A truck accident claim often starts with identifying the carrier and requesting the records it was required to keep. Tractor trailers, tankers and other commercial trucks share Arlington roads with local traffic.
Zinda Law Group offers a free consultation about a truck accident at (800) 863-5312.
Article summary
Key things to know
- Federal rules require covered carriers to keep driver logs, repair records and a file on each driver.
- Texas sets a filing deadline for a truck accident lawsuit.
- Arlington’s city charter also requires written notice of a city claim, filed with the City Secretary.
- In most injury cases, Texas bars recovery for a person more than 50 percent responsible, and anyone else may recover damages reduced by their share.
Free case review
Arlington crash with a semi or box truck?
Any detail about the truck helps, even part of a company name. A lawyer can explain which federal records to request and how the Texas clock runs.
What an Arlington truck accident attorney does
Injury claims for truck accident victims in Arlington can run against the truck driver and the trucking company behind the driver. An Arlington truck accident attorney can send a letter asking the company responsible for the truck to keep the tractor trailer, the electronic logs and any black box data. Hiring a lawyer promptly can help request the logs before required retention ends.
The attorney then weighs each offer from the insurance companies in settlement negotiations. Each offer can be weighed against the medical bills, future medical expenses and lost wages during the negotiation process. A case that does not settle can be filed and taken to trial. Accident reconstruction experts can fill gaps the police report leaves open.
Truck accidents in Arlington, TX and Tarrant County
TxDOT tied 2,183 crashes in Tarrant County to a commercial motor vehicle in 2025. Fifteen of those crashes were fatal and killed 16 people, and 71 people had a suspected serious injury.
The count covers crashes in which the officer checked the commercial vehicle indicator, so it takes in many commercial trucks besides tractor trailers and says nothing about fault.
It is a county figure, not an Arlington, TX count.
TxDOT says Interstate 20 in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, which runs through Arlington, serves as a freight and hazardous cargo route. Tarrant County’s district courts sit in Fort Worth and can hear a suit over an Arlington crash or a Fort Worth truck accident.
How truck accident cases differ from car accident cases
Next to a car accident claim, an Arlington truck case can involve more defendants and more records.
A loaded truck hitting a car on I-20, which TxDOT calls a freight and hazardous cargo route, can cause severe injuries.
Arlington semi truck and 18-wheeler accidents
Under federal rules, an 18-wheeler or other truck hauling property on a highway in interstate commerce, at a weight or weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, is a commercial motor vehicle.
Federal rules also require cargo to be properly distributed and adequately secured. Improper cargo loading can point to the carrier or the company that loaded it. A delivery van or company pickup can raise an Arlington commercial vehicle claim against the business behind it.
Federal trucking rules behind an Arlington truck claim
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) writes the federal safety rules for commercial trucks. A truck accident lawyer compares them with the trucking company’s logs, maintenance records and files on the drivers involved, and a violation found there can help prove fault.
Federal rules generally allow a property-carrying driver in interstate commerce at most 11 hours of driving, within 14 hours after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty, and Texas intrastate rules differ. Federal rules generally bar driving while fatigue makes it unsafe. A tired truck driver can cause rear end collisions or head on collisions.
Carriers must keep required records of duty status for at least six months after receipt. A driver qualification file generally stays while the driver works for the carrier and for three years after, though some items can be removed sooner. After a fatal crash involving a commercial truck in commerce on a public road, the employer generally must promptly test a covered surviving driver who was performing safety-sensitive functions for alcohol and drugs.
For each truck it controls for 30 consecutive days, a motor carrier must keep maintenance records for one year, and for six months after the truck leaves its control.
A for-hire carrier hauling general freight in interstate commerce in commercial trucks rated 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in financial responsibility. Carriers with TxDMV registration need liability coverage or approved self-insurance.
Who can be held liable in an Arlington truck accident case
A truck accident case in Arlington often involves more than one party, and the jury or judge generally assigns each party a percentage of responsibility. A claimant must establish liability. Driver logs and crash reports can help show what happened.
A claim may name the trucking company for an employee’s negligence within the scope of employment, or for its own negligent behavior, such as poor vehicle maintenance. Other liable parties may include a cargo loader, a repair shop or a manufacturer.
Texas law calls its modified comparative fault rule proportionate responsibility, and it governs how fault is determined among the carrier, a loader and other liable parties.
Filing deadlines
Questions about how much time you have?
Deadlines after a truck accident in Arlington
A Texas truck accident claim against the city also faces the charter’s shorter notice clock.
| Claim | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit after an Arlington truck crash | Two years, generally from the day the claim accrues | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003(a) |
| Wrongful death lawsuit by the family | Two years, generally from the date of death | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003(b) |
| City notice | Written notice filed with the City Secretary, generally within 180 days of the incident | Arlington City Charter, Art. X, Sec. 6 |
State law has an actual notice exception, but ask a lawyer before relying on it.
What a truck accident lawsuit can cover
Truck accident injuries can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken ribs, pelvis fractures, soft tissue injuries and severe burns. A brain injury is one of the catastrophic injuries a truck crash can cause. Recovering compensation for the injuries sustained can include these losses.
- Medical expenses and future medical care
- Lost wages, lost income and lost earning capacity
- Pain, mental anguish and the limits serious injuries put on daily life
- Vehicle repairs and other property damage
Texas law limits recovery of medical costs incurred to the amounts actually paid or incurred. Exemplary damages need clear and convincing proof of fraud, malice or gross negligence. An offer is weighed against the records, not an average settlement, because value depends on the injuries, the proof and the insurance policies involved.
A Texas wrongful death claim belongs to the surviving spouse, the children and the parents. Families often ask about funeral costs, which an Arlington wrongful death lawyer can review. Which family member files in the legal system is a question for legal counsel.
What to do after a truck accident in Arlington
- Get medical attention. See a doctor as soon as you can and keep the medical records.
- Call 911. The police report may name the driver and the carrier.
- Gather evidence. Photograph the scene, the damage and the name on the truck’s door.
- Keep your records. Save medical bills, repair estimates and pay stubs that show lost income.
- Wait on recorded statements. Talk to a truck accident lawyer before giving one to insurance companies.
When you are ready
Talk through the next step.
Free case evaluation with an Arlington truck accident lawyer
The initial consultation is free, and the case evaluation page takes the details online. A personal injury lawyer can go over the crash, the records and the deadlines before any legal representation begins. You can also ask the legal team in Arlington about the legal process.
Zinda Law Group represents injured people and families from an office at 3901 Arlington Highlands Blvd, Suite 200, Arlington, TX 76018. Clients who need Arlington personal injury attorneys for other personal injury cases can call about an Arlington personal injury claim.
Zinda Law Group’s No Win, No Fee Guarantee means you do not pay attorney’s fees, court costs, or litigation expenses unless the firm wins your case.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so there is no out-of-pocket cost to secure the legal representation you need. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
Founder and CEO
John C. (Jack) Zinda
Jack founded Zinda Law Group and focuses his practice on catastrophic personal injury, 18-wheeler accidents and wrongful death.
