Fort Worth truck accident attorney Michael Grossman discusses 18-wheeler collisions
Tractor Trailer and Truck Accidents
If you've been involved in an accident with a tractor trailer, you've already seen the kind of damage they can cause. No doubt you're wondering how to go about taking legal action against those responsible. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as it might seem. Here are just a few of the factors that can make your "open and shut" case into something much more complicated.
Money: Did you know that 18-wheelers are covered by commercial insurance policies that are generally valued 50 times higher than typical passenger car policies? While this means that your compensation can be quite large, it also means that insurance carriers will be much more reluctant to pay.
Experienced Adjusters: Commercial insurance carriers employ the most aggressive and experienced adjusters in the business. These adjusters are chosen among many applicants specifically for their ability to effectively deny claims just like yours.
A Team of Experts: Within moments of your accident being reported, a team of defense attorneys and accident recreation experts will be sent to the scene to start building a case against you. These professionals are looking for anything they can use to pin the blame for the accident on you. They might build their case on anything from physical evidence to witness testimonials or even your own statement.
Legal Overlap: The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration has set up federal regulations around 18-wheelers and their drivers. This means that there is an overlap between federal and state laws that insurance adjusters can often use to deny your claim based on a technicality you've never even heard of.
Untruthful Drivers: The driver of the 18-wheeler has everything on the line. His or her entire career likely depends on the outcome of this case. That puts the driver in a scenario where he or she might be tempted to lie to save his or her job, even if you're the one who gets hurt by it. While most truck drivers are hardworking and honest, there are more than a few that will cause an accident and try to cover their tracks.
It all boils down to this: you need help from an experienced tractor trailer accident attorney. The odds are stacked against you and you need a team of experienced attorneys to stand a fighting chance in court.
Posted by: Fort Worth Texas tractor-trailer accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/28/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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The difficulties of truck accident cases as compared to conventinal car accidents
Accidents involving 18-wheelers can be extremely damaging. The sheer size of the vehicle generally ensures that damages will be much higher than in an accident involving only passenger cars. But there are some legal difficulties as well that can make receiving compensation for your accident much more difficult than it would seem. Here are a few of the factors that come into play with truck accident cases.
Commercial Insurance Policies: 18-wheelers and their drivers are insured by commercial insurance policies that are typically valued 50 times higher than policies covering passenger cars. There is a lot of money involved in these cases and the insurance carriers will do everything they can to keep from paying up.
Ruthless Insurance Adjusters: Commercial insurance carriers employ the most aggressive insurance adjusters in the business. These adjusters have proven their ability time and time again to deny claims just like yours. They will be working around the clock to make sure their company doesn't pay you.
A Team of Defense Experts Working Against You: Before the 18-wheeler driver has even left the scene, a team of defense attorneys and accident recreation specialists are working to build a case against you. They will be taking witness testimonies, looking for physical evidence, and doing whatever else they can think of to make sure the blame for this accident is pinned on you.
Legal Gray Areas: 18-wheelers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration. These regulations overlap with state laws and provide a legal gray area for defense attorneys to get their clients off the hook using technicalities you may have never even heard of.
Unscrupulous Truck Drivers: While most truck drivers are good people who work hard for their living, there are still many of them that cause accidents and do not own up to the responsibility. For the driver of the 18-wheeler, everything is at stake. His or her entire career likely rests on this case. He or she might be highly motivated to do or say whatever it takes to place the blame on you.
As you can see, the odds are against you. Against such an orchestrated effort, you need a team of experts of your own to fight back. The Texas truck accident attorneys of Grossman Law Offices have had twenty years of experience going after truck drivers and their merciless insurance carriers.
Posted by: Dallas trucking accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/28/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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If you have been involved in a truck accident in Dallas, there are a few things that you can expect to encounter
If you've been involved in an accident involving a commercial truck in the Dallas area, the help of an experienced personal injury attorney will prove to be vital to the success of your case. While you are surely aware that the damages incurred in these accidents are generally very high, you might not know that these cases present legal difficulties that are not present in passenger car collisions.
The Stakes Are Higher
Commercial trucks are covered by commercial insurance policies that are generally worth 50 times as much as a typical passenger car policy. With that much money on the line, the insurance companies are going to do everything they can to avoid accepting liability.
The truck drivers have a lot to lose as well. The driver's entire career likely depends on the outcome of this case. With his or her livelihood on the line, the driver might be tempted to say or do whatever it takes to avoid responsibility, even if it ends up hurting you.
Their Team of Experts
Commercial insurance carriers employ the most aggressive, most ruthless insurance adjusters in the business. These adjusters have years of experience denying claims in cases just like yours. Their paycheck is on the line as well and they aren't going to be cutting you any slack.
