Intoxicated Truck Driver Accidents

Has an intoxicated truck driver caused your or your family to suffer? The Houston trucking accident attorneys of Grossman Law Offices want to make them pay.

Often times, attorneys will sit in on trials involving other attorneys who are their friends or rivals as a way learning about new developments in the legal world.

Do you have a legal question?
Enter your phone number below and let's talk.
--

In doing so, our attorneys have discovered that there are an alarming number of cases in Houston where criminal charges have been brought against an intoxicated truck driver or delivery driver. We believe this increase in criminal activity may very well hint at the harrowing possibilities of more accidents to come at the hands of drunken or otherwise intoxicated truck drivers.

If you or a loved one have been injured as the result of an accident involving a drunk truck driver or delivery driver, our experienced commercial vehicle accident lawyers would like to help you.


Multiple Defendants

One of the factors that make accidents involving an intoxicated truck driver different in the legal world than conventional trucking accidents, is that there is a strong likelihood of there being multiple defendants in your case.

Naturally, the intoxicated truck driver and his or her employer will incur a significant portion of liability in your case which presents its own set of legal challenges, the fact that they were intoxicated may bring additional defendants into your case. If the truck driver was drunk on alcohol at the time of the accident, there may have been a bar, restaurant, or liquor store who served the truck driver this alcohol. Under Texas law, you may have the right to take civil action against such an establishment as they are considered to be liable in causing the accident under a dram shop cause of action.


Gross Negligence

By knowingly operating a commercial vehicle while in an intoxicated state, the driver will likely be considered to be grossly negligent. While this is certainly a good thing in terms of winning your case, it will be heavily disputed by the other side. The defense attorneys will look for any technicality that they can to invalidate such claims, and without the help of an experienced attorney to help you navigate through their shady tactics, even such a seemingly “open and shut” case can end poorly for you.

For example, did you know that some insurance policies become null and void if the driver of the policy commits a deliberate tort? In other words, you may not be entitled to any money if your case is presented in such a way that gives the insurance company the opportunity to deny your claim on a technicality. There exist dozens of similar technicalities which makes it incredibly important for you to rely on the knowledge of an experienced truck and commercial accident injury attorney.


Some of Our Most Recent Successful Cases
$225,000.00 Recovery - Automobile Accident (Back Injury)
Our firm was hired to pursue a claim against a negligent following a rear-end car accident. The plaintiff was driving her vehicle in traffic on I-30 in Dallas, TX when the defendant approached from behind and collided with her vehicle, pushing it into the vehicle in front of her. The plaintiff sustained disc compression and herniation at C3-4 which required surgery to rectify. The defendant's ultimately accepted liability but heavily disputed the damages. Under threat of litigation, the defendants raised their offer. Our attorneys continued to aggressively negotiate on behalf of our client and a satisfactory result was eventually obtained.
Total Recovery:
$225,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$95,000.00
Litigation Expenses:
$2,500.00
$530,000.00 Recovery - Commercial Vehicle Accident (Back Injury Requiring Surgery)
Plaintiff, a delivery driver, suffered a back injury resulting in spinal fusion surgery when he was injured in an accident involving falling cargo from an 18-wheeler. The defendants cited the plaintiff's failure to take evasive action as a source of contributory negligence and litigation commenced accordingly which culminated in an acceptance of liability and eventually satisfactory resolution.
Total Recovery:
$530,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$210,000.00
Litigation Expenses:
$5,000.00
$250,000.00 Recovery - Wrongful Death / Commercial Vehicle Accident
(policy limits) A young mother was killed in an accident involving two commercial vehicles, one an 18-wheeler. The accident occurred as the young woman was a passenger in a vehicle that was traveling down a highway in the early morning hours. Without warning, the vehicle in which she was a passenger collided with a stalled 18-wheeler that parked in the right of way, resulting in catastrophic injuries that claimed the young woman's life soon thereafter.

The authorities initially faulted the driver of the vehicle in which the victim was a passenger, stating that he was using an electronic device rather than paying full attention to the roadway. However, the 18-wheeler was indeed blocking the roadway and plaintiff alleged that the vehicle did not follow the requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act in regard to providing adequate reflective or laminated warning at specific intervals. Further, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendant failed to remove his vehicle from the roadway when he first noticed signs of mechanical failure.

