Texas 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers

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• Texas 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers

18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys in Texas

18-wheeler trucksplay a vital role in the Texas economy, transporting cargo loads throughout the state and across the country. But some Texas companies make risky decisions in the pursuit of faster deliveries and higher profits. These companies jeopardize the lives of others when they cut corners and ignore the established safety regulations and policies.

Company pressure to maximize shipment volumes and increase profitability can lead to a number of dangerous outcomes. For example, it may persuade overworked and fatigued truck drivers to work longer than they should. Or it can rush workers into ignoring necessary maintenance and making unsafe decisions on the road. These mistakes are a recipe for disaster when operating an 80,000 lb. tractor-trailer.

When large 18-Wheelers strike normal passenger vehicles (or even larger pick-up trucks), the results are usually devastating.

Texas holds the unfortunate title of having the highest number of fatal truck accidents nationwide. The state accounts for over 13% of all fatal trucking accidents each year in the United States. In 2022 alone, Texas recorded 810 fatal commercial vehicle accidents, more than anywhere else in the nation.

Texas 18-wheeler drivers must follow careful safety guidelines to protect the more vulnerable drivers on the road with them. It’s noteworthy that 97% of all deaths in Texas trucking accidents are occupants of passenger vehicles. This statistic highlights the frightening reality that truck drivers’ dangerous actions can cause fatalities, even when you’re doing everything right.

If you endured catastrophic injuries from a truck driver’s negligence, a Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyer can help you pursue justice. Our top rated personal injury attorneys specialize in representing victims of preventable accidents, including negligent 18-wheeler crashes.

Contact 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers
(888) 987-0005

Big Rig | Semi Truck | Commercial Truck | Company Vehicle

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We Are the Leaders in Truck Accident Litigation

Miller Weisbrod Olesky has recovered more than $1.3 billion in settlements for our clients who sustained life-altering personal injuries. We represent victims of 18-wheeler crashes, work injury accidents, catastrophic car accidents, and the families who lost loved ones to wrongful death.

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Board-Certified 18-Wheeler Attorneys

If you or someone you know suffered injuries in a preventable Texas 18-wheeler wreck, don’t hesitate to contact our firm. We can assist you with a free consultation and legal review of what happened to you. If we decide you have a case, we will work on a contingency fee basis. This means you aren’t paying any fees until after we win your case.

Over the years, Miller Weisbrod Olesky has built up a long track record of legal victories and settlements that speaks for itself.

$6,000,000.00 recovered for the family of a driver killed by a distracted truck driver using an on-board computer.

18-Wheeler Results

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What Is An 18-Wheeler?

An 18-wheeler (also called semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or big rig) is a heavy-duty commercial vehicle built for carrying large freight loads. As of 2023, Texas employs the most 18-wheeler drivers in the nation with over 200,000.

Both Texas law and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) set strict standards for these types of vehicles. A typical 18-wheeler will have the following characteristics:

• Weight: According to the law, the weight of a loaded 18-wheeler on Texas roads must not exceed 40 tons (~80,000 lbs.). This is 20 times heavier than the average automobile, significantly increasing the risk of catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.

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• Length: A typical 18-wheeler in Texas can have a trailer that ranges from 53 to 59 ft. Due to its considerable length and weight, an 18-wheeler requires ample space to maneuver. Drivers will need at least 500 ft. to come to a complete stop when traveling at highway speeds.

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• Height: With a standard height of nearly 14 ft, 18-wheelers have a higher center of gravity compared to cars. If truckers speed or drive while distracted/fatigued, they may encounter difficulties attempting sharp turns or abruptly changing directions. This can potentially result in catastrophic rollover accidents.

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• Axles and Gears: An 18-wheeler typically features five axles and 10 or more gears. If truckers don’t know how to switch gears promptly, they are more likely to rear-end vehicles ahead of them. This can lead to severe trucking accident injuries.