These adjusters are also very familiar with the legal gray areas in these cases. Commercial trucks are regulated by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration. These regulations create overlap between federal and state laws that can provide just the technicality the insurance adjusters need to keep from paying you.
These insurance carriers will also have a team of accident recreation specialists and defense attorneys on retainer. Before the truck driver is even allowed to leave the scene, his team of experts will be looking for evidence to build a case against you. They will use anything to do it, be it eye-witness accounts, evidence from the crash, or even your own statement.
Your Team of Experts
As you can imagine, Dallas trucking accident cases can be quite a handful. Going into them without legal experience makes them virtually impossible to win. You need your own team of legal experts in order to maximize the value of your case.
Posted by: Dallas Texas trucking accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/28/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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Have you been involved in an accident with a DART bus? Our attorneys can help you
DART Bus and Rail Accidents
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (or DART) has 45 miles of light rail track, makes 12,322 stops, and has a fleet of nearly 800 vehicles. With an operation of this size, accidents involving these vehicles are all too common. If you have been injured in an accident involving a DART vehicle, our Dallas personal injury attorneys are here to help.
In an accident involving a collision between a DART vehicle and a passenger car, the passengers on the DART are often injured. As a victim in this case, filing a claim can be a very complicated process. You probably aren’t the only person who was injured. If there were many other victims, the defendant’s insurance policy probably cannot fairly compensate everyone. In this case, you need an experienced accident attorney to make sure your claim is prioritized and to identify other sources of potential compensation.
You might also have been injured by the DART vehicle itself. You might have been hit by the vehicle, the automatic door might have malfunctioned and injured you in some way, or perhaps the driver simply started moving before you were seated.
In any case, these claims are difficult because the defendant in these cases is the city of Dallas. The laws surrounding injuries sustained by DART vehicles were written by Dallas legislators primarily to save the city money. Your case will be heard in a Dallas courtroom. In other words, it’s a rigged game to begin with. You need a team of experienced attorneys in order to stand a fighting chance against this sort of bias.
To complicate things even further, DART is covered by a commercial insurance policy and it is this insurance carrier who will ultimately be the one to pay your damages. These carriers employ the most aggressive and experienced insurance adjusters in the business, along with a team of expert defense attorneys whose sole job is to deny claims just like yours. Insurance claims are accepted or denied based on the internal protocols designed by the insurance carrier. Again, the deck is stacked against you.
In order to win a case against these odds, you need your own team of experts. The attorneys at Grossman Law Offices have been fighting against these overwhelming odds for twenty years and we can help you with your injuries caused by an accident with a DART bus or train.
Posted by: Dallas Texas DART bus accident attorney | Posted on: 9/24/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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Dallas Fort Worth attorney Michael Grossman discusses accident that involve dump trucks
Dump Truck Accident Cases
I’m sure you can imagine that damages in cases involving dump truck accidents would be much higher than those in cases with passenger vehicles. But were you aware that the insurance polices that cover dump trucks in these cases are completely different as well? Dump trucks are covered by commercial insurance policies that are typically 50 times larger than policies that cover passenger vehicles.
What does this mean for the victims in these cases? Unfortunately, it usually means a legal nightmare for those who wish to pursue the case without an attorney. Due to the amount of money involved, the commercial insurance adjusters will be absolutely ruthless. These adjusters typically have years of experience in these sorts of cases and their job is to make sure that you receive as little compensation as possible.
These insurance carriers also have their own team of defense attorneys who specialize in cases just like yours. Within minutes of your accident, these attorneys are dispatched to start building a case against you, in order to make it seem like the accident was your fault.
And they aren’t alone. Commercial insurance carriers also employ accident recreation experts that will be combing the scene of your accident, looking for physical evidence to pin any amount of liability on you.
Typically, the driver of the dump truck has a lot to lose by confessing to causing the accident. Chances are his or her career is on the line and he or she may be tempted to bend the truth a little bit in order to place the blame entirely on you. We have seen this type of thing happen again and again. Even when the physical evidence supports your side, the defense attorneys know that simply being able to convince a jury that you were partially at fault will save their insurance company an incredible sum of money.
When you are up against opposition like this, you need your own team of professionals to assist you. The Dallas dump truck accident attorneys of Grossman Law Offices want to be that team. We have twenty years experience dealing with commercial insurance companies and their aggressive attorneys and we would like to help you secure the compensation to which you are entitled.
Posted by: Dallas Fort Worth, Texas dump truck accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/24/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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The difference between 18-wheeler accident cases and car accident cases
18-Wheeler Accident Cases
If you’ve recently been in an accident involving an 18-wheeler, you might be wondering if you need an attorney. In order to answer that question, you must realize that 18-wheeler cases are completely different from typical passenger vehicle accidents. Obviously, the damages are likely higher due to the massive damage that tractor-trailers can case, but what you might not know is that the case takes place in an entirely different legal environment.
