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San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer
Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Will Fight for You
Truck accidents can cause significant property damage, lead to catastrophic injuries, and even result in death. Being involved in a truck accident can be a life-changing experience. Victims who survive often suffer serious and even catastrophic injuries. It is imperative that you seek the guidance of an experienced truck accident lawyer to learn about your legal rights and options.
The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC is committed to helping you find a solution that compensates you for your pain, suffering, and related expenses. With extensive personal injury experience, she has the skill and knowledge needed to effectively resolve truck accident claims while obtaining maximum compensation.
To schedule a free consultation with our San Antonio truck accident attorney, contact us online or at (210) 807-3178 today.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in San Antonio
Truck accidents are perhaps the most damaging and life-threatening types of motor vehicle accidents. Given the sheer size of the truck compared to the car, motorcycle, or pedestrian struck in the accident, truck accidents can be deadly.
Truck crashes are no different from car accidents or motorcycle accidents when drivers behave recklessly behind the wheel. Speeding, tailgating, erratic lane changes, and running red lights are deadly no matter the type of vehicle. They’re especially unacceptable coming from truck drivers, who receive specialized training to get their commercial drivers’ licenses.
However, there are some violations that are especially noted among the top causes of truck driver accidents, both in Georgia and nationwide:
- Driver fatigue: Truck drivers are on the open roads for hours at a time. The hauls can be long and monotonous, which can strain the eyes and lead to sleepiness, headaches, irritability, and problems with concentration. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has set strict hours-of-service regulations for drivers in an effort to reduce truck accidents caused by driver fatigue, but each year more than 750 people die and another 20,000 are injured in fatigue-related truck wrecks.
- Poor truck maintenance: FMCSA regulations outline how often a truck must be inspected for properly functioning brakes, tires, headlights, speedometers, and other parts that are needed for safe operation. This is an area where truck owners or other parties tasked with truck care may be liable if an accident occurs because they skimped on maintenance in an effort to save money.
- Drunk driving or other substance abuse: Driving drunk or while under the influence of drugs is illegal among all motor vehicle operators. But truckers are also vulnerable to crashes when taking over the counter or prescription drugs without knowing how it affects their bodies.
- Pressure from employers: Sadly, truck companies and shipping companies often hound drivers to make early deliveries in order to receive extra profits. That can lead truck drivers to violate the federal hours-of-service requirements, which increases the likelihood of fatigue-induced accidents.
- Defective parts or equipment: Defective truck tires can lead to tire blowouts, which may cause the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle. Other truck parts and equipment that can be defective include brakes, airbags, horns, power steering, headlights and brake lights, doors, and locking mechanisms.
- Unsafe cargo: Dangerous cargo or overloaded trucks can also lead to serious accidents. Trucks that are too heavy or difficult to maneuver cause numerous accidents every year. Improperly secured hazardous waste can also lead to serious accidents.
San Antonio Truck Accident Liability
Because a truck accident involves more parties and insurers than a normal car accident, claims can be difficult to navigate, and liability can be difficult to prove. The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC is determined to properly investigate the accident and uncover the evidence needed to prove negligence.
The negligent party could be:
- The truck driver
- The truck driver’s employer
- The trucking company
- The truck’s primary mechanic
- A government agency
- The truck manufacturer
The liable party may even be more than one of the above. For example, if a trucker causes an accident due to falling asleep behind the wheel, but it’s discovered that their employer was pressuring them to pull an all nighter, both parties could potentially be held partially liable. We will thoroughly investigate to ensure the responsible party or parties are held accountable.
How Do Truck Accident Claims Work?
Establishing proof in your truck accident case is essential. We possess the resources to quickly identify witnesses, interview police officers, and retain accident reconstruction experts.
Truck accident cases can yield a lot of evidence because drivers are required to keep logbooks that document every single hour of their trips, including where they stopped, when they took a break, and if they performed required safety checks along the way.
However, sometimes drivers falsify their logbooks or give a fake copy to accident investigators. Recognizing this, the San Antonio truck accident attorneys at The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC can obtain fuel and gas receipts, along with other paperwork, to prove the driver’s negligence.
Once liability is established in your truck accident case, the next step is to prove the existence and severity of your personal injuries. We have extensive contacts in the medical community to assist our clients in documenting the severity of their injuries and the long-term consequences faced by injured victims. In many cases, we use economists, medical experts, and other experts to bolster a case.
Our mission is to make sure that you receive compensation for economic and non-economic losses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages and productivity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Rental car reimbursement
- Costs for assistive devices like wheelchairs or walkers
- Travel expenses for doctor’s appointments
- Scars and disfigurement
- Punitive damages (in certain cases)
Give our San Antonio truck accident attorney a call today at (210) 807-3178 for your free consultation.
We Do Not Receive a Fee Until You Reach a Settlement
The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC is dedicated to getting the results you need. At our firm, we understand how important it is for clients to get the compensation they need as quickly as possible, which is why we fight for every dime. Moreover, our contingency fee means that you do not pay us unless we win your case.
Injuries in Truck Accidents
Though many people walk away from truck crashes with little to no injuries, many others, unfortunately, do not. If you have been involved in a truck accident, the injuries you sustained could prevent you from returning to work, leading to a loss in wages and a decrease in your earning potential over time.
On top of that, you will be responsible for expensive medical bills and maybe even ongoing treatment and physical therapy.
Truck accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries, including:
- Neck and spine injuries
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Bone fractures and muscle damage
- Severe lacerations
- Limb loss/amputation
- Paralysis
As your medical bills rack up, you need the support of a skilled San Antonio truck accident lawyer. The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC has the experience and the determination needed to see your case through to a successful resolution.
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