Our Texas 18-wheeler accident attorneys remain up to date on the mechanical and technical aspects of these commercial motor vehicles. We remain knowledgeable about 18-wheelers and the safety regulations governing them to better understand the intricacies of your case.

Where Are 18-Wheeler Accidents Happening in Texas?

With over 3,200 miles, Texas has more interstate mileage than any other state. The most dangerous roads and highways in Texas for 18-wheeler accidents include:

• Interstate 45 (I-45): This highway sprawls down the Eastern side of Texas from Dallas to Houston down to Galveston. Notorious for high speed and heavy commercial trucking, I-45 holds the record for most fatal accidents across Texas.

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• Interstate 35 (I-35): As one of the busiest Texas highways, I-35 connects cities like Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. It has earned a reputation for crashes, particularly in urban areas with more frequent congestion and construction.

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• Interstate 10 (I-10): This highway stretches across Central Texas, running through major cities like Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso. Its length and heavy use make it susceptible to accidents, especially during poor weather conditions.

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• US Highway 290: Serving the greater Houston area, US 290 sees a high number of 18-wheeler accidents each year. With over two million residents in Houston, frequent ongoing construction projects contribute to the highway’s danger.

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• US Highway 183: Running through a growing Austin, urban development and increased traffic have caused more accidents on US 183.

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• State Highway 360 (SH 360): Connecting the DFW area, SH 360 often sees congestion during peak rush hours. This heavy usage contributes to a higher rate of collisions.

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• Loop 410: Encircling San Antonio, Loop 410 has a high number of accidents each year due to heavy commuter traffic.

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• Loop 610: As the inner loop around Houston, this road has congestion and complex interchanges that frequently cause 18-wheeler accidents. The key “danger zone” sections include the North Loop and the West Loop (I-10 to I-69).

High Rate of 18-wheeler Accidents in Oilfield Regions of Texas

The major oil and gas production regions in Texas  experience a notable surge in 18-wheeler crashes. These regions include Barnett Shale, Eagle Ford Shale, Granite Wash, Haynesville/Bossier Shale, and Permian Basin.

These areas were responsible for nearly half of all traffic fatalities in the state in 2018. In 2019, there were 198,645 vehicle crashes reported across these energy-rich areas.

A Water Transport Truck hit our client head-on while working in the Barnett Shale region of Texas. Her vascular system sustained severe damage, which compromised her lower leg’s blood flow over the course of a month. The injury became so serious that gangrene set in, which forced doctors to amputate the leg.

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What Are Common 18-Wheeler Accidents in Texas?

18-Wheeler collisions can look very different depending on the causes and circumstances of the accident. Some of the most serious and common crash types include:

18-Wheeler Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife accident occurs when the cab and the trailer begin to skid in opposite directions. It takes on this name because the vehicle’s position resembles the shape of a folding pocketknife.

In a jackknife accident, the trailer will only stop skidding once it reaches a 90-degree angle with the cab. While it’s still skidding, the driver will have zero control over the truck.

If a vehicle becomes caught between this 90-degree angle, the skidding 18-wheeler will drag it along. The truck generally tends to roll over after it comes to a stop.

In 2020, jackknife accidents caused over 1000 injury crashes and claimed around 169 lives in the United States.

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18-Wheeler Rollover Accidents

18-Wheelers are prone to rolling over because they have a high center of gravity. A rollover accident might occur for any of the following reasons:

• Sudden braking after driving at high speed
• Attempting to traverse up a steep incline or down a steep decline
• Turning too quickly or abruptly jerking the wheel
• Tripping over a curb
• Attempting to correct a drifting truck
• Hitting an obstruction on the road, such as a large construction cone

Rollover accidents often have disastrous consequences for passenger vehicles stuck underneath. 18-wheelers are around 40 times heavier than the average passenger vehicle. This means passengers in cars, pickups, or SUVs will likely sustain fatal injuries if an 18-wheeler topples over their vehicles.

