Call (800) 863-5312 to Speak with Our Lawyers for Free
Accidents involving 18-wheelers stand apart from the rest. Semi-trucks are much larger, heavier vehicles that tend to cause significant damage to smaller vehicles when involved in an accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, call Zinda Law Group at (866) 271-1656 for a 100% free case evaluation with our Texas trucking accident attorneys.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle
Truck accident cases vary widely depending on the type of vehicle involved and how the crash occurred. Our attorneys handle claims involving all commercial vehicles, from 18-wheelers to delivery vans to tow trucks.
18-Wheeler and Semi-Truck Accidents
Fully loaded 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, making collisions with passenger vehicles particularly destructive. Texas law and federal FMCSA regulations impose strict requirements on semi-truck drivers and the companies that employ them — covering hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and driver training and certification. When any of these requirements are violated, our attorneys use those compliance failures as evidence of negligence.
Common causes in these cases include fatigued driving due to hours-of-service violations, inadequate driver training, poorly maintained brakes or tires, and pressure from trucking companies to speed or skip rest breaks. Damages in 18-wheeler cases often include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of consortium.
Amazon and Delivery Vehicle Accidents
Amazon and other large retailers rely on networks of delivery drivers and contracted trucking firms to fulfill their volume commitments. Research has shown that Amazon uses unsafe carriers more often than other major retailers, and its delivery expectations can push drivers to take risks on the road. When an Amazon delivery truck or contracted vehicle causes a crash, liability may extend beyond the individual driver to Amazon itself.
Our attorneys gather driving records, vehicle inspection reports, witness accounts, and crash reports to build these cases. Compensation in delivery vehicle accidents can include medical expenses, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and property damage to personal items destroyed in the crash.
Tow Truck Accidents
Tow truck accidents can involve the tow truck driver, the towing company, and in some situations law enforcement or road management agencies. Common causes include driver error, equipment failure, poor vehicle maintenance, and failure to properly secure a towed vehicle. When an improperly secured load causes a secondary crash, the towing company may bear direct liability regardless of whether the driver was personally at fault.
Texas regulations require tow truck operators to carry liability insurance covering bodily injury and property damage. Our attorneys investigate the full chain of responsibility, including whether the company’s safety protocols and training standards met legal requirements.
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife occurs when a truck’s trailer swings outward, forcing the cab and trailer into a V-shape across the roadway. These crashes often block multiple lanes and create multi-vehicle pile-ups with serious injuries. Jackknifing is often caused by sudden braking, excessive speed, slick road conditions, or brake system failure.
Rollover Crashes
Rollover crashes happen when a truck tips onto its side or roof during a turn, lane change, or collision avoidance maneuver. High center of gravity, improper load distribution, and excessive speed are all contributing factors. Rollovers are especially dangerous for nearby vehicles, which can be struck by the falling trailer.
Underride Accidents
An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle collides with the rear or side of a truck and slides underneath the trailer. The top of the car is often sheared off, resulting in catastrophic or fatal head and neck injuries. Federal regulations require rear underride guards on trailers, but these guards are not always adequate or properly maintained.
Load Spill Accidents
All cargo transported on Texas roads must be secured in compliance with federal FMCSA regulations, regardless of what the truck is hauling. When a load is improperly secured and falls onto the roadway, it creates hazards for every vehicle behind the truck. Liability for a load spill can fall on the driver, the trucking company, or a third-party cargo loader depending on who was responsible for the securement.
Our Awards
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)
AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020)
LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA
Texas Truck Accident Statistics
Texas leads the nation in large truck fatalities. According to the National Safety Council, 810 people died in large truck crashes in Texas in 2022 — more than any other state in the country. With over 30 million residents and millions of registered drivers sharing roads with commercial vehicles daily, serious truck crashes occur throughout the state every year.
Truck accidents cause disproportionate harm compared to passenger vehicle crashes. The weight difference between an 80,000-pound semi-truck and a standard car means that injuries in these collisions are often severe, permanent, or fatal. Understanding your rights after a Texas truck accident can make a significant difference in the compensation you are able to recover.
Every driver shares the road with commercial vehicles. Knowing what to do after a truck crash can protect your health and your right to compensation.
CASE RESULTS
What Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Do For You
Dealing with injuries after a trucking accident is hard enough as it is, and figuring out how to file a lawsuit on top of that only makes your recovery more difficult. If you’ve been injured in a Texas trucking accident, you may want to consider contacting an attorney, who may:
Assist You in Determining Liability
An experienced lawyer may assist you in determining how much you may be entitled to for your injuries based upon each party’s percentage of fault. A lawyer may also help you determine who or what may be responsible for your injuries.
Assist You in Collecting and Organizing Evidence
Your trucking accident attorney may help you collect as much evidence as possible, such as the names of witnesses and other parties involved in the accident, medical records and costs of treatment, and any photos of the accident scene.
Negotiate a Fair Settlement with the Insurance Adjuster
A lawyer may understand how much your case is worth and may assist you in conducting negotiations with the insurance company to help you seek a fair settlement amount. After determining the liable parties, your attorney may help you prove that the at-fault party was negligent, strengthening your insurance claim or personal injury suit.
Causes of Truck Accidents in Texas
An important part of any lawsuit is the determination of who is at fault for your injuries. To determine fault, it’s important to understand the cause of the accident. Truck accidents are often caused by:
Speeding
Due to the size and power of a commercial truck, speeding could be considered reckless driving that puts the lives of all other motorists at risk.
Although not all of these accidents were caused by commercial trucks, it is clear that speeding in any vehicle results in unsafe driving and can cause severe personal injury or death. These injuries could be exacerbated significantly when a commercial truck is involved.
Distracted Driving
A distracted driver could cause any number of accidents, including head-on collisions, rear-end crashes, rollovers, and more. A driver could be distracted for any number of reasons, such as texting, talking on the phone, or looking at the GPS. A distracted truck driver could easily cause a serious or deadly crash.
With 17.4 million registered drivers in Texas, it is no surprise that many of those drivers were distracted while behind the wheel. When a truck driver is faced with long stretches of driving or unusual hours he or she may be tempted to using a mobile device, read, eat, drink, or participate in any other number of distractions.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence is unsafe to do in any vehicle, much less one that can weigh 20 tons or more.
Read More: Texas Truck Licensing Fraud
Injuries in Truck Accidents
The speed and size of semi-trucks often make injuries from accidents more severe than the average car crash. Victims who survive these accidents may suffer devastating and debilitating injuries, including:
- Head and brain injuries
- Fractures
- Loss of limbs
- Neck and back injuries
- Burns
- Internal injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
Who You Can Sue for a Truck Accident
1. The Truck Driver
If a truck driver’s negligent driving led to the accident, you may be able to file a claim against them.
2. The Trucking Company
In certain situations, a truck company may actually be held liable for the actions of their employees, meaning you may have a claim against the company directly.
3. The Manufacturer of the Truck
If the accident was caused by a malfunctioning truck or truck part you may have a claim against the manufacturer.
4. The Person or Entity Responsible for Loading the Truck
Truck operators and cargo loading teams must follow strict industry regulations. If the regulations concerning the weight, size, length, height, and width limits of each truck were not followed, and this resulted in an accident, you may have a claim.
5. Government Agencies and Contractors
If the local or state government was responsible for maintaining a certain stretch of road, but failed to do so, this could contribute to an accident. Further, a contractor hired by the government may also be responsible if their negligent work contributed to a crash.
6. Other Vendors
There may be any number of other vendors that had taken on outsourced work. These third parties may be held liable if their negligence contributed to an accident.
Texas Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the time limit in which you can file a claim. This time limit varies from state to state. In Texas, the time limit to file a claim for personal injury or personal property damage is two years from the date the accident occurred. This means you would have two years after a truck accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party, or else your claim could be barred.
Get Help From Texas Semi-Truck Injury Lawyers
At Zinda Law Group, our truck accident attorneys have helped injured victims seek compensation after suffering an injury from an accident.
Our firm believes that an injured victim should never have to worry about their ability to afford legal representation. That is why we offer 100% free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis – you pay nothing unless we win your personal injury claim.
If you or a loved one has sustained injuries due to a trucking accident, call Zinda Law Group at (866) 271-1656 for a 100% free case evaluation with our Texas truck accident attorneys.
