Category: Motor Vehicle Accidents

While the term “motor vehicle accident” seems pretty clear, most people use the term generically to describe many types of accidents. Many car accident victims in Dallas do not realize they could be eligible for compensation following their accident involving a motor vehicle. For example, most people do not know that you can be a car accident victim even if you were not inside the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Pedestrians, people on motorcycles and even cyclists can be involved in motor vehicle accidents. If you or someone you love has been involved in any of these types of accidents, a Dallas car accident attorney may be able to help.

Types Of Motor Vehicle Accidents

“Motor vehicle accident” is a general term that may be used to describe any of the following types of accidents:

• Car accidents: A car accident is the most common type of motor vehicle accident. These types of accidents include anything from fender benders to rear-end collisions, or worse. Any time a Dallas resident is injured in a car accident, he or she may be entitled to compensation for expenses like medical bills. An experienced Dallas car accident attorney can perform an in depth analysis of your accident and recommend a course of action.
• Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycles are legal road vehicles and have the same right to use the roads as any other type of vehicle in Texas. Unfortunately, many drivers do not respect that right, and as a result, motorcyclists are often victimized in serious crashes. These incidents often result in severe injuries and even deaths.
• Truck accidents: The smaller frame of a car can be seriously compromised if struck by a large commercial truck. This can lead to catastrophic damages and injuries. Large 18-wheelers are sometimes driven recklessly, either because of driver fatigue or simple negligence. Either way, those who are victimized by this behavior are entitled to seek a financial settlement.
• Pedestrian accidents: Pedestrians in Dallas always have the right of way when crossing the street at a crosswalk or moving through parking lots. Even if a pedestrian is not necessarily following the traditional rules of the road at the time of an accident, is jaywalking, etc., it is the driver who has the burden of responsibility to protect those walking in the vicinity of a moving vehicle.
• Bicycle accidents: Bicyclists have all the same rights and duties as other motor vehicle operators on the road. In addition, cars are required to yield the right of way to bikes. Many times however, drivers don’t know or blatantly ignore this law. This can lead to accidents and serious injuries to bicyclists.

If any of these types of accidents have affected you or your family, you could benefit from the advice of a Dallas car accident attorney. An attorney can examine all the evidence from your case and determine what subsequent steps should be taken.

With the rapid growth of the trucking industry in recent years, there are more trucks on the roads and unfortunately, many more truck accidents on U.S. highways. Trucks represent a significant percentage of highway traffic as they transport commercial and industrial goods across the country. Large trucks are crucial to the economy. They are an important part of regular business operation. Their downside is their mass. They are huge compared to other vehicles, and when a truck hits a smaller vehicle, severe motor vehicle accidents occur.

Types Of Trucks On The Road
All types of car accidents are traumatic. Dallas area drivers probably recognize that accidents occur every day, sometimes occurring during a commute to work or just while running everyday errands. When large trucks are involved in accidents, the severity of the injuries is often significant. This is especially true for truck accidents that occur on highways and interstates. Heavy traffic makes it almost impossible for these rolling giants to avoid colliding with multiple vehicles upon impact.

Semi-trucks are not the only type of vehicle categorized as a truck. In fact, you can assume that all commercial vehicles, including vans, fall into this category. Some of the other vehicles that fall into the truck category include:

• Box trucks
• Fire trucks
• Semi-trailer trucks
• Trash trucks
• Flatbed trucks
• Tanker trucks
• Tow trucks

When a larger vehicle collides with a smaller vehicle, it’s common sense that the damage to the smaller vehicle will be more serious. This is why truck accidents, like motorcycle accidents, often result in fatalities and serious injuries. What’s sad is cautious and vigilant driving could have prevented many of these accidents.

Who Is To Blame For Truck Accidents?
When determining liability in a trucking accident, there are many factors that should be considered. Weather conditions, the skill level of the driver or faulty equipment could all contribute to an accident.

Some of the common causes of truck accidents include the following:

• Driver fatigue
• Reckless driving
• Excessive speeding
• Drunk driving
• Failure to properly yield or change lanes
• Aggressive driving

Distracted driving or texting while driving
An investigator considers the above factors when determining the cause of a truck accident. Truckers are subject to the same distractions as other drivers, yet they carry a greater responsibility because of the sheer size of their trucks and the professional class of their drivers’ licenses. Truck drivers are paid to stay on the delivery schedule, and that pressure could encourage industry-wide poor driving habits, including speeding, reckless driving or fatigued driving.

Insurance companies employed by large trucking companies may pressure accident victims to settle for low amounts of money. Do not succumb to pressure. Talk with an experienced and knowledgeable Dallas car accident attorney before you agree to the terms of any settlement.

Pedestrian accidents are possibly the most devastating type of road accident. There are any number of reasons why innocent pedestrians get hit, but the most common one is driver negligence. Dallas area drivers know they have a responsibility to watch for pedestrians at all times. The responsibility is heightened in areas with heavy foot traffic.

Unfortunately, it is surprisingly common for pedestrians to be knocked down, injured or even killed by moving vehicles. These kinds of accidents can lead to wrongful death claims. No one ever imagines that he or she will be a victim of an accident, but it is possible and it happens more than you might think.

Victims Of Pedestrian Accidents
The victims of pedestrian accidents are wide and varied. A child playing on the sidewalk, a senior citizen taking a walk or a business person walking across a busy downtown street are examples of accident victims. Cars don’t only hit people while traveling down the road. Many accidents occur in parking lots where people are sometimes hard to see as they walk between rows of cars.

The members of this specific group are especially at risk of being hit by moving vehicles, the elderly. Whether it’s slower physical reaction times or mental unawareness, elderly people often have difficulty moving out of the path of oncoming vehicles. Also, elderly bodies are far more vulnerable to injury than the bodies of younger people.

Small children are also more vulnerable to car accidents. A child chasing a ball or toy may pay no attention to oncoming traffic. Children are unpredictable because they are often unaware of their surroundings. Children don’t understand the risk running into the street creates.

Determining Fault In A Pedestrian Accident
If you seek help from a Dallas area car accident attorney, he or she will examine the evidence from the accident in an effort to establish liability. Like in all other accidents, determining fault in a pedestrian accident is based on a number of factors. A finding of fault can shape a lawyer’s entire strategy in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

Factors that help determine liability in pedestrian accidents include:

• While driving, did a person take their eyes off the road to answer a call or to text?
• Did a driver turn around to talk to passengers and thereby cause the accident?
• Did a drunk driver cause the accident?
• Was the driver who caused the accident driving too fast?
• Did the driver ignore road signs or signals from other cars?

As with bicycle accidents and motorcycle accidents where the rider has limited protection, accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians can lead to serious injury or even death. At the very least, there is a good chance that medical attention will be required. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident in Dallas, a lawyer may be able to help.