Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in Garland, Texas
The firms in this guide
1. The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer crashes, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, car accidents
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, brake failure accidents, overloaded truck accidents, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver log analysis, vehicle maintenance record investigation, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Serves Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex including Garland. Extensive experience handling serious truck accident cases in Texas courts.
Location: Serves Garland, TX (Dallas-Fort Worth area)
Contact: Contact firm for consultation
Consultation: Free consultation available
2. Thompson Law
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, tractor-trailer accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Driver negligence accidents, trucking company negligence, mechanical failure accidents, fatigued driver accidents, distracted driving accidents
Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence gathering, federal trucking regulations analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Texas personal injury law firm serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Handle truck accident cases throughout the metroplex including Garland.
Location: Serves Garland, TX
Contact: Contact firm for consultation
Consultation: Free case evaluation
3. Varghese Summersett Injury Law Group
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, hours of service violations, mechanical failure accidents, brake failure accidents, overloaded truck accidents
Legal Services: Federal trucking regulations investigation, driver log analysis, vehicle maintenance record review, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Texas law firm serving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Handle complex truck accident cases involving multiple liable parties.
Location: Serves Garland, TX (Fort Worth based, serves DFW)
Contact: Contact firm for consultation
Consultation: Free consultation available
4. Herrman & Herrman, PLLC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, mechanical failure accidents, improper cargo loading accidents, brake failure accidents
Legal Services: Trucking company negligence investigation, federal trucking regulations analysis, driver log review, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wages, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: Texas personal injury firm with experience handling truck accident cases throughout the state.
Location: Serves Garland, TX (multiple Texas locations)
Contact: Contact firm for consultation
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis
5. Rasansky Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, car accidents, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Driver negligence accidents, trucking company negligence, fatigued driver accidents, distracted driving accidents, mechanical failure accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration investigation, evidence gathering, driver log analysis, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Dallas-based personal injury firm serving the metroplex including Garland. Handle serious truck accident cases throughout Texas.
Location: Serves Garland, TX (Dallas area)
Contact: Contact firm for consultation
Consultation: Free case evaluation
Weekly Hours, Inspection Records and Responsible Third Parties in Garland Truck Crash Claims
A Garland truck crash claim can look back over the driver’s past week of hours, the electronic logs that record them and the truck’s inspection history. Texas law then lets the jury assign a share of responsibility to everyone who contributed, and sets the limits on exemplary damages.
Weekly Hours and Logs
Under 49 CFR 395.3(b), a property-carrying driver may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days if the carrier does not operate every day, or after 70 hours in 8 consecutive days if it does; 395.3(c) allows a restart after 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. Under 395.8(a), the carrier must require electronic logging of duty status, with manual records in listed cases.
Inspection and Accident Records
Under 49 CFR 396.17, each commercial motor vehicle, including each unit of a combination, must have passed a periodic inspection within the preceding 12 months, with documentation on the vehicle. Under 390.15(b), the carrier keeps an accident register for 3 years after each accident, recording the date, location, driver, injuries, fatalities and any hazardous materials release.
Responsible Third Parties
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.003(a), the trier of fact assigns a whole-number percentage of responsibility to each claimant, defendant, settling person and responsible third party designated under 33.004, and under 33.003(b) no person’s conduct goes to the jury without sufficient evidence to support it.
Exemplary Damages
Section 41.008(b) caps exemplary damages at the greater of two times economic damages plus noneconomic damages found by the jury up to $750,000, or $200,000. Under 41.008(c), the cap does not apply to conduct described as a felony in listed Penal Code sections, including intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter.
Garland Truck Accident Questions
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, unless your percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent under Section 33.001. For example, imagine $180,000 in damages and 10 percent of the responsibility on the injured driver: the recovery would be $162,000.
How long do I have to sue the carrier?
Two years after the day the cause of action accrues under Section 16.003(a) for personal injury, and two years after the death under 16.003(b) for wrongful death.
What if a City of Garland vehicle was involved?
Under Section 101.023(c), a municipality’s liability is limited to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death and $100,000 per occurrence for property damage, and under 101.101 the city is entitled to notice within six months unless a ratified charter period or actual notice applies.