If you or one of your loved ones has been involved in an accident with a truck, your choice in legal representation matters. Do not risk your right to financial compensation by failing to speak with a qualified, experienced, an experienced San Antonio truck accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Maloney & Campolo. Contact us online or call us for a free consultation. We will help you obtain the compensation that you deserve.
How Can Our 18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys Help With Your Case?
Choose a team dedicated to your recovery and financial well-being after an injury.
- We have over two decades of collective legal experience. Our legal team uses our trial skills and knowledge to the benefit of our clients.
- Our law firm offers affordable legal representation. In addition to free consultations, we do not demand up-front legal fees unless we secure a recovery.
$8 million for a truck accident resulting in death.
$1.3 million for an 18-wheeler collision.
$400,000 for an 18-wheeler collision.
When you’re working with our law firm, you can be certain that you are being represented by a team of results-oriented litigators who strive to secure the maximum amount of financial compensation you deserve. Our team will work to obtain the police report, handle communication with insurance companies and will fight for fair compensation to cover for unexpected expenses like medical bills and lost wages. Do not wait another moment to speak with our personal injury lawyers in San Antonio. As compassionate legal advocates, we stand at your side until justice is fully served.
About Tim Maloney
Tim Maloney, a native San Antonian hailing from a family of esteemed attorneys, is a distinguished trial lawyer. Graduating from the University of Texas and St. Mary’s Law School, Tim swiftly established his own firm, achieving multimillion-dollar verdicts in various cases, including an $8 million award resulting from a semi truck accident. Renowned for securing record-breaking awards, his commitment to justice is unwavering. Recognized as a “Super Lawyer” and top Trial Lawyer nationally, Tim Maloney is your advocate for justice.
Contact the Law Offices of Maloney & Campolo today at (210) 922-2200 for a free consultation.
“The Law Offices of Maloney & Campolo, LLP are very personable and amazing team to have on my side. I was often surprised by the attention and care they provided during every stage of the legal process. I would highly recommend their services to anyone I can reach. I know who to call if I get into another accident.”
– Simon M. Via Google.
Ask Our Truck Accident Law Firm
- Determining Liability
- Defective Products Causing an Accident
- Damages You Can Recover
- Time Limit to File Accident Claims
- Types of Truck Accidents
- Common Causes of Truck Accidents
- Common Injuries
Who Can Be Held Responsible in a Trucking Accident?
The person or entity that caused your wreck may be liable for your damages. Trucking companies will be vicariously liable for the mistakes of their drivers in most situations. If the big rig driver was on duty at the time of your accident, the company will be liable for the actions of the driver. A trucking company could be responsible for your damages even if the at-fault truck driver was an independent contractor at the time of the wreck, thanks to federal liability laws. The company could also be liable if it contributed to your accident directly. For instance, if the company negligently allowed a damaged or worn truck to transport goods, it could be responsible for a subsequent tire blowout accident. Negligent hiring in the trucking industry and incomplete training practices are also common reasons to hold a trucking company liable for a wreck resulting in personal injuries.
Who Is Responsible for Paying for a San Antonio Truck Accident?
Trucking companies in Texas can be held legally responsible, or liable, for most crashes involving their trucks and drivers, even if a driver is classified as an independent contractor. Trucking companies can be held vicariously liable for the mistakes of their truck drivers, as well as directly responsible for their own careless acts, such as:
- Inadequate truck driver training
- Pressuring drivers to exceed hours-of-service restrictions
- Poor fleet maintenance
- Violated common carrier laws
- Improperly loaded or secured cargo
It may also be possible to hold a third party liable for your San Antonio truck accident, such as another driver, truck manufacturer, maintenance crew, cargo company or the government. An investigation of your truck accident by an attorney may be necessary to identify all of the at-fault parties in your case.
Defective Products Causing an Accident
Our San Antonio truck accident attorneys have also seen big rig accident cases that involve third-party negligence. We have seen truck accidents stemming from defective vehicle parts, for example. Bad brakes or other truck defects could point to manufacturer liability for damages. Other third parties that may owe you money for damages include other passenger vehicle drivers, cargo loaders and truck owners. An analysis of your case by one of our injury attorneys can help you assign fault.
How Can Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
While you may not need to hire an attorney for a standard car accident case in San Antonio, a truck accident is different. It can be difficult to collect fair compensation from a large trucking company and its insurance provider without an attorney advocating for you. A lawyer can stand up for your rights, investigate the crash, hire experts to help you prove fault and liability, and pursue justice using proven legal strategies.
What Can I Recover With a Claim?
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive at our law office is, “How much is my truck accident claim worth?” We know this is a critical question for families who are experiencing financial hardships after serious accidents. We are in the business of personal injury law to bring peace of mind to individuals and families by obtaining them maximum compensation for their losses. We know how life-changing a recovery award can be after a major truck accident in San Antonio. A successful insurance settlement or injury lawsuit can help you recover the costs of many economic and noneconomic losses.
- Medical expenses. All past and future costs of medical care, including stays in the ICU, ambulance fees, surgeries, rehabilitative care, physical therapy, emotional therapy, medications and medical devices.
- Lost wages. The full amount of income you lost from having to stay home from work while you recovered from your truck accident injuries. If the crash gave you a permanent injury, you could also recover compensation for lost capacity to earn.
- Property damage. The amount you will have to spend to repair your damaged vehicle or replace a totaled vehicle. Truck accidents often totally disable smaller passenger cars, requiring vehicle replacement. You could also recover the costs of a rental car.
- Pain and suffering. An award to address your personal pain and suffering related to the truck accident, including emotional distress, inconvenience, mental anguish, post-traumatic stress disorder, lost quality of life and loss of consortium.
- Punitive damages. An additional award that may be available if the defendant in your case is guilty of maliciousness, intent to cause the truck accident or gross negligence. A punitive damage award is a type of punishment against the defendant.
At the Law Offices of Maloney & Campolo, our San Antonio truck accident lawyers know a financial recovery is not everything. However, we have also witnessed firsthand how a settlement can transform a victim’s life after a serious motor vehicle collision. A fair recovery can enable you to pay your bills and move forward with the financial security you deserve; for example, it can allow you to pay for the lifetime costs of a permanent injury. Discuss your case with our San Antonio 18-wheeler accident lawyer today during a free consultation for more information about its potential value.
Do I Have a Case?
You may have grounds for an 18-wheeler accident case if your attorney can prove the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached this duty and caused your accident. These are the four main elements necessary for a truck accident lawsuit in Texas. Your semi-truck accident lawyer must prove these elements based on a preponderance of evidence: your case is more likely to be true than not true. A semi-truck accident claim could be the answer to funding your accident-related health care costs and property damage expenses. More importantly, it could give you justice after a traumatic accident. A successful trucking accident case could shed light on dangerous trucking company practices in your community. It could force the company to change the way it handles truck and driver safety, potentially preventing future accidents. Retaining an injury attorney with tractor-trailer accident experience can improve your odds of achieving positive case results.
Statute of Limitations to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident and wish to file a lawsuit, your window of opportunity is limited. Every state, including Texas, has statutes of limitations that control the amount of time an injured victim has to file an injury lawsuit. The purpose of these laws is to prevent people from taking an unnecessary amount of time to file claims, helping to create a more efficient legal system.
According to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code section 16.003, you will have no more than two years from the date of your truck accident to file a personal injury claim, in most situations. Two years is the deadline in Texas on all personal injury and property damage claims. However, this deadline may be slightly longer or shorter in special cases.
- If the victim did not discover his or her injury right away: two years from the date of discovery.
- If the victim is a minor under the age of 18: two years from the date of the victim’s 18th
- If filing a wrongful death lawsuit: two years from the date of the loved one’s death.
- If the defendant is a government entity: six months from the date of the accident.
Unless an exception to the rule applies, if you wait longer than your deadline to file a claim, the courts in San Antonio will refuse to hear your case. The courts take statutes of limitations very seriously. Always act quickly after a commercial vehicle accident. Prompt legal action can ensure you preserve your right to file an injury or property damage lawsuit in Texas.
Types of Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks do not always crash in the same manner as traditional motor vehicles. Semi-trucks are larger, heavier and may be towing trailers with cargo. They possess many traits that produce a risk of unique accident types. Trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, even if a truck is traveling at low speeds, a collision can result in serious or fatal injuries. Truck drivers have reduced visibility compared to cars, they need considerably more time to stop and their gravity center makes it easier for them to roll over compared to other motor vehicles. Some common types of commercial truck accidents include:
- Jackknife accidents
- Truck rollovers
- Wide-turn accidents
- Blind spot (No Zone) accidents
- Unsafe lane changes
- Rear-end collisions
- Underride accidents
- Override accidents
- Tire blowouts
- Brake failure accidents
- Runaway truck accidents
- Detached trailers
- Lost cargo loads
Truck accident cases are also unique in the types of evidence that can be used to prove a claim, such as the truck’s black box, company records and truck inspection reports. You may need an attorney to help you preserve and collect evidence to support your case.
Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents in San Antonio
Negligence is more often than not identified as the reason for commercial truck accidents in Texas and throughout the U.S. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 5,700 accidents involved large trucks in 2021. Negligence, or someone’s failure to act with ordinary care, often contributes to harmful trucking accidents.
If a truck driver does not exercise the proper amount of care when operating an 18-wheeler, for example, he or she could lose control of the truck and crash into other vehicles. Common truck driver errors include driving while distracted, drowsy and drunk, as well as speeding, improper braking and failing to inspect the truck daily.
What Are Some Common Injuries After a Truck Accident?
Depending on the size, weight, and traveling speed of a truck, the injuries resulting from the accident can have lifelong repercussions on the victim’s life. Some common injuries after accidents with large trucks include:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Death
- Seat belt injuries
The Law Offices of Maloney & Campolo can help you recover compensation to cover for medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages due to time away from work, and other expenses incurred due to the injuries you suffered in the accident.
Schedule a Free Case Consultation With Our San Antonio 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision with a truck, our experienced truck accident lawyers are prepared to provide experienced advocacy to recover fair compensation. Our law firm will negotiate with the insurance company and handle the legal process so you can concentrate on recovering from your injuries. Call us or contact us online to discuss the specifics of your case with a truck accident attorney in San Antonio. We work on a contingency fee basis – so you don’t pay us a penny unless we secure a settlement. We represent injury victims in Bexar County and throughout Texas.
To learn more about recovering compensation after a truck accident, contact our San Antonio car accident lawyers.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL:
“So thankful for law offices of Maloney & Campolo. I really appreciate everything Mr. Maloney did for me and my family. God Bless you” -Rodolfo Vega