Dallas Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Injured in a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Dallas, TX?

Determining the exact number of commercial vehicle crashes in the US annually is challenging, if not impossible. While there are nearly half a million large truck and bus crashes alone, this doesn’t account for all types of commercial vehicles. Taxis, rideshares, delivery vehicles, and other business-operated vehicles also contribute to accidents but aren’t included in comprehensive figures.

In Texas, commercial vehicle accident fatalities have been increasing year after year. Thompson Law specializes in assisting victims of these accidents. Our commercial vehicle accident lawyers are dedicated to helping clients recover from crash injuries, navigate insurance claims for maximum compensation, and hold negligent parties accountable.

If you’ve been involved in a commercial vehicle accident, our Dallas-based team is here to help. We offer FREE CONSULTATIONS to discuss your case and explore your options for legal recourse. Don’t hesitate to contact our experienced lawyers for your assistance in these complex situations.

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What is a Commercial Vehicle?

A commercial vehicle in Dallas is any motor vehicle used primarily for business purposes. These include:

  • Large trucks and 18-wheelers are frequently seen on Dallas highways
  • Buses, including DART buses and school buses operating in Dallas
  • Delivery vans and trucks servicing Dallas businesses
  • Taxis and rideshare vehicles (like Uber and Lyft) operating in the DFW area
  • Construction vehicles used on Dallas job sites
  • Company cars used by Dallas-based businesses
  • Any vehicle used to transport goods or passengers for profit in Dallas

Key characteristics of commercial vehicles in Dallas:

If you’ve been involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle in Dallas, it’s important to understand the unique legal and insurance implications. Consider consulting a Dallas-based commercial vehicle accident attorney for guidance on navigating these complex cases in the DFW metroplex.

Steps to Take and What to Expect Following a Dallas Commercial Vehicle Crash

If you’re involved in a commercial vehicle accident in Dallas, here’s what you should do and expect:

1. Immediate Actions:

  • Ensure safety first – move to a safe area if possible
  • Call 911 to report the accident to Dallas Police and request medical assistance
  • Don’t leave the scene until authorities arrive

2. Document the Accident:

  • Take photos of vehicle damage, injuries, and the accident scene
  • Gather contact information from witnesses and other involved parties
  • Note the commercial vehicle’s company name and any identifying numbers

3. Seek Medical Attention:

  • Allow Dallas paramedics to examine you at the scene
  • Visit a Dallas hospital or clinic for a thorough check-up, even if injuries seem minor
  • Follow all treatment recommendations from Dallas healthcare providers

4. Report the Accident:

  • File a police report with the responding Dallas officers
  • Notify your insurance company about the accident
  • Expect contact from the commercial vehicle’s insurance company

5. Preserve Evidence:

  • Keep all medical records and bills from Dallas healthcare facilities
  • Save any receipts for expenses related to the accident
  • Don’t repair your vehicle until it’s been properly documented and inspected

6. Legal Considerations:

  • Consider consulting a Dallas commercial vehicle accident attorney
  • Be cautious about giving statements or signing documents without legal advice
  • Understand that Dallas commercial vehicle cases often involve complex liability issues

7. Ongoing Processes:

  • Expect an investigation by both insurance companies and possibly law enforcement
  • You may need to attend follow-up medical appointments
  • Be prepared for negotiations with insurance adjusters familiar with Dallas regulations

8. Potential Outcomes:

  • You might receive a settlement offer from the insurance company
  • If a fair settlement isn’t reached, your case could go to court in Dallas County
  • Recovery time and financial impact can vary based on the severity of the accident

Remember, each accident in Dallas is unique. For personalized guidance through this complex process, consider contacting an experienced Dallas commercial vehicle accident lawyer who understands local laws and can protect your rights in the DFW area.

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(844) 308-8180

Common Causes of Commercial Vehicle Accidents in Dallas, TX

Accidents typically fall into three categories: driver error, mechanical failure, or environmental factors. A Dallas commercial vehicle accident lawyer’s key role is to determine liability.

Driver Causes for Collisions: Driver errors are the  most common causes. While many factors are similar to personal vehicle accidents, commercial drivers face unique risks:

  1. Distracted driving: Includes device use for routes, deliveries, and payments. Examples: truckers checking GPS, rideshare drivers messaging customers.
  2. Fatigue: Despite state regulations, drivers may exceed safe working hours. Truckers can drive up to 15 hours before a break, and logbook falsification is common.
  3. Speeding: Tight schedules and traffic often pressure drivers to speed.
  4. Lane Merge Errors: Large blind spots in specialized vehicles can lead to dangerous merging.
  5. Cargo Load Issues: Improper loading can obstruct driver vision, cause items to come loose, or affect vehicle handling.

These factors can significantly impact road safety in Dallas. If you’ve been involved in a commercial vehicle accident, consult a Dallas-based attorney to understand your rights and options.

Trucks have blind spots

Mechanical Causes of Collisions

Besides the driver, other parties can be deemed liable in full or in part for an accident. Vehicle manufacturers have an obligation to produce and sell quality vehicles and equipment. Owners and other parties responsible for the vehicle’s commercial use have an obligation to keep the car or truck in good working order.

  • Mechanical: Brake failure, tire failure, airbag malfunction, or seat belt malfunction
  • Manufacturer: Failure to recall or failure to conduct adequate safety testing
  • Owner / Operator: Failure to conduct routine maintenance or failure to pass inspections

It is important to tell your personal injury attorney the details of your accident so that they can help determine whether any of the above might have been contributing factors in your wreck.

