Determining Liability in Midland-Odessa Commercial Vehicle Accident Claims

This article explores…

• Who can be held liable for truck or commercial vehicle accidents.
• How much compensation you may be able to recover from a Texas personal injury case.
• The advantages of hiring a local attorney for your personal injury case.

Who Is Liable for My Serious Injuries After a Commercial Vehicle Accident in Midland-Odessa?

If you have ever driven through the Midland-Odessa region of West Texas, you have almost certainly witnessed a major accident or its aftermath. With any luck, you will never be involved in one of these collisions, but if you are, it is crucial to understand who is liable for your losses and who you can sue for damages.

The truth is, there are often dozens of companies and individuals involved in any vehicle or truck accident. This list starts with the obvious: the owner of the vehicle, the company operating the vehicle, and, in some cases, the driver – but it does not end there.

In addition to these parties, you have to consider the liability of parties such as:

• Construction companies,
• Oil exploration companies,
• Pipeline companies,
• Electric service companies,
• Dirt work companies,
• Maintenance companies,
• Oil field equipment suppliers,
• Drillers,
• And more…

How Do You Establish Liability in Trucking Accidents?

Establishing liability is one of the most important aspects of any personal injury claim. For example, one recent case involved a vehicle that was being driven negligently down a hill while improperly loaded. When the load fell off the truck, it caused a massive accident. Because there were so many factors and parties involved, establishing liability was half the work of the case.

Should You Sue the Driver of a Commercial Vehicle After a Trucking Accident in Texas?

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the actual driver or the operator of the truck who is held liable in many of these cases…

More often than not, accidents result due to the company that loaded the equipment onto the truck or even the company that designed the equipment itself. There are even cases of product liability, where the real cause of the accident is a design defect in a truck and the truck driver is also a victim because their vehicle wasn’t properly equipped.

Because of this, it is vital to have someone on your side who understands the Department of Transportation Safety Regulations, understands the designs of the trucks, the various truck manufacturers, the enormous loads these trucks haul, and the physics involved. Unless an attorney has worked with experts for years on these topics, they don’t have the ability or the wisdom to properly investigate the case and bring the appropriate parties responsible to settle or pay what they owe you in court.

How Much Is A Texas 18-Wheeler Trucking Accident Injury Case Worth?

Perhaps even more important than determining who is at fault for an accident is determining who can afford to pay the sometimes quite considerable damages involved in a trucking personal injury case. While every case is different, accidents involving commercial vehicles tend to be very severe and require large settlement amounts as a result.

While the average case is often between $1 and $2 million, the size of a settlement depends on several different factors. For example, a road accident involving a commercial vehicle could be worth anywhere from $10,000 to $10 million – and even considerably more than that. Some cases have settled in the $20, $30, or $40 million range due to severely disabling injuries that require lifelong treatment. However, you cannot, and should not, attempt to assess the value of a case ahead of time.

It is neither appropriate nor professional for an attorney to tell someone what they think your case is worth before they investigate it. So, beware of any lawyer that goes out and tells you your case is worth “this much” money before he or she has done a thorough investigation as they are not being candid with you and may have an ulterior motive.

Why Hire a Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney Who Is Local to the Midland-Odessa Area?

If you or a loved one has had the misfortune to be injured in a vehicle accident in the Midland-Odessa area – or anywhere in West Texas oil country – you should strongly consider hiring a local attorney who will know how to navigate the particularities of the region.

Local attorneys are well known by the companies that end up being responsible for settling these cases because the same companies are frequently involved in accidents for the same kinds of reasons. As such, you get the best outcome when you work with an attorney who has a reputation for holding them accountable. An experienced local attorney knows the players, the courtroom, the various types of accidents that can occur, and where to look to find the evidence needed to secure compensation.

With the guidance of a skilled attorney for Trucking Accidents, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing a local expert has your back. For more information on Trucking Accident Cases in Texas, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (432) 653-1899 today.

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