Houston Tractor Trailer Accident Lawyer

Do You Understand Liability Issues When You are Hurt in a Trucking Accident?

With tens of thousands of miles of paved streets in the Houston/Galveston metropolitan area, including hundreds of miles of highways and freeways throughout the region, a lot of 18-wheelers use our roadways all the time around the clock.

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They haul all types of goods to all parts of the state and country and just as many are brought here. And because Houston has the highest concentration of refineries in the U.S. an awful lot of them are filled with all kinds of highly flammable petrochemicals and fuels.

And even if nine out of ten of them are never a problem for Texas drivers, how safe are you from the remaining 10 percent? Can you trust that driver? How do you know he’s nearing the end of a ten-hour straight drive? How safe is the truck’s load? How safe is the tractor trailer rig itself? Does it even belong on the road? It’s no wonder you get a bit anxious when an 18-wheeler pulls alongside you and your family at 70 miles an hour on a crowded freeway. This is why accidents, injuries and even deaths are a statistical inevitability when tractor trailer rig are on the road in and around Houston and other communities throughout the Gulf coast.

If you have been injured in a big rig accident or if a loved one was injured or killed in one, a Houston tractor trailer accident lawyer at Grossman Law Office can help you. We’ve successfully negotiated many fair settlements for our clients and have litigated hundreds of trucking accidents cases during our 20-plus years of service to injury victims. We are all too-well aware of the financial weight you bear and the pain you suffer after being involved in one of these horrible accidents through no fault of your own.

But your troubles are far from over, even if you and your family are able to fully recover from your injuries,. The difficulties you face in your pursuit to seek fair compensation for your injuries can be just as grueling as the injuries, the pain you suffer from them, and the property damage from the accident. Fighting for a fair settlement, even going to court to win a fair injury award simply creates even more emotional stress and extends your fiscal problems for all those unpaid bills and lost wages if you are unable to work. This is why we feel it is so vital for you to know all of the legal avenues available, so that you can take the right action to win a just and fair restitution for your injuries, pain and suffering, and lost income.

Finding All Those Liable for Your Injuries and Pain From is the First Step

If you have been hurt in a tractor trailer rig accident, the first thing you must find out is whose fault it is so you can determine who is legally liable for injuries you suffered and your property damage. In a lot of big rig accidents, many parties could share liability for damages. Many times there ends up being more than one defendant. A legal predicate in Texas law which is called “respondeat superior” states that employers of those determined to be liable for damage or injury their employee causes are just as responsible for the action or inaction of that employee.

In a claim involving an 18-wheeler, a combination of a number of different parties can be responsible, and subsequently held liable for the wreck. This includes the trucker, the company he or she works for, the company that loaded the trailer, the person and company who planned the truck’s route; and by their connection to any responsible party, the insurance company who covers those who are liable because they are the ultimate source of any damages that are paid.

Another source of liability is relatively new. Over the past few years, with the state outsourcing a lot of road maintenance duties, as well as highway construction to private industry, if a privately-owned company is performing road construction or maintenance and creates hazardous road conditions that cause a tractor trailer rig accident in which you are the victim, these companies may also be held liable for a portion, or maybe all, of the liability arising from the accident. And all private companies retained by the state to build and maintain Texas roads must document that they are properly insured, or provide a very large liability a bond.

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To win your claim among a surplus of potential defendants, you need an experienced Houston tractor trailer accident lawyer on your side that also has the ability to investigate the scene of an accident to discover who is actually liable. Naturally, local or state law enforcement agencies investigate all tractor trailer accidents. And in some instances, so does the US Department of Transportation (DOT), especially if a repeat offender of their statutes and laws governing interstate transportation is involved.

Many times those investigations only reveal the primary responsible parties such as the drivers or the company that owns the rig if the tractor trailer rig has bad brakes or some other safety violation. But such investigations can fall short of identifying all underlying causes for the 18 wheeler accident. Getting to the bottom of those underlying causes often exposes every liable party who has heretofore escaped detection. Experienced tractor trailer rig accident lawyers and their investigators conduct these thoroughly stringent inquiries to identify everyone who is liable. They know how to determine the degree of each responsible party in every big rig accident. Occasionally our investigations reveal additional criminal facts of the accident that law officials miss. We pass them along to the appropriate agencies for further discretionary action.

