Side-Impact Truck Accidents in New Braunfels
Side impacts, also called T-bone crashes, often happen in intersections and almost always involve negligence. Because heavy commercial trucks, such as 18-wheelers, are much larger than passenger cars, they can leave you with severe injuries.
The crashes can alter the course of your life, leaving you with chronic pain and disabilities. Civil laws could entitle you to collect compensation if you suffered harm in a truck wreck because of someone else’s reckless actions. Meet with a compassionate lawyer familiar with side-impact truck accidents in New Braunfels for more information and to review your case.
Causes of Side-Impact Truck Collisions
Some common causes of side-impact truck collisions in New Braunfels include:
- Running stop signs and traffic lights
- Failure to give the right-of-way as necessary
- Misjudging the speed of oncoming traffic while making left turns
- Traveling too fast on slick roads caused by poor weather conditions
- Speeding or neglecting to comply with other traffic safety regulations
- Distracted driving, such as reaching for objects in the vehicle, texting, or changing the radio station
When people suffer harm in an avoidable wreck because of truck driver negligence, they have every right to expect the liable party to pay for the monetary damages. The side of cars has much less material to protect occupants than the front and back bumpers. Therefore, the injuries can be severe, especially for those sitting on the side of impact.
Typical Injuries
Some examples of injuries people suffer include:
- Blunt force trauma
- Crushing injuries
- Head, skull, and traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord trauma leading to paralysis and temporary or permanent disabilities
- Broken bones or traumatic amputations
- Wrongful death
An attorney skilled in handling cases resulting from side-impact truck crashes in New Braunfels can review a case and answer specific questions during an initial consultation.
Recoverable Damages
The compensation amounts depend on the injuries the plaintiff sustained and the trucker’s actions leading up to the event. The court may award damages for:
- Inconvenience
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disabilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost salary and earning potential
- All medical expenses resulting from the accident
Right-of-Way Laws in Texas
Motorists traveling on state roads and highways must know and adhere to the right-of-way laws. The Texas Transportation Code § 545.151 provides that motorists must yield to oncoming traffic in intersections when approaching stop and yield signs. Drivers making left turns must yield to oncoming traffic from opposite directions.
All drivers must adhere to traffic signs and signals, yielding to the motorists arriving first. When two motorists arrive at the same time, the driver to the right has the right-of-way. Finally, everyone must yield to oncoming emergency vehicles.
Truckers are professional drivers, and when they fail to act responsibly, comply with traffic safety laws, and harm others, the court will hold them legally and financially responsible. A lawyer with experience handling New Braunfels side-impact tractor-trailer collisions could review the applicable statutes and help build a solid case for damages.
Take Legal Action After a Side-Impact Truck Accident With the Help of a New Braunfels Attorney
Side-impact truck collisions happen when an 18-wheeler strikes the side of another vehicle. These wrecks can be severe, leaving people with life-altering injuries. Unfortunately, these severe traffic incidents happen often in Texas and almost always result from carelessness.
If you suffered severe bodily injuries and other losses in an avoidable crash, you could be eligible for compensation to cover your damages and losses. Call an experienced lawyer to learn more about rights and remedies following side-impact truck accidents in New Braunfels.
