Every day, commercial trucks carry their cargo down the streets and highways of Houston. These trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, which means when they're involved in an accident, people can be seriously injured. The Houston truck accident lawyers at Tracey Fox & Walters help people get financial compensation for their injuries.
If you've been injured in a Houston truck accident caused by another person's negligence, we can help. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have recovered financial compensation for thousands of clients injured in accidents. We know what it takes to get results. Call Tracey, Fox & Walters at (713) 495-2333 or contact us for a free consultation.
Results We've Secured in Houston Truck Cases
Tracey Fox & Walters has delivered strong results in Houston truck cases, including $6.5 million for a trucking accident resulting in death. The firm also secured $5.6 million for an on-the-job truck accident causing serious and permanent lower leg injuries. We even secured $1.25 million for the family of a student killed in a truck accident.
These outcomes reflect our commitment to securing full recovery through thorough preparation and negotiation. Many cases resolve favorably before trial because opponents recognize the strength of our evidence. Clients benefit from our track record of turning complex truck claims into life-changing compensation.
What to Expect in Your Free Consultation
Schedule your free consultation at our Houston office today to discuss your unique case details. Every truck accident claim differs based on factors like fault, injuries, and evidence availability. Our attorneys will review police reports, medical records, and witness statements to estimate your potential compensation.
You'll receive straightforward advice on case strength, timelines, and next steps without any obligation. This initial evaluation helps you understand your rights and options early, empowering informed decisions.
Why Hire a Houston Truck Accident Lawyer?
Insurance companies and trucking firms aim to settle claims quickly for the least amount possible, often using aggressive tactics to minimize payouts. Without experienced representation, victims risk accepting far less than they deserve amid complex regulations and high-stakes defenses.
Tracey Fox & Walters builds ironclad cases through detailed investigations, countering these strategies effectively. Hiring our firm ensures you focus on recovery while we pursue full compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and pain.
How Our Law Firm Investigates Trucking Claims
We conduct our own thorough investigations into truck accidents, leaving no detail overlooked. Our process includes scrutinizing police reports, medical records, and trucking company logs for signs of negligence. We identify and interview eyewitnesses promptly to capture fresh accounts. Critical data comes from the truck's electronic control module, or black box, revealing speed, braking, and seatbelt use before impact. This comprehensive approach uncovers hidden liabilities, strengthening your claim from the start.
The Role of Expert Witnesses
Experts play a pivotal role in proving liability for complex truck crashes involving driver errors or company failures. Accident reconstruction specialists analyze crash dynamics to demonstrate fault clearly. Medical experts link injuries directly to the collision, countering defense minimization. Trucking safety consultants reveal violations in hiring, training, or maintenance practices. Their testimony often sways settlements or juries, affecting your recovery in these high-value cases.
How to Protect Your Case After an 18-Wheeler Crash
Contact a Texas truck accident attorney right away to protect evidence that fades quickly after an 18-wheeler wreck. Early involvement allows us to secure photos, videos, and witness details before they disappear. Delays let insurers build defenses or give trucking companies time to alter records, weakening your position. Acting fast protects the full story of negligence, boosting settlement chances.
What to Do at The Scene of a Truck Crash
- Stay safe by moving to a secure area and calling 911 immediately for medical and police response.
- Take photos of the truck's position, damage, road conditions, and any visible hazards like spills.
- Exchange information with witnesses and the driver without admitting fault or discussing details.
- Note the truck's company markings, license plate, and DOT number for later tracing.
The Importance of Medical Documentation
Seek immediate medical attention, even for seemingly minor symptoms, to create a clear record tying injuries to the crash. Follow-up visits and tests document ongoing issues like whiplash or fractures accurately.
Insurers often dispute delayed treatment, so consistent records prove the full extent of harm and support higher compensation claims. Keep all bills, prescriptions, and therapy notes organized for your attorney.
How to Report Unsafe Trucks in Texas
Report suspected unsafe trucks to Texas DPS or FMCSA via their hotlines or online portals to create official violation records. Provide details like the truck's markings, location, and observed issues such as bald tires or overloading. These reports bolster your case by documenting patterns of negligence. They also enhance public safety by prompting inspections and potential shutdowns.
What Makes Truck Accidents More Severe?
Houston experiences over 6,300 commercial vehicle crashes annually in Harris County, with dozens proving fatal due to trucks' immense mass and poor visibility. Unlike car wrecks, truck accidents deliver crushing force, amplifying injury risks dramatically. Long stopping distances and cargo instability further escalate dangers on busy highways like I-10 and I-45.
Common Injuries from 18-Wheeler Wrecks
- Minor injuries: Cuts, bruises, sprains, and strains that heal relatively quickly but still require medical attention.
- Moderate injuries: Broken bones, burns, and soft tissue damage like torn ligaments or muscles needing extended treatment.
- Serious internal injuries: Damage to organs such as the lungs, liver, or spleen, often requiring surgery and long hospital stays.
- Catastrophic injuries: Amputations from crush forces, spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis, and traumatic brain injuries causing cognitive impairments.
- Long-term consequences: Permanent disabilities, chronic pain, emotional distress, and psychological trauma that disrupt daily life and work indefinitely.
Types of Trucks Involved in Local Crashes
Tractor-trailers, or 18-wheelers, dominate Houston crashes due to their prevalence on freight routes. Box trucks deliver goods citywide, while tankers carry hazardous liquids risking spills. Flatbeds and dump trucks contribute through shifting loads or construction zone mishaps.
Common Types of Truck Crashes in Houston
- Jackknife accidents: Trailers swing out of control during sudden braking on slick or wet roads, blocking multiple lanes and causing multi-vehicle pileups.
- Rear-end collisions: Trucks' long stopping distances overwhelm smaller cars ahead, especially in heavy traffic on I-10 or I-45.
- Underride crashes: Passenger vehicles slide under trailers lacking proper guards, leading to decapitations, crush injuries, or fatalities.
- Rollovers: High centers of gravity and sharp turns cause trucks to flip, scattering debris across highways.
- Cargo spills: Improper securing allows loads to shift or fall during turns, endangering other drivers on congested interstates.
Understanding Truck Driver Negligence
Attorneys investigate truck driver negligence by examining dash cam footage, black box data, and logs for speeding, phone distractions, drowsiness, or intoxication. Federal hours-of-service rules limit driving to 11 hours after 10 off-duty hours, with mandatory breaks to prevent fatigue. Violations often indicate faults common in Houston's congested high-traffic areas like port routes.
Speeding, Distraction, and Other Driver Errors
Black box data and skid marks reveal excessive speed or reckless maneuvers on busy roads. Distractions like texting or eating pull attention from traffic, while drowsiness impairs reaction times similar to drunk driving. Post-crash tests or erratic behavior confirm actual impairment.
Driver Fatigue and Federal Hour Violations
FMCSA rules cap driving at 11 hours after 10 consecutive off-duty hours, limit on-duty time to 14 hours, and require 30-minute breaks after 8 hours of driving. Hours-of-service logs expose frequent overages from deadline pressures. Houston's heavy port and interstate traffic heightens these fatigue risks.
Truck Driver Drug Testing Failures
Mandatory post-crash drug and alcohol tests detect violations of federal zero-tolerance policies. Positive results establish clear negligence, supporting claims for punitive damages alongside other compensation.
Trucking Company Liability Explained
Trucking companies face liability for negligent hiring of unqualified drivers, inadequate training programs, and cutting corners on vehicle maintenance. Pressuring drivers to meet tight deadlines often leads to hours-of-service violations and unsafe practices. Our investigators can subpoena employment files, safety records, and inspection logs to uncover patterns of negligence.
Do You Have a Case Against the Trucking Company?
Strong evidence such as falsified logs or histories of hiring drivers with poor records builds solid claims, even against denials. Under respondeat superior, companies remain liable for employee actions during work, including partial fault scenarios. This doctrine holds firms accountable regardless of direct involvement.
When a Trucking Company Denies Liability
If a trucking company denies liability, claims move forward with subpoenaed documents exposing cover-ups or inconsistencies in their records. Our independent investigations counter company narratives with witness testimony and expert analysis. Persistent evidence forces fair settlements despite initial resistance.
How Cargo Loading Impacts Truck Safety
Improper cargo securing allows dangerous shifts during braking or turns, triggering jackknifes or spills. Overloading exceeds brake and axle capacities, dramatically worsening crash impacts on highways. Federal regulations require even weight distribution, which our experts verify through load manifests and reconstruction.
How Maintenance Issues Cause Truck Wrecks
Neglected brakes, worn tires, or faulty lights cause sudden failures on Houston's busy freeways. Required brake inspections every 100,000 miles often get skipped, creating preventable hazards. Maintenance records reveal ignored services, directly proving company negligence in court.
Federal Trucking Laws That May Affect Your Case
The FMCSA sets nationwide standards for hours-of-service, driver training, drug and alcohol testing, and vehicle safety. Violations of these federal rules constitute negligence per se, making liability easier to prove in court. DOT numbers allow tracking of compliance histories, revealing patterns of violations critical to strong claims.
What Is the Role of the FMCSA?
FMCSA enforces safety regulations through regular audits, inspections, and penalties to prevent truck accidents. Their comprehensive database exposes repeat offenders and unsafe carriers. This oversight holds companies accountable for systemic failures.
FMCSA and DOT Recordkeeping Requirements
Mandatory electronic logs, inspection reports, and maintenance records must document full compliance. Gaps or falsifications in these records signal negligence and bolster victim claims. Our attorneys can subpoena them to uncover hidden violations.
Key Evidence That Can Win Your Truck Crash Case
Black box data from the truck's electronic control module captures critical pre-impact details like speed, braking, and seatbelt usage. Hours-of-service logs prove driver fatigue through violations of federal driving limits. Maintenance receipts reveal neglected repairs, while witness videos and photos document the scene accurately. Police reports, medical records, and expert reconstructions complete the evidence picture.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Being involved in a truck accident can also affect people financially. Suddenly, they are faced with surgery, hospital stays, therapy, and doctors' visits. Insurance may not pay for all of these costs. What's worse, the injuries may have left them unable to work and earn money. It doesn't take long for the bills to get out of control, especially with more serious injuries.
The amount of financial compensation in your case will depend on many details. But generally, victims of truck accidents involving negligence can seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
Wrongful Death After a Fatal Truck Crash
In Texas, wrongful death lawsuits after fatal truck crashes can be filed by the deceased's surviving spouse, children, or parents if no spouse or children exist. Other eligible parties include the personal representative on behalf of the estate.
These claims recover lost financial support, funeral and burial costs, and damages for grief and mental anguish caused by negligence. Families endure profound emotional and economic losses, and these suits hold trucking companies accountable. Our firm guides eligible survivors through filing requirements and evidence gathering for maximum compensation.
Truck Accident Settlements vs. Trials
Settlements resolve most strong truck cases faster and often higher than trials, avoiding courtroom uncertainties. Opponents settle when evidence proves clear liability. Juries typically favor prepared victims with compelling proof.
What Insurance Coverage is Involved?
Interstate semi-trucks carry minimum $750,000 liability policies, frequently millions more with umbrellas and multiple layers. These high limits ensure substantial recoveries for serious injuries. Our firm navigates complex policies to access full coverage.
How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Texas?
Texas imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims from truck accidents, starting from the crash date under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.
Wrongful death claims also carry a two-year limit from the date of death, per Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003(b).
Courts may toll these deadlines for minors under 18 or individuals with legal incapacity at the time of injury. Missing the deadline bars your claim permanently, so early filing protects all options. Contact our firm immediately to evaluate your timeline and act within limits.
Contact Our Houston Truck Injury Team Today
Call Tracey Fox & Walters at (713) 495-2333 or contact us for your free consultation. Our team fights aggressively for truck accident victims' full rights. Act now to protect your future.
