Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers in Texas
Nearly 40 Years of Texas Trial Experience Against the Trucking Industry
When a commercial truck crash upends your life, the trucking company’s investigators and attorneys are already working. Hilliard Law has been on the other side of that fight for nearly 40 years, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars for injured Texans, including $70 million in commercial trucking recoveries within a two-month span and a $50 million settlement for a family who lost a loved one in a truck crash. Our 22-attorney team prepares every case for trial from day one, so we’re ready whether the carrier settles or takes the case to a jury.
Bob Hilliard is double board-certified and recognized as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States. Commercial truck accident cases are among the most complex personal injury claims in Texas, involving federal FMCSA regulations, multiple potential defendants, and corporate insurance carriers whose goal is to minimize what they pay. We match that firepower with nearly 40 years of trial experience and attorneys who know how to take these cases all the way.
Here are several reasons to choose our firm:
- More than 100 years of combined personal injury experience
- Hundreds of millions of dollars recovered for our clients in settlements and awards
- Selected 30 times as Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars honorees since 2003
Our experienced truck accident attorneys in Texas are ready to fight for your rights and seek the compensation available under the law. Contact Hilliard Law today at (866) 927-3420 for a free initial consultation.
What Is a Commercial Truck Accident?
A commercial truck accident involves a collision with a large commercial vehicle such as a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or 18-wheeler. These vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. These crashes cause damage on a different scale than standard car accidents, and the legal claims that follow are far more complex. Texas recorded more than 26,000 truck crashes in 2024, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, and in 2023 the state led all states in deaths from large truck crashes, according to the National Safety Council.
Commercial truck claims differ from standard car accident cases because they involve FMCSA federal regulations, multiple potential defendants, corporate insurance carriers, and complex electronic evidence like ELD data and black box recordings. That complexity is exactly why trucking companies invest in dedicated legal response teams and why injured victims need attorneys who are equally prepared.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
Because of their size and weight, large commercial vehicles create collision patterns that are distinct from ordinary vehicle crashes. Identifying the type of accident helps establish how it occurred and who bears responsibility.
Common types of truck accidents include:
- Jackknife accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Underride accidents
- Head-on collisions
- T-bone or side-impact collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Wide-turn accidents
- Blind-spot accidents
- Lost-load accidents
- Brake-failure accidents
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents result from a range of factors, many involving human error, mechanical failures, environmental conditions, and regulatory non-compliance. Texas’s extensive highway network and high volume of interstate commercial traffic make these cause-and-type combinations especially common on Texas roads.
- Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Impaired driving
- Inadequate training
- Mechanical failures
- Improper loading
- Adverse weather and road conditions
- Violation of traffic laws
- Negligent actions by other motorists
- Poor maintenance practices
- Regulatory non-compliance
Truck Accident FAQs
Interstate Trucking Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration governs the commercial trucking industry through regulations that cover nearly every aspect of carrier and driver conduct. When those rules are broken and a crash follows, FMCSA violations can become critical evidence of negligence in a Texas truck accident lawsuit.
Key federal trucking regulations include:
- Hours of Service (HOS) regulations: Drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty and can’t drive beyond 14 hours after the start of a shift. These rules exist to prevent fatigue-related crashes.
- Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): Drivers must use ELDs to automatically record driving time and duty status, enforcing HOS rules and flagging falsified logbooks.
- Driver qualification standards: Drivers must hold a valid Commercial Driver’s License and pass regular medical exams. Employers must maintain qualification files covering driving history and drug-testing records.
- Vehicle maintenance and inspection requirements: Commercial trucks must be inspected daily by drivers and undergo annual inspections by certified professionals. Known defects must be repaired before operation.
- Drug and alcohol testing requirements: Drivers are tested before employment, randomly during employment, and after certain accidents.
- Cargo securement rules: Cargo must be properly secured with approved equipment. Special rules apply to specific cargo categories such as logs or vehicles.
- Weight and size limits: Most trucks can’t exceed 80,000 pounds without special permits. Overloaded or improperly balanced trucks are significantly harder to control.
- Employer responsibility and safety ratings: The FMCSA tracks company safety performance, and poor ratings can trigger audits or penalties.
How Black Box & Electronic Logging Data Strengthen Truck Accident Claims
Most commercial trucks carry event data recorders and ELDs that log vehicle speed, brake usage, sudden acceleration and deceleration, engine performance, and driver hours. This data can help establish what happened in the seconds before impact and support the determination of fault. Cell phone records, GPS data, and airbag control module downloads can supplement black box evidence to show distraction, speed, and steering inputs at the moment of the crash.
Trucking companies may retain this data for only a limited period after an accident. Our attorneys act quickly to send spoliation letters and pursue court-ordered preservation, securing ELD records, black box data, driver logs, and maintenance files before they can be legally discarded.
Statute of Limitations for Texas Truck Accident Claims
Texas imposes a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims, including truck accident cases. The deadline runs from the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims arising from fatal truck crashes carry the same two-year window, measured from the date of death. Missing the filing deadline permanently bars a claim regardless of its merits. Trucking companies and their insurers know this and may use delay tactics to run out the clock. This is another reason early legal action matters.
What Types of Compensation Can I Pursue After a Commercial Truck Accident?
After a truck accident, you may face significant losses from your injuries and property damage. If you can establish that someone else’s negligence led to your accident, you may pursue compensation for your accident-related losses.
Truck accident victims often pursue compensation for:
- Emergency department care
- Hospital bills
- Medical procedures and surgery
- Physical and cognitive rehabilitation
- Prosthetics and mobility aids
- Medical equipment and medications
- In-home and long-term health care services
- Medical travel expenses
- Medically necessary home renovations (ramps, railings, stairlifts, etc.)
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Physical pain, emotional suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Vehicle damage
Texas law also permits punitive damages when a defendant’s conduct rises to gross negligence. Texas’s modified comparative negligence rule allows recovery even if you bear partial fault, as long as your share of fