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Being involved in an 18-wheeler accident is a scary situation for a driver. A passenger vehicle will always incur more damage than an 18-wheeler or semi-truck simply due to differences in size and force on impact. In 2021, 117,300 large trucks (defined by the National Safety Council as any large or medium truck, excluding buses or motor homes, weighing greater than 10,000 lbs.) were involved in a crash. Of those, 5700 resulted in death.

Some of the largest trucking companies in the United States include UPS, J.B. Hunt, and XPO Logistics.

Which party is liable if I am in an 18-wheeler accident?

There are a host of parties that can be held liable:

The truck driver can also be responsible for maintaining their rig and performing inspections on the truck prior to hitting the road. If they failed to perform their checks or did not maintain their truck, the individual could have additional responsibility attributed to them.

Due to a national truck driver shortage, companies may feel pressured to hire under qualified drivers, push drivers to continue to drive past their physical limitations, or fail to provide adequate training. Carriers can also financially incentivize their drivers with unrealistic metrics, which in turn causes drivers to engage in risky driving practices to meet their goals.

More so than the individual driver, the carrier is responsible for the maintenance, inspection and repair of their fleet. Motor carriers can also engage in practices such as improperly loading cargo or not safely securing loads.

Who else can be found liable?

Other parties involved in a commercial vehicle accident can include:

Insurance coverage is very different for 18-wheelers than it is for your personal car. There are multiple coverages available to properly compensate you for things like medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and more.

A Houston 18-wheeler accident attorney can help!

If you are in an 18-wheeler accident, you should consult with an experienced, board-certified personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will develop a strategy to give you the most compensation to recover and move forward with your life.

Scott Callahan is a board-certified Katy personal injury lawyer by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been in practice for 25 years. Give us a call today – we are available 24/7 at 713-888-9000.

A contingency fee is frequently used by many personal injury law firms, but what is it exactly? Do you really not pay anything out-of-pocket? What happens if you do not win your case? Read on for answers to these questions and more.

How Are Lawyers Paid for Their Services? Hourly, Flat Fee, and Contingency Explained:

There are different ways lawyers can be paid for their services. The first way is to pay an hourly rate and the client will be charged the total amount of time worked on a case. This type of fee agreement is often used by larger law firms. The lawyers and various support staff, like paralegals, bill for their hours worked on a case.

Lawyers can also work on a fixed fee. This is when the attorney charges a flat rate for specific legal services they will perform for you. This type of arrangement is common for estate planning attorneys who may be setting up a will or offering a package of estate planning services.

A contingency fee is structured differently from hourly or fixed fees. Clients do not pay any money upfront or out-of-pocket to the attorney. Instead, the lawyer only gets paid if there is a settlement, judgment, or verdict. When the case is completed and your attorney has successfully secured a recovery, they receive a percentage of that recovery as their attorney’s fees. However, if no recovery is made, then you do not owe anything to the law firm. So, the lawyer only gets paid if he or she gets you compensation.

The percentage of recovery paid to the lawyer can vary anywhere from 33% to 45%. The percentage and an explanation of the contingency fee must be clearly outlined in the agreement you receive at the outset of your case.

How Are Expenses in My Case Paid?

Throughout the course of your case, there will be various expenses incurred. Examples of expenses include:

In a contingency fee agreement, the attorney will front the expense money necessary to pursue the case. The client does not pay any expenses out-of-pocket. The agreement will disclose  that these expenses paid for by the lawyer will be reimbursed to their firm when there is a recovery for the client (via settlement, judgment, or verdict). However, it is important to note that these case expenses are typically not owed to the law firm by the client in the event there is no successful recovery.

What Are the Advantages of a Contingency Fee Agreement?

The advantages of a contingency fee agreement are numerous. The first, and most obvious, advantage is that a client does not have to pay any fees upfront to hire their attorney. This takes financial stress off the client so they can focus on getting better and recovering from their injury.

Because a lawyer will not make any money if they do not win the case, it gives them a large incentive to do everything they can to secure the maximum amount of money possible for you. This can also make them selective in which cases they will accept. If your lawyer takes on your case, they likely think you have a reasonable chance at winning a recovery.

The last advantage is that if you do not win your case, then you do not owe any money to your attorney – either for fees or case expenses. It is important, however, to be sure to review your specific fee agreement, make sure it specifies these terms, and discuss it with your attorney at the beginning of your case so there are no surprises in the end.

Should I Hire a Lawyer on a Contingency Fee Basis?

Here at Scott Callahan & Associates, this is the only fee structure we offer and believe strongly in the advantages and flexibility it gives our clients. If you have been injured, give us a call today. Our Katy personal injury lawyers are here 24/7 to review your claim and answer all your questions.

A Renewed Look at the Evidence in the Infamous Case

It has been nearly 30 years since the McDonald’s hot coffee lawsuit went to court, but interest in the case remains high. People around the world dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous” and a prime example of runaway juries. A look at the facts of the case, however, tell a different story.

Despite what most people think, plaintiff Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old grandmother, was not driving when the coffee spilled. She was a passenger in her grandson’s car. As the car was parked, she tried to hold the cup securely between her knees while removing the plastic lid. However, the drink tipped over, spilling scalding hot coffee all over her lap, according to the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

Here is some of the evidence presented to the jury:

  1. McDonald’s Knowingly Sold Their Coffee at Scalding Hot Temperatures.

It was company specification to sell their coffee at temperatures of 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

  1. Liquid at These Temperatures Can Cause Third-Degree Burns in Seconds.

McDonald’s coffee, if spilled, causes full thickness burns (third-degree to the muscle/fatty tissue layer) in as little as two seconds.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an adult can suffer third-degree burns after being exposed to 150-degree water for two seconds.

  1. The Plaintiff Suffered Third-Degree Burns Across 16% of her Body.

Ms. Liebeck was hospitalized for eight days and had to undergo a variety of procedures including skin grafting and whirlpool treatment for debridement. She also suffered permanent scarring as a result of the burns, as well as disability for over two years.

  1. McDonald’s Knew About the Danger.

From 1982 to 1992, there were more than 700 reported claims to McDonald’s of people suffering severe injuries from their hot coffee, including burns to the genital area, perineum, inner thighs, and buttocks. It was not only adults that were injured, but also infants and children.

  1. McDonald’s Would Not Lower the Temperature

Despite knowing the risk of harm, McDonald’s testified – through its own witnesses – that it did not intend to turn down the heat and it did nothing to warn consumers about the dangers.

A quality-control manager testified that not only were consumers unaware of the risk, but that consumers would not anticipate such severe burns if coffee was spilled.

  1. McDonald’s Agreed That the Coffee Was “Not Fit for Consumption.”

At trial, the fast-food giant admitted that the drink was “not fit for consumption” as sold because of the scalding hot temperature and risk of injury to the consumer. The jury agreed, finding that the coffee was “unreasonably dangerous” and was sold in “breach of the implied warranty of fitness.”

  1. The Plaintiff Had Tried to Settle the Case for $20,000.

McDonald’s initially refused to settle the case. Eventually, a jury would award the plaintiff $200,000 in compensatory damages (reduced by 20% as she was found to be partially at fault for her injuries) and $2.7 million in punitive damages.

  1. A Judge Later Significantly Reduced the Punitive Damages.

Punitive damages were later reduced by a trial judge to $480,000; however, the parties agreed to a “post-verdict settlement.” The confidential agreement prevented further appeals, which could have taken years to resolve.

  1. McDonald’s Conduct Was Considered “Callous.”

The Court refused to grant McDonald’s request for a new trial.  The Judge found the chain’s conduct regarding the sale of scalding hot coffee and failure to warn customers about the risk of harm if spilled was callous. For ten years, McDonald’s had seen hundreds of reports of customers receiving third-degree burns after spilling coffee, but they did nothing. Injuries included burns to the “genital area, perineum, inner thighs, and buttocks.”

  1. The Plaintiff’s Burns Were Substantial.

According to Ms. Liebeck’s treating physician, the 79-year-old’s burns were some of the worst scald burns he had ever seen.

THE TRUTH ABOUT HEADLINE-MAKING LAWSUITS

News headlines often spin lawsuits as being frivolous or juries as runaway.  However, every case has its own facts and evidence serving as the basis for how a specific verdict or settlement is reached. The judge and jury are presented with all of the evidence, testimony, and law in a case. They are the fact-finders and decision-makers after weighing all of the evidence — evidence and facts that are often not known to the public or reported in news headlines.

The McDonald’s hot coffee case involved far more than what most people realize.  There are always two sides to a story and the McDonald’s jury heard both before reaching their verdict. And, ultimately, the case was instrumental in eventually changing how coffee is served, including improved lids, insulated sleeves, and safer temperatures for consumers.