Ready to File a Truck Accident Claim? Get the Facts from an 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer First
College Station, Texas, is one of the top 20 fastest-growing cities in the Lone Star state. Remarkably, College Station’s growth hasn’t sparked a surge in traffic crashes. In fact, College Station has seen a 7% decline in motor vehicle wrecks over the last 10 years, according to the latest statistics.
Still, every day, there is an average of 4 traffic collisions on Harvey Mitchell Pkwy, Rock Prairie Rd, and other roads in College Station, TX. The crashes that cause the most damage tend to include 18-wheelers.
When tractor-trailer wrecks happen in the “Home of A&M University,” you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. Find out more about these claims and compensation in the FAQs below or by reaching out to a College Station truck accident lawyer.
Who Has a Claim After a Truck Accident in College Station?
Those injured in a tractor-trailer wreck — or loved ones (spouses, parents, or children) who lost a loved one to a deadly crash — may have a claim if:
- Some other party was primarily at fault for the accident. In other words, those who are primarily responsible for causing an 18-wheeler crash are not legally entitled to recover compensation under Texas law.
- The statute of limitations has not run out. In Texas, that means the accident, injury diagnosis, or date of death has to have occurred within the past 2 years.
Please be aware, however, that:
- Having a truck accident claim does NOT mean you have a smooth or easy path to securing the compensation you may deserve.
- Seeking the full damages available for your claim can be easier when you enlist the counsel of a College Station truck accident attorney.
What Evidence Do I Need for a Truck Accident Claim?
The essential evidence will depend on who’s liable, what type of negligence was involved, and the nature of the damages you need to establish. A College Station truck accident lawyer can help you identify and gather the key evidence for a case. Often, that includes items like (but not limited to):
- Police accident reports: If the College Station Police Department (CSPD) investigated the wreck, they will write up a report (you can request a copy of a truck accident police report from the CSPD here). This report can uncover officers’ observations and findings related to how the crash may have occurred, whether laws were broken, and who may be at fault for the tractor-trailer accident.
- Truck accident pictures and videos: These items document what the scene looked like and what occurred immediately after the crash. As such, they may reveal more about liability and damages while also leading you to other new evidence, like tire tread marks on the road or new potential witnesses.
- Records: Medical records, trucking company records, road maintenance records, vehicle maintenance records, and a whole lot more can also be crucial evidence in truck accident cases. While it may take some extra digging to track down and preserve this type of evidence, it can also require the help of an expert to decipher some of these records, especially if they’re on electronic onboard recorders, for example.
What Compensation Is Available After a Truck Accident in College Station, TX?
Damages depend on a victim’s losses, injuries, pain, and suffering. The more extensive and profound these losses are, the more complicated it can be to calculate — and possibly prove — damages. Generally, successful truck accident cases can result in damages for (but not necessarily limited to):
- Medical bills: This can be past medical bills, like ambulance fees, past emergency room bills, and hospital fees, as well as future medical expenses, like the costs of future surgeries, doctors’ bills, prescription drug needs, and more
- Lost earnings: Also covering past and future losses, these damages can include lost salaries, hourly wages, bonuses, commissions, benefits, and other earnings.
- Pain and suffering: There is no easy way to put a number on these losses or damages. Nevertheless, an attorney can help make sure victims don’t get cheated out of fair recoveries for the psychological trauma and lasting suffering caused by their truck accident injuries.
- More: This can include loss of consortium, compensation for damaged property, and possibly more, depending on the accident and its impacts.