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4 Key Benefits of Contacting a Truck Accident Lawyer in San Antonio

Any truck accident lawyer in San Antonio will tell you that the damage from truck accidents isn’t over when the debris is cleared away. The aftereffects can last for months, years, or even a lifetime. Though the facts of the accident may be clear to you, once you enter the claims process, things can quickly get complicated and confusing.

 

Does that necessarily mean you need to hire a truck accident lawyer in San Antonio? Check out the benefits and decide for yourself:

 

  1. Chances are, the other side already has an attorney working for them. Imagine trying to navigate the complicated legal process while simultaneously healing from your injuries and dealing with the financial impact of taking time off work. The opposition’s attorney will undoubtedly take advantage of this imbalance of power and knowledge.
  2. A truck accident lawyer in San Antonio has a network of resources at their fingertips to bolster your case, including subject-matter expert witnesses, private investigators, and ways to track down people who witnessed the accident.
  3. Foregoing a lawyer can cost you more than to retain one. Yes, a truck accident lawyer in San Antonio will receive a portion of your award when you win your claim. But how much will it cost if you enter a court alone — only to lose? It isn’t as simple as showing up for a court date and stating your case. There are myriad deadlines to meet, documents to file, and records to organize and keep track of. Given your injuries, is this realistic for you?
  4. Initial consultations are free of charge. This makes it much easier to “interview” more than one truck accident lawyer in San Antonio to find the right fit for you and your particular case.

 

When you’re seriously injured, a truck accident lawyer in San Antonio can be a lifesaver. Contact us today.

 

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Fatigued Driving: 6 Signs You Might Be Too Tired to Drive

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It’s safe to say that the vast majority of drivers would never attempt to operate a vehicle after drinking alcohol or taking certain kinds of medication. These same drivers, however, think nothing of fatigued driving—getting behind the wheel (or hopping on their motorcycle) when they’re tired. In their minds, a yawn is not the same as a shot or a pint.

 

 

In reality, more than one-third of drivers have engaged in fatigued driving and fallen asleep at the wheel. Some of them are lucky enough to snap back awake in time to avoid a wreck. Some keep driving, seemingly functional while their conscious minds have checked out, only to blink and wonder how they missed their turn 20 miles ago. Too many cause an accident, hurting themselves and, often, someone else.

 

Don’t be a tragic statistic. The signs you shouldn’t be driving are often subtle.

 

Signs You Could Be Too Tired to Drive

 

1. You didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Combine a restless night with a long day at work, and it’s safe to say you shouldn’t embark on a long, monotonous trip, even if you think you’re stoked on caffeine.

 

2. You’re using the headrest. If you’re too weary to hold up your head, you’re not alert enough to drive any distance—short or long.

 

3. You can’t remember driving the past few miles. Muscle memory will only get you so far. If you’re well into your journey and it seems you just left, you’ve been snoozing, possibly even with your eyes open.

 

4. Your eyes are scratchy. Constantly needing to rub your eyes is a sign you’re too tired to keep going. Pull over at a rest stop and take a nap.

 

5. You keep hitting the rumble strips. This means you’re driving out of your lane, and you are fatigued driving. Get out from behind the wheel as soon as possible.

 

6. Your muscles feel twitchy. Lack of sleep can cause the release of stress hormones, which can make you achy, restless, and irritable. If you find you can’t keep from shifting in your seat, or you feel an uncontrollable need to shake out your arms and legs, you’re fatigued driving.

 

If you’ve been hurt in an accident and you suspect the other driver was fatigued driving, we can help. Call us today!

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Essential Information to Tell Your Truck Accident Lawyer

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A truck accident lawyer needs information—and lots of it—to adequately present your injury case to the judge. That usually means more than just showing up with any casts, stitches, bumps, or bruises and trying to have your injuries tell the story.

 

 

 

 

In addition to discovering and preserving evidence such as the trucker’s driving record and work history, cell phone time and date stamps, truck maintenance history, and load or overload weight, a truck accident lawyer needs nothing but the truth from victims.

 

Have nothing to hide? Great. Are there a few blemishes on your own driving record? Come clean now so your lawyer won’t be handicapped by any surprises. Also tell your lawyer the following information:

  • Your health history. The trucking company’s attorneys will try to claim that your pain and suffering are a result of a pre-existing health condition, not because your half-ton car was totaled by a ten-ton truck. That broken shoulder? Oh, you had a baseball injury in high school, so tough luck. Memory loss? Remember that time you got a concussion when you flew off your ATV? No? Well, here it is in your medical records. Massive blood loss? Hmm, looks like you’re taking a medication that could cause lots of bleeding from a paper cut. Make sure your health records are in order and your truck accident lawyer has copies.
  • Past insurance claims. Have you filed insurance claims in the past, especially after previous accidents? Lawyers for the other side will be looking into your claim history—for health, auto, and homeowner’s insurance policies. Your own lawyer needs to know it before they do.
  • Your legal history. Your truck accident lawyer needs to know more than your driving record—from parking tickets to moving violations. If you’ve tangled with the legal system for any reason, no matter how far back, tell your attorney. This is true even if records involving specific incidents have been sealed or expunged. Your lawyer will, in many cases, be able to move quickly to ensure your prior record has no bearing on the current case.

