18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers

The experienced 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky are committed to protecting your rights. Semi-trucks and 18-Wheelers can cause some of the most devastating injuries or even death due to the huge size and weight of the trucks.

Our Truck Accident attorneys are led by Clay Miller who is Board-Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. Less than 3% of all Texas attorneys have achieved board certification and less than that have a personal injury trial law board certification which required numerous jury trials and the passing a rigorous exam in the specialty.

Our law firm has recovered more than $1.3 Billion in settlements for clients in all kinds of personal injury, wrongful death, car accident cases, truck accidents, construction accidents and even medical malpractice lawsuits.

Contact 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers
1-888-987-0005

Truck accidents often have deadly consequences. A recent study revealed that 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle wrecks involve a large commercial truck. Sadly, when a big truck is involved, 68% of all truck-related fatalities are suffered by passenger vehicle occupants. The U.S. Department of Transportation noted that there has been a 52% rise in deaths from truck accidents since 2009.

18-Wheeler Accidents also continue to cause serious personal injuries. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the governmental agency that regulates trucking companies) has noted that 81% of all injury cases involve a big truck including 18-wheelers and other Commercial Vehicles.

Examples of our 18-Wheeler Accident settlements include

$8,750,000.00 - We represented the families of two individuals who were killed by a truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel of his semi truck following his Christmas holidays.

$7,000,000.00 - Our client was hit head on by a company truck. Her vascular system was badly damaged and over the course of a month her lower leg’s blood flow was so compromised that serious gangrene set in leading to an amputation.

$6,000,000.00 - $6 million for the family of a female driver killed by a distracted truck driver.

This is my first time needing a law firm and I can’t think of anyone better, they were extremely courteous, and determined to get me exactly what I am owed. I can’t thank them enough for what they have done for me they really do care when it comes to their clients!

Ryan

Miller Weisbrod Olesky Client

Trucking companies have very specific and detailed safety regulations that apply specifically to truck drivers and trucking companies. Additionally, these large 18-Wheelers have specialized computer equipment located in the engine, cab and vehicle that capture information regarding the wreck that may be the difference between making a recovery, or not in these tragic accidents. Most car accident lawyers are NOT experienced in dealing with the regulations and equipment or how to use this information in assisting the victims of an 18-Wheeler Accident.

The attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky are experienced in trucking regulations and the various computerized equipment that accompany these 18-Wheelers. We are regularly asked to speak at legal conferences to share our expertise with other attorneys, throughout the nation, in these complex commercial trucking wrecks.

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in an 18-Wheeler Involved Accident, call the 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys of Miller Weisbrod Olesky.

Contact 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers
1-888-987-0005

With offices in Dallas and Houston, we represent clients across Texas and trucking accident victims across the United States. Call our offices in Dallas at (214) 987-0005 or across the nation at (888) 987-0005. You may also reach out by completing the contact form on this page.

Trucking companies and their insurance carriers are experts at investigating wrecks quickly. So does this mean they are going to step forward and accept responsibility quickly?

Unfortunately, after more than 30 years of experience, we can tell you that this is not the case.

The trucking company lawyers, experts, investigators and insurance adjusters spend time while you are in the hospital, recovering from your injuries or dealing with the loss of a loved one to twist the facts to their advantage. It is important to remember that trucking companies, truck drivers, and trucking insurance companies have a vested interest in limiting their liability and responsibility for truck accidents.

Over and over again, the 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky handle truck wrecks where a truck driver tells the investigating officer an untrue story, and our injured trucking accident client is not even interviewed because they are at the hospital or something even more tragic has occurred. If evidence is not gathered quickly, this perceived information becomes the “facts” of the accident.

In a recent case, a recent Miller Weisbrod Olesky 18-Wheeler Accident client ran into the back of an 18-Wheeled rock hauler when it suddenly pulled from the tollway median interrupting the passing lane flow of traffic. The rock hauler entered the 70mph passing lane cutting off our client’s rate of speed. Our client slammed into the back of the 18-Wheeled rock hauler, suffering serious injuries and was transported from the scene.

The truck driver was the only witness the investigating officer spoke with and put the blame on our client because the “story” was the 18-Wheeler was already “established” in his lane and our client hit the trailer when he swerved from the right lane to the left lane in an attempt to pass a “white box truck”. Luckily, the 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers at Miller Weisbrod Olesky were hired soon after the accident, obtained the video from the tollway authority, and located the witness who called 911 right after the impact. The “truth” came out (As seen in the video below). If we had not been contacted early, the video would likely have been lost.

Another reason to contact the Miller Weisbrod Olesky 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys early in the case is so the trucking company and their investigators are not the only ones investigating the wreck and viewing evidence that will disappear. For example, skid marks, impact marks, on-board computers/video, and even the vehicles involved in the truck wreck!

Many of the largest trucking companies and trucking insurance carriers have “truck wreck rapid response teams” that descend on a truck wreck accident scene within hours of the incident. The 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers at Miller Weisbrod Olesky have even seen the rapid response team of the trucking company show up before law enforcement has left the scene. One large trucking company flew their entire rapid response team down on a private jet to begin crafting their defense just hours after a wrongful death 18-Wheeler Accident.

A rapid response team is a group of professionals carefully selected by a trucking company to respond immediately to the scene of an accident, investigate and collect evidence from the site. The response team often includes a crash investigator and Forensic professionals. These rapid response teams have one goal: Minimize the money they must pay to the people they seriously injure or kill.

When you hire the 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky, we immediately deploy our in-house private investigator, attorneys, and even an expert accident reconstructionist to gather important evidence before it disappears. This way you can focus on recovering from your injuries or the loss of a loved one while knowing your legal rights are being protected after a serious 18-Wheeler Accident.

One of the most important pieces of evidence we will secure immediately will be evidence captured by any on-board computer or video recorder on the trucking company’s 18-Wheeler.

These items must be secured and downloaded immediately before important evidence is erased or recorded over.

18-Wheeler Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife accident happens when the trailer and cab skid in opposite directions. The trailer appears to fold on a hinge and comes to rest at an angle to the cab. The skidding of the trailer stops only when the tractor and the trailer are at a 90-degree angle. During this skid, the driver does not have any control over the truck and any vehicle which gets stuck in the 90-degree angle can get dragged along. The truck, generally, tends to roll over after it comes to a stop. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, jackknife accidents account for 10% of all trucking-related deaths.

18-Wheeler Rollover Accidents

A truck rolling over on its side or roof can have disastrous consequences for the truck driver as well as the occupants of any other vehicle getting stuck under the truck. A truck may roll over due to various factors such as high speed, sudden braking, steep incline, or decline, taking a turn too fast, tripping over a curb, an obstruction on the road, or attempting to correct a drifting truck. With a high center of gravity, it’s not uncommon for 18-Wheelers to roll over when a driver loses control.

Since an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer is 40-times heavier than a typical passenger vehicle, the occupants of any smaller cars, pickups, or SUVs are more likely to sustain severe and fatal injuries if the rig rolls onto their vehicles.

18-Wheeler Tire Blowouts

A tire blowout can force an 18-Wheeler or other commercial vehicle out of its lane and into the path of other vehicles. Many semi-truck tire blowouts occur because the driver or the trucking company failed to inspect the tires regularly and maintain or replace them as needed.

Federal regulations mandate that trucking companies regularly inspect and maintain their vehicles, including the tires.

18-Wheeler Rear-End Collisions

An 18-wheeler or semi-truck requires up to 20% to 40% more room to stop than a typical passenger vehicle. If the driver has miscalculated the distance, the truck can end up hitting the rear end of the vehicle in front. Rear-end collisions often occur because a truck driver was following another vehicle too closely, traveling at an excessive speed, distracted, fatigued, or failed to ensure brakes were in good working order.

18-Wheeler Underride Accidents

Under federal regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), all commercial semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and other big rigs are required to have underride protection. Underride protection consists of metal guards placed at certain points on the sides and back of the vehicle's undercarriage to prevent passenger vehicles from slipping underneath the trailer in a truck accident.

Failure to provide underride protection can result in catastrophic injuries to occupants of other motor vehicles, including severe head injuries, brain damage, spinal cord injuries, decapitation or death. According to the most recent statistics posted by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), a division of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In fatal car-truck accidents, 90% of rear impact, and 70% of side-impact were determined to be Underride related.

Causes and Prevention of Underride Accidents

When a car collides with the undercarriage of an 18-Wheeler or tractor-trailer, the passenger compartment can be crushed or even completely torn off, greatly increasing the potential of catastrophic or fatal injury. Underride accidents occur most often because of:

• Poor visibility at night due to improper lighting or reflective systems or in adverse weather conditions.
• Truck driver inattention such as failing to check blind spots when changing lanes, thereby running over a smaller vehicle in the passing lane.
• Defective rear guards in a rear-end collision.
• Multicar pileups in which one car is accidentally pushed under the truck by another.

