Houston Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer
The roads and highways of Houston, Texas are the most dangerous in the nation for fatal truck accidents. And most of the people who are fatally injured in truck crashes are occupants of smaller vehicles.
If you have suffered the loss of a loved one in a Houston truck accident, you may feel overwhelmed by many emotions, including grief, anger, and anxiety about your familyās future.
You may be struggling emotionally and financially. Resolving a fatal truck accident can be complicated. You will need trusted guidance regarding the legal matters and unanticipated expenses you are facing.
At Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our compassionate Houston fatal truck accident attorneys understand the challenges that you are facing. We have helped many Houston families get through difficult situations. We recognize that talking with an attorney may be the last thing on your mind.
But having a knowledgeable wrongful death attorney answer your questions and explain your legal options is an important step on the road to recovery. If we represent you in a wrongful death claim, we will handle your case on a contingency fee basis and you will have any upfront costs.
You will not owe us a legal fee unless we obtain compensation for you. Contact Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. to obtain a free review of your case and learn how we can assist you.
Who Can File a Lawsuit After a Fatal Houston Truck Accident?
Texas law allows certain close relatives of a person who is killed due to the carelessness or disregard for the safety of a truck driver or trucking company to seek compensation for their loved oneās death.
A surviving spouse, child, or parent has the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit in cases involving negligence on the part of a truck driver or trucking company, or other parties. A spouse includes both married and common-law spouses, and those who are legally separated.
Fatal accidents involving large commercial trucks such as semis and flatbeds are more complicated to resolve than collisions involving automobiles only. Anytime a truck crash causes a death, the trucking company will have lawyers defending its legal interests. You will be at a real disadvantage in this situation unless you have an experienced truck crash lawyer standing up for you and your family.
In many instances, the family of an accident victim may be uncertain whether there is a valid wrongful death claim. You have suspicions, but no real answers. To get to the truth, it often takes an independent investigation by fatal truck accident attorneys who are committed to helping families who have suffered a devastating loss.
If our wrongful death lawyers handle your case, we will move quickly to preserve evidence and identify all the contributing factors to the fatal truck accident. Herrman & Herrman has an accident investigation team that we dispatch to the scene of serious truck accidents to interview witnesses and preserve evidence.
We will hire experts to download the truckās black box data recorder, which may provide key evidence about how fast the truck driver was going and how long it took the driver to apply the brakes before the crash.
We will notify the trucking company to preserve driver logbooks and maintenance records for the tractor-trailer involved in the crash. We will analyze whether maintenance issues such as brakes out of adjustment contributed to the accident.
After gathering the crucial evidence, our attorneys will piece together how the accident occurred. But much of the information may be lost if too much time passes before you contact a lawyer. It is important to have an attorney start working on your truck accident case as soon as possible before crucial information is lost.
What Types of Compensation Are Available After a Houston Fatal Truck Accident?
When pursuing a wrongful death claim involving a fatal truck crash in Houston or the Rio Grande Valley, a spouse, parent, or child may seek compensation for various types of losses including:
- Financial losses such as your loved oneās medical expenses and funeral costs;
- Loss of the deceased personās future earning capacity, services, and household support;
- Loss of parental guidance, counsel, and instruction that a parent would have provided a child;
- Pain and suffering;
- Exemplary damages in certain instances when willful misconduct or grossly negligent behavior causes death.
The types of compensation available after a fatal truck accident depend on the specific facts of the accident and the relationship of the person who files the lawsuit to the accident victim. Our attorneys at Herrman & Herrman will review the factors leading to your loved oneās death and explain the types of compensation that your family would have a right to claim.
Common Causes of Houston Fatal Truck Accidents
Texas has the highest number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly one of every five tractor-trailer accidents involving the loss of life occurs in Texas.
In 2014, more than 530 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in Texas. That number was more than double the next highest states.
Tractor-trailer accidents took the lives of 114 people in Texas in 2014 āmore than three times as many deaths as any other state.
Common factors in Houston truck crashes include:
- Truck driver errors
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Improperly secured loads
- Driver fatigue
- Equipment failures such as brake failures
- Distraction or inattention
- Improper equipment
- Failure to yield
- Impaired driving
- Aggressive Driving
It is not right for a trucking company or its lawyers to take advantage of people who are trying to recover from a devastating loss. But it happens frequently when people try to go it alone after a serious accident.
If you have lost a loved one in a truck crash, you will need the trusted guidance of an experienced Houston truck accident attorney to fight for you. We have assisted thousands of Texas families and we are available to speak with you about your accident.
Contact Our Attorneys for a Free Review of Your Houston Fatal Truck Accident Case
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal truck wreck in Houston, Call Herrman & Herrman P.L.L.C. to discuss the steps you should take. The initial consultation is free and without obligation. Our experienced truck accident lawyers investigate cases involving fatal truck accidents and other acts of negligence.
Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. has offices in Houston, Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, and Ft. Worth to assist clients throughout Texas.
