head on collisions

Head-on collisions are both terrifying and potentially deadly. For these accidents to occur, one of the vehicles has to be in the wrong lane, and the force of impact of the two vehicles heading in opposite directions can be devastating. Occupants of the vehicles in a head-on crash have a high chance of suffering catastrophic injuries or fatal injuries.

When one of the vehicles involved in a head-on collision is a large truck, the smaller vehicle will likely sustain the most damage and the occupants inside are usually the ones who suffer the most serious injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a staggering 73 percent of truck crash fatalities were the occupants of the smaller vehicles.

If you were hurt or if your loved one was killed in a head-on truck collision, contact the New Braunfels truck accident attorneys of Burch Law Firm right away for help. Our compassionate and knowledgeable team is ready to explain your rights and talk through legal options when you call at 830-629-0955 to schedule your free consultation.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Head-On Collision with a Truck?

After a serious head-on collision involving a truck, it is important to identify which party or parties are responsible for the crash. Accident victims have the right to seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages if the accident was caused by negligence.

While the immediate response may be to blame the driver, other parties (and possibly multiple parties) could ultimately be liable for the crash. Potentially liable parties include:

  • Truck Driver: If the driver was drowsy, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted, disobeyed traffic laws, or was otherwise negligent, they put themselves and others at grave risk. The majority of truck drivers report that they drive longer hours than are allowed by law to meet deadlines or for numerous reasons. No matter the scenario, evidence will need to be collected in order to show how the truck driver may have been responsible for your accident. An experienced head-on truck accident attorney can complete a thorough case investigation so that you can properly prove the truck driver’s liability as well as the responsibility of other potential parties.
  • Trucking Company: Trucking companies often put pressure on drivers and may push them to violate hours-of-service regulations. This often forces overworked and fatigued drivers out onto the roads. In addition, to meet the demands of their clients, trucking companies may cut corners in the hiring and training of drivers to get their fleet of trucks moving, putting everyone on the road at risk. In order to prove trucking company liability, you will need to obtain a court order for records and other documentation. This needs to be done quickly so that vital records are not altered or do not disappear. Burch Law Firm can help with this and other methods of evidence collection.
  • Cargo Loader: The way that a semi-truck is loaded can affect the weight limits or braking capabilities of the vehicle. In more extreme circumstances, poorly loaded cargo can even cause a truck to jackknife or lose control and cause an accident. If these were factors in your accident, the cargo loader may be liable for your injuries. Your lawyer can track down the proper contacts and collect records, and this type of liability typically requires accident simulations to prove how the cargo load was at least partially responsible for the crash. At Burch Law Firm, we have built a dedicated team of professionals to help build a strong case for you.
  • Maintenance Company: The company responsible for maintenance on the truck involved in your head-on collision may have improperly serviced the vehicle, contributing to your accident. The knowledgeable attorneys at Burch Law Firm know the right questions to ask to uncover these types of issues.
  • Manufacturer: In some cases, manufacturing defects may be responsible for accidents. Truck defects or malfunctions including poorly built brakes, steering columns, and other truck parts can cause an 18-wheeler to veer dangerously off course and into your lane, creating a head-on collision. At Burch Law Firm, we will hold these manufacturers accountable for their errors to the full extent of the law.

As your legal team, the professionals at Burch Law Firm will fight aggressively to bring anyone responsible for your accident to justice.

Types of Compensation Available After a Head-On Trucking Accident

If you were hurt in a head-on collision with a truck or other commercial vehicle, you could be owed significant compensation. This compensation will come to you in the form of monetary damages, provided to reimburse you for out-of-pocket expenses as well as provide relief for other damages that do not have a specific price tag. These damages often include:

  • Emergency room visits
  • Hospital stays
  • Medical bills
  • Prescriptions
  • Rehabilitation expenses
  • Occupational therapy
  • Long-term care costs
  • Property loss
  • Lost wages
  • Diminished future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Wrongful death

The types of damages you are eligible to recover in your case must be requested when you make your claim. If you miss or do not ask for certain damages, you lose the ability to recover them once your case settles or reaches a final verdict. This is why the help of an experienced New Braunfels personal injury lawyer is crucial in your head-on collision truck accident case.

Common Causes of Head-On Truck Collisions

The one thing that all head-on truck accidents have in common is that one vehicle must be traveling in the wrong lane. This can be a result of many different circumstances, most commonly:

No matter the chain of events that caused your accident, you should speak with a knowledgeable lawyer about your rights to financial compensation for your injuries.

Head-On Truck Accident Injuries

Head-on truck collisions are serious accidents that often result in:

If you have lost a loved one in a head-on crash with a truck, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party.

What to Do If You’re Injured in a Head-On Truck Crash in New Braunfels

If you are injured in a head-on truck crash here in New Braunfels, you should:

  • Call the police to file an accident report.
  • Seek medical attention and follow all of your doctor’s advice.
  • Obtain photos of the accident scene. If your injuries do not allow you to take photos of the scene immediately after your accident, request that the police take photos, or even ask that a witness take photos for you.
  • Get the names and contact information of witnesses, if available.
  • Call Burch Law Firm as soon as possible after your accident. We know that evidence surrounding head-on truck collisions can disappear quickly, especially if the trucking company has something to hide. Our legal team will act quickly, efficiently, and aggressively to get your claim moving.