Posted on October 17,2022 in 18-wheeler truck accidents

Three weeks ago, a semi-truck collided with another vehicle on a U.S. 75 overpass. The truck, which was traveling at highway speeds, drove off the highway overpass, flipped in the air, and burst into flames as it crashed onto the road below. Dashcam footage from cars waiting at the intersection below the overpass captured the incident, in which the driver of the semi-truck died. 

Texas has the tragic distinction of leading the nation in fatal truck accidents. More than 30,000 commercial vehicles get in accidents every year on Texas roads, and several hundred people die in these accidents. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a semi-truck crash on Texas roads, it is essential to understand your legal options for recovering compensation. 

When Can I Sue a Truck Driver for Injuries or Death? 

Determining liability is the first step in exploring whether compensation can be obtained for a truck accident, but it can take some work. Sometimes the truck driver is responsible, sometimes the trucking company is responsible, and sometimes the shipping company that loads a truck is responsible for an accident. Sometimes even the person who was injured or killed in the accident with the truck is responsible for the accident. 

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 Posted on September 23,2022 in Car accidents

Getting into a serious car accident can be a terrifying experience. In addition to having to manage complex logistical issues, such as how to get your car towed and repaired, you may be suffering from serious injuries which require extensive treatment and physical therapy. You may be unable to work for an extended period of time and find yourself struggling to pay your bills. 

If you are in this situation, know that you do not have to face it alone. An experienced, compassionate Texas car accident injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation from the party responsible for causing your injuries and handle the bureaucratic aspects of a lawsuit so you can focus on resting and recovering. One important task an experienced lawyer can help with is securing the crash report.

Gathering Evidence For a Lawsuit

Even if the person who caused the accident is clearly at fault, you will still need to prove this before you can recover compensation for your injuries. The longer you wait to take action after a car crash, the harder it may be to start collecting evidence of what happened. Some of the most important pieces of evidence will include: 

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 Posted on September 09,2022 in Wrongful Death

While large delivery trucks, construction supply trucks, and 18-wheeler big rigs are essential for helping our economies and communities get things done, these large vehicles carry objects that can cause life-changing injuries and fatalities when they fall off the truck into the road. One of the most common causes of truck accidents in Texas is shifting loads that cause a truck to lose balance, roll over, jackknife, or spill its content into the road. Cars driving next to and behind a truck can be crushed by falling objects, may run into the objects on the road, or may swerve to avoid falling objects and run into other cars and stationary objects on the side of the road. 

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 Posted on August 19,2022 in 18-wheeler truck accidents

It is highly inadvisable for anyone to drive any vehicle while exhausted. Being sleepy can impair a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle as much as being drunk can. Recognizing the dangers of drowsy driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration set out a series of strict rules called Hours of Service regulations that are designed to prevent commercial truck drivers from driving after long periods of being awake. People - even professional commercial truck drivers - can only drive for so long before they begin to experience “highway hypnosis” and extreme fatigue that can lead to a crash in the blink of an eye. If you have been hit by a semi-truck and need compensation, one of the first things our attorneys will look for is whether there may have been an Hours of Service violation. 

What You Need to Know About Truck Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers must be alert and aware while operating an enormous vehicle that can inflict severe harm on others in the event of a crash. Fatigued driving is negligent driving. If a truck driver’s negligent driving causes a crash in which someone else is injured or killed, the driver or the trucking company may be liable for damages.  

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 Posted on July 06,2022 in Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one can be devastating under any circumstances. It is even more upsetting when someone’s negligent or purposeful actions cause a loved one’s death. 

If you lost a family member, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party who caused the death. While no amount of money can replace your deceased loved one, filing a wrongful death suit can force the liable party to compensate you for a wide variety of losses, ranging from the decedent’s lost income to your emotional pain. One of our compassionate attorneys can help you decide whether pursuing a wrongful death claim will be possible or helpful for you. 

What is a Wrongful Death?

A wrongful death is one that could have been prevented had the responsible party been using an appropriate level of caution regarding your family member’s safety. Some wrongful deaths are also caused by intentional actions such as assault. Grounds for filing a wrongful death lawsuit may include: 

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 Posted on June 30,2022 in Uncategorized

Texas just experienced historic inclement weather, causing plenty of problems for nearly all of us. From rolling blackouts to boiling-water notices, Texans were forced into an unprecedented situation. Many drivers had to brave icy roads to ensure there was food on the table, water for their family, and heat to stay warm. Procuring supplies meant Texans were forced to drive when they normally would not have. As a result, car wrecks were commonplace. Was this the inevitable result of icy roads? Is getting injured in a car wreck a risk you accepted by leaving your home during a snowstorm? The answer to both questions is no.

In this type of situation, people normally think that the fault lies with the weather conditions. Insurance companies are counting on this, but that view is just plain wrong. In fact, the Texas Department of Public Safety specifically states that drivers need to adjust their speed and following distance for adverse weather conditions. Typically, you are supposed to keep a four second gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you when driving faster than 30 miles per hour with good road conditions. This means that when Texas experiences historic weather and icy roads, drivers must increase that four second following distance. Failing to do so could result in a car wreck. Failing to do so is not just an accident – it is negligence. And if you, your friends, or your family were injured as a result of another driver who did not adjust their driving to the icy roads, you are entitled to compensation from that driver’s insurance company.

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 Posted on June 30,2022 in Uncategorized

Under Texas law, a person has two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. In the tragic event of the loss of a loved one in an accident, it can be hard to know how to move forward. Untimely deaths disrupt every aspect of the lives of surviving loved ones. When faced with an untimely accidental death, a victim’s loved ones may be able to file a wrongful death claim for damages brought on by the loss of life.

Wrongful death generally applies to any loss of life resulting from the negligent or malicious actions of another party. These claims can range from death caused by negligence such as a car accident or medical malpractice, to intentional harm such as death resulting from assault or manslaughter.

Wrongful death lawsuits usually differ from workplace death claims which are typically covered under workers’ compensation insurance policies that prohibit an employee from suing their employer for injuries or death on the job. An experienced San Antonio wrongful death attorney will be able to advise you if an exception applies that will allow the surviving family to sue the decedent’s employer for its gross negligence.

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 Posted on June 30,2022 in Uncategorized

[Date – on or before August 31, 2017]

RE: Notice of Claim under Policy # [Policy Number]

To Whom It May Concern,

Pursuant to the terms of my [Insurance Carrier] policy, I am providing this written notice of claim for my losses sustained during Hurricane Harvey. Please contact me as soon as possible to arrange an inspection of my property at a mutually agreeable time.

Sincerely,

_________________________
[Name]
[Address of Damaged Property]
[City, State, Zip]
[Phone Number]
[Policy Number]

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 Posted on June 30,2022 in Uncategorized

If your loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of abuse at a private prison or private jail, call Alford & Associates now for a free, confidential consultation. Our attorneys are on call – 24/7 – and are happy to answer any questions absolutely free of charge. You can find Alford & Associates online at www.injuredtexan.com or you can speak with an injury attorney now by calling 210-951-9467.

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 Posted on June 30,2022 in Uncategorized

If the insurance company unfairly denies or delays payment on your claim, count on Alford & Associates to help after disaster strikes.