When you are injured in a tractor trailer trucking accident your attorney must determine whether the negligent truck driver caused the wreck, if someone else played an important part, or if a mechanical malfunction might have played a part. What if the company that owned the cargo didn’t load it correctly or didn’t safely secure the cargo which caused it to shift, or even break free during transport and topple the trailer? Or, did the route planner carelessly send the truck through an area not properly zoned for 18-wheelers? Or maybe flammable chemicals were loaded inside a tanker not rated to carry such dangerous materials and suddenly, unexpectedly exploded, seriously injuring you and your family as you drove alongside it on a Houston freeway. Remember the ammonia tanker that unexpectedly exploded at the Southwest Freeway/610 interchange some years ago where hundreds were hurt when they drove through the ammonia cloud? You’ve seen many television news stories of such horrible accidents on our freeways. There were people who were injured in those charred cars strewn around that burning semi. But you don’t think about them until you become one.

It is rarely easy to determine immediate fault in a tractor trailer rig accident. This is why you benefit in many ways through the expertise of a Texas truck accident lawyer who will make sure that every liable party who is responsible for a big rig accident in Houston is held responsible for your injuries, along with the damage to your vehicle, its passengers and other contents.

Can’t I Just Deal With Collecting Injury Compensation Myself Without an Experienced Attorney?

A non-attorney is just not prepared to effectively negotiate a fair settlement with insurance companies, or successfully represent him or herself in court. Representing yourself is possible. But actually winning is a very long shot. And litigation in a trucking accident-related injury cases is extremely complex. And inexperienced attorneys have an only slightly better chance than you representing yourself of recovering any reasonable compensation. So why would you even entertain such a foolish idea, especially when tens, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the table?

Everyone knows the old adage about the law: "those who represent themselves have a fool for a client." But it’s quite perilous to do that in any personal injury case, especially one involving an 18-wheeler because the laws and procedures involved are so complex, and the playing field is clearly tilted in the favor of the trucking companies, their insurance providers and attorneys. Those who oppose you have deep pockets and years of experience at winning these kinds of cases. You need much more than general knowledge of the law to succeed in trucking accident litigation. And you need more experience than a legal novice who is long on motivation, but short on the tools it takes to win.

Here’s a little secret that non-lawyers don’t recognize. Successful litigation requires thorough knowledge of civil procedure and the ability to develop the perfect strategy to battle the insurance companies and their lawyers. Legal novices don’t have that, nor the respect of their opponents. This is why an experienced and highly regarded Houston tractor trailer accident lawyer who has spent years beating the insurance companies and their lawyers, is a powerful weapon in your fight for just compensation.

Also, if you have a relative or friend who is a lawyer, even though he or she might be looking out for your best interests and might be inspired to fight hard for your rights when an 18-wheeler accident has befallen you, often, that person might have a difficult time disassociating him or herself emotionally from issues surrounding your case. Personal injury law is often quite intense. A specialized 18 wheeler attorney must be pragmatic, focus solely on the facts of a case and be very cool under fire if you are to be successful. What happens if that friend or relative attorney doesn’t win the case, or accepts a less-than-fair settlement because he knows how badly you need the money now? How will you feel about your friend of relative then? Keep your family members and friends out of your legal business. You will be very wise to remember this when deciding who will represent your 18 wheeler liability lawsuit to your greatest benefit.

Insurance Companies Believe in the Power of “No”

Federal law requires trucking companies to purchase sizable insurance policies to protect against the inevitable accidents that occur. And many of you mistakenly believe the trucking insurance compensation process is quick and free of surprises. So all you have to do is file a claim and wait for that inevitable, and generous, compensatory check.

Don’t count on it. Insurance companies are in the business of taking-in premiums and not paying out claims. Since insurance policies for 18-wheelers very expensive, the insurance company’s only mission is to keep from paying you fairly, if at all, to increase its high profits. So it comes as no surprise that insurance companies deny every claim possible, whenever, and for as long as, possible. It’s their nature. Without the right attorney, collecting a fair settlement from an insurance company is anything but foolproof.

While the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Codes grant the right for anyone who has been injured in an 18 wheeler accident, or the family of one who was killed to be compensated for the harm done, reimbursement is not automatic when a victim claims an injury. This is the dirty little secret that insurance companies don’t want you to know, until you find out the hard way by having to deal with an out-of-hand denial by an insurer and their lawyers to deny you at every turn.

You, as plaintiff, must first prove the liability of the parties responsible for the accident and the injuries you suffered. You must clearly show that the money you’re asking for fairly reflects the loss you’ve experienced from those damages and injuries. The insurance company and the lawyers who represent them, does everything possible to deny a plaintiffs claim, or argue that the level of restitution you seek is excessive and unreasonable. No insurance company grants any fair injury claim without putting up a fight.

