San Antonio Company Vehicle Accident
In San Antonio, accidents involving company vehicles stand apart from passenger auto crashes in several ways. Not only do Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) accidents often result in severe injuries, but they also involve distinct insurance coverage regulations, trucking company liability laws, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules, and state laws regarding company vehicles on the road.
At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, our team of highly acclaimed San Antonio company vehicle attorneys has helped clients obtain maximum damages in these cases. With our extensive skills, decades of experience, and vast resources, we are adept at engaging in strong negotiations with powerful trucking companies and large insurers. We also have a proven capability to litigate your case and establish the liability of all responsible parties in a court of law.
Our Company Vehicle Accident attorneys are led by Clay Miller who is Board-Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. Less than 3% of all Texas attorneys have achieved board certification and less than that have a personal injury trial law board certification which required numerous jury trials and the passing a rigorous exam in the specialty.
Our law firm has recovered more than $1.3 Billion in settlements for clients in all kinds of personal injury, wrongful death, car accident cases, truck accidents, construction accidents and even medical malpractice lawsuits.
Click the Number Below to Call
San Antonio Company Vehicle Accident Attorneys
1-888-987-0005
Importance of Timely Investigation at the Scene of Accident
Upon experiencing a serious injury or the tragic loss of a family member in a San Antonio company vehicle accident, it is crucial to recognize that the investigators and lawyers representing potential defendants will lose no time in arriving at the crash site. Their objective is to gain an advantage over you, engaging with the negligent driver to shape their version of events and employ all possible legal strategies to shift blame onto you for the accident.
By engaging our experienced team of San Antonio company vehicle accident attorneys as soon as possible, you can seize the defendants’ first-mover advantage. Our first priority will be to secure photographs and videos from the crash site, gather physical and forensic evidence, interview potential eyewitnesses, and acquire vital access to the truck's black box data, the driver's logbooks, and the trucking company's communication, employment and other pertinent records. Additionally, we will focus on assessing the potential liability of other negligent parties involved.
- Preservation Order or Notice of Preservation: To prevent the loss of evidence, we will swiftly obtain a temporary restraining order (TRO) or send a notice of spoliation to all potential at-fault parties. This ensures that no evidence relevant to your injury claim is concealed, altered, destroyed, or tampered with.
- Accident Reconstruction: Along with notifying all potential defendants, our San Antonio company vehicle accident lawyers will collaborate with accident reconstruction experts to analyze the skid marks at the crash site, examine the condition of the vehicles involved, and recreate the sequence of events leading to the accident.
- Black Box Data Analysis: Acquiring and analyzing the truck's event data recorder and Engine Control Module are crucial steps in gathering evidence. Our attorneys, together with EDR analytics specialists, will evaluate the truck's speed, RPMs, engine performance, and actions related to steering and braking during the final moments of the crash.
- Driver & Trucking Company Records: We will thoroughly examine the negligent truck driver's logbooks, driving record, employment record, medical history, GPS data, and cell phone records as well as any past Hours of Service violations. Additionally, we will obtain and review the trucking company's employment policies, driver training manuals, and any documents or communications indicating risky business practices that exert undue pressure on drivers to follow unreasonable delivery schedules.
Eyewitness Testimony In Proving Company Vehicle Accident Liability In San Antonio
Eyewitnesses play a key role in shedding light on the events surrounding your company vehicle accident in San Antonio. These individuals can encompass various categories, such as:
- Bystanders who were not directly involved in the crash
- Other motorists on the road who were not part of the collision
- Passersby who stopped to provide assistance
- Individuals inside or around nearby establishments, including employees, visitors and customers
- Residents in adjacent homes who witnessed the accident unfold
- “Digital eyewitnesses” like surveillance cameras or even driver cameras from other vehicles
Why is the Testimony of an Eyewitness Important?
When it comes to claims involving San Antonio company vehicle accidents, the availability of evidence is pivotal, and eyewitnesses serve as invaluable sources during the legal process. Testimony from personal injury victims involved in the accident can potentially be considered biased or unreliable.
