Commercial trucks are a necessary part of our economy, but these massive vehicles pose risks of severe injury to the average driver. Accidents involving commercial trucks often result in catastrophic damage and injuries due to the sheer weight and size of these vehicles.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a truck accident due to someone else's recklessness, you have rights. Our team of experienced Austin, Texas, truck accident lawyers have been successfully representing injured drivers since 2001. Contact us today, and we will fight for the compensation you deserve. We're on top of it!
Getting Help Is Easy
Trucking accidents can be devastating and stressful, but you’re not alone. Getting the help you need is easy. All you have to do is call our firm, and we’ll review your case for free.
You Deserve Compensation
If you suffered injuries from a trucking accident that someone else caused, you deserve compensation. Our attorneys will fight for the maximum compensation you are owed.
Pay Nothing Unless We Win
You won’t owe anything unless we win. Our firm works on contingency, so you don’t have to worry about upfront costs or hidden fees.
We Understand What You’re Going Through
Truck accidents are devastating events that often lead to emotional damage and serious injuries, and can even result in death. If you are dealing with hospitalization, pain, mounting medical bills, or the loss of a loved one, we see you. If you have wondered how you're going to support your family while you are out of work recovering, we want to help.
The Austin, Texas, truck accident lawyers at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC understand the range of stresses our clients face after a serious accident and are here to help you get back on your feet. We treat our clients like family and are dedicated to going above and beyond for each case we handle. We'll take on the legal battle for you, so you can focus on getting better.
Our team wants to hear your story; all you have to do is call us to get started.
Do I Have a Case?
Commercial truck accidents have varying factors and often involve multiple at-fault parties. If you were injured because of the carelessness of a truck driver, trucking company, shipping company, or another party, you deserve compensation for your losses.
Were You in a Truck Accident in Austin?
Accidents involving commercial truck drivers are serious matters, resulting in serious injuries and financial struggles that can be equally devastating without the proper legal help. An experienced truck accident attorney will investigate your accident to determine if someone else was at fault for your accident and help you file a truck accident claim to seek compensation. Some types of crashes involving commercial trucking vehicles we handle include:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Blind spot accidents
- Underride accidents; and
- Jackknife accidents
Were You Injured?
A truck accident lawsuit typically involves cases where an individual has suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm due to the negligence or reckless behavior of a truck driver or their employer. Unfortunately, occupants of passenger vehicles tend to be more seriously hurt in truck crashes than the truck drivers themselves. Typical truck accident injuries include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, whiplash, and many others. No two accidents are alike; compensation for truck accident victims aims to restore what they lost due to the accident, accounting for the specifics of your individual claim.
In general, an accident victim with catastrophic injuries will be eligible for a higher settlement than someone with less severe damages. However, in motor vehicle accidents, no injuries are minor; they all have a cost, which our Austin truck accident lawyers will work to compensate you for in full.
Are You Within the Legal Time Limit?
In legal terminology, the “statute of limitations” is the timeframe in which you can file a lawsuit for the compensation you deserve for your losses. The Texas statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. If you do not file your suit before this deadline, the court system may deny your case.
Of course, there are also exceptions to this deadline, depending on the unique circumstances of your case. It is recommended to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer in order to meet each deadline and receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to recover.
Was Someone Else at Fault?
Proving negligence—the failure to use the level of care expected for a situation—is needed to receive compensation for your losses. In other words, your lawyer will need to prove that you were not responsible for the accident so you can receive a settlement. In a truck accident, negligence can include several things. Some examples include proving that the at-fault party was driving without required breaks, lacking proper truck maintenance, or failing to adhere to the rules of the road.
Hurt in a Truck Accident?
Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC will help you seek the compensation you are owed. We’re on top of it!
How Much Money Can I Get?
Truck accidents often result in more severe damages than passenger car accidents. If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, you’re entitled to compensation for your expenses, including, but not limited to:
- Medical bills, such as hospitalization, medication, therapy, and adaptive equipment
- Lost wages, if your injury caused you to miss days at work or you’re no longer able to work in the same job temporarily or permanently
- Pain and suffering, if your physical or emotional state has affected your enjoyment of life as a result of the accident
In Texas, your compensation may be reduced if you are found to be at fault for the accident. The court assigns you a percentage of fault in the accident, and your compensation is reduced by that amount. If you’re found to be more than 50% at fault, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Having an experienced Texas truck accident attorney on your side can ensure you are seeking the maximum amount of compensation possible for your losses. Contact our attorneys today for a free case review.