To prevent underride accidents, federal regulations require that all commercial trucks over a certain weight maintain lighting systems or reflective gear so other drivers can clearly identify the truck bed or carriage at night or during inclement weather. Certain vehicles may also be required to equip the back or sides of the trailer with a lower mounted guard to prevent underride in a rear-end collision or sideswipe.

18-Wheeler T-Bone Accidents

T-bone accidents usually occur when a truck runs a red light or Stop sign at an intersection and collides with the side of another vehicle. These types of crashes may also occur if a trucker fails to yield the right of way, is driving while impaired, or doesn’t take the time to ensure it is safe before making a turn.

When a car is t-boned by an 18-wheeler or any other large commercial truck, the occupants of the smaller vehicle usually take on the full impact of the collision and frequently suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

The consequences of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can range from mild to fatal. Depending on the severity of the damage, TBIs can cause concussions, permanent cognitive disabilities, or comas. Truck accident victims often suffer traumatic brain injury due to the force of the collision. The 18-Wheeler accident attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky regularly assist clients in obtaining the expert medical evaluation that is necessary to diagnose a traumatic brain injury.

The most often under-diagnosed injuries in a trucking accident are traumatic brain injuries. The reason for this is most victims recognize and seek out treatment for pain or broken bones or even spinal injuries. It is common that a very real brain injury is undiagnosed for days or even months due to the focus of the victim and the medical providers on the immediate impact of the pain and other obvious traumatic physical injuries.

Traumatic Brain injuries caused by an 18-Wheeler Accident can present in very different ways. While head pain, dizziness and ringing of the ears are more apparent signs of a brain injury, there are other important signs that are more subtle.

Common subtle signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury

• Short term memory loss
• Decreased focus and attention
• Confusion
• Subtle personality changes
• Even a loss of taste or smell

While these signs may be subtle in the early days after an 18-Wheeler Accident, they can become more pronounced and obvious as a truck accident victim’s pain is improved through proper medical care and treatment.

At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, our 18-Wheeler Accident attorneys work with brain injury medical specialists including neurologists and neuropsychologists that have expertise in properly diagnosing traumatic brain injuries. Our attorneys will assist you or a family member in obtaining these expert medical evaluations and testing including:

• Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI)
• Electro-Encephalogram (EEG)
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and/or neuro-psychological testing

Many traumatic brain injuries require physical, occupational, cognitive therapy and rehabilitation to return our clients to as close to their life’s pre-truck accident as possible. Miller Weisbrod Olesky arranges therapy and rehabilitation for our 18-Wheeler accident victims. After representing hundreds of victims of TBI due to large trucking accidents over the course of 30 years, we understand that such rehabilitation is critical in the recovery process.

Spinal Cord Injuries

When an 18-Wheeler Accident causes injury to the spine, the victim can experience varying issues depending on what part of the spine was injured. For example, if injured in the middle or lower part of the back, the injury could lead to immobility in the legs; if the spinal injury occurs in the neck, the injury could lead to the loss of use of all limbs (quadriplegia).

Other injuries can affect the spinal cord indirectly, but most injuries to the discs and spine cause disc herniations, compression fractures of the spine, and nerve root compression. These injuries can lead to the need for epidural steroid injections (ESI’s), back or neck surgery (laminectomy, fusion or disc decompression or replacement).

It is important that clients receive guidance regarding the proper medical care for injuries to the spine and surrounding structures. At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, we help advise you on the full course of treatment to help you make the best recovery from your 18-Wheeler Accident injuries.

Crush Injuries

A crush injury occurs when a body part is subjected to a high degree of force or pressure, usually after being squeezed between two heavy objects. Internal crush injuries can vary from compressed nerves to broken bones to crushed organs. The symptoms of these injuries can also vary from excruciating pain to numbness to a feeling of rushing fluids.

Many of these injuries require expensive medical procedures and multiple surgeries to correct (if they can be corrected at all) and add financial stress to an already emotionally stressful situation. Often, these injuries result in permanent damage, leaving families with lifelong medical expenses and the reality of living with permanent disability or caring for a person with disabilities.

Your health and safety are the main priorities immediately following the accident. Always make sure to call 911.

Get Medical Help

If medical personnel (First Responders) are on the scene, and suggest you be taken to the hospital, go immediately. Injuries may take several days to surface; it would be best to get a head start on diagnosing any possible injuries.

Call 911

When you’ve been in an 18-Wheeler Accident, it is important to obtain any possible police reports. When the police arrive on scene, make sure you provide the most accurate version of the accident that you can recall. Do not make any comments that may lead to a misunderstanding of fault.