But the impartial account of an independent eyewitness holds significant value as they can piece together the sequence of events more objectively. Therefore, an eyewitness becomes vital in supporting your claim for injuries and defending yourself against blame for the accident.
The Contributions of Eyewitnesses to Your Case
Eyewitnesses in company vehicle accidents in San Antonio can provide immeasurable support to your case. Unlike those directly involved, eyewitnesses do not have a financial interest in the outcome, making their statements appear more credible.
Depending on their observations, eyewitnesses can contribute a wealth of information to your case, such as:
- The sequence of events leading up to the accident: Long before the accident occurs, other motorists on the road may have observed the actions of the parties involved. If the company vehicle driver engaged in reckless or dangerous behavior, it is quite likely that these actions were noticed by others on the road. For instance, if a motorist witnesses a truck swerving dangerously, drifting between lanes, or moving erratically, this information can prove valuable for your claim.
- Notable injuries or property damage they observed: Company vehicle accident sites can be chaotic, with damaged vehicles, guardrails, and public property, as well as injured individuals. If an eyewitness identified any of these damages, they can provide testimony in court or during a deposition. Such accounts aid in determining the appropriate level of compensation for the injured victims.
- The condition of the road during the collision: Company vehicle accidents are not always solely the fault of one driver. Other factors, including road and weather conditions, traffic volume, and construction zone activity, can come into play. If an eyewitness observed any of these factors that should have put the trucker’s on notice to slow down and drive more carefully, their observations can serve as supporting evidence to determine liability of the negligent parties.
- The behavior of each party involved: The involved parties’ conduct at the accident scene can significantly impact the final outcome of the case. For instance, consider a scenario where a company vehicle driver exits their vehicle and apologizes to you for the accident. This admission could be viewed as an acknowledgment of fault. Or, a trucker stumbling out of their company vehicle might appear impaired, disoriented, drowsy, or confused. Observations of this nature can assist in determining liability.
Locating Reliable Eyewitnesses in San Antonio Company Vehicle Accidents
Identifying eyewitnesses can add weight to your claim for a company vehicle accident in San Antonio. Eyewitnesses may have stopped at the accident scene to offer assistance, called emergency services, or spoken to the arriving law enforcement officers. If such individuals are present, ensure you gather their contact information before leaving the scene.
Even if no one stopped at the accident scene, our San Antonio company vehicle accident attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky may still be able to locate eyewitnesses. If the accident occurred in proximity to residential areas or businesses, we can reach out to homeowners and workers in the vicinity. These individuals, who may have been at home or the workplace during the incident, could have insightful observations to share.
Maximize Your Evidence with Our Legal Team
Taking prompt action is crucial following your involvement in a company vehicle accident. Eyewitnesses' recollections tend to fade quickly, and if you delay reaching out to them, their testimonies may lose their significance. After seeking necessary medical attention, make it a priority to consult with our experienced San Antonio company vehicle accident lawyers to preserve evidence while it is still fresh in order to build a strong claim for damages.
Causes of San Antonio Company Vehicle Accidents
The skilled team of San Antonio company vehicle accident lawyers at Miller Weisbrod Olesky will thoroughly investigate the causes of your accident to establish liability. Various factors commonly contribute to these accidents, for which the at-fault driver, the trucking company, and certain third parties might be held accountable. These causes are:
- Engaging in distracted driving, such as texting while driving or other distractions
- Driver distractions caused by in-vehicle technology
- Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Exceeding the speed limit
- Driver fatigue or drowsiness
- Displaying aggressive driving behaviors
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Improperly secured cargo, overloading, or unauthorized cargo
- Tire blowouts or defective tires
- Malfunctioning brakes or component failures due to inadequate maintenance
- Trucking companies pressuring drivers to violate Hours of Service (HOS) rules
- Failing to maintain a proper lookout
- Insufficient training provided to company vehicle drivers
- Neglecting to conduct background checks on drivers
- Imposing unrealistic delivery deadlines on drivers by employers
- Violations of safety rules
- Negligence by construction companies on the road
- Road defects
By identifying the underlying causes of your accident, we can build a strong case to hold the responsible parties accountable for your injuries and damages.
