Truck Accident Injury Lawyers
Contact us immediately at 1-800-883-9858 if you have been seriously injured or a loved one killed in an 18-wheeler truck accident. We will immediately preserve the evidence, interview witnesses, and prepare a truck accident lawsuit to protect your legal rights.
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Top 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers
Nationally recognized personal injury trial lawyer David P. Willis and his law 
firm are ready to assist you in your catastrophic personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the firm takes on multi-billion-dollar defendants in semi-truck accident lawsuits, SUV & truck rollovers, and catastrophic cases in Texas and nationwide and is a member of the prestigious American Academy of Trucking Accident Attorneys.
Willis is a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1988. For nearly 40 years, his team of attorneys have successfully represented, won in trial or settled hundreds of millions in serious injury and wrongful death lawsuits across Texas and the United States.
Past Truck Accident Cases Include
- 18-wheeler truck jackknifed at night with no lights – No Underride Device – Death
- Logging truck accident – crossed center line – serious injuries to the other driver
- 18-wheeler truck driver fell asleep on I-59 – rear-ended another car – double death
- 18-wheeler negligent passing in no passing zone–kills college professor in pickup
- 18-wheeler driver intoxicated – Death on I-45 near Madisonville, Texas
- Butane Tank Truck Wreck in Needville, Texas- Serious Back and Head Injuries
- Pipe Truck Trailer accident –Oilfield Pipe Falls crushing – Wrongful Death Lawsuit
- Truck Hauling Ocean Container Falls Off of Trailer Causing Serious Back Injuries
- Oilfield Truck broadsides VW Bug at flashing light, killing mother and daughter
- 18-Wheeler Parked on the shoulder for tire repairs – No reflectors – Underride Death
Whether it is a UPS, Federal Express, Amazon Prime, oilfield, or delivery truck, many truck drivers speed, text while driving, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and drive recklessly putting our lives in danger. The employer & truck owner can be held responsible for their negligent conduct in not properly screening the truck drivers, monitoring their habits, and failing to fire them. If you have been injured by a reckless or negligent truck driver, contact our truck accident lawyers for a free case review at 1-800-883-9858.
Driving While Drunk, Tired or Drug-Impaired
Sadly, as you drive on the nation’s highways, many of the drivers of those 18-wheelers and other big trucks passing you are driving while drunk, on methamphetamines (meth), and high other illegal drugs and substances. Many are tired, fatigued and almost asleep as they are driving a truck, trailers, and loads often exceeding 70,000 lbs. These impaired truck drivers often drift off in and out of their lane, onto the shoulder, change lanes without looking or signaling whereupon colliding with another vehicle, rear-ending, or running them off the road.
Speeding, Texting & Aggressive Truck Drivers
A large percentage of truck accidents are attributed to truck drivers speeding down the crowded highways putting lives in jeopardy. If this aggressive behavior was not dangerous enough, then add in the truck driver’s attention being even more strained while they are talking on the phone, texting while driving, or even surfing the web. In a truck accident lawsuit, we immediately demand in writing the preservation of all cell phone records, text messages, and other evidence to prove the trucker’s conduct was negligent and their inattention was the cause of the accident.
How Can We Help You After a Truck Wreck?
- When You Call 24/7 – You will talk to a professional ready to take down the details and get hold of an attorney as soon as possible. You will get an immediate callback.
- The truck accident lawyers and staff will explain what steps need to be taken to protect your legal rights and the critical evidence at the scene.
- In all cases we first begin by sending a Contingency Fee Contract to the Client.
- No Fees or Expenses Charged Ever, Unless a Recovery
- Immediately upon being hired, the lawyers send out demand letters to parties to preserve all evidence, reports, photographs, and vehicle for inspection.
- Truck Accident Investigators, Engineers, and Experts are hired by our law firm to go to the accident scene and start the investigation.
- In some cases, a team of other truck accident lawyers will be assembled for your case, with no extra attorney’s fee charged to you!
- If necessary, an 18-wheeler accident lawsuit or a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) will be filed immediately to prevent the destruction of the scene or critical evidence.
- At all times, the attorneys are available by phone or to meet in person.
- We keep our clients updated as to the critical details of the case.
- A Board-Certified Trial Lawyer with 37+ years of experience will be on your case.
- At All Times – We are Your Lawyers – We Work for You.!!
- If you would like to talk further, please call 1-800-883-9858 to reach our team.
Other Trucking Practice Areas:
Illegal Truck Parking on Side / Shoulder of Road
Trucks parking on the shoulder of the road is illegal. Even if the truck on the side of the highway has red reflectors or flags out, it is still illegal…
Unflagged and Excessive Load Lengths
Long loads extending behind the trailer are to be marked with flags and/or working lights at the end of the load. Many loads too wide or long require a guide car in front and back by federal or state regulations.
Oilfield Pipe and Logging Truck Accidents
Excessive length and wide loads need red flags and lights to warn others along with spotter or guide cars. Especially at night when following drivers cannot see the unlit and dark loads.
Lack of Underride and Side Rail Devices
Underride trailer bumpers and side rails prevent other vehicles from deadly rear-end encounters. Under-ride bumpers on the back of trailers should be built to withstand a vehicle impact. Sadly, many 18-wheeler rear bumpers are built cheap and primarily serve as a step ladder instead of safety feature.
The Filing Deadlines or Statute of Limitations in an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident Lawsuit
Truck accident injury cases like any personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit are governed by a statute of limitations or deadline to file a lawsuit. In most trucking accidents, the statute of limitations starts to run the day of the accident. In some states, the filing deadline is as short as one (1.00) year and in most others, it is two (2.00) years and in a few states up to five (5.00) years. In some truck accidents the road conditions, lack of warning signs, barriers, steep drop off shoulders, and other conditions may be due to the negligence of a city, state, or federal government of agency. If one believes that to be the case, then an extremely specific notice letter detailing the acts of negligence and statutory violations MUST BE sent to the proper agent or official in those different governmental entities. Some notices must be filed as short of 90 days from the accident. Photographic evidence as to the way the accident scene or lack of proper warnings existed is crucial to proving the negligence or violations.
Further and equally important is the preservation of evidence against the trucking company, trailer owner, and driver as well. When we get involved in a truck accident case, we immediately send out letters by email, FedEx and other means to all parties including the police department, highway patrol, insurance companies to save all evidence, photographs, measurements, reports, logbooks, pre-trip inspections, black box type of recording devices and other needed items for inspection and evidence in the lawsuit.
Without this evidence, often it may be impossible to prove certain points later in the trial. Our law firm handles all notice letters, evidence retrieval, hiring of the needed truck accident experts, witness interviews, and trial preparation. After all major truck wrecks, the insurance companies and trucking companies hire experts immediately after the dust settles to begin their defenses. Therefore, it is so important to start protecting your rights as soon as possible.
Time is of the Essence in a Truck Accident Lawsuit. Call Us 24/7, We Can Help 1-800-883-9858.
Talk to a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer
Every day across Texas and the USA, innocent drivers are killed by negligent truck drivers. Sometimes due to drinking while driving, drugs, speeding, texting while driving, poorly maintained brakes, fatigue, dangerous left turn, extended loads, lack of warning devices, aggressive driving, or just driver inattention. When a big semi-truck and trailer is involved at highway speeds, fatalities often occur. When this happens to you or your family, an experienced truck accident lawyer is needed.
When a catastrophic injury or death occurs, the survivors are usually at a loss as to what to do next. Hiring a truck accident lawyer can help take some of that burden off their minds. In many cases, the victims wait too long, and the accident scene changes, evidence “disappears”, and the witness’s memory fades.
At the Willis Firm, we have truck accident investigators, accident reconstructionist, engineers, and/or product experts ready to assist in evaluating all aspects of a truck accident case.
The client of course never is asked to pay any money upfront or ever receive a bill for attorney’s fees or case expenses. All cases are handled on a contingency fee basis which means no attorney fees or expenses charged unless you win your case. If your case for some reason does not meet the needed burden of proof or criteria, we never send you a bill.
