If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision with a large commercial truck, your life can change in an instant. The sheer size and weight of an 18-wheeler mean that these crashes often result in severe injuries, massive medical bills, and significant emotional trauma. You do not have to face the trucking companies and their aggressive insurance teams alone.

At The Super Lawyer, our Houston truck accident lawyers are dedicated to fighting for victims of negligence. We understand the complex laws that govern the trucking industry in Texas. We know how to investigate these accidents, preserve critical evidence, and demand the full compensation you deserve. If you have been hurt on Houston highways like I-10, I-45, or US-290, we are here to help you rebuild your life.

Why Truck Accidents Are Different From Car Crashes

Many people assume a truck accident is just a bigger car accident. This is not true. Commercial vehicle accidents are far more complex for several reasons:

• Severity of Injuries: A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When this force collides with a passenger car, the results are often catastrophic. We frequently see traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and wrongful death claims.
• Multiple Liable Parties: In a standard car wreck, you usually sue the other driver. In a truck crash, the liability may extend to the trucking company, the cargo loader, the maintenance team, or the truck manufacturer.
• Federal Regulations: The trucking industry is governed by strict rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Violating these rules is often proof of negligence.
• Aggressive Defense Teams: Trucking companies carry high-limit insurance policies. This means their insurers fight much harder to deny or reduce your claim to save money.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Houston

Proving who is at fault requires understanding why the crash happened. Our investigation often reveals that the accident was preventable. Common causes include:

• Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours. If they violate hours-of-service regulations, they may fall asleep at the wheel or have slowed reaction times.
• Distracted Driving: Texting, using dispatching devices, or eating while driving can lead to disaster.
• Improper Loading: If cargo is not secured correctly, it can shift, causing the truck to jackknife or roll over.
• Poor Maintenance: Worn-out brakes, bald tires, and lighting failures are common violations of the Texas Transportation Code.
• Speeding: Large trucks require much more distance to stop. Speeding on busy roads like Beltway 8 or Loop 610 is a leading cause of rear-end collisions.

How We Investigate Your Truck Accident Case

Time is the enemy in a truck accident case. Trucking companies have rapid-response teams that arrive at the scene quickly to gather evidence to defend themselves. You need a lawyer who moves just as fast.

Preserving Critical Evidence

One of the first things we do is send a spoliation letter (evidence preservation letter) to the trucking company. This legal document prevents them from destroying vital records, such as:

• The “Black Box” Data: Modern trucks have an Electronic Control Module (ECM) or Event Data Recorder (EDR). This records speed, braking, and engine data moments before the crash.
• Driver Logs: We check Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) to see if the driver was on the road longer than legally allowed.
• Maintenance Records: We review inspection reports to see if the truck had known mechanical issues that were ignored.

Expert Witness Testimony

To win a complex case, we often work with accident reconstruction experts. These professionals use police crash reports, scene measurements, and dash cam footage to recreate the accident and prove liability.

Who Is Liable for Your Injuries?

Under Texas law, liability isn’t always limited to the driver. We look for every available source of compensation. Potential defendants in a personal injury claim may include:

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• The Truck Driver: For negligence, speeding, or driving under the influence.
• The Trucking Company: For hiring unqualified drivers, encouraging unsafe driving to meet deadlines, or failing to maintain vehicles.
• Cargo Loaders: Third-party companies that loaded the trailer improperly.
• Parts Manufacturers: If a tire blew out or brakes failed due to a defect.

Texas follows a rule called proportionate responsibility. This means even if you were partially at fault, you might still recover damages, provided you were not more than 50% responsible. However, your payout would be reduced by your percentage of fault. We fight to ensure blame is placed where it belongs—on the negligent trucking parties.

Compensation You Can Recover

The goal of a truck accident claim is to make you “whole” again financially. While money cannot undo the trauma, it provides the resources you need to recover. We pursue maximum compensation for:

• Medical Expenses: Emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, and rehabilitation.
• Future Medical Care: Long-term therapy or nursing care for permanent injuries.
• Lost Wages: Income lost while you were recovering.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress.
• Property Damage: Repairing or replacing your vehicle.
• Wrongful Death: If you lost a family member, we can seek damages for funeral costs and loss of companionship.
• Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence, such as a drunk truck driver, the court may award extra damages to punish the wrongdoer.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Houston

Protecting your rights starts at the scene of the crash. If you are physically able, follow these steps:

1. Call 911: Ensure the Houston Police Department or Harris County Sheriff’s Office creates an official crash report.
2. Seek Medical Attention: Go to a hospital immediately, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline can mask injuries. Medical records are key evidence.
3. Document the Scene: Take photos of the vehicles, skid marks, and road conditions. Get names and numbers of witnesses.
4. Do Not Admit Fault: Be polite, but do not apologize or say “I didn’t see him.”
5. Do Not Give a Recorded Statement: Insurance adjusters will try to get you to say something that hurts your case. Tell them to speak to your lawyer.
6. Contact a Houston Truck Accident Lawyer: Call us as soon as possible so we can start preserving evidence.

Deadlines and Costs

It is important to act quickly. The Texas statute of limitations generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your right to compensation forever.

We understand that money is tight after an accident. That is why we work on a contingency fee basis. This means:

• You pay $0 upfront.
• We cover all case expenses and investigation costs.
• We only get paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict if we win your case.
• If we don’t win, you owe us nothing for attorney fees.