Aggressive Bus Accident and Truck Accident Lawyers
The personal injury lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP have successfully resolved hundreds of bus and truck accident cases throughout Texas and the United States and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in the courtroom and through settlements on behalf of our clients.
Our most recent victory was just last month (December 15, 2011) against Greyhound Bus Company in Dallas, Texas, where the company is based. The verdict, which was the largest verdict ever awarded against Greyhound, was covered by the Houston Business Journal and news sources all over the country.
After a three week jury trial, Ryan Zehl and Kevin Haynes were awarded $7.2 million by a Dallas County jury in connection with a Greyhound bus accident that occurred in December 2007.
Our client, who was 20 years old at the time of the accident, herniated a disk in her lower back when the bus lost control on icy roads. Through our pretrial efforts, we were able to prove that the driver was not paying attention, had used his cell phone in violation of Greyhound's safety rules 17 times in the 3 hours before the collision, and was never properly trained to drive a bus.
Although she only had $24,000 in past medical expenses and had not received the back surgery that was recommended by her doctors before trial, the jury awarded our client $2.2 million in compensatory damages and $4.8 million in punitive damages. After the trial, 11 of the 12 jurors told Mr. Zehl that they wanted to award $500 million in punitive damages against Greyhound but did not do so because one of the jurors was concerned about bankrupting the company.
Over $150 Million in Verdicts and Settlements for our Clients in the Past 3 Year
In the past 3 years alone, the personal injury lawyers at Fitts Zehl have recovered over $150 million in damages for our clients through trial and settlement. We do this by preparing every case as if it's going to trial, ensuring our clients are receiving the best medical treatment available to them, refusing to accept inadequate settlement offers, and by devoting whatever resources are necessary to obtaining the maximum recovery for our clients. As a result of our success in and out of the courtroom, our trial lawyers have appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, and in almost every major newspaper in the world, including the New York Times, the Dallas Morning News, The Washington Post, the Wallstreet Journal, the Houston Chronicle, and the International Herald Tribune, among others.
You can click here to review some of our recent media coverage.
Getting into an accident with a commercial truck is a very serious matter. The sheer weight of these massive vehicles can often be enough to turn what would have been a simple fender bender between cars into a life-threatening situation. In the aftermath of a collision with a big rig, bus or delivery truck, you owe it to yourself and your family to seek immediate medical attention.
Contact one of Our Bus Accident and Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation: 1-800-993-4887
If you or a loved one were injured in a bus or 18 Wheeler accident, contact us online by clicking here or call 1-800-993-4887 to schedule a free, no-commitment consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations & Commercial Vehicles
Commercial vehicles, including buses and 18 wheelers, must comply with numerous regulations set by the federal government. The most comprehensive and detailed of these safety rules are contained in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. These requlations place a number of limitations on the truck driver and his company. It is imperative, when hiring a lawyer, that you make sure that he or she has experience working with these regulations and working on cases involving commercial trucks and 18 wheelers.
Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, truck drivers are required to:
- Get a certain amount of rest before operating the vehicle
- Operate the vehicle for a limited number of hours each day
- Keep a detailed log book that records the number of driving hours each day, departure from one state into another, condition of vehicle, etc.
- Obey weight restrictions
- Maintain truck safety
- Refrain from alcohol and illegal drug use
- Comply with federal regulations that govern the transportation of cargo and hazardous materials
In addition to complying with federal commercial vehicle laws, truck owners are required to maintain at least $750,000 in liability insurance to cover any potential property and personal injury damages.
Working Quickly to Investigate the Accident
The Truck Accident Lawyers at Fitts Zehl, LLP, regularly work with accident reconstruction experts in commercial vehicle accident cases to establish liability. These experts investigate the scene of the accident, take measurements of the trucks and the speed they were traveling, and gather additional information that can be obtained from the truck's black box or ECM to prove that the driver was not complying the the applicable safety laws. This investigation is critical when showing the jury or judge how the accident could have been prevented.
To prevent their vehicles from being held out of commission for an extended amount of time, trucking companies are quick to repair their vehicles after an accident. By making repairs quickly, the truck companies destroy evidence critical to the investigation and affect your chances of recovery. To prevent this from happening, our truck accident lawyers immediately send a preservation letter to the trucking company ordering them to maintain the vehicle in its post-accident condition. We then record the information gathered from inspecting the vehicle, and use it to build our case.
Aiming for Settlement, Ready for Litigation
Many times, our cases will resolve through settlement, which ensures that our clients are fully compensated without having to go to trial. When, however, the insurance company refuses to provide an adequate amount of compensation for serious injuries, we don't hesitate to file a lawsuit and begin preparing for trial. Because we regularly try cases in state and federal courts all over the state, we have the experience necessary to hold defendants and their insurance companies accountable.
School bus accidents
It is important to talk to an attorney soon after the accident because the insurance company will often try to settle the claim for an inadequate amount before you've had a chance to consult with an experienced accident lawyer.
Contact one of Our Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation: 1-800-993-4887
We offer a free initial consultation and are available for evening and weekend appointments. We work on a contingency-fee basis so that you pay nothing unless we win. Our offices are centrally located in Galleria Tower I. To contact one of our truck accident lawyers, call 1-800-993-4887 or click here.