Were You in a Truck Accident?
If a truck driver's reckless or irresponsible actions caused your serious injury, the attorneys at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC will fight for your rights. We're on top of it!
How Can Our Austin Truck Accident Lawyers Help?
A qualified truck accident lawyer can be your best ally and your best shot at fighting for significant compensation for the injuries you've suffered. The law can be very complicated and confusing to navigate, but an attorney can help you avoid critical mistakes like missing a filing deadline or signing away your rights on a lowball offer.
Your attorney can take over communications between you and the insurance company, which can save you a great deal of stress. An attorney can also negotiate your settlement, so you don't have to worry about being pressured or bullied into agreeing to the insurance company's offer.
Your Austin truck accident lawyer might even be able to point you toward compensation you didn't know you were entitled to collect. We can also be a compassionate ear and someone to talk to when you need it, who cares about you and treats you like a member of our own family. At Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC, our qualified Austin truck accident attorneys are on top of it, so you can focus on what matters most: getting well again. We're on top of it!
What Comes Next?
Get Your Free Case Review
Just give us a call or fill out our online form to get a free case review. You don’t even have to leave your house! Our experienced truck accident lawyers can go over the details of your case and advise you on your best next steps over the phone or voice chat.
Building Your Case
Next, we need to put together the strongest possible case for compensation. Truck accidents can become very complicated because we may not only deal with the other driver, but also with the trucking company, cargo loading company, maintenance crew, and even parts manufacturers. They will all try to blame anyone but themselves. That’s why our lawyers will need as much evidence, documentation, and proof as possible for your case.
Negotiating Your Settlement
The next step is negotiating your settlement. We will file a letter that notifies the insurance company of our intent to seek compensation. We will explain why we think you are owed the amount we’re demanding. They will then respond by picking apart our demands, which is when they often offer a lowball settlement. From there, it’s a back-and-forth until we’ve reached a fair settlement. This process can take a while, but it is necessary to seek the maximum possible compensation. Of course, we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
Possible Court
Court trials are exceptionally rare in truck accident cases because going to court is time-consuming, expensive, and all-or-nothing. Sometimes, however, negotiations break down, and we do have to go to court. If this happens, you can be sure that we’ll protect your rights and fight hard for you every step of the way.
Receive Your Settlement
Once a settlement is reached, you choose when or if you want to accept. As soon as we confirm your compensation, your lawyer will get to work to ensure that you receive your check as quickly as possible so you can continue to heal and move forward.
Who Is Responsible For My Truck Accident?
One of the reasons truck accident claims are so complicated is that there are a lot of potential parties involved. Naturally, the truck driver usually bears some responsibility for the accident. But in these cases, the trucking company that owns the truck can also hold responsibility. The cargo loading company, whose job is to properly balance the cargo, might also be responsible if the cargo shifting contributed to the accident.
The maintenance crew, whose job is to make sure the truck is in good repair before it hits the road, can also be responsible if something on the truck fails. If the part that failed was defective, the maker of the part can also be responsible. This can mean far higher settlements, but it also means the case can be harder to negotiate.
In some cases, a negligent truck driver might have been violating the law or otherwise acting recklessly. Distracted driving is a common culprit in cases involving commercial truck drivers. This might include texting, eating, or adjusting the radio. Fatigue is another prevalent factor — many truck drivers are on the road for extended hours, which can lead to exhaustion and decreased alertness.
Drunk driving is also a notorious cause of preventable accidents. Despite strict regulations against it, some truck drivers resort to drugs or alcohol while operating their vehicles, endangering not only themselves but everyone else on the road.
Just like any accident situation, each case has unique outcomes and challenges. Your lawyer at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC will know if additional investigations are needed and can take care of the rest. The team at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC understands this intricacy and approaches every truck accident lawsuit with utmost precision and dedication. Your Austin truck accident attorney will meticulously investigate all possible contributing factors in your case to build a robust claim designed to fight for maximum compensation for you.