And it all comes down to money. The commercial insurance policies covering 18-wheelers are typically valued at 50 times more than a personal vehicle insurance policy. With that kind of money involved, the commercial insurance carriers will go to great lengths to protect their policy.
18-wheeler insurance carriers have a whole team of defense attorneys ready to respond immediately to any accident involving one of their drivers. Their singular purpose is to build a case against you in order to deny liability.
The insurance adjusters who work 18-wheeler cases are among the most aggressive in the industry. They are chosen specifically for their ability to shut down cases like yours. They take advantage of gray areas, such as the overlap between state and federal laws created by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration. If you don’t know how to navigate these gray areas, the insurance carrier’s team can deny your claim on a technicality you didn’t even know existed.
And its not just the insurance carriers with a lot of money on the line. For the driver of the 18-wheeler, his career is likely at stake. We hope that the drivers will be honest regardless, but unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen. We’ve heard the horror stories of 18-wheeler drivers who will tell any lie to save their careers – and you can bet their insurance carrier isn’t going to look too deeply into it.
Before the driver of the 18-wheeler has even left the scene, his team of adjusters, attorneys, investigators, and accident recreation specialists will be working around the clock to build a case against you.
This is why you need a team of your own. At Grossman Law Offices, we have been making sure commercial transport companies and their insurance carriers take liability for their mistakes for the past twenty years and we can help you with your trucking accident case.
Posted by: Dallas 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/24/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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18-wheeler accident on I-75 causes evacuation of nearby residents
On September 8, 2009, an 18-wheeler accident resulting in a precautionary evacuation on the fear of toxic exposure. The accident occurred on I-75 in Hamilton County, FL when the driver of an 18-wheeler allegedly lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree on the side of the highway. The truck then rolled onto the passenger side causing it to erupt into flames. The truck was transporting several types of chemicals which also caught fire. Authorities evacuated an area in a two-mile radius around the crash site while the incident was contained. The driver of the truck was seriously injured in the accident.
Posted by: Dallas trucking accident lawyer Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/23/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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A tractor-trailer became wedged beneath an overpass
On September 2, 2009, an 18-wheeler became stuck under an overpass in Pomona, CA. The accident occurred at approximately 9:00 a.m. as the 45-foot-long trailer became wedged beneath an overpass that spans the entrance to California Polytechnic State University. Fortunately, the truck was traveling at a relatively low speed which and no one was injured in the 18-wheeler accident.
Unfortunately, these types of accidents involving overpasses are fairly common: 18-wheeler cargo strikes overpass
Tractor-trailer strikes subway overpass
18-wheeler overturns after hitting overpass
Posted by: DFW truck accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/23/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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60-year-old Peter Wooley lost his life in a trucking accident in Washington
On August 31, 2009, 60-year-old Peter Wooley of Olympia, Washington was killed in a trucking accident. The tragic accident occurred as the tractor-trailer that Wooley was a passenger in fell off of the Beebe Bridge near Chelan Falls, WA. For reasons unknown, the truck swerved toward the edge of the bridge where it struck several support cables before the cab portion broke free and fell from the bridge. The cab landed in the Columbia River below killing Wooley and the truck's driver, 48-year-old Kathleen Walker. Wooley's remains have not yet been located.
Posted by: Dallas trucking accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/23/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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Six people were injured in an 18-wheeler accident in Wills Point, Texas
On September 12, 2009, an 18-wheeler accident in Wills Point, Texas left six people injured. The accident occurred in the afternoon hours as an 18-wheeler crashed into the rear of a passenger car on I-20. The first vehicle struck was pushed into the car in front of it causing a chain reaction crash that included seven vehicles in all. It is believed that the accident was caused when the driver of the tractor-trailer failed to pay attention to the traffic ahead of him while he picked his teeth in the rear view mirror. Six people were taken to an area hospital as a result of the accident.
Posted by: Dallas truck accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/22/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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A man fell off of a bridge after an 18-wheeler accident in Alabama
On September 6, 2009, the victim of a car accident feel from a bridge as an 18-wheeler approached. The incident occurred along an I-20 bridge in Alabama as the occupants of an automobile accident were talking to authorities when an 18-wheeler was unable to stop and crashed into several vehicles. The accident left several people injured, including one man who fell over the bridge's railing after being startled by the collision. He fell approximately 45 feet and suffered some fractures of his lower extremities.
Posted by: Dallas 18-wheeler accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/22/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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A tractor-trailer causes a collision in Tennessee
On August 30, 2009, an 18-wheeler caused an accident in a Tennessee road construction zone. The accident occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m. as the driver of the tractor-trailer allegedly failed to slow for work vehicles in the road ahead. The big rig struck a road crew vehicle which then hit a State Trooper vehicle. The truck ultimately struck a tree. Three people were injured in the accident, but the full extent of their injuries is not known.
