Average Settlement for an 18-Wheeler Accident in Texas

Any type of road accident is a harrowing experience. That being said, the horror of being hit by an 18-wheeler truck is particularly devastating and traumatic. The sheer size of an 18-wheeler truck is no match for a car, with statistics showing that most truck accidents result in injuries and fatalities to the car passengers. Unfortunately, more truck accidents occur in Texas than any other state. With that in mind, knowing the average settlement for 18-wheeler accident in Texas is useful should you ever get rear-ended in a truck accident. This article will give you all the details along with some helpful tips for securing the best auto accident lawyer in Texas to help your claim.

What is the Average Settlement for an 18-Wheeler Accident in Texas?

One common theme surrounding 18-wheeler accidents in Texas is that the truck company tries to settle things outside of court. Regardless of the company’s insistence to settle, the specifics of the accident determine whether a trial is warranted. As a result, the average payout for 18-wheeler accidents in Texas varies. It’s important that you have all the details regarding the accident so that your lawyer can negotiate your maximum settlement. 

Having a Dallas truck accident lawyer with experience in these types of accidents can greatly benefit your settlement. It’s impossible to give an accurate average settlement amount because every accident is unique, but you may expect to receive anything from the tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because there are so many variables in the process, it’s crucial that you understand what information you should provide to your attorney in order to secure fair compensation.

Factors That Affect Settlements

Several factors will affect the average truck accident settlement. Having knowledge of these factors and whether they positively or negatively affect a settlement will be an advantage. 

The Specifics of the Accident

The specifics of the accident play a crucial role in determining the settlement. This is why it is essential to have the details. If fatalities or serious injuries have occurred from the accident, the burden of gathering evidence is on the relatives of the victims. There may be a need to track down eyewitnesses or examine security footage to piece together what happened. However, if you hire a qualified truck accident attorney from the team at Angel Reyes & Associates, these investigative duties get passed on to your dedicated lawyer.

It is important to establish the leading factor that contributed to the accident:

Negligent Truck Driver

There are instances where the truck driver commits a traffic violation, like running a red light or failing to slow down.

Improper Packing

The cargo that the truck was carrying could have been packed improperly. It may shift, causing the truck driver to lose control of the truck, or it may spill onto the roadway and be the cause of the accident.

Unroadworthy Truck

The truck company may not have been maintaining its fleet, resulting in problems with the trucks. This often happens when companies push for deliveries and fail to check trucks between deliveries.

Driver Fatigue

Another common reason for truck accidents is driver fatigue. Unfortunately, many truck drivers push themselves when they have very tight schedules. This may result in them driving when they should be resting.

Fault Percentage

In Texas, state law determines the fault percentage for each driver. This means that the truck driver and car driver are given a percentage of the fault for the accident. If the fault assigned to you is over 50%, you are not entitled to a settlement. Thus, the lower the fault percentage below 50%, the larger your potential settlement.

Injuries

Injuries and fatalities can also affect the average truck accident settlement. The severity of the injuries of the car passengers is a huge negotiating factor in settlements. Lawyers consider whether the injuries are life-altering in terms of disabilities or if they hinder the person’s ability to work.

There are also medical bills to consider from the accident. Any further operations, treatments, or rehabilitation costs after the accident also have to be taken into consideration as well.

Damage

Getting rear-ended in a truck accident rarely results in just a dented bumper. Due to the massive difference in size between an 18-wheeler and a car, the damage is usually extensive. In many cases, the insurer will deem the car beyond repair simply because the cost of repair is higher than the car’s value. An insurance adjuster will provide an estimate of the damage, but it is good practice for you to get an independent estimate as well. 

Insurance

Insurance policies are tricky to navigate when it comes to truck accident settlements. This is because the accident can involve multiple insurance companies. There is the trucking company itself, the truck driver, and possibly the client whose cargo the truck was carrying. It all depends on the specifics of the accident.

This is why it is crucial to have a Dallas truck accident lawyer to help you navigate the different insurers and ensure that you get the settlement you deserve.

How to Ensure You Get Your Settlement

If you have been in a truck accident, it can be extremely challenging trying to negotiate your settlement while recovering. It can also affect your physical and mental health because it can be quite stressful. This is why it is important to have people around you whom you can trust and who can ensure that you get your settlement. Still, there are two primary things you need to safeguard besides your support network.

Get All the Details

You may be incapacitated after the accident, but one of the first things you need to do is start collecting all the information regarding the accident. This information includes pictures or video footage of the accident, eyewitness reports, police records, and medical reports. In addition, from that moment, you must start collecting all the documentation involving the accident. This means that every bill, insurance report, repair cost, and doctor’s consultation must be kept safe. Your lawyer can use these items to negotiate for a reasonable settlement on your behalf. It will also save you time from scrambling to locate documents later on. 

Hire a Professional

Hiring a professional is the surest method to get the compensation you need and deserve. Professional attorneys that handle only truck accident cases exist. It is up to you to find one who is willing to help you. From the date of the crash, you have two years to make a claim against the trucking company or truck driver.

Having a professional lawyer working on your case will make it easier to negotiate your settlement. Also, with their experience dealing with these types of accidents, they will be able to give you an idea of the average payout for 18-wheeler accidents in Texas. They will also be able to better advise you about what you should and should not do while the claim is being negotiated. The lawyers at Angel Reyes & Associates are experts in this field of law, as we deal with Texas road accident cases on a daily basis. 

Our team of expert road accident lawyers has a proven track record for securing the best outcomes for our clients. All you have to do is browse our case results to see some real-world settlements that we have won for victims of 18-wheeler accidents. For example, we fought to secure a $1.5-million settlement in an auto accident case involving an 18-wheeler collision, which resulted in a broken vertebra for one individual and serious knee injuries and a mild brain injury in another. Our team has the skills, experience and tenacity to go after the maximum compensation you’re owed.

FAQs

Find the best 18-wheeler accident attorneys in Texas

The average settlement for 18-wheeler accident in Texas is hard to define. Given the unique circumstances of each individual claim, settlement amounts will also vary. If you’ve been the victim of an auto wreck involving an 18-wheeler, hiring a lawyer who specializes in truck accidents is your best bet for recovering damages. They’ve got the expertise to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. The truck companies will always try to settle for less quickly instead of having to pay larger amounts later on when damages increase. It’s best to always seek proper legal counsel before settling, so you can go into the situation knowing someone is ready to fight for you.

The team at Angel Reyes & Associates has a five-star track record, decades of experience in Texas road accident law and a genuine care for victims. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case today.