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18-Wheeler Tire Blowout Accidents

Tire blowouts can displace an 18-Wheeler from its original lane and put them into the path of other vehicles. Common causes of tire blowouts include:

• Underinflation
• Overheating (which can stem from underinflation)
• Smaller, unnoticed punctures in the tire
• Hitting a pothole or other hazard on the road
• Overloading the trailer
• Using worn-out tires

Many semi-truck tire blowouts are preventable when trucking companies and drivers conduct regular inspections. They are far more likely to occur when companies don’t maintain or replace the 18-wheeler’s tires when needed.

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18-Wheeler Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions often occur because a truck driver was following another vehicle too closely. This can happen because of:

• Speeding
• Driving while distracted, fatigued, or under the influence
• Having faulty brakes that needed further inspection

An 18-wheeler or semi-truck needs 50% more room to stop than a typical passenger vehicle. When the driver miscalculates their stopping distance, they may rear-end the vehicle in front of them.

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18-Wheeler T-Bone Accidents

A T-bone accident happens when the 18-wheeler hits the side of another vehicle head-on. When the truck strikes the driver’s side, these accidents are almost always fatal.

T-bone crashes are more likely to occur when:

• The trucker runs a red light or a stop sign
• The trucker fails to yield the right of way
• The trucker drives while impaired, distracted, or fatigued

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18-Wheeler Underride Accidents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all commercial 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and big rigs to have rear underride protection. This means installing metal guardrails on the back of the vehicle's undercarriage.

These guards prevent vehicles from slipping underneath the trailer in the event they rear-end the back of the truck. Failure to provide underride protection can result in catastrophic injuries to occupants of other motor vehicles.

About Underride Accidents

Trucking Industry Continues to Ignore Side Underride Guards

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) still does not require underride guards on the sides of 18-wheelers. Despite strong recommendations from industry safety experts, many trucking companies continue to disregard their implementation. The American Truckers Association openly opposed a 2019 bill that would mandate side guards for vehicles hauling over 10,000 lbs. In their letter to Congress, they referred to underrides as “expensive and unproven collision mitigation equipment.” Their position went against other research on underride accidents from the Institute for Highway Safety (IHS).

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18-wheeler accidents cause some of the most devastating accidents on the road each year. A Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyer can help victims of these accidents to recover damages and afford the cost of treatment.

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What Are Potential Injuries in 18-Wheeler Accidents?

At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, our Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers deeply understand the profound impact of these collisions. The aftermath of a large commercial truck wreck can sometimes leave victims with the following serious injuries:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

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Internal Organ Injury

The forceful trauma from an 18-wheeler collision can inflict serious harm on vital internal organs. The most common injuries are to the lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, or bladder.

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Amputation Injuries

The crushing force of an 18-wheeler accident can lead to the traumatic severing of upper or lower limbs or extremities. In certain cases, doctors may need to perform surgical amputation at a later stage to avoid further damage.

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Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are alarmingly common in 18-wheeler crashes in Texas. They are particularly likely to occur when the truck transports oil, chemicals, or other flammable materials and hazardous cargo.

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An 18-wheeler accident can cause a range of other serious injuries. These can include broken bones, neck and back injuries, rib and torso injuries, cuts and lacerations, as well as disfigurement.

Our Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers recognize the physical, emotional, and financial hardships that accompany these types of injuries. Our dedicated team is here to provide compassionate and skilled legal representation to help you seek the compensation you deserve.

What Should I Do Right After an 18-Wheeler Accident?

Your health and safety are the main priorities immediately following an 18-wheeler accident.

Call First Responders

You should call 911 if you’ve witnessed an accident or been in one yourself.

Be sure to provide a detailed and accurate version of what happened to the first responders. Do not make any incriminating comments that may suggest an admission of fault. It is also helpful for your case to obtain a copy of any police reports.

Get Medical Help

Medical providers on the scene will assess your state upon their arrival. They should look at different areas of your body and conduct a field test for concussions. They should also ask you if you feel any noticeable pain in a particular area.

If medical personnel suggest you go to the hospital, listen to them. Symptoms of trucking accident injuries can take several days to surface. Your chances of recovery are best when you get a head start on diagnosing any possible injuries.

Gather Information

If physically possible, try to obtain contact and insurance information from all parties involved with the 18-wheeler accident. If you or someone you are with can take pictures of the accident, include the following helpful images:

• Road Conditions (wet, dry, icy, etc.)
• Tire Marks
• Damage to all vehicles involved
• Street Names / Highway Mile Markers
• License Plates of vehicles involved (if possible)

It’s helpful to have contact information for any witnesses or bystanders who saw the accident happen. Their first-hand accounts can be very useful when determining the cause or fault of the accident.

What Are The Rules of Driving an 18-Wheeler in Texas?

18-wheeler drivers must abide by strict rules and regulations when operating their vehicles. These rules include:

FMSCA Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implements and enforces regulations for all commercial vehicles operating in the United States. This includes 18-wheeler semi-trucks, hazardous materials (hazmat) trucks, tanker trucks, flatbeds trucks, buses, commercial delivery trucks, and more.

The FMSCA’s regulations include:

• Licensing: Anyone driving an 18-wheeler must have the proper commercial driver’s license (CDL). Each CDL requires training for that specific vehicle with examinations to test the trucker’s knowledge.

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• Health conditions: CDL applicants must receive medical clearing from an approved healthcare before operating the vehicle.

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• Truck inspections: By law, drivers must inspect certain aspects of their truck’s pre-shift. Companies are responsible for inspecting and maintaining the trucks in their fleet (and documenting it in writing).

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• Size and weight: The FMCSA sets strict maximum weight limits for loads an 18-wheeler may carry. The current maximum weight for any type of commercial vehicle is 80,000 pounds.

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• Distracted driving: Commercial drivers break the law whenever they engage in text-based messaging or read on a smartphone. They also must adhere to stricter rules regarding hands-free communication.

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• Intoxicated driving: Commercial drivers must abide by stricter intoxicated driving laws than regular drivers. While the typical legal limit for blood alcohol content, CDL-holding truckers must be below a legal limit of 0.04. Trucking companies reserve the right to conduct random and post-accident drug and alcohol testing on their employees.

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• Hours of service: All 18-wheeler truckers must keep a detailed log of how many hours they have driven without breaks. Keeping track of these hours helps prevent fatigued driving, which is a serious issue in the trucking industry.

The Importance of Hours-of-Service Logs

Driver HOS logs must be accurate. Unfortunately, many truck drivers keep fraudulent logs to allow them to drive more hours than they are legally allowed. This leads to more accidents from fatigued driving. Truck companies only need to keep driving logs for a limited time. Without them, it can be difficult to prove fatigued driving caused your wreck. Contacting a Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyer quickly can give you a head start on collecting evidence and proving driver fatigue.

18-Wheeler Insurance Rules

Under Texas law, trucking companies must carry minimum liability insurance coverage based on vehicle type. This is in place to safeguard the interests of injured victims. The guidelines are as follows:

• Commercial trucks < 10,001 pounds & transporting non-hazardous cargo: Minimum insurance coverage of $300,000.
• Commercial trucks Image≥ 10,001 pounds & transporting non-hazardous cargo: Minimum insurance coverage of $750,000.
• Commercial trucks transporting oil: Minimum insurance coverage of $1 million.
• Commercial trucks transporting hazardous cargo: Minimum insurance coverage of $5 million.

Texas Traffic Laws

In addition to FMSCA regulations, 18-wheeler truck drivers must follow all state and local traffic laws when driving through Texas. Common violations that lead to accidents include:

• Speeding - driving over the speed limit or going too fast in unsafe conditions
• Tailgating - following the vehicle in front too closely
• Reckless or aggressive driving, which can include a variety of unsafe behaviors
• Improper passing
• Violating traffic signals
• Failing to signal
• Failing to yield or merge properly
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

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18-wheeler drivers are legally liable for injuries when they violate FMSCA or Texas traffic policies. Our Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers can help prove when a trucker’s actions breached the standard of law.

Who Is Responsible for My Texas 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries?

More than one entity may be responsible for your injuries in an 18-wheeler accident. Depending on the facts, the law may find one or more of the following parties liable:

• The Driver: The trucker's reckless driving, speeding, disregarding traffic rules, or driving under the influence all qualify as negligence. Evidence like dashcam footage, logs from the vehicle’s event data recorder, or empty alcoholic beverage cans can support these claims.

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• Trucking Company: Companies can be responsible for multiple different errors that contributed to the crash. They may engage in negligent hiring practices and employ drivers with poor records who are prone to accidents. Or they may pressure their drivers to meet unreasonable deadlines and travel while fatigued, which violates federal and state laws.

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• Cargo Loader: Overloading cargo or improperly securing it can put the cargo loading contractor at fault for accidents. Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers may use freight or cargo logs as valid evidence to prove negligence occurred during loading.

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• Truck Manufacturer: Defects in tires, braking systems, steering systems, or other truck parts can result from manufacturing or design flaws. These faults can increase the risk for tire blowouts, braking failures, or other malfunctions.

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• Maintenance Company: Improper or faulty inspection, repair, or maintenance can result in malfunctions and accidents. Attorneys will carefully inspect maintenance logs and testimonies from mechanics or workshops when determining the fault of maintenance companies.

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• Road Construction Company: Contractors and companies sometimes maintain an unsafe work zone during road construction. This poses risks and hazards that could lead to severe 18-wheeler accidents. Physical evidence from the crash site like photographs, videos, and damaged construction equipment can prove liability in these cases.

Our top rated Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers at Miller Weisbrod Olesky are committed to identifying all liable parties involved. We will tirelessly pursue the maximum financial compensation on your behalf from each responsible entity.

What Is the Statute of Limitations in a Texas 18-Wheeler Case?

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 allows claims up to two years from the date of the accident. The same time limit applies in cases of wrongful death, giving claimants two years after the date of the death.

For minors injured in an 18-wheeler accident, you have until the child’s 18th birthday before the clock starts ticking. This means that you may generally file a valid claim up until the child’s 20th birthday.

However, timelines may look different if the 18-wheeler is a government-owned vehicle. In these cases, you may need to file under the Texas Tort Claims Act. These cases require plaintiffs to file an additional notice of claim within 6 months of the accident.

By reaching out to our Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers promptly after the accident, we can immediately take action. We can help you navigate legal timelines and ensure you don’t miss any important deadlines to file.

How Can Our Texas 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Help?

At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, we are committed to holding negligent trucking companies and truck drivers accountable for their actions. Our team of Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers draws on over 30 years of experience to secure justice and financial compensation. We can help you create accounts to put this compensation toward:

• Your immediate and long-term medical expenses
• Economic losses
• Disability and impairment
• The pain and suffering you and your family have endured
• Funeral expenses in cases of wrongful death

After decades of representing victims of devastating collisions, we have learned that insurance companies are rarely on your side. Many companies and insurance carriers have “truck wreck rapid response teams” that arrive on the scene within hours. These response teams have one goal: minimize the money they must pay to the people they seriously injure or kill.

Our Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers have seen these teams manipulate facts, tamper with evidence, and give dishonest accounts to law enforcement. Over the years, our firm has seen enough to know how to beat these insurance companies at their own game.

We will immediately deploy our in-house private investigator, attorneys, and accident reconstructionist to gather important evidence before it disappears. While you and your family can focus on recovering, our team will focus on building the strongest possible case.

We will move aggressively to obtain truck data recorder evidence, driver logs, witness information, and evidence from the crash site.

If you believe you have a case, contact one of our top rated Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers today. We offer free consultations and case reviews, and you won’t pay a single legal fee until we win your case. You can contact our offices in Dallas at (214) 987-0005 or Houston at (888) 987-0005. You may also reach us through our online request form.