Trucking Company’s Vicarious Liability in San Antonio
In a San Antonio Company Vehicle Accident, the trucking carrier may be held vicariously liable for your damages under the legal principle known as "respondeat superior," which literally means: "let the master answer." Our committed team of company vehicle accident attorneys in San Antonio will diligently establish this liability if the employer is deemed responsible, in addition to the negligent trucker, in order to maximize your financial recovery.
San Antonio trucking companies typically have significant financial interests and will safeguard themselves with substantial insurance coverage. To prove their liability under the doctrine of "respondeat superior," our attorneys will strive to prove the following elements:
- The commercial vehicle driver was operating under the guidance and control of the employer when the accident occurred.
- The commercial vehicle company held a position of authority and control over the trucker's actions.
- The negligent actions of the driver took place within the scope of their official job as an employee.
By establishing these facts, we will build a compelling case to ensure that the trucking carrier shares in the responsibility for your injuries and losses, maximizing the financial compensation you are entitled to.
Personal Injury Damages in Company Vehicle Accidents in San Antonio
Economic Damages:
- Present and future medical expenses, including costs for necessary life care and treatments.
- Present and future income loss due to the injuries sustained.
- Loss of future earning capacity resulting from the accident.
- Expenses related to home modifications, assistive devices, and prosthetics required for recovery.
Non-economic Damages:
- Compensation for pain and suffering endured as a result of the accident.
- Damages for mental anguish experienced due to the injuries.
- Reimbursement for disfigurement, scarring and/or physical impairment caused by the accident.
- Loss of consortium, addressing the impact on personal relationships and companionship.
Punitive Damages:
In cases where the actions of the defendants display particularly egregious behavior, we will additionally seek exemplary damages to enhance your overall recovery.
Wrongful Death Damages in Company Vehicle Accidents in San Antonio
In the event of a wrongful death resulting from a company vehicle accident in San Antonio, eligible parties, including the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the decedent, may have the right to seek damages from the liable parties under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 71.004. Our trusted and dedicated team of company vehicle accident lawyers in San Antonio will vigorously advocate for your right to financial damages in a wrongful death claim, which may encompass the following:
Economic Damages:
- Medical expenses incurred prior to the victim's death as a result of the company vehicle accident.
- Loss of financial support experienced by the surviving spouse, children, and parents.
- Loss of inheritance, representing the amount the decedent would have reasonably saved and bequeathed to loved ones under normal circumstances.
- Funeral or burial expenses borne by the claimants.
Non-economic Damages:
- Pain and suffering endured by the decedent between the time of injury and wrongful death.
- Loss of consortium and emotional support suffered by family members.
- Loss of guidance for surviving children.
- Bystander claims, addressing the mental anguish experienced by family members who directly witnessed the wrongful death of their loved one.
Punitive Damages:
If the wrongful death defendants in a San Antonio company vehicle accident case demonstrated a willful disregard for the safety of other people, we will also pursue punitive damages to further strengthen your claim for maximum compensation.
The experienced and resourceful San Antonio company vehicle accident lawyers at Miller Weisbrod Olesky will explore all avenues to maximize your compensation. We are dedicated to holding all the negligent parties accountable for your damages. Throughout the legal process, our team will provide unwavering assistance and support, guiding you towards recovering the damages you truly deserve. Our goal is to help you and your family to achieve the necessary closure and move ahead in life with the compensation you need.
Statute of Limitations for Company Vehicle Accident Claims in San Antonio
According to the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Section 16.003, you have two years from the date of your accident and injury or two years from the date of wrongful death of a loved one to file your claim. Time is of essence in these cases because evidence may disappear, get diluted, distorted, or tampered with if you too much time passes.
The goal of our San Antonio Company Vehicle Accident Lawyers at Miller Weisbrod Olesky is to seize the advantage over the defendants and build rock-solid evidence to get you the financial compensation you rightful deserve for your injuries and losses. Call us for a free, no-obligations consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything unless we obtain for you the compensation you deserve.
Click the Number Below to Call
San Antonio Company Vehicle Accident Attorneys
1-888-987-0005
Protect Your Right to Financial Compensation
Our San Antonio Company Vehicle Accident Attorneys will explore every possibility to increase your financial compensation and hold all the negligent parties liable for damages. Once you have us on your side, we will move aggressively to obtain truck data recorder evidence, driver logs, witness information, and evidence from the crash site in order to build a strong claim for damages, while you and your family can focus on your recovery.
We will fight to make sure you get all financial compensation you deserve through settlement against the responsible trucking company and their insurers or take your case to trial with through preparation of evidence and a winning legal strategy if they fail to pay you the money you are owed. Schedule your free consultation with our legal team today. Our proven record of success in obtaining substantial settlements and verdicts for our injured clients speaks for itself.
If you were hurt or a loved one was severely injured or tragically killed in a trucking accident, immediate investigation and concerted legal action may be necessary to protect your right to seek maximum recovery. Contact our San Antonio Company Vehicle Accident Attorneys for a free consultation.
Meet The Leader In Truck Accident Litigation With A Record Of Multi-Million Dollar Settlements And Verdicts
With a 30-year history heading the Truck Accident Department of Miller Weisbrod Olesky, firm partner Clay Miller has a proven record of holding trucking companies accountable and achieving multi-million dollar settlements and court verdicts for his clients. Clay has been consistently listed in Super Lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers in Texas, published in Texas Monthly, for over 15 years.
Clay is regularly invited to speak to Trial Lawyer Groups around Houston and across the state of Texas on the topics of trucking laws, trial tactics and techniques, and how to prepare evidence and a winning legal strategy in Truck Accident Cases throughout Texas. Clay was the featured speaker for the Texas Trial Lawyers Association on the new changes to trucking laws passed by the state of Texas.
Our truck accident legal team includes Josh Birmingham, who is currently on the Dallas Trial Lawyers Board of Directors and served as the president of the Mesquite Bar Association for four years. Josh was named Thomson Reuters | Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2016 and 2017.
We also have on our team Michael Orth, a board certified personal injury trial lawyer who has spent the last decade representing injured Texans and their families. Michael’s success in scores of personal injury cases across federal and state courtrooms has earned him the coveted Board Certification in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Led by a formidable legal team with an extraordinary record of court verdicts and settlements in truck accident cases, Miller Weisbrod Olesky is regularly recognized by the US News and World Report as one of the top injury law firms in the United States.
Miller Weisbrod Olesky San Antonio Company Vehicle Accident Attorneys
Clay Miller
Clay is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Clay has practiced solely in the field of catastrophic injury and wrongful death since graduating from law school. His practice has been limited to the representation of victims. Over the past twenty-four years, Clay has successfully settled or tried to verdict cases in the areas of vehicular negligence, medical malpractice, construction site accidents, workplace injury, premises liability, and commercial trucking and a nationwide business loss case (suits filed in a dozen different states) involving defective truck engines sold to trucking companies.
Clay represented dozens of trucking companies in lost profit and diminished value claims against Caterpillar in 2010 through 2012. These cases were filed in over a dozen states with the bellwhether trial set in Federal Court in Davenport, Iowa. After intense litigation and trial preparation, a global confidential settlement was reached for all the clients.
Clay's most recent 2017 victories are a $30,800,000 jury verdict in Tennessee arising from fraud claims in the sale of heavy-duty truck engines and a $26,500,000 jury verdict in a construction accident, obtained within 60 days of each other.