Were You Hurt by a Reckless Truck Driver?
If you were seriously hurt in a truck accident that wasn't your fault, you deserve compensation. Let our truck accident attorneys at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC stand up and fight for your rights.
What Takes Place During a Truck Accident Investigation?
Investigating a commercial truck accident case is often a complex, multi-faceted process that demands an in-depth understanding of both legal and practical aspects. At Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC, we are adept at handling even the most complex truck accident cases. In many instances, our skilled attorneys may deem it necessary to conduct additional investigations to provide the most robust possible representation for our clients.
These investigations generally encompass several vital elements. Visual evidence from the scene, such as photographs of vehicle damage and road conditions, can paint a detailed picture of the circumstances leading up to and resulting from the accident. Eyewitness testimonies are another critical component; these firsthand accounts can offer invaluable insights into what transpired at the time of the collision.
Utilizing comprehensive data about the driver's history is also integral to building a strong case. This includes details regarding any previous traffic violations or accidents, as well as logs detailing their hours on duty and off-duty times – crucial information when it comes to identifying instances of fatigued driving.
Moreover, medical test results following the incident can be instrumental in demonstrating if drug or alcohol use was involved in causing the accident.
At Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC, our adept lawyers understand precisely how essential these investigations are in pursuing successful outcomes for truck accident lawsuits. If additional inquiries are warranted in your case, you can rest assured we will leave no stone unturned. We handle every aspect of this process with meticulous attention, so you won't need to worry about anything but your recovery. Our goal is to ensure that every piece of evidence fortifies your claim and helps us advocate effectively for your just compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is a Truck Accident Settlement Worth?
With so many factors affecting each truck accident case, there’s no “average” settlement amount. The compensation you may receive can vary according to the severity of injuries and the expenses, as well as the impact on current and future income. Our experienced lawyers at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC will seek the full compensation you’re entitled to for your injuries.
What Should I Look for in a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Choosing the right Austin, Texas, truck accident lawyer will make you feel confident in your case and can increase the compensation you receive. It’s important to choose a lawyer who has a proven understanding of personal injury law and a track record in successful truck accident cases. For over two decades, our team has been representing the people of Austin who have been injured by the carelessness of others. We can help you, too.
How Long Does a Truck Accident Lawsuit Take?
The length of time it will take your case to settle can depend on many factors, such as additional investigations, medical treatment, negotiations, and more. The unique circumstances of every case will affect the timeline, but rest assured that your lawyer at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC will treat your case with the utmost urgency and keep you updated every step of the way.
What Should I Do if the Insurance Company Wants a Statement?
Insurance companies aren’t on your side, so it’s important to direct the insurance adjusters to your lawyer at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC. It is the adjuster’s job to protect the insurance company. It is our job to protect you.
What if the Trucking Company Says the Driver Was a Contractor?
Trucking companies sometimes try to use “independent contractor status” to get out of their responsibility. Being an independent contractor means that the driver worked for themselves, and not directly for the trucking company. Federal trucking regulations, however, don’t allow trucking companies to easily get out of responsibility by using the “contractor” excuse.
If the trucking company claims that it bears no responsibility, you should refer them to your truck accident lawyer immediately. At Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC, we take care of discussions, hold the responsible parties accountable, and know how to counter the tactics used by trucking companies and their insurers to diminish your claim.
Who Is Responsible for My Medical Bills?
You are still responsible for paying your medical bills, though the settlement you seek should recover those expenses. If you are worried about being able to pay your bills while we pursue a settlement, your insurance company may temporarily cover the costs, but you will have to pay them back out of your settlement money.
The situation can be different for different people. That’s why it’s important to contact a team of qualified Austin trucking accident lawyers for a case review. We can also look over your insurance policy and see what options you have to cover your bills while we try to negotiate a settlement. Get in touch with us and get your free case review today. We’re on top of it!
Can I Get Ongoing Payments?
Unfortunately, you likely cannot get ongoing payments for a truck accident injury. A truck accident settlement will almost always be in one lump sum. We will figure out the value of your past, current, and future medical payments, lost income, potential future lost earnings, and the total harm to your life and relationships that the accident has caused, and then seek compensation that will hopefully be enough to cover you into the future.