Had he simply moved to the shoulder of the road, plaintiffs argued, his lack of adequate warning signs would have been inconsequential. An initial settlement has been obtained in this case, yet litigation has commenced in full against the remaining defendant, and is currently ongoing.
Total Recovery:
$250,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$78,000.00
Litigation Expenses:
$370.00
$475,000.00 Recovery - Commercial Vehicle Accident / Motorcycle Accident (Shoulder Injury Requiring Surgery)
An airline pilot suffered a shoulder injury resulting in surgery when he was sideswiped by an 18-wheeler. The case was resolved through litigation, as establishing liability was a contentious matter. The defendants claimed that the plaintiff made an illegal passing maneuver, but the evidence showed that the defendant made a sweeping turn and intruded upon our client's right of way.
Total Recovery:
$475,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$158,333.00
Litigation Expenses:
$5,000.00
$700,000.00 Recovery - Commercial Vehicle Accident / Work Injury (Fractured Pelvis, Other Internal Injuries)
A loading dock employee suffered a fractured and damage to internal organs as the result of a crushing injury sustained when an 18-wheeler backed into him and crushed him between the trailer and loading dock.
Total Recovery:
$700,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$175,000.00
Litigation Expenses:
$1,084.00
$300,000.00 Recovery - Commercial Vehicle Accident (Back Injury Requiring Surgery)
A delivery driver hired our firm to pursue a negligent trucking company following a collision with insecure cargo. Our client was driving his work vehicle when numerous large metal pipes fell from the back of a flatbed trailer onto the roadway. Our client took evasive action but was unable to avoid the debris, which resulted in a fairly severe accident. As a result, our client sustained lower back injuries including two herniated discs which required surgery to correct. The defendants conceded liability early on but would not make a reasonable settlement offer. As such, suit was filed and the case was ultimately successfully resolved through litigation.
Total Recovery:
$300,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$120,000.00
Litigation Expenses:
$1,500.00
$41,000.00 Recovery - Commercial Vehicle Accident (Soft-Tissue Injuries)
Recovery for client who suffered soft tissue injuries when she was struck by an 18-wheeler.
Total Recovery:
$41,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$13,666.00
Litigation Expenses:
$135.00
$90,000.00 Recovery - Commercial Vehicle Accident (Soft-Tissue Injuries and Leg Contusions)
Recovered for client who suffered soft-tissue back injuries and leg contusions in an 18-wheeler accident.
Total Recovery:
$90,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$30,000.00
Litigation Expenses:
$562.00
$2,000,000.00 Recovery - Wrongful Death / Commercial Vehicle Accident
The family of a deceased woman hired our firm following a fatal 18-wheeler accident. The fatal accident occurred as the driver of an 18-wheeler lost control of his vehicle and veered out of his lane, resulting in a massive collision. The decedent, a passenger in a vehicle, died on the scene.

Her adult children consulted our firm to initially investigate the accident and make sense of the facts and circumstances since the family felt that the police report did not make it clear enough precisely what occurred. We launched a full investigation an immediately deposed the investigating officers.

Upon the completion of our investigation, it was apparent that the trucking company was indeed negligent and a lawsuit was soon filed. The defendant's launched an aggressive defense whereby they initially claimed that the truck driver was overcome by his passenger who allegedly grabbed the steering wheel and deliberately drove the truck off the road, despite the truck driver's best efforts.

We refuted this claim by illustrating that the tire marks that were present clearly show the truck gradually moving across the road and eventually onto the grass, which is entirely inconsistent with an abrupt lane change caused by someone taking control of the wheel. It was quite an unusual defense strategy that we were frankly surprised to even find ourselves having to refute.

The defendants then argued that a tire blowout may have contributed to the accident, which is significant because it would enable the defendant to offset some portion of their liability to a tire manufacturer or installer. Through deposition testimony of the investigating officer we established that there was absolutely no indication at the scene of the accident that a tire had blown out.

Finally, the defendants argued that the company which loaded the trailer may have improperly loaded the cargo. This argument was most plausible considering that the precise cause of the decedent's death was that she was essentially pummeled by cargo that broke through trailer and struck her person.

Our firm consulted several experts in the fields of heavy cargo transportation and physics. Our experts felt that the cargo was secured in a manner that is perfectly consistent with industry standards and that due to the forces involved, the cargo would not have behaved any differently irrespective of how it was secured. In short, the collision caused the cargo to break free and the negligence lay squarely on the trucking company and not any other entity. The case was successfully resolved through litigation.
Total Recovery:
$2,000,000.00
Attorney Fees:
$775,000.00
Litigation Expenses:
$25,000.00
$102,500.00 Recovery - Commercial Vehicle Accident (Both Legs Broken)
Recovery for client who suffered injuries to both legs in a truck accident.
Total Recovery:
$102,500.00
Attorney Fees:
$40,833.00
Litigation Expenses:
$19,984.00

"When I Lost My Father..."

Get Adobe Flash player

Our Cases in the News

Get Adobe Flash player

Contact Us

Full Name:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Comments or Questions:

Related Articles

Click to Call

--
Enter your phone number above and
click "Call Me" to talk to one of our
lawyers about your potential case.

What Our Clients Say

Successes