Clay was raised in Lewisville, Texas and completed his undergraduate degree in Finance at
Texas A & M University. Following graduation from Southern Methodist University School of law, Clay worked for two Dallas firms representing victims. In 1998, Clay began his own practice before forming his current partnership. In addition to his law practice, Clay has lectured at seminars and published in the areas of construction accidents, jury selection techniques, medical negligence, trucking accidents and settlement tactics.
He is active in local and statewide trial lawyers' associations including serving as the Chair of the Advocates for the Texas Trial Lawyers' Association in 2002 and remains on the Board of Directors. Clay served as President of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association from 2008-2009. He has also been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) since 2014.
Education
- Southern Methodist University School of Law - Dallas, Texas
- Texas A&M University - Finance - College Station, Texas
Areas of Practice
Associations & Memberships
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of New Mexico
- State Bar of Colorado
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Trial Lawyers’ Association
- American Association of Justice
Josh Birmingham
Josh Birmingham was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico and raised in the small oil town of Hobbs, New Mexico. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2004 where he was a part of the Big 12 champion baseball team and was a College World Series participant.
He obtained his law degree from the University of Tulsa: College of Law in 2007 where he earned numerous awards in Mock Trial and Negotiation competitions.
Josh began his career at another prominent law firm where he fought for the victims of other’s negligence.
After 9 years Josh left being a trial lawyer and became an executive for a healthcare consulting firm but his passion for helping others in the law quickly pulled him back. Josh has tried numerous cases in both state and federal court. Josh began his first day with Miller Weisbrod Olesky in trial with Clay Miller representing an injured construction worker, Fernando Canales. Josh second chaired the trial and handled all of the medical expert testimony in the case.
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Josh is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Association of Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, and Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. He is currently on the Dallas Trial Lawyers Board of Directors and served as the president of the Mesquite Bar Association for four years. Josh was named Thomson Reuters | Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2016 and 2017.
Josh accredits his passion toward helping others to his mother Pam Parkinson, a nurse and business woman, and his father Ray Birmingham a college baseball coach.
Education
- University of Nebraska
- University of Tulsa - School of Law
Areas of Practice
Associations & Memberships
- American Association of Justice:
Member
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association:
Member
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association:
Member
Board of Directors - Dallas Association of Young Lawyers:
Member
- Mesquite Bar Association:
Member
Michael Orth
Michael is a board certified personal injury trial lawyer who has spent the last decade representing injured Texans and their families. Born and raised in Dallas, Michael attended Texas A&M University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Following graduation, Michael worked in sales for one of the largest trucking companies in the United States. While working in the trucking industry, Michael saw the dangers that can and do occur when companies put profits before safety, and safety is not provided its proper place at the table. It was at this point Michael decided to pursue a career in law to help those harmed by the negligence of others.
Michael attended the University of Houston Law Center, where he served as a Senior Articles Editor for the Houston Journal of International Law. Throughout law school, Michael clerked at one of the 5 law firms that represented the State of Texas against Big Tobacco, where he worked on cases ranging from catastrophic crane collapses, to sexual abuse cases to environmental class action lawsuits. Most importantly, Michael learned the law could be used to do a lot of good in peoples’ lives, and could help those who had been injured because of the carelessness of others.
After obtaining his law license, Michael moved to South Padre Island and practiced personal injury law in the Rio Grande Valley. While practicing in South Texas, Michael tried nearly 20 cases in federal and state courtrooms across South Texas, consistently obtaining verdicts significantly higher than the insurance companies’ offers. As a result of his success in the courtroom, Michael is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a designation earned by practicing personal injury law almost exclusively, showing substantial success and experience trying personal injury lawsuits, completing extensive Continuing Legal Education in personal injury trial law, and passing a rigorous written exam demonstrating superior competence in handling personal injury cases.
Michael is married to Katlyn and has 2 young daughters, Kathleen and Mary Louise. Michael volunteers for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, providing pro bono legal services to others in the community.
Education
- Texas A & M University
- University of Houston Law Center
Areas of Practice
Associations & Memberships
- American Association of Justice:
Member
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association:
Member