Dallas Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Environmental Causes for Collisions

These factors can be natural or man-made, but what they have in common is that they impacted the surroundings in which the accident occurred.

  • Construction: We expect our tax dollars to go toward maintenance of our infrastructure. Cities and states can be considered liable if dangerous road conditions due to lack of maintenance or faulty construction contributed to an accident.
  • Weather: While a thunderstorm cannot be held liable for an accident, drivers can be held responsible for their reactions to dangerous conditions.

At Thompson Law

We provide commercial vehicle accident victims with resolute and tenacious legal representation, ensuring that you get fair value for your claim. Our Dallas commercial vehicle accident lawyers will build a persuasive case with supporting evidence so that you recover the money that you deserve.

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Commercial Vehicle Accident Statistics in Dallas, TX

Our accident lawyers analyzed crash report data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to extract accidents with commercial designations on the report.

Commercial Vehicle Accident Statistics in Dallas, TX

In Dallas in 2021, TxDOT recorded 2,897 commercial vehicle crashes, with 836 (28.9%) of those resulting in injuries or death. Broken down in terms of severity, these accidents consisted of:

  • Fatal crashes:  25 fatal crashes leading to 26 deaths, commonly caused by drinking and driving (21.2%) and speeding (15.2%).
  • Serious injury crashes:  61 crashes leading to 73 seriously injured people, commonly caused by speeding (25.8%) and unsafe speed (18.2%).
  • Minor injury crashes:  252 crashes leading to 302 minorly injured people, commonly caused by speeding (21.8%) and changing lanes when unsafe (18.9%).
  • Possibly injury crashes:  485 crashes leading to 620 possibly injured people, commonly caused by changing lanes when unsafe (27.2%) and speeding (19.5%).

Source: Crash Records Information Systems (CRIS) database.

We offer victims of commercial vehicle accidents FREE CONSULTATIONS and charge NO FEE unless we win. Call our Dallas commercial vehicle accident lawyers today.

How Commercial Vehicle Accidents are Different Than a Typical Car Accident

Both professional drivers and commercial businesses are held to a higher standard when it comes to their presence on the road than an ordinary driver. First, the laws that govern their operation, and the insurance companies that cover their liability are more strenuous. Second, the types of collisions and the resulting injuries can be different from a standard car wreck.

  • Regulations: Owners and operators of commercial vehicles face more regulation on how they operate and stricter consequences for errors. In Texas, nearly all professional drivers are required to obtain a specialized drivers’ license called a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), which includes Class A, Class B, or Class C designations, and which can include about half a dozen other special endorsements. In Texas only certain cities and districts have additional requirements for taxi, Uber and Lyft driver licenses. In addition, consequences are higher for professional drivers who violate traffic law. For example, errors like speeding are designated as more severe, and points may be taken on a license at a rate 1.5x that of a personal vehicle operator.
  • Insurance: Companies that own vehicles for commerce purposes are required to carry higher insurance coverage. For example, a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance must be maintained, and this amount is frequently increased if the carrier transports dangerous or valuable cargo.
  • Collision Types: Collisions may be more severe or unique. For example, the size, weight, and handling of large trucks lead to more severe impact crashes. Trailer configurations are also able to jackknife, where the trailer forms an acute angle with the towing vehicle. Rollovers of high, top-heavy vehicles are also more common. In taxis and rideshare vehicles, where passengers more frequently ride without a seat belt, and without properly stowing objects they are traveling with, the objects and even the passengers may become dangerous projectiles in the event of a crash.
  • Injuries: Injuries resulting from commercial vehicle accidents can be particularly severe considering the collision circumstances outlined above.

If you have questions after being hit by a commercial vehicle, you are certainly not alone. There are complex factors involved in filing claims against commercial insurance policies, and it is a great benefit to have an expert Dallas commercial vehicle accident lawyer managing your claim process.

Your Thompson Law attorney and their team can ensure your accident is thoroughly investigated and that liability is accurately assigned. They will also bring tenacious negotiators to the table on your behalf, to win your maximum compensation. To ask questions, learn more about your options, and get started with your case, call us for a FREE CONSULTATION anytime.

Call for Your Free Consultation

(844) 308-8180

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The good news is that you do not need to face these hardships alone. Clearly, commercial vehicle accidents come with unique challenges, and can result in uniquely devastating impacts. People who survive these events often are left with serious injuries and in great need of assistance.

While some injuries may heal with time, others may be lasting. And beyond the physical damages caused by a commercial vehicle collision, there are also significant financial, mental, and emotional impacts.

Our Dallas commercial vehicle accident lawyers’ results speak for themselves when it comes to success fighting the insurance companies for our clients. We take our work serving our clients very seriously, and it is our desire that all our clients experience the best possible recovery and win their maximum rightful compensation. After your commercial vehicle accident, call Thompson Law‘s accident lawyers!

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Thompson Law receives an attorney fee and you pay no legal fees as our client unless we pay you. Thompson Law has 350 years of combined experience in legal representation and has won over $1.8 billion dollars in cash settlements for our clients. We master the art of managing client cases with empathy, compassion, respect and, of course, prodigious skill. Contact us today for a free, risk-free consultation to discuss your accident and your options.

State law limits the time you have to file a claim after an auto accident. If you have been injured in an accident, call now to get the help you need.