Accidents involving trucks and commercial vehicles differ from those involving cars. Laws and other factors need to be taken into account, and truck accidents can cause a great deal of harm. Here are some things you should know if you were hurt in a truck accident in Texas.

Texas Statute of Limitations

The amount of time you have after an injury to file a lawsuit is determined by the statute of limitations. It is highly likely that your lawsuit will be rejected if you try to file it after this deadline. To make sure you are still inside the statute of limitations following an accident, it's critical to consult with an attorney as soon as you can. In Texas, personal injury claims must be filed within two years under the statute of limitations.

Texas Truck Driver Laws

In Texas, truck drivers must abide by the guidelines established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These consist of: A recommendation from a commercial driver license holder (CDL). To get a CDL specifically for Texas, you need to be 18, while you need to be 21 for a CDL to drive across state lines. A skills test, regular driver's license, and medical exams are also required for you to pass.

Compared to drivers with a regular license, CDL drivers are subject to far stricter drug and alcohol testing standards. For instance, the maximum legal limit for drivers with a commercial driver's license (CDL) is 0.04 BAC, whilst the maximum limit for drivers with a regular license (SDL) is 0.08 BAC.

Drivers may be subjected to random drug and alcohol testing.

Drivers are required to take a 10-hour break before driving for more than 11 consecutive hours. They are not allowed to drive for more than 14 hours after they start. For example, a truck driver must take a minimum of ten hours of rest by ten PM if they plan to drive from 8 AM to 2 PM and then resume driving at 7 PM.

To guarantee safety, drivers must maintain and check their cars.

Furthermore, Texas has some requirements of its own, such as:

To drive in Texas, a driver needs to be able to communicate in English fluently. This involves having the ability to read signs, interact with the public and with representatives of the government, and keep track of driving records.

Certain offenses may result in a driver's ban from operating commercial vehicles. These include operating a commercial motor vehicle carelessly, driving after intoxication, and fleeing the scene of an accident.

The posted speed limits must be adhered to by commercial motor vehicles. Because of the thorough requirements for commercial vehicle drivers in Texas, there is a chance that you may not be aware of a regulation that was violated. This serves as a strong case for seeking guidance from a seasoned Texas attorney specializing in truck accidents.

Determining the Cause of a Truck Accident

Texas is a state that has modified comparative negligence. Comparative refers to the fact that your assigned fault places a cap on the amount of damages you can obtain. For instance, if you are rear-ended while driving with your tail light out, the court may find that you were 15% at fault for the collision. This implies that the most amount of damage you could get back is 85%.

In the event that you bore at least 51% of the blame for the accident, you will not be eligible to receive any compensation at all. Because they were 85% at fault for the damage in the aforementioned case, the person who rear-ended you would not be eligible to receive any compensation at all.

How Can a Lawyer Assist You?

Although it's not necessary, it's usually in your best interest to consult with an attorney for your personal injury case for a number of reasons.

An insurance company is a business that needs to make money, despite the impression that protecting its members is its primary responsibility. As a result, the first offer you get is frequently a low-ball one that won't pay for your medical care. Attorneys for personal injuries have expertise getting better deals from insurance providers area.

If you or a loved one gets hurt, the amount of documentation needed to file a case may seem excessive. Most of that documentation can be taken care of by your attorney. You will want an attorney on your side who is experienced in truck accident cases if the matter ends up going to court. With an attorney on your side, you'll probably end up recovering more money even after accounting for attorneys' costs, and it will also relieve you of a great deal of stress.

How to Locate Dallas, Texas's Top Truck Accident Attorney

Remember that there isn't one best lawyer for every situation or client. Think about what you need from an attorney before you speak with one.

Take a look at their marketing. Lawyers specializing in personal injury cases often carefully consider their advertisements. Observe how they appear to make their way. Do they display humor? are they kind-hearted? Able? Attorneys' behavior can often be first observed in advertisements. Take advantage of free initial consultations. Most personal injury attorneys provide free first meetings. Take advantage of this opportunity to assess if you are comfortable working with them.

Have faith in your instincts. You will undoubtedly spend a lot of time with your attorney; this is something that cannot be measured. You should keep looking for a better fit if you have the impression that you and the lawyer wouldn't get along. Techniques Forbes Advisor took into account a number of factors to determine which truck accident lawyers in Dallas would be the best in 2024. Forbes Advisor's mathematical model evaluates and weighs the gathered information to generate an ultimate score. It then analyzes these results in order to pinpoint the best attorneys in a specific field.

While developing the model, we took into account factors that both consumers and legal experts deem significant in an attorney's qualifications. Having given hundreds of data points weighted scores, we were able to reduce the field to our top selections based on :-

experience in law

certain certificates and licenses

Morality and prohibiting disciplinary actions

pioneering in legal concepts Education and employment history

academic works and presentations

Honors & Awards

Forbes Advisor collects public data from several sources, including court filings, state bar associations, and online publications.. However, this material should not be regarded as exhaustive. It might not contain more pertinent details on the qualifications and experience of an attorney in law.

Every attorney on this list has unique advantages. Please keep in mind that our ranking is based on prior legal experience rather than the attorneys' morals or level of expertise. There is a potential that one lawyer will workEach lawyer on this list offers unique benefits. Remember that our ranking is based on the attorneys' past legal experience, not on their moral character or level of legal expertise. It is possible that a different attorney will be more effective in your specific situation than another. better for your specific situation than another.