18-Wheeler & Trucking Accidents

Attorneys at The Parker Firm P.C. have tried automobile and trucking accident cases in Tyler, Longview, Marshall, and in courts across East Texas, obtaining favorable verdicts for a range of clients.  Motor vehicle accidents can cause serious injuries and extensive property damage.  Most cases involve contested issues as to which driver was at fault and the true nature and extent of the property damages and personal injuries incurred.  It takes attorneys with knowledge of the law and experience in the courtroom to achieve favorable results, whether at the negotiating table or through a jury verdict.  The Parker Firm’s reputation as a trial firm gives you the advantage.

Automobile Accidents

Most often, automobile accidents are caused by the careless or reckless driving of one of the cars involved in an accident.  Sometimes, a negligent driver may cause an accident without actually being involved in the collision.  The determination of liability is often the major point of dispute in an automobile accident case, and attorneys on both the plaintiff and defense side will seek to persuade the jury of the true cause of the accident.  The more persuasive the attorney, the more likely you are to have that decision made in your favor.

Sometimes, the plaintiff is found to be partially at fault for causing the accident, even though the defendant is also determined to be negligent.  In Texas, the doctrine of comparative negligence allows a plaintiff to recover so long as he or she was not more than 50% at fault in causing the accident. The plaintiff’s recovery is nevertheless reduced by his or her portion of fault.  The Parker Firm has been extremely successful doing what it takes to control the outcome.

Trucking Accidents

From the ports on the Gulf to the oilfields of Houston and beyond, trucking is a major industry in East Texas.  The frequent intermingling of cars and trucks on the highways and roads can lead to serious accidents for drivers and occupants of both vehicles.  Fractures, head and spinal injuries, and even wrongful death can result from an automobile-truck collision.  Of all the motor vehicle fatalities occurring in a given year, about one-quarter involve car and truck.

The enormous size and weight of semi trucks requires that they have increased stopping distance and reaction time compared to smaller cars, a fact not always appreciated by truck drivers or by the drivers of automobiles who share the road with them.  Tractor-trailers also create significant blind spots for the driver, as well as obstruct the view ahead for other motor vehicles on the road.  It is important for both automobile and truck drivers alike to understand each other’s limitations, and every trucking accident should involve a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash to determine which driver was negligent, or if both were.

Representative Matters

• We represented a defendant in Gregg County (Longview) in a motor vehicle accident where the plaintiff alleged neck, back, leg, and arm pain and headaches as a result of the accident.  The plaintiff sought damages for past medical expenses in the amount of $27,026.11, future medical expenses, physical pain in the past and future, and past and future physical impairment. The jury awarded the plaintiff medical expenses in the past only, in the amount of $2,500.
• In another Longview case, we represented the defendant in a motor vehicle accident in which the plaintiff claimed the defendant turned in front of him from the inside lane, causing him to lay his motorcycle over to avoid contact with any other vehicles.  The plaintiff fractured his leg in the accident.  The jury placed 50% negligence on the plaintiff and 50% negligence on the defendant and awarded the plaintiff damages in the amount of $2,353.51.  This case resulted in a take-nothing judgment.
• In this Nacogdoches case, we represented the defendant where the plaintiff alleged the automobile accident aggravated and caused new conditions in his lower back and neck that he did not previously have.  The plaintiff’s last demand at mediation was $22,000.  The jury placed 40% negligence on the defendant and 60% negligence on the plaintiff and awarded zero damages to the plaintiff.

For those who have been involved in a trucking accident, automobile accident, or other motor vehicle collision, contact The Parker Firm P.C. for skilled and experienced trial lawyers who understand what it takes to achieve success at the negotiating table and in the courtroom.