Posted by: Dallas tractor trailer accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/22/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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18-wheeler struck by train in Caddo Parrish, LA
On September 4, 2009, an 18-wheeler was struck by a train in Caddo Parrish, LA. The accident occurred at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Preston Road. According to authorities, the 18-wheeler failed to stop at the crossing causing the train to collide with it. At least one of the train's cars derailed causing the intersection to be closed for several hours. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
Posted by: Dallas Texas trucking accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/22/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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67-year-old William Calvin Kenon Sr. was involved in an accident with 18-wheeler
On September 1, 2009, 67-year-old Williams Calvin Kenon Sr. was involved in a trucking accident. The accident occurred in Havelock, NC as the driver of an 18-wheeler allegedly made a wide right turn in the parking lot of an Advanced Auto Parts location off of Highway 70. Kenon's Pontiac Aztek was traveling in the same direction as the tractor-trailer and moved into the far-right lane. As the truck turned into the parking lot, it cut Kennon's vehicle off causing him to crash into the trailer of the semi.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident. It is very common for an 18-wheeler accident to result in severe injuries to both the driver and occupants of the passenger cars and to the truck driver as well. Since 18-wheelers are covered by such large insurance policies, the adjusters assigned to handling injury and property damage claims on behalf of the trucking company are usually quite aggressive and experienced. Anytime you are involved in an accident with an tractor-trailer, it is always a good idea to speak to an experienced attorney who can help you make an educated decision.
Posted by: Dallas truck accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/15/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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A truck driver has lost his life in yet another construction related accident
The driver of an 18-wheeler lost his life in an accident in Colorado. The fatal accident occurred at a spot where two other trucking accidents have recently occurred under similar circumstances. In all three cases, an 18-wheeler hauling a load of asphalt has overturned and careened down the embankment and into a nearby creek. In the first two accidents, the trucks spilled their load and fuel into the creek, but the drivers survived. Unfortunately, the driver involved in this accident was not so fortunate. The accident has sparked involvement from the Colorado Department of Transportation, as they have recently issued an order to keep truck traffic off of the roads where this most recent accident has occurred.
Posted by: Dallas trucking accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/14/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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63-year-old Larry Burk injured in 18-wheeler accident
On September 12, 2009, 63-year-old Larry Burk of Kirksville, MO was injured in a trucking accident. The accident occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. on U.S. 54 as another tractor-trailer, driven by Brian Ray of Camdenton, veered into Burk's lane. The trucks collided head on causing both driver to suffer significant injuries. Both driver were transported to St. John's Hospital in Springfield. Authorities believe that Ray turned abruptly into the other lane in order to avoid striking a stopped vehicle in his own lane of traffic.
Posted by: Dallas trucking accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/14/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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36-year-old Elizabeth Warren was killed in an 18-wheeler accident in St. Louis, MO
On August 25, 2009, 36-year-old Elizabeth Collins of Illinois was killed in an 18-wheeler accident. The tragic accident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. on I-55 in St. Louis, MO as Collins' Volkswagen was rear ended by an 18-wheeler that appears to have failed to stop for traffic that was backed up. Several other vehicles were struck before the 18-wheeler came to a rest. Upon impact, the Volkswagen and 18-wheeler both caught fire. Collins died at the scene.
Posted by: Dallas trucking accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/2/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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An 18-wheeler became stuck after its cargo struck an overpass
On August 29, 2009, an 18-wheeler flatbed truck became stuck when it struck the underside of an overpass. The accident occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m. when the empty fuel silo being hauled on a flatbed trailer collided with an overpass on I-15 in Utah. The large metal canister being hauled by the truck crested at approximately 18 feet tall, not nearly low enough to clear the 15' 9" overpass. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident.
Posted by: Dallas trucking accident attorney Michael Grossman | Posted on: 9/2/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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Three injured as an 18-wheeler crashes into a roadcrew and a State Trooper in Greene County, VA
On August 31, 2009, an 18-wheeler crashed into a road construction vehicle and a State Trooper's patrol vehicle. The accident occurred as a road crew was working on I-81 in Greene county, VA. at approximately 11:15 at night, the 18-wheeler approached the work site and collided with the road crew vehicle forcing it into the Trooper's cruiser. The 18-wheeler then ran into a tree. The Trooper and two occupants of the 18-wheeler were taken to an area hospital for treatment. The specific cause of the accident has not been released.
Posted by: Dallas 18-wheeler accident attorney | Posted on: 9/1/2009 | Permalink Link to this Article
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