 

When you need representation, we’ve got your back. Call us if you need a truck accident lawyer.

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The 5 Most Destructive Types of Truck Wrecks

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Texas consistently ranks at or near the top for the number of fatal truck wrecks, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of course, the Lone Star state’s sheer size accounts for a large part of this ranking—all the more reason to stay alert when traveling along our thousands of miles of asphalt ribbon.

 

 

 

 

Whether you drive a truck or share the highway with them, awareness of all the ways a truck can run afoul of the laws of physics can go a long way to keeping you safe.

 

Consider the five most destructive types of truck wrecks you never wish to encounter:

 

1.Rear-end collisions. The bigger and heavier the vehicle, the longer it takes to stop. Truck wrecks like this happen when truck drivers are distracted by cell phones, too tired to pay attention, or driving a truck with poorly maintained brakes. Even when truck drivers are doing everything right, drivers of smaller vehicles can contribute to rear-end collisions by cutting into that large, inviting space the trucker needs to safely stop.

 

2.Rollovers. A truck can easily roll over in a number of situations:

  • Entering a curve at a too-high speed
  • Drifting out of a lane and correcting too sharply
  • Swerving to avoid another vehicle
  • Loss of control due to a tire blow-out

 

3.Underride. Cars that follow a truck too closely can become lodged under the trailer if the trucker is forced to slam on the brakes.

 

4.Blind spots and wide turns. A simple rule of thumb is, if you as a car driver can’t see a truck’s mirrors, the truck driver can’t see you. It goes both ways—truckers should always assume there’s a car or motorcycle lurking in blind spots when changing lanes or making a wide, right-angle turn.

 

5.Unsecured load. Loads that aren’t properly secured, particularly on a flatbed truck, can be a deadly hazard to both truckers and other drivers when tons of weight shift to one side or spill all over the highway.

 

Involved in one of the many truck wrecks that occur in Texas each year? Let us shoulder the load while you recover. Contact us today.

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Searching for a Truck Accident Lawyer? San Antonio Has the Best

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Not every truck accident lawyer in San Antonio is the same. If you’ve been involved in a collision with a careless truck driver, it’s crucial that you know the difference between a good and bad lawyer, or you could end up on the short end of a settlement.

 

 

 

 

The Bad: Anatomy of a Trucking Company’s Lawyer

 

• They’re quick. As soon as a trucking company learns one of their drivers has been involved in an accident, they hit speed dial to their insurance company. It’s amazing how fast an insurance company’s rapid-response team can get to an accident scene—often before first responders have finished stabilizing the victims. Claims investigators waste no time scouring the accident scene for evidence, and you can be sure they’re not on your side. They’re looking for “evidence” to prove the truck driver was not at fault. In a worst-case scenario, evidence crucial to the victim’s claim might go missing.

 

• They’re smooth. Before you’ve even been transferred to a hospital room from the ER, lawyers for the trucking company could be pushing a document under your nose for you to sign. In soothing tones, they’ll try to convince you it’s in your best interest to sign, that the case is open and shut, so don’t bother retaining a lawyer of your own. Don’t fall for it.

 

• They’re sneaky. They know the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations inside and out, and they know how to appear to follow the letter of the law while skirting its intent. Most trucks carry “black boxes” just like airplanes, and if you don’t hire a fast-acting truck accident lawyer in San Antonio, evidence contained on it might be “accidentally” purged.

 

The Good: Anatomy of Your Trucking Accident Lawyer

 

• Your lawyer will immediately file a lawsuit to preserve evidence favorable to your case. No evidence will be destroyed on your lawyer’s watch.

 

• Specializes in the trucking industry and thoroughly knows its practices and the local, state, and federal laws that apply. Keeps updated on the latest regulations and industry news.

 

• From many years of experience, is aware of the multiple ways a truck driver can push and outright violate regulations designed to prevent accidents. Uses this knowledge and experience to advantage when preparing your case and gathering evidence.

 

• Has your best interests at the forefront, not the trucking company and its insurance company. Will fight on your behalf until you receive the compensation you’re due.

 

Don’t be sweet-talked or bullied into accepting a less-than-adequate settlement. Our experienced truck accident lawyer in San Antonio is ready to help.

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Demand Justice with an Experienced San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer

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The words “minor” and “truck accident” seldom appear in the same sentence. Trucks are big and heavy; most cars don’t hold up well to what a truck would consider a love tap. Trucks are notorious for having major blind spots, but before you let a truck driver shrug it off with a “Sorry, I didn’t see you,” get on the phone with an experienced San Antonio truck accident lawyer.

 

 

 

 

How can a San Antonio truck accident lawyer help you?

 

Gathering Evidence

 

Chances are, the driver of the truck you tangled with is backed by a trucking company, and trucking companies won’t hesitate to use their lawyers to twist everything around to make it look like the accident was your fault. With an experienced San Antonio truck accident lawyer on your side, you can concentrate on healing from your injuries while your attorney:

 

• Studies reports and documentation generated by police and other first responders.

• Tracks down witnesses and gathers their statements.

• Determines if any nearby security cameras captured any video or photographic evidence.

• Contacts specialists, such as computer graphics experts, to re-create the accident using available evidence.

• Represents you in settlement negotiations with the trucking company’s legal team.

• Collects information about the truck driver’s training, prior driving record, and possible criminal record.

 

Knowing the Law

 

An experienced San Antonio truck accident lawyer knows which trucking companies tend to travel more on local, regional, state, or interstate roads, and which laws apply. He or she also knows what kinds of logs truck drivers are required to keep, including driving hours vs. rest hours, routine drug testing, vehicle load, and maintenance records. In addition, if the truck was subject to a recall, the ultimate fault may rest with the manufacturer.

 

If you need a San Antonio truck accident lawyer, contact us today. One of our outstanding team members is ready to back you up.

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How a San Antonio Truck Accident Attorney Strengthens Your Case

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After a run-in with a semi-trailer truck, the biggest mistake you can make is setting foot in the courtroom without a qualified San Antonio truck accident attorney at your side. You have enough to deal with recovering from injuries, keeping your job, replacing your vehicle, and maybe even grieving the loss of a loved one.

 

 

A San Antonio truck accident attorney can shoulder much of the burden of filing and winning a personal injury claim so you can concentrate on healing, not juggling a mountain of paperwork, deadlines, and details.

 

How do you go about choosing the best lawyer for your needs? It’s not unlike choosing the best doctor for medical treatment.

 

Choose a Specialist

If you need knee surgery, you wouldn’t visit a dentist, would you? The same holds true for a San Antonio truck accident attorney. Pick one who deals with truck accident claims day in and day out. Select someone with dozens, if not hundreds, of winning cases under his or her belt.

 

Choose an Expert

The best practitioners of any profession work hard to stay on top of the latest developments in their fields. The very best write about their own discoveries and publish articles, and attend conferences to obtain and share knowledge. When choosing a San Antonio truck accident attorney to handle your case, don’t forget to look on their website for a list of published articles.

 

Choose a Professional

A qualified attorney will be a member of professional associations that concentrate on their area of expertise and will be board certified in their specialty. When you’re researching the above-mentioned articles, also look for membership in organizations such as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

 

Choose a Friend

A good San Antonio truck accident attorney has the experience to know not to overload himself or herself with too many cases at once. In this manner, he or she will have the time to focus on your case and your needs, on your timetable.

 

Researching a San Antonio truck accident attorney? Lawyers at the Law Offices of Pat Maloney have the experience, training, expertise and time to handle your case. Call us for a free consultation.

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How a Truck Accidents Attorney in San Antonio Can Bolster Your Case

If you’re involved in a truck accident, don’t let stress drive you to pick just any name from the local attorney section of the phone book. You need a qualified truck accidents attorney in San Antonio to represent you in court. Here are just a few reasons why you need someone who:

  • Sweats the details.
    After a truck accident, it makes sense to take photographs of the scene. But what if you couldn’t because of an injury? Or what if you just didn’t know where to aim your camera? You need an experienced attorney who knows how to read law enforcement’s accident reports and interpret photos, from dents to skid marks. One small detail could make the difference in determining which driver is at fault.
  • Knows your rights and responsibilities.
    Even if the fault comes down partially on your side, a truck accidents attorney in San Antonio may still find a way for you to receive some amount of compensation. For example, if it’s decided the responsibility for the accident is split 50/50, that means you can still sue for that portion of the damages.
  • Determines all responsible parties.
    From your perspective, there were only drivers involved in the accident. However, it’s highly possible that other people and entities who weren’t present bear some of the blame. For example, these might include:
    – The employer who scheduled the truck driver for too many hours or failed to properly maintain their vehicles.
    – The government bodies who designed the lighting, traffic signals, road signs, and lane markings.
    – The company that manufactured the truck.
  • Knows when to go to court.
    In some cases, taking your case all the way to a court of law may not be the best option. A good truck accidents attorney in San Antonio will know when to push and when to settle out of court.

Need someone who can navigate the legal system without a GPS? Call one of our truck accidents attorney in San Antonio today.

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How to Ensure the Maximum Truck Accident Settlement.

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Your truck accident settlement could be the farthest thing from your mind in the first few days after your accident. However, it’s extremely important to quickly begin doing everything in your power to maximize any settlement that will be due for your pain and suffering.

Use Your Cell Phone

Even non-smart phones usually have some kind of camera function. As soon as possible after the accident, use your phone to snap pictures of the scene, the vehicles involved, the surrounding environment (to document weather conditions, road conditions, traffic lights and signs, possible witnesses). The amount of your final truck accident settlement could depend on your quick action.

Caution: If there’s any possibility your injuries are serious or life-threatening, it’s extremely important not to move until first responders arrive. You’ll have to rely on evidence gathered by police and investigators.

Consider the Future

Though your injuries might appear to be minor, don’t refuse to be transported and don’t miss any future doctor appointments related to your injury. Physical injuries may take time to manifest – particularly head injuries – and continue to plague your quality of life and your ability to earn a living long into the future. Make sure you aren’t settling for a lesser amount just because your treatment for the initial injury has ended.

Injuries Aren’t Always Just Physical

When calculating what you think is fair compensation for a truck accident settlement, don’t forget to take into account pain and suffering that extends to your family and other relationships. Physical injuries can rob you of valuable family time, and the emotional aftermath can affect how you relate to family and friends. Post-traumatic stress can destroy marriages and careers.

Get A Good Truck Accident Lawyer On Your Side

Dealing with the aftermath of an accident is overwhelming enough without the added stress of figuring out what you’re owed and how to proceed in a truck accident settlement. Let our competent, qualified attorneys help. Contact us today!

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6 Steps to Avoid Driver Fatigue Accidents at Your Trucking Company

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Driver fatigue accidents are a serious problem in the United States. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 100,000 crashes are the result of drowsy driving every year, resulting in more than 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12 billion in damages.

 

Naturally, it makes sense that trucking companies would want to do all they can to avoid these dangerous accidents. Driver fatigue accidents put employees at risk, threaten the lives of those sharing the roads, and could end up costing companies millions of dollars in losses.

 

Fortunately, if you work for a trucking company, there are steps you can take to avoid driver fatigue accidents within your ranks. Just implement these 6 changes, and your employees – and every other driver on the road – will be all the safer for it.

    1. 1. Enforce hours of service regulations – Hours of service regulations are mandated by theFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to safeguard commercial drivers, as well as anyone on the road around them. These regulations set strict time limits for being behind the wheel, and they require regular rest breaks and time off to ensure drivers are at their best. If you want to ensure your trucks aren’t involved in driver fatigue accidents, then do everything you can to enforce these regulations. Install an automated device in each vehicle to track when the truck is moving and when it is at rest. Require your drivers fill out a log book detailing their rest breaks, hours behind the wheel and time off, and have their supervisors check and verify it regularly.

 

    1. 2.Educate drivers on recognizing symptoms of fatigue – In addition to enforcing hours of service, you can also teach your drivers to quickly recognize signs of oncoming drowsiness, so they can pull off the road and take a break. Common symptoms of tiredness include heavy eyelids, yawning, slow reaction times, slow driving speed, stiffness, cramps and more.

 

    1. 3.Encourage regular breaks – Though hours of service mandate when you must take a break, that doesn’t mean your drivers can’t take more if they need it. In fact, if you want your drivers at their best, you should encourage them to take breaks at least every two hours. Have them get out of the cab, walk around, take a bathroom break, stretch, or grab a bite to eat. These will all help get their blood flowing and keep them alert.

 

    1. 4.Conduct regular health screenings – Improper nutrition, vitamin deficiencies, chronic health conditions and even obesity can all have a major effect on a driver’s energy. In fact, the poorer their health, the more tired and fatigued they’ll feel, and the more likely they could be involved in an accident. To prevent this, require your drivers to undergo an annual health screening, and check them for any conditions that could affect their ability to stay alert and drive safely.

 

    1. 5. Discourage night driving, if possible – While it’s obviously possible for driver fatigueaccidents to occur during the daytime, they’re actually much more common at night. The darkness, the quiet traffic and the calming hum of the road can all but put a driver to sleep! If possible, discourage your drivers from operating their vehicles in the dark. This alone could greatly decrease the likelihood of a wreck.

 

  1. 6.Conduct truck inspections often – Nothing puts you to sleep like a warm, cozy environment, right? The same goes for truck drivers. That’s why you need to conduct regular, annual inspections of each and every vehicle in your fleet. Make sure the AC and ventilation systems work properly, so that your drivers won’t be lulled to sleep by a warm, cozy cab when they’re behind the wheel.

 

Despite the number of preventative steps you can take, driver fatigue accidents can seem inevitable. If someone on your team is involved in one, contact an attorney at the Law Offices of Pat Maloney as soon as possible.

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