Jessica Burgoyne, leveraging a deep background in research methods and a passion for legal issues, distills complex legal concepts into accessible insights. With over 100 published articles, her work has been featured in Forbes Advisor and other respected publications. Her work, underpinned by rigorous research and a commitment to quality, offers readers trustworthy, actionable information.
Jessica Burgoyne
Jessica Burgoyne, leveraging a deep background in research methods and a passion for legal issues, distills complex legal concepts into accessible insights. With over 100 published articles, her work has been featured in Forbes Advisor and other respected publications. Her work, underpinned by rigorous research and a commitment to quality, offers readers trustworthy, actionable information.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
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Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Dallas is a central hub for both industry and transportation in the United States. From defense to telecommunications to financial services, all sorts of businesses operate out of the city. An increased commercial presence like this leads to increased commercial vehicle traffic—and the increased risk of accidents.
Our list takes a look at the best truck accident attorneys in Dallas, TX to help you get back on your feet after an accident.
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Best Truck Accident Attorneys in Dallas
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Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Texas
Commercial vehicle and truck accidents are different from car accidents. There are additional considerations and laws, and truck accidents have the potential to do massive amounts of damage. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Texas, here are some things you need to know.
Texas Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations determines how much time you have to bring a lawsuit after injury. If you attempt to bring a suit outside this timeframe, it will almost certainly be denied. It’s important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible after an accident to ensure that you are still within the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations for personal injury in Texas is two years.
Texas Laws for Truck Drivers
Truck drivers in Texas are required to follow the standards and regulations put forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Those include:
- A commercial drivers license (CDL). In Texas, you must be at least 21 to obtain an interstate CDL and 18 to obtain an intrastate (or Texas-only) CDL. In addition, you must hold a standard driver’s license, pass medical exams and pass a skills test.
- CDL drivers are held to much more stringent drug and alcohol requirements than drivers with a standard license. For example, the maximum legal limit for CDL drivers is 0.04 blood alcohol content (BAC), while the maximum limit for drivers under a standard license is 0.08 BAC.
- Random drug and alcohol tests of drivers.
- Drivers cannot drive for more than 11 consecutive hours without a 10-hour rest break. In addition, they cannot drive for more than 14 hours after the time they started. So, for example, if a truck driver drove from 8 AM to 2 PM and then began driving again at 7 PM, they would need to stop for at least a 10-hour rest period no later than 10 PM.
- Drivers must maintain and inspect their vehicles to ensure safety.
In addition, Texas has some requirements of its own, including:
- Drivers must speak English well enough to function on Texan roads. This includes being able to read signs, communicate with the public and with government officials and record information on driving records.
- Drivers can be barred from driving commercial vehicles for certain offenses. Those include driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident or being negligent in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle.
- Commercial motor vehicles must obey the posted speed limits.
Because the list of requirements for commercial vehicle drivers in Texas is so thorough, it’s possible that a rule was violated that you’re not aware of. This is an important reason to work with a qualified Texas truck accident attorney.
Identifying Fault for a Truck Crash
Texas is a modified comparative negligence state. Comparative means that the amount of damages you can recover is limited by your assigned fault. For example, if you have a tail light out and get rear-ended, the court might decide that you were 15% at fault for the accident because your light was out. That means that you could recover a maximum of 85% of damages.
Modified means that you cannot collect any damages at all if you were 51% or more at fault for the accident. So, in the example above, the party that rear-ended you would not be able to collect at all, because they were 85% responsible for the damage.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
You’re not required to work with an attorney on your personal injury case, but it’s probably in your best interest to do so for several reasons.
- Although it may seem like an insurance company’s job is to protect its subscribers, it’s a business that needs to make money. Because of this, the first offer you receive can often be a low-ball offer that will not cover your medical treatment. Personal injury lawyers have experience negotiating higher offers with insurance companies.
- The paperwork required to bring a lawsuit can be overwhelming, especially if you or a family member is injured. Your attorney can handle the vast majority of that paperwork for you.
- If the case winds up going to court, you’re going to want someone on your side who is familiar with how truck accident cases work.
- Even taking into account attorneys’ fees, there’s a very good chance you’ll wind up recovering more with an attorney on your side, and it will take a huge amount of stress off your plate.
How to Find the Best Truck Accident Lawyer in Dallas, TX
Always remember that there is no such thing as the best attorney for everyone and every situation. Think about what your requirements are for an attorney before you speak with one.
- Look at their advertising. Personal injury lawyers often put a lot of thought into their advertising. Take a look at how they come across. Do they seem no-nonsense? Kind? Competent? Advertisements can often be the first clues as to what an attorney is like to work with.
- Take advantage of free initial consultations. Most personal injury attorneys will meet with you for free. Take the opportunity to see if you’re comfortable working with them.
- Trust your gut. This isn’t something that can be quantified, but you’re probably going to spend a lot of time with your attorney. If you get a sense that you and the lawyer wouldn’t work together well, that can be a sign to keep looking for a better fit.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Truck Accident Lawyers in Dallas in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need to hire an attorney who specializes in truck accident cases?
It’s usually in your best interest to do so, especially in a city like Dallas that has so many specialist attorneys with experience trying truck accident cases. The laws and requirements for trucking companies and drivers are very specific. Having someone on your side who understands trucking laws can help make your case stronger.
What qualifies as a commercial vehicle?
A commercial vehicle, in general, is a vehicle that is being used for business purposes. However, the phrase is more typically used to mean large vehicles that transport goods or people. There are many different exemptions to the Texas definition of commercial vehicles. Consult your attorney about the specifics of your case.
Should I bring a lawsuit against the driver who injured me or the company that owned the truck?
There’s no simple answer to this question. Your lawyer will be able to look at your specific case and help you put together a plan that maximizes your chances of making the financial recovery you need to cover your expenses.