Causes of Truck Accidents
Trucking companies and their drivers are governed by special rules and regulations. The Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that 10-15 percent of fatal truck driving crashes had drivers with drugs in their system. Another one out of five 18-wheeler drivers had alcohol in their system higher than the legal .08 limit. The legal limit for 18-wheeler driver’s is .04.
Fatigue is the most thought of and spoken about contributing factor to truck accidents. Driver fatigue sadly causes thousands of unfortunate deaths each year in a variety of automobile accidents. Federal trucking laws in place help govern how many hours each driver is supposed to drive per day, per week, time off between shifts, and the amount of time the driver can drive in a single period on the road without taking a break. Falsifying logs is illegal and unfortunately not uncommon since truck drivers typically make more money with the more loads they haul and can deliver. This also leads to excessive speed.
Speeding remains an important issue the trucking industry must confront if they are to reduce trucking fatalities. 18 wheelers can weigh 30x heavier than the average car. The ability to slow or rapidly come to a stop is diminished at such large weights. Of all fatal semi accidents, roughly one third involve a truck driver who was speeding.
Tailgating other drivers is negligent driving by the 18-wheeler operator. Tailgating is when one driver drives dangerously close to the vehicle in front of them creating a situation where there is less than half a second to react or avoid an accident. The FMCSA recommends tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, big rigs, etc. to maintain a 4-5 second gap between the vehicle in front. If conditions are even mildly poor, such as rain or snow, drivers need to maintain spacing of 8 seconds for safe operation. When truck drivers do not follow their own regulations and rules put in place to keep them and public safe, they are negligent and putting your life and others at risk.
At our principal Houston office, we have investigated and seen all sorts of causes of truck accidents. Just like every other type of driver and vehicle, dangerous accidents can result from normal dangers of the road. Other causes of truck accidents we have seen come from situations involving truck driver negligence. Those include the danger of a driver allowing him or herself to become fatigued, the truck driver that decides to check a text or notification on their phone, mechanical failures or tire failures that cause the 80,000 pounds load to shift uncontrollably or keep the driver from being able to safely slow down before rear-ending or crashing into another vehicle.
Truck Accident Injury Lawsuit Evidence
Truck accident attorneys need to be familiar with trucking regulations, state laws, and know-how to investigate these accidents from start to finish. The attorneys in our Houston office know what it takes to hold the trucking industry accountable for your injuries and damages.
Some examples of evidence that are extremely important to gather to pursue a truck accident lawsuit include:
– Police report or accident reports that show the truck driver was at fault.
– Photos of the crash scene or accident scene
– Electronic data recorder information (the Black Box)
– Truck driver’s employment records and company records including their driving record, experience, training, toxicology, or drug test reports.
– Truck driver’s logs (hours of service)
– Maintenance records and service records for the truck
– Accident reconstruction simulations and reports done professionally or by police.
– Medical records documenting your injuries.
– The load manifest documenting what the truck was carrying when the accident occurred.
Damages in a Truck Accident Claim
– Medical expenses or medical bills, can include hospital bills, rehab, pain medication, or other medical services because of the accident.
– Lost income/lost wages for time missed from work.
– Loss of earnings potential can result if injuries leave you disabled to perform your job fully or partially.
– Quality of life suffers due to physical disabilities, depression, post-traumatic stress.
– Mental and emotional suffering such as emotional distress
– Loss of consortium when the spouse can no longer provide the same level of love, care, affection, responsibility, sex life, or love life that they could before the accident.
– Parents may also claim loss of consortium in some cases.
Who to Sue and Potential Defendants in a Truck Accident Lawsuit?
18-wheeler trucks often cause severe injuries or fatalities when they are involved in an accident at highway speeds. When filing a lawsuit for damages and injuries suffered, many different parties may share responsibility and blame for what occurred. It is important to identify each responsible party to get the injured victim the maximum amount for their case.
The list of potential defendants and who to sue goes much further than the driver of the commercial truck or big rig. Liability could include the driver’s employer, the trucking company, truck manufacturer, insurance companies, third-party contractors, the broker, the truck owner, the trailer owner or shipping company, tire manufacturer, and others. Determining which parties are involved will help determine which insurance policies could potentially payout to compensate you, the victim.
