Gainesville, Texas Truck Accident Attorneys

A collision with a truck can have life-changing consequences. For many victims, a totaled vehicle is only the beginning. Due to the forces involved in these kinds of accidents, survivors may be left with lasting damage threatening their livelihood or their ability to get through their daily life on their own. If you or a loved one has been struck by a negligent truck driver, get in contact with a Gainesville truck accident lawyer today.

At Burress Injury Law, we have years of experience representing truck accident victims in personal injury claims. In fact, we secured one of the largest auto accident verdicts in the state in 2015 on behalf of a client who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a crash caused by a commercial vehicle. You can rely on our firm to guide you through your case and fight for the payment that you deserve.

Firm History

Burress Injury Law was established in 2008, and over the years, it has built a strong reputation for representing injured people across Texas. The firm also brings a perspective that many injured people find valuable. Before shifting focus to represent injury victims, our attorneys gained experience representing insurance companies in injury claims.

That background gives us a close view of how insurers evaluate claims, where they look for weaknesses, and how they try to reduce what they pay. Today, we leverage that knowledge to help injured people and grieving families instead of corporate defendants. We anticipate common defenses, build stronger cases, and push back against efforts to downplay serious harm.

Accidents Caused by Negligent Truck Drivers

Truck drivers carry enormous responsibility every time they get behind the wheel. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh many times more than a passenger vehicle. When something goes wrong, the damage can be devastating. A moment of carelessness that might cause a minor car wreck can cause life-changing injuries when an 18-wheeler is involved. That is why negligent truck driving is such a serious issue on Texas roads.

Driver negligence can take many forms. A truck driver may be speeding, following too closely, drifting out of a lane, failing to check blind spots, or trying to force a turn without enough room. In other cases, the problem may be fatigue. Commercial drivers often work under intense pressure to stay on schedule, and tired driving can be as dangerous as driving while drunk. A drowsy driver may react slowly, miss traffic signals, or even fall asleep at the wheel.

Distraction is another common cause of truck accidents. A driver who is looking at a phone, adjusting a device in the cab, eating, or dealing with paperwork is not giving full attention to the road. Alcohol and drug impairment can also play a role, as can inexperience or poor training. Sometimes the problem is not reckless behavior in the obvious sense. Sometimes it is a driver making bad judgment calls over and over, until one of them ends in disaster.

In a truck accident claim, the goal is to show what the driver did wrong, how that conduct caused the wreck, and how the injuries have affected the victim's life. That requires evidence, speed, and a clear understanding of how trucking cases are built.

When Is a Trucking Company Responsible for a Wreck in Texas?

A trucking company may be responsible for a wreck in Texas in more ways than one. In some cases, the company is responsible because the driver was acting within the scope of employment when the accident happened. If a company driver causes a wreck while performing job duties, the employer may be held legally accountable for that conduct.

A trucking company may also be directly responsible for its own negligence. For example, a company may hire a driver with a poor safety record, fail to train drivers properly, ignore hours of service issues, or push drivers to meet unrealistic schedules that encourage unsafe conduct. A company may also fail to supervise its drivers, fail to investigate prior violations, or overlook obvious warning signs that a driver is not fit to operate a commercial vehicle safely.

Sometimes company records tell the real story. Driver qualification files, dispatch communications, internal policies, maintenance records, and log information can all help show whether the business put profit ahead of safety. That is one reason trucking companies often move quickly after a wreck. They know the records may become central to the claim, and they know the stakes can be high.

Third-Party Liability in Gainesville Truck Accidents

Not every truck accident claim is limited to the driver and the trucking company. In some cases, third parties may also share responsibility. This is important because serious injuries often involve major losses, and identifying every liable party can make a significant difference in the claim.

One possible third party is a maintenance provider. If a truck was taken in for service and dangerous problems with brakes, tires, lights, or steering were missed or ignored, that failure may have contributed to the wreck. Another possible third party is a cargo loading company. Improper loading can make a truck unstable, increase stopping distance, shift weight unexpectedly, or cause spilled cargo that creates danger for others on the road.

A manufacturer may also be involved if a defective part played a role. Faulty brakes, tire failures, steering defects, or other equipment problems can turn a large commercial truck into a serious hazard. In addition, another driver on the road may sometimes share blame if that person's conduct helped trigger the sequence of events that led to the accident.

These cases can become complicated very quickly. Different insurers may be involved. Different lawyers may try to shift blame to each other. Each side may point elsewhere and insist someone else caused the problem. That is why thorough investigation is crucial. A well-prepared claim looks at the full chain of responsibility rather than stopping at the most obvious defendant.

What Compensation Is Available in a Gainesville Truck Accident Claim?

A truck accident claim may involve compensation for a wide range of losses. In a serious case, compensation is not limited to the first emergency room bill. It may include the full cost of medical treatment, future care, rehabilitation, surgery, medications, mobility devices, and other health-related needs.

A victim may also seek compensation for lost wages and reduced earning ability. A person hurt in a truck wreck may miss weeks or months of work. In more severe cases, that person may never return to the same job or the same income level. Those losses can be enormous, especially when the injury affects the victim's future earning power over many years.

Texas law may also allow compensation for pain and suffering, physical impairment, disfigurement, and other non-economic harm. These losses are real even though they do not come with a price tag attached. Pain that does not go away, permanent physical limits, scarring, and the loss of an ordinary way of life can affect every part of a person's future.

If a truck accident results in death, surviving family members can bring a wrongful death claim forward. These claims may address the financial and emotional losses caused by the death. No amount of money can undo that kind of loss, but the law can provide a means of accountability and support when a family has been shattered by another party's negligence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents in Gainesville

Successful Case Results in Truck Accident Claims

Burress Injury Law has secured more than $500 million through successful claims, and we have earned over 900 5-star reviews from clients who trusted us during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

One recent example involved a rear-end collision with an 18-wheeler that left a couple with traumatic brain injuries and other serious injuries. Attorney Jason Burress helped them recover seven figures for the harm they suffered, securing the maximum from the insurer's policy limits without the need for litigation.

Burress Injury Law in Local Communities

Burress Injury Law is not only known for litigation. The firm has also built a record of giving back. Through the Burress Community Foundation, we have lent substantial support to local causes and organizations. That includes an annual charity picnic that brings people together, connecting families and charitable organizations across our local community. The firm also awards thousands of dollars to deserving students through its Underdog Scholarship six times or more each year.

Billing and Fee Structure at Burress Injury Law

At Burress Injury Law, we do not charge attorney's fees up front to begin working on a truck accident claim. Instead, the fee is tied to the outcome. That means we will investigate the wreck, gather records, communicate with insurers, and build the case before collecting fees. In essence, that means you will only pay if we successfully recover compensation in your case.

Going to Court for a Truck Accident Claim in Gainesville

Many truck accident claims settle before trial, but not all of them do. Sometimes, the liable parties will not come to the table with a fair offer. In those situations, filing a lawsuit may be necessary to move the claim forward and pursue accountability through the court system. For Gainesville cases, a truck accident lawsuit may be filed in Cooke County. The courthouse is located at: