Snellings Law PLLC Attorneys are Personal Injury Trial Lawyers
What To Do When the Worst-Case Scenario Happens: Navigating the Aftermath of Wrongful Death Claims in 18-Wheeler Accidents
What You Need to Know:
- 18-wheelers are large vehicles that can cause catastrophic injuries and even death.
- Hiring a wrongful death attorney after losing a loved one in an 18-wheeler accident will help alleviate stress and allow you time to grieve.
When an 18-wheeler accident happens, it’s not just another crash on the road. These huge trucks carry a ton of weight, both literally and figuratively. The impact of such accidents can be massive, often leading to devastating consequences that ripple through lives and communities.
In the midst of dealing with the aftermath, families often turn to wrongful death claims as a way to seek justice. These claims hold the responsible party accountable for the loss of a loved one due to negligence or wrongdoing. It’s a tough journey, but an important one for surviving family members to find closure, and seek compensation for damages.
At Snellings Law, we want to be a guide during this dark time, offering practical advice and support as you navigate the legal process of a wrongful death claim. Our goal is to help you understand what to do in the face of an 18-wheeler wrongful death claim, help you navigate through the tough times, and empower you with the knowledge and resources you need to move forward confidently in your pursuit of justice.
The Grim Reality: The Looming Threat of 18-Wheeler Crashes in Texas
Unfortunately, 18-wheeler crashes are all too common in Texas. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 26,164 semi-truck crashes statewide in 2022.
Commonly, negligent 18-wheeler crashes are caused by fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, and maintenance or cargo issues. Due to their size, 18-wheelers can cause massive crashes that result in catastrophic injuries. 18-wheeler accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and even death.
When an 18-wheeler causes an accident that results in the death of your loved one, it’s hard to do anything but grieve. There’s so much stress in the aftermath of losing a family member that filing a wrongful death claim may seem like an added burden to take on. However, hiring a wrongful death lawyer can help ease that burden, and ensure that you are compensated what you deserve.
For more information about 18-wheeler accident cases, read our blog or watch the video above
Navigating Texas Law: Essential Components of Wrongful Death Claims
In Texas, only the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased can file a wrongful death claim. They have two years after the incident to file before reaching the statute of limitations. To prove wrongful death, you must show:
- The truck driver owed a legal duty to the deceased (everyone owes a legal duty to others to drive safely on the road)
- The driver failed to uphold that legal duty
- The driver’s failure to adhere to their duty caused the death of the deceased
- The deceased suffered damages
Finding Peace: How Hiring a Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Alleviate Stress During a Difficult Time
When a loved one dies due to someone else’s negligence, you should always contact a wrongful death lawyer. Wrongful death cases are complex. They are almost impossible to successfully navigate on your own—especially in the face of grief. Swiftly hiring an experienced wrongful death lawyer can help ease the stress of dealing with insurance adjusters, give you a better chance of collecting substantial evidence and discovering all liable entities, and give you more freedom to grieve your loved one while someone else handles the legal aspects of the case.
When an 18-wheeler causes an accident, an investigation should take place as soon as possible. An investigation can help to preserve evidence and determine all avenues of liability. Sometimes the employer or truck manufacturer had a hand in causing the crash. They should be held liable as well. A wrongful death lawyer will be able to investigate and determine if another entity needs to be pursued for wrongdoing.
A wrongful death lawyer can also help you maximize the compensation you receive. 18-wheelers are commercial vehicles. Therefore, companies must take out large commercial insurance policies on them. These policies are protected by the most cunning insurance adjusters in the game. A wrongful death lawyer will help protect the integrity of the case, gather evidence, and be able to expertly negotiate with the insurance adjuster. With the help of a wrongful death attorney, you may be able to recover damages including:
- medical expenses
- funeral costs
- loss of household income
- pain and suffering
- loss of companionship
- loss of future inheritance
- lost earning capacity
- loss of household services/maintenance
- mental distress
- other damages resulting from the wrongful death
A good wrongful death lawyer will have access to the necessary resources and experts needed to build the case. If the case turns into a lawsuit and goes to trial, you’ll want to hire a wrongful death lawyer with trial experience. Some attorneys only handle injury cases during the pre-litigation stage, where they negotiate with the insurance adjuster. If the case becomes a lawsuit, they hand it over to an attorney who can take the case to trial. Hiring a wrongful death trial lawyer from the beginning can help avoid having to transition lawyers halfway through the case.
Wrongful death cases are stressful for the surviving family members and complex to handle. Good wrongful death attorneys also have stellar communication skills and great attention to detail. Most of all, a great wrongful death attorney will be empathetic and caring, since losing a loved one in such a tragic way is one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through.
Remember, hiring a wrongful death lawyer will help ease your stress rather than add to it. This is a difficult time for you and your family. You deserve time to grieve without having to shoulder the burden of the legal aspects of the case.
Empathetic Advocacy: Snellings Law Offers Compassionate Legal Support for Families in 18-Wheeler Wrongful Death Cases
At Snellings Law, we understand the gravity of wrongful death cases involving commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers. We know that the aftermath of such accidents is undeniably challenging, both emotionally and legally. However, you don’t have to endure this journey alone. Our team of compassionate wrongful death trial lawyers is committed to advocating for families who have lost loved ones due to the negligence of trucking companies or drivers. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing out of pocket to hire us. We are also trial lawyers, so we can handle your case from start to finish. We’re here to provide the guidance, support, and legal representation you need to seek justice and find closure.
You deserve to have a strong advocate in your corner during this trying time. Let us help you take the first steps toward healing and finding closure. Contact us today at (214) 387-0387 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced wrongful death attorneys.
Helpful Resources
Download our free wrongful death guide: https://snellingsinjurylaw.com/wrongful-death-guide/
https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/what-is-texas-wrongful-death-law-50724
https://www.findlaw.com/state/texas-law/wrongful-death-laws-in-texas.html
Free Strategy Session Reveals How To Avoid the Traps Insurance Companies Set for Victims to Destroy Claims.
If you prefer to call us click the button to call now!
How it works:
- Call us now or give us your basic information in the Free Strategy Session box
- If your case is something we cannot help you with, we will do our best to get you the information of someone who can.
- If we can potentially help you, we will schedule a Free Strategy Session
There is zero obligation. We want all injury victims to understand their rights and the process.
After your Free Strategy Session, you will understand where insurance companies can set traps for you and what needs to be done to avoid these traps. You will also understand the personal injury process as well as how we can help, or if you need the help of an attorney. The strategy session typically will have one of three outcomes. You:
- Decide to move forward with our law firm.
- Decide to think about it, and we will be available to answer your questions.
- Say, “I’ve got this,” and decide you do not need an attorney.
Again, there is zero obligation and you will be informed and understand your rights and the process. We want to arm you with knowledge to avoid the traps insurance companies set to harm your claim.