A Lubbock truck accident lawyer starts by identifying the trucking company and the records it must keep. Semi trucks and other commercial trucks share Lubbock roads with passenger vehicles under their own rules.
We offer a free consultation about your truck accident at (800) 863-5312.
Article summary
Key things to know
- Federal rules require covered trucking companies to keep driver logs, repair records and driver qualification files.
- Texas sets a filing deadline for a personal injury lawsuit after a truck accident.
- City of Lubbock claims generally require written notice under the city charter.
- Texas bars recovery for a person more than 50 percent responsible, and reduces a smaller share from that person’s damages.
Free case review
Semi truck crash near Lubbock?
Bring the crash report and the company name on the commercial truck. We can explain which logs federal rules require the carrier to keep.
What Lubbock truck accident attorneys do
Truck accident attorneys handle injury claims against truck drivers, the trucking companies behind them and other responsible parties. The work often starts with a letter asking the company to keep the truck, any electronic logs and the repair records. That critical evidence can show what a truck was doing before an accident occurs.
Insurance adjusters make offers to truck accident victims. An attorney weighs each one against the medical bills and lost wages and can negotiate with insurance companies, and the client makes the final call.
Accident reconstruction experts can help a legal team explain crashes the police report does not.
Truck wrecks in Lubbock County
TxDOT counted 279 crashes involving a commercial motor vehicle in Lubbock County in 2025. Four were fatal crashes in which 4 people died, and 12 people had suspected serious injuries.
The count uses the officer’s commercial vehicle marking, so it takes in more than tractor trailers and says nothing about fault.
I-27, Loop 88 and truck traffic in West Texas
TxDOT says about 124 miles of the Interstate 27 System are designated and signed in Texas, from Interstate 40 in Amarillo to Loop 289 on the south side of Lubbock. The agency also says Loop 88, west of U.S. 84, is meant to reduce congestion as many goods are transported within the region.
Semi truck accident cases and car accident cases
Truck accident cases can involve more parties and more records than crashes between passenger vehicles. Federal rules bar running a truck with cargo that is not properly distributed and adequately secured, and a load that shifts can point to the company that loaded it.
On Interstate 27 and other interstates, the general federal gross weight limit for an 18-wheeler is 80,000 pounds, with exceptions, and the bridge formula can require a lower limit. A company van or pickup in a Lubbock crash can lead to a Lubbock commercial vehicle accident claim against the business behind it.
Federal regulations behind a truck wreck claim
Federal regulations set safety rules for the trucking industry, and a Texas rule adopts many of them by reference. A broken rule alone does not prove fault. It points to records a truck accident lawyer asks for after a commercial truck crash.
Hours of service and driver fatigue on I-27
A driver of a property-carrying truck in interstate commerce may generally drive up to 11 hours within 14 hours of coming on duty after 10 consecutive hours off, and other limits also apply. Federal rules bar driving while fatigue or illness makes it unsafe.
Logs, driver files and insurance
Many trucking companies must have their drivers record hours on an electronic logging device and keep those logs for at least six months. A carrier must keep each driver’s qualification file during employment and for three years after, though some items in it can be removed sooner. It must also keep maintenance records.
A for-hire carrier hauling nonhazardous property across state lines in a truck rated 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in financial responsibility.
Who can be held liable in a Lubbock truck accident case
Several parties involved in one crash can share fault, and the jury or judge assigns each one a percentage. A truck accident attorney checks for distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving and hours against the logs, cell phone records, witness statements and the police report.
Claims against the trucking company may rest on an employee’s negligence within the scope of employment or on the company’s own negligence, such as poor maintenance. A cargo loader or a repair shop may share fault, so a truck accident lawyer looks for all the liable parties.
Truck accident injuries
Truck accident injuries can be severe injuries, and some are catastrophic injuries. They can include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, burns and broken bones.
Filing deadlines
Questions about how much time you have?
Deadlines after a Lubbock truck accident
Deadlines for a Texas truck accident case depend on the claim and its facts.
| Claim | General deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit | Two years after the claim accrues. | Section 16.003(a) |
| Wrongful death lawsuit | Two years from the death. | Section 16.003(b) |
| City of Lubbock injury claim | Written notice within six months after the claim arose. | City Charter, Article II, Section 8 |
Economic and non-economic damages
Truck accident victims can pursue compensation from the liable parties. A personal injury claim covers what the accident caused and the injuries sustained.
- Medical expenses and future medical treatment
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, mental anguish and emotional trauma
- Vehicle repair costs and other property damage
Texas law sorts these losses into economic and noneconomic damages. It calls punitive damages exemplary damages and allows them only on clear and convincing proof of fraud, malice or gross negligence.
Fatal truck accidents
A truck crash can cause fatal injuries. A Texas wrongful death claim belongs to the surviving spouse, the children and the parents, and the injured person’s own claim passes to the heirs and estate. Which of these claims each family member holds is a question for a Lubbock wrongful death lawyer.
What to do after a truck accident in Lubbock
- Get medical attention. See a doctor for medical care as soon as you can and keep the medical records.
- Call 911. The police report may identify the truck driver and the carrier.
- Gather evidence. Photograph the scene, the skid marks and the name on the truck’s door.
- Keep your records. Save medical bills, body shop estimates and the pay records that show lost income.
- Wait on recorded statements. Talk to an attorney before you give one to the insurance companies.
When you are ready
Talk through the next step.
Free consultation with our truck accident lawyers
Zinda Law Group, a personal injury law firm, offers a free case evaluation and a free initial consultation. A lawyer or legal team can explain your legal rights, the legal process and the deadline.
Zinda Law Group serves Lubbock residents in Lubbock motorcycle accidents and Lubbock workplace accident claims. It also serves them in Lubbock dog bite injury cases and other personal injury claims in Lubbock.
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.