Why do I need an 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer?
Due to their massive size combined with other factors like heavy or oversized loads, highway speed, and violent impacts, 18-wheeler accidents can impact victims with serious life-changing injuries and leave families mourning the loss of loved ones.
When a truck driver is negligent or the trucking company is negligent and causes an 18-wheeler accident, their insurance company is going to fight hard to avoid liability and having to pay for your injuries and damages. If you are considering hiring an attorney to fight their insurance, ask yourself these questions. If you answered yes to any or all of them, talk to an experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney.
– Did you receive medical treatment after the accident?
– Do you require continued treatment, therapy, or other additional treatments?
– Are you able to perform your job as you did before the accident?
– Are you still hurting or in pain?
– Have your injuries prevented you from doing your normal daily routine or the same activities you participated in before the accident?
Talk to the Texas Trial Lawyers at the Willis Law Firm to find out how our experienced truck accident attorneys can help you following your 18-wheeler accident.
Why Truck Accidents Need Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys
Compared to a car accident, semi-truck wrecks are exponentially more complex and require experienced, smart, and expert truck attorneys to handle a case from start to finish. Why are trucking accidents more complicated?
Severe Injuries – Catastrophic injuries are more common when 18-wheeler accidents occur. The size of the loads and high speeds of large 18-wheelers and other vehicles traveling along the highway make for more severe wrecks. When trucks travel at high speeds, the amount of force exerted on a passenger vehicle during an accident can crush a car. From there, catastrophic injuries can necessitate life flights, ambulances, and the need for extensive medical care for the victim or victims of the crash. The damages rapidly grow in 18-wheeler accidents and an attorney fighting for the victims must know how to get a court to award future compensation for future damages such as medical, lost earnings, and physical disabilities.
Trucking Industry – Not only are truck drivers liable when an accident occurs, but the trucking company is responsible for their employees too. Other companies that were involved in the load being carried such a shipper, shipping brokers, trailer manufacturers, and others. It is the responsibility of an experienced trucking attorney to ensure all responsible parties are held liable and maximize the reward for their client.
Local, State, and Federal Trucking Regulations – Truckers and the trucking industry is regulated at almost every level of government. Hazardous cargo is routed outside of city centers and around urban environments for example. The types of side rails, bumpers, load sizes, and safety equipment used are regulated by federal laws that involve interstate commerce. How a load must be secured, if pilot cars are needed for oversized loads, when those oversized loads can travel, how much sleep is required for a truck driver, how many loads or hours of driving per week is the truck driver allowed, and hundreds of other questions involving laws and regulations must be thoroughly investigated. An experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney knows the ins and outs of what to look for and how to make your case the most successful it can be.
Truck Accident Settlements
A lot of clients ask how much their trucking accident case is worth or what their settlement will be. They are important questions for us to try and answer. Each case is vastly different from another. When a victim of an accident starts needing medical treatment, inevitably expensive medical bills start to pile up. Unfortunately, some choose to accept the truck insurance company’s low offer to make them “go away” and quickly escape further liability. Do not accept the truck insurance company’s low offer. Tell the insurance company to talk to your attorney at the Willis Law Firm. The insurance and truck company wants to settle your case for as little as possible to keep their profits high. You must hold them accountable for your damages and maximize your settlement so you can help take care of yourself and your loved ones. You have the right to do this and recover from your injuries.
Why The Willis Law Firm?
The trial attorneys at The Willis Law Firm have more than 40 years of personal injury experience. Our attorneys have handled personal injury matters with all types of automobiles. Whether it is a rollover, a fender bender, or an 18-wheeler accident, we have seen it all and know how to take care of our clients. We work aggressively and passionately to resolve your case in the most favorable way, and we keep you involved every step of the way. Do not hesitate to call us if you or a loved one have been involved in an 18-wheeler accident. Call a truck accident attorney today at 1-800-883-9858 or fill out the form on this web page. We look forward to meeting you.