Gather Information

If you are able, make sure that you get contact, and insurance information from all parties involved with the accident.

Take Pictures

If you, or someone you are with, can take pictures of the accident, make sure you include the following helpful images:

• Road Conditions (wet, dry, icy, etc.)
• Tire Marks
• Damage to all vehicles involved
• Street Names / Highway Mile Markers
• License Plates of vehicles involved (if possible)

If there are any witnesses or bystanders, try and collect their contact information. This information can be useful when attempting to determine the cause, or fault of the accident.

The 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers of Miller Weisbrod Olesky seek to help you secure financial compensation for your immediate and long-term medical expenses, economic losses, disability/impairment, and the pain and suffering you and your family has endured because of a serious injury or a fatal trucking accident. In certain cases, you may even be entitled to punitive damages for deliberate or willful misconduct by truck drivers or the company itself. We have a long history of successful results in trucking and commercial vehicle accidents.

Once you are cleared to leave the accident scene and medical professionals have addressed your injuries, contact our experienced truck accident team at Miller Weisbrod Olesky. Call our offices in Dallas at (214) 987-0005 or Houston at (888) 987-0005. You may also reach out by completing the contact form on this page.

Trucking companies and Truck drivers are not very forthcoming when it comes to admitting liability or turning over potential evidence. Miller Weisbrod, Attorneys at Law, has the resources and experience to fully investigate what caused your crash and file the right claims against all possible liable parties.

Possible Liable Parties:

• Truck Drivers: Commercial Truck Drivers make mistakes that can lead to serious accidents. Distracted driving, drunk driving, excessive speeding, fatigued driving, violating FMCSA regulations, as well as violating Texas traffic laws can lead to negligence and liability claims.
• Trucking Companies: Negligent trucking companies may hire unqualified drivers, fail to maintain trucking fleet, fail to perform regular drug testing, fail to supervise their driving staff. These irresponsible acts all could lead to crashes.
• Truck Manufacturers: Trucks are made up of many parts that need to be well maintained to operate safely. If a truck part is defective and malfunctions, the truck driver may not be able to control the vehicle and possibly crash. Parts that frequently fail include brakes, coupling devices, steering columns, tires, wheels, axles, and more.
• Other Parties: Many third-party mechanics aid in the maintenance and safe operation of 18-Wheelers, and other Commercial Freight Vehicles. These mechanics may improperly inspect, maintain, or repair trucks, which could lead to a malfunction and possibly a crash. Cargo-Loading crews can improperly secure freight, so it increases the possibility of a load shift causing the truck to become off-balance. This off-balanced load can cause the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle. Truck brokers may be liable under federal law or may be responsible if they fail to hire a safe and competent trucking company or truck driver to haul loads arranged by the broker.

There are many different potential parties that can be held responsible for an 18-Wheeler Accident. You should always hire a law firm with the resources available to find the ALL the reasons behind your crash and determine all the possible sources of liability. Do not sign anything until you’ve met with an experienced 18-Wheeler accident lawyer from Miller Weisbrod Olesky.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implements and enforces regulations that apply to all commercial vehicles operating in the United States. This includes semi-trucks, hazardous materials (hazmat) trucks, tanker trucks, flatbeds trucks, buses, commercial delivery trucks, and more. These regulations include:

• Licensing – Everyone who operates a commercial truck must have the proper commercial driver’s license (CDL) and training for that vehicle. Each CDL requires training and examinations. Companies should never allow someone without the necessary license to operate one of their commercial trucks.
• Health conditions – Approved medical professionals must conduct an examination of CDL applicants or renewal applicants and determine that drivers do not have any potentially dangerous medical conditions that would interfere with their abilities to operate trucks.
• Disqualifying conditions- untreated heart disease or diabetes, seizure disorders, musculoskeletal problems like arthritis, sensory loss, or untreated sleep disorders.
• Hours of service – Fatigued driving is a serious issue in the trucking industry, as drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause devastating crashes. To prevent fatigued driving, strict rules curb the number of consecutive hours and consecutive days a driver can work without taking breaks to rest and sleep. Driver logs must be accurate. Unfortunately, some truck drivers keep fraudulent logs to allow them to drive more hours than the law allows. It is important to contact the 18-Wheeler Accident lawyers at Miller Weisbrod Olesky quickly, because truck companies are only required to keep driving logs for a limited period. Without these logs, it can be difficult to prove that a fatigued truck driver caused your wreck.
• Intoxicated driving – Commercial drivers face stricter intoxicated driving laws than regular drivers, with a legal limit of 0.04 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) compared to 0.08 percent for everyone else. Truck drivers are also subject to random and post-accident drug and alcohol testing.
• Distracted driving – Commercial drivers break the law whenever they engage in text-based messaging or read on a smartphone. They also have strict rules regarding hands-free communications. For example, a truck driver may not make or answer a call if it requires hitting more than a single button. In addition to smartphones, many other activities can distract a truck driver. These include eating and drinking, having passengers, talking on a CB radio, grooming, and more.
• Truck inspections – By law, drivers must inspect certain aspects of their truck’s pre-shift, and companies must inspect and maintain the trucks in their fleet. These daily and periodic inspections must be documented in writing. It can be easy for companies to skip over inspections or regular maintenance, which can save the company money and prevent a truck from being out of commission during repairs. Like driver’s logs, the inspection reports must only be maintained for a limited period, so do NOT delay in contacting a truck accident lawyer so this evidence can be preserved.
• Size and weight – Depending on the size and number of axles on a rig, the FMCSA sets out strict maximum weight limits when a truck is fully loaded. The maximum weight of any type of commercial truck in the United States is 80,000 pounds.

Truck drivers must pass all required weigh stations to ensure compliance; an overloaded truck can cause increased braking times or even brake failure leading to runaway truck accidents.









Texas Traffic Laws

In addition to the FMCSRs, truck drivers must follow all state and local traffic laws when driving through Texas. Some examples of traffic violations that may lead to truck accidents include:

• Speeding: exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for road or weather conditions
• Following too closely
• Reckless driving, which can include a variety of unsafe behaviors
• Improper passing
• Violating traffic signals
• Failing to signal
• Failing to yield or merge properly
• Aggressive driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs



When a police officer decides that a truck driver violated a traffic law, they can issue a citation. If the driver pays a fine and admits guilt for the violation, future accident victims can use this as proof that the driver was negligent. Also, police officers may arrest a truck driver if they have probable cause to believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Victims can also use a past conviction in a resulting criminal case to prove the driver’s dangerous actions in a lawsuit.




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Protect Your Right to Financial Compensation

At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, our Dallas 18 wheeler accident attorneys will explore every possibility to increase your financial compensation and hold all the negligent parties liable for damages. Once you have us on your side, we will move aggressively to obtain truck data recorder evidence, driver logs, witness information, and evidence from the crash site in order to build a strong claim for damages, while you and your family can focus on your recovery.

We will fight to make sure you get all financial compensation you deserve through settlement against the responsible trucking company and their insurers or take your case to trial with through preparation of evidence and a winning legal strategy if they fail to pay you the money you are owed. Schedule your free consultation with our legal team today. Our proven record of success in obtaining substantial settlements and verdicts for our injured clients speaks for itself.

If you were hurt or a loved one was severely injured or tragically killed in a trucking accident, immediate investigation and concerted legal action may be necessary to protect your right to seek maximum recovery. Contact our Dallas 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers for a free consultation.


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Meet The Leader In Truck Accident Litigation With A Record Of Multi-Million Dollar Settlements And Verdicts



With a 30-year history heading the Truck Accident Department of Miller Weisbrod Olesky, firm partner Clay Miller has a proven record of holding trucking companies accountable and achieving multi-million dollar settlements and court verdicts for his clients. Clay has been consistently listed in Super Lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers in Texas, published in Texas Monthly, for over 15 years.

Clay is regularly invited to speak to Trial Lawyer Groups around Houston and across the state of Texas on the topics of trucking laws, trial tactics and techniques, and how to prepare evidence and a winning legal strategy in Truck Accident Cases throughout Texas. Clay was the featured speaker for the Texas Trial Lawyers Association on the new changes to trucking laws passed by the state of Texas.

Our truck accident legal team includes Josh Birmingham, who is currently on the Dallas Trial Lawyers Board of Directors and served as the president of the Mesquite Bar Association for four years. Josh was named Thomson Reuters | Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2016 and 2017.

We also have on our team Michael Orth, a board certified personal injury trial lawyer who has spent the last decade representing injured Texans and their families. Michael’s success in scores of personal injury cases across federal and state courtrooms has earned him the coveted Board Certification in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Led by a formidable legal team with an extraordinary record of court verdicts and settlements in truck accident cases, Miller Weisbrod Olesky is regularly recognized by the US News and World Report as one of the top injury law firms in the United States.




Miller Weisbrod Olesky Dallas 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers