18 Wheeler & Tractor Wrecks

By the Numbers

In 2025, Texas recorded 38,533 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. Those crashes killed 528 people and seriously injured 1,611 more. (Texas Department of Transportation, 2025 commercial motor vehicle crash data)

Common Causes

• Driver fatigue and violations of hours-of-service rules

• Distracted or impaired driving

• Speeding and following too closely in a vehicle that needs more distance to stop

• Poor maintenance, worn brakes, and bad tires

• Overloaded or unsecured cargo

• Companies that hire or keep unqualified or unsafe drivers

Protecting Your Rights

• Get medical care right away and follow your doctor's instructions.

• Take photos of the truck, its company name, its DOT number, and the scene.

• Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses.

• Do not sign anything or give a recorded statement to the trucking company or its insurer.

• Talk with a lawyer quickly. Trucking companies often send their own investigators to the scene within hours.

Holding Drivers and Trucking Companies Accountable

Trucking cases are won with evidence that the company controls, so we move fast. We send preservation letters for the truck's electronic logging and engine data, dash and cab cameras, dispatch records, driver files, drug and alcohol testing results, and maintenance records. We look at every party that may share responsibility, including the driver, the motor carrier, the broker, the shipper or loader, and the maintenance company. Then we build the case around the safety rules that were broken.

What Compensation Can Cover

Depending on the facts, a claim may include:

• Past and future medical expenses

• Lost wages and lost earning capacity

• Physical pain and mental anguish

• Physical impairment and disfigurement

• Damage to your vehicle and property

• In a death case, the losses suffered by the family

Common Questions

Who can be held responsible in a truck wreck?

Often more than the driver. The trucking company, the owner of the trailer, the company that loaded the cargo, and the company that maintained the truck may all share responsibility, depending on the facts.

How long do I have to file a claim?

In Texas, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury, and some claims have shorter deadlines. Talk with a lawyer as soon as you can so the evidence and your deadlines are protected.

Should I talk to the other side's insurance company?

You do not have to give a recorded statement to the other side's insurer. Their job is to pay as little as possible. Talk with a lawyer first.

What records can show what happened in a truck wreck?

Electronic logging device data, the truck's black box, driver logs, dispatch and GPS records, inspection and maintenance files, and dash camera video. Trucking companies are only required to keep some of these records for a limited time, so we act quickly to preserve them.

Does it cost anything to talk with you?

No. The consultation is free, and there is no obligation.