Dallas Commercial Vehicle Crash - Determining Fault & Damages

Dallas’s population growth in 2023 was the largest in the nation, adding almost 418 residents a day to an already large city. Alongside this staggering increase in residents comes a swell of vehicles on the road, and sadly more accidents as well. If you or a loved one was recently in a Dallas commercial vehicle accident, you may be struggling with medical bills, recovery costs, and more. The attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here to fight on your behalf against all negligent parties responsible.

Call our legal experts at any time of day or night at 800-862-1260 to schedule your free case review! An English or Spanish-speaking team member will evaluate your claim and provide you with knowledgeable legal advice about your next steps moving forward.

Texas Transportation Code defines a commercial vehicle simply as a self-propelled vehicle that is used for the “transportation of property or delivery purposes.” Section 548.001 elaborates that this includes vehicles used in the transportation of more than 15 passengers, such as school activity school buses, city buses, etc. It’s also noted that the gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating should be at least 48,000 pounds. Lighter vehicles can still be considered commercial vehicles if being used for business purposes or in the transportation of hazardous materials.

• Amazon delivery trucks or vans
• UPS/FedEx trucks
• Catering vans
• Box trucks (used by businesses for delivery or transportation)
• Construction vehicles like concrete mixers, excavators, loaders, bulldozers, dump trucks, etc.
• Flatbed trucks
• 18 wheelers
• Tow trucks
• Public transit buses
• School buses
• And more

Determining fault in a Dallas commercial vehicle crash is difficult without the expertise of a trusted Texas attorney by your side. The burden of proof falls on the plaintiff, or the individual filing the claim, and their legal representative to prove that the defendant, or the accused, were negligent and that their negligence directly caused your accident.

You and your lawyer then must prove that your injuries and damages, whether physical, emotional, or otherwise, resulted from that accident. Evidence must be presented that convinces a judge or jury that this is more likely than not.

Records should be kept of everything from medical bills to communications with the trucking company’s insurance company, property damage estimates, photographs of the scene of the accident, and witness testimony, which can and should be used when proving negligence in your case. A Dallas lawyer will have access to more resources like expert testimony, accident reconstruction experts, private investigators, and much more.

Because every case is unique, there is no way to establish how much your case is worth without discussing it with an attorney who thoroughly investigates your accident and is able to accurately value the full extent of your damages. In personal injury cases, though, plaintiffs are generally eligible to receive economic damages (financial losses), non-economic damages (pain and suffering), and in cases where reckless and negligent behavior was exhibited, punitive damages may be awarded (additional monetary punishment for the at-fault party).

Below are some, not all, damages you may be entitled to and examples.

• Damages to property: Repair costs for your damaged car or replacement costs for your totaled vehicle
• Damages for physical harm: Ambulance rides, surgeries, medication, follow up procedures, physical therapy, transportation costs, and expenses associated with your medical treatment
• Damages to emotional health: Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress from scarring
• Damages for lost wages and loss of earning potential

In addition, damages are affected by factors like the severity of your injuries and shared fault in the accident. An experienced truck accident lawyer in Dallas TX, such as those at Carabin Shaw, are well versed in Texas laws and regulations that are applicable to these commercial vehicle collision cases.

After an accident with a commercial vehicle, victims often face a mountain of bills and questions about what actions to take next. The path forward may seem overwhelming and difficult to navigate on your own, but the Dallas personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw are here for you and your family.

Read over our client reviews to see how we’ve helped victims just like you and call us at 800-862-1260 for a free case review. We’ve won millions of dollars for our clients to help them recover and restore their lives to normal. We’d like to do the same for you.

For more information:

• Biz Journals
• Texas Statutes 621
• Texas Statutes 548