Insurance Adjusters Take the Point in the Fight Against You

Insurance adjusters are the first line of defense against an accident victim. Their goal is to help their employer, not you: plain and simple. Their job is to save their companies money by denying your claim or underestimating the cost of the accident. An adjuster acts like your best friend and constantly assures you that all of your needs are met; only to stab you in the back. Insurance adjusters are very clever and ease you into a false sense of security by imitating your “good neighbor” auto agent. Often they might innocently try and record you saying something that is later twisted into sounding like your admitting liability and destroy your chance to receive fair, if-any, compensation. Remember, insurance companies are in business for themselves, not you. Some unscrupulous adjusters even convince uninformed personal injury victims, often deceptively, to sign away the legal right to sue in exchange for a small settlement that falls far short of compensating the victim’s injuries or other losses from a big rig accident.

Corporate insurance adjusters and defense lawyers love nothing more than a victim who represents his or herself. They know how easy it is to lead a novice around by the nose. The behavior of insurance adjusters alone should illustrate why you need an aggressive 18 wheeler accident lawyer who knows how to combat the tactics of the insurance companies and win your fair settlement. Only the history of success of an experienced Houston tractor trailer accident lawyer with Grossman Law Office will combat unscrupulous insurance adjusters and frighten their insurance company into a fair settlement, or beat them in court if they don’t.

Insurance companies are ready to fight injury claims before the accidents even occur. They have experienced attorneys on staff, or permanent retainer who are waiting to take on personal injury claims. They specialize in cases like yours and know every trick to tilt the case in favor of their insurance company employers. Insurance lawyers race to the accident scene as soon as it happens and begin building a case against you while you are still deciding whether or not you even need to hire a lawyer. If you have been injured in a tractor trailer accident, you mustn’t hesitate in finding a Texas big rig accident law firm. You only get one bite at the apple. That’s it.

Trusting a Trucker in an 18 Wheeler Accident is a Fatal Mistake

With so much at stake, don’t rely on the truck driver to tell the truth if he or she causes an expensive accident. If they’re found to be liable, not only will they be fired, it could become very difficult for them to land a new job after costing his or her previous employer enormous damages because of his or her negligence. Sometimes trucking companies will make the driver the “fall guy” and fire him outright. Then they cover themselves of true responsibility, or their negligence that caused the accident.

And if this isn’t the driver’s first wreck behind the wheel of a tractor trailer rig, it’s possible to lose his state trucking driver’s license, or his DOT certification. Then the (former) truck driver has to find a new line-of work. And with the high unemployment rates in the United States, the temptation for that driver to lie, cheat or behave dishonestly to save their job is too great since that driver now risks losing the paycheck that supports his or her family.

After suffering an injury in a big rig accident in which the driver of the truck claimed that our client was driving with his lights off at night, our investigators quickly examined the scene. They discovered a security camera outside a convenience store that was pointed directly its parking lot and the accident scene behind it. The video clearly showed our client’s headlights shining brightly. We proved that the truck driver boldly lied. Witnesses and defendants can lie and or callously misrepresent critical facts in trucking accident cases. The Houston tractor trailer accident lawyers with Grossman Law Office know how to uncover the lies, and counter them with the truth to stop witness misrepresentations. Over the past 20 years, we have conducted thousands of semi trailer accident investigations to get to the bottom of the case, and won for our clients’ fair and just compensation by shining the light on the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Self-Insured Truck Companies Are Also a Big Threat to Your Fair Compensation

Some trucking companies protect against personal injuries from accidents by reserving a percentage of their assets to pay accident claims, instead of purchasing a coverage policy from an insurance carrier. And though federal and state governments monitor the insurance industry, licenses adjusters and hold insurance companies to ethical standards as best it can, no such regulations exist for self-insured trucking companies. Seeking compensation from these “self-insured” firms, or self-insured independent truckers, can be far more difficult, and as messy, as finding justice in the Old West.

You will pursue settlement with an officer of the company, not an insurance adjuster. This company officer’s salary is typically tied directly to company profits. Any amount paid to you for an injury comes directly out of the company coffers, which means that when the company’s officer compensates you, he or she is literally taking money out of their own pocket. This is why we’re not surprised when a self-insured company officer stoops to any means to deny your claim, which protects the company’s assets. Self-insured companies (as well as independent truckers) have been known to willfully destroy damning evidence, bribe witnesses, and even intimidate their victims, sometimes physically. There have been times when those intimidation attempts were directed at our clients. This is why every time our attorneys are hired against a liable self-insured party; the first action we take is to prevent anyone with the company from behaving unsuitably toward our clients. Often, we are forced to demand that they completely refrain from communicating with our clients unless one of our attorneys is present.

