serious on San Antonio’s roads. Hundreds occur every year in and around the city and thousands of deaths from truck accidents occur in the U.S. each year.
Wrongful death or catastrophic injuries may result from these accidents, with significant losses suffered. If the accident was partly or completely the fault of a third party, several avenues may be open to recover damages—but receiving full and fair compensation can be challenging when you’re up against powerful insurance companies and their legal teams.
At Fowlks Law Firm, we help level the playing field. A San Antonio truck accident lawyer will aggressively pursue your personal injury claim, protecting and asserting your rights until the responsible party is held accountable.
How can a truck accident lawyer help?
The main priority after a truck accident is to recover from the physical, mental, and emotional injuries. At the same time, work needs to begin on holding the responsible party/parties accountable.
The best way to do that is to delegate the task to experienced professionals who understand the legal hurdles and strategies used by insurance companies to minimize claims.
Justin M. Fowlks has extensive experience in personal injury cases involving trucks and 18-wheelers, providing tenacious and seasoned representation to recover the maximum compensation possible under Texas law.
At Fowlks Law Firm, we will:
- Thoroughly investigate the truck accident
- Gather evidence to support your case
- Liaise with the appropriate medical personnel
- Handle all communication with the insurance companies and loss adjusters
- Explain the legal processes to you as they arise
- Seek to negotiate a favorable settlement in your best interests
- File a lawsuit if necessary
- Represent you in court if the matter goes to trial
Additionally, we are committed to the following:
- 24/7 emergency service
- Free initial case evaluation
- Consultations in English and Spanish
Soon after a truck accident, the insurance company of the at-fault party will be working hard to minimize the claim.
If you’re approached by insurance representatives to answer questions, refer them to us so that you don’t say or do anything that harms your case. We’ll ensure that you don’t need to settle for anything less than you’re entitled to.
What’s considered a truck in Texas?
A truck is almost any vehicle that usually hauls property or goods rather than primarily transporting people.
By their nature, trucks are larger than passenger vehicles. Many weigh over 80,000 pounds—that’s over 20 times more than the average car (around 3000-4000 pounds on average).
Trucks include the following types of vehicles in Texas:
- 18-wheelers
- Oil tankers
- Gas tankers
- Box trucks
- Delivery trucks
- Big rigs
- Semi-trucks
- Refrigerated trucks
- Tow trucks
- Tractor-trailers
- Dump trucks
Who can be held liable for truck accidents in San Antonio?
Truck accidents can be complex, involving multiple responsible parties. Even though truckers undergo special training and licensing, they are not immune to causing accidents—or being victims of them. Unfortunately, smaller vehicles typically suffer more damage in these collisions.
Many accidents are preventable—due to driver fatigue, mechanical failure, speeding/reckless driving, distracted driving or other causes. For a successful truck accident injury claim, we must prove that the defendant breached a duty of care to the plaintiff, directly resulting in the injuries.
Proving negligence or recklessness and holding the at-fault party accountable can be even more challenging in truck accident cases than for car accident injuries. Multiple parties could be responsible for the accident:
- The driver, for not following the road rules
- The employer, for overworking the driver (long hours make drivers drowsy)
- The manufacturer or maintenance company, for a faulty vehicle
Sometimes, two or more parties may be sued for the same accident.
By conducting a thorough investigation, examining the evidence, speaking to witnesses, and if necessary, staging a reconstruction of the accident or engaging with the relevant medical professionals, we ensure that the responsible party or parties cannot hide behind their lawyers.
What damages can we recover after a San Antonio truck accident?
In personal injury cases in Texas, truck accident victims can claim the following types of compensation:
Economic damages
Economic damages are those that are relatively simple to put a dollar figure on (proven with receipts and invoices):
- All medical bills from ER to discharge from the hospital
- Costs of recovery, medication, follow-up medical care, etc.
- Property damage
- Lost earnings (present and future)
- Any necessary home, workplace, and vehicle modifications (for disability)
- Any other car accident/injury-related expenses
Noneconomic damages
Noneconomic damages can be more challenging to prove but may constitute a large proportion of the compensation claim.
They usually consist of:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
Punitive damages
These are damages awarded for particularly egregious behavior and are intended to discourage similar behavior in society. They can be significant but are rarely awarded in car accident cases.
Typical San Antonio truck accident injuries
Larger vehicles like trucks create more powerful forces during collisions than most passenger vehicles. Injuries from accidents can be catastrophic—typical examples include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal injuries
- Concussion
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Burns
- Disfigurement
- Internal injuries
- Temporary or permanent paralysis
FAQs
How soon after my accident should I contact a San Antonio truck accident lawyer?
Contact a qualified lawyer as soon as possible after your injuries have been checked and treated. A family member may need to contact us and arrange a free consultation so that we can take up the case.
Who will handle my case?
Your case will be handled by Justin M. Fowlks in person, together with his legal assistants.
How much compensation can I claim for truck accident injuries in San Antonio?
This varies from case to case. After an initial consultation to establish the facts of the case, we should be able to provide an estimate of the expected compensation based on previous cases in San Antonio or elsewhere in Texas.
How long do I have to file a personal injury case in Texas?
You generally have two years from the date of the incident that caused your injuries to file a personal injury claim in Texas. Different rules apply for minors though—and there are some exceptions to the statute of limitations for adults.
Can I still get compensation if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Yes, Texas follows “comparative negligence” laws. This means that even if you were partly at fault for the accident, you can still claim compensation—but your award will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.
What other types of cases do we handle?
As well as truck accident injury cases, Fowlks Law Firm can assist with:
Car accident injury claims
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in San Antonio and need to make a personal injury claim, Fowlks Law Firm will help you hold the responsible party accountable and push for the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
DWI defense
If you are charged with DWI in San Antonio, Justin M. Fowlks has the criminal defense case skills and experience to robustly protect your rights, defend you, and potentially prevent life-altering consequences for your future.
Contact Fowlks Law Firm For a Free Consultation Today
Fowlks Law Firm is available for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case and advise you of your legal options.