Raise the Stakes, and Chances for Success With Experience on Your Side

Only after trying hundreds of cases can a lawyer learn the intricacies of developing the right tactics for success at trial or in negotiations with insurance companies in a tractor trailer accident. Most people, and many inexperienced attorneys, don’t know the proper way to answer interrogatories, prepare demand packages, conduct sophisticated depositions or respond to lists of admissions. Experienced attorneys know how to conduct sophisticated accident investigations which get to the bottom of liability for the accident that caused your injuries and pain. You need somebody who knows how to do all of this, then forcefully represent your interests.

Insurance companies only agree to fair settlements if you are protected by an attorney with a history of success in court. While insurance companies and their lawyers are eager to take on non-lawyers and inexperienced attorneys, they fear us. When we file a claim, the insurance companies usually see the wisdom of settling with our clients for a fair amount. They want to avoid a trial, especially if they know you have a strong case. And from a fair settlement, our clients can resume living their lives again because we’ve negotiated that compensation on their behalf.

What’s the First Step to Winning Fair Compensation?

You must take steps to preserve the evidence in your case now, and to act quickly. You must hire a lawyer to investigate the accident scene immediately. Every moment that you wait, evidence is becoming stale, witnesses’ memories fade, or their stories’ can “mysteriously” change. The accident scene also becomes altered either by the passing of time, or because your opponents do it themselves. Physical evidence that proves your case also might begin to “mysteriously” disappear. As soon as we are hired, Grossman Law Office begins to uncover the right evidence that proves liability of the truck driver, the trucking company and any other third-parties. We inspect all the vehicles involved, clearly survey the accident scene, measure distances, hunt for photographic and video evidence and assemble it all to clearly prove your case. We leave no stone unturned to uncover all the evidence that proves your claim beyond reproach.

For example, we were once hired by the families of two men who were involved in a terrible accident with a big rig. After the initial accident, the truck’s trailer was stretched across the unlit road on a moonless night. Only the taillights of the trailer hear the shoulder of the highway were visible to oncoming drivers. Our clients rounded a curve and unknowingly smashed into the trailer. One man died at the scene. The other was left fighting for his life.

The force of the collision ripped off the roof of the vehicle, killing the driver and critically injuring the passenger. The next day we were hired, flew to the scene of the accident and begin investigating that same day. Our client’s car had already been towed to a salvage yard by the time we arrived. After examining the vehicle, we noted its strange lack of headlights. Finding this odd, our investigators spotted a security camera on the premises and we asked to view the video. It showed an official of the trucking company illegally removing the headlights. When the company tried to claim our client had been driving a car without headlights, we produced the video that caught them red-handed. You can guess who won this case. But what you don’t know is that both law enforcement officials and the U.S. Department of Transportation found this video very interesting. And you get a better idea of what we mean when we say that evidence can sometimes “mysteriously disappear.”

If the love ones of these two men who were driving down the road, minding their own business when tragedy found them, had waited any longer to hire us, this crucial evidence would have been gone forever, because the salvage yard’s video surveillance system records over itself every two days. And we can’t think of a stronger reason why Gulf coast victims of big rig accidents need to find a Houston tractor trailer accident lawyer now, so the investigation can begin while the case, and evidence, is still fresh. Lies and missing evidence can cripple your legal right to fair compensation for a tractor trailer accident from the moment it happens only if, by your inaction, they are allowed to.

You Can Stand Up For Yourself and Take Back Your Life After a Tractor Trailer Accident

The best way for a victim in an 18 wheeler accident to ensure full compensation is to find an experienced Houston tractor trailer accident lawyer who knows how to clearly prove every defendant’s undeniable liability, and then win equitable damages.

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Grossman Law Office has over 20 years experience handling personal injury litigation in 1tractor trailer accident cases. If you or a loved one has been in such an accident, we use every bit of our expertise to assure that you receive fair compensation for the injuries and pain you have suffered. We’ve helped deliver millions of dollars to hundreds of accident victims in Texas. So if you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident in Houston or anywhere in the Gulf coast, let an experienced accident lawyer win the best compensation possible for you.

Call us today at 1-855-392-0000 (toll free), or send us an email by clicking this link, or fill out the form at the top of this page for a free consultation to continue your road to total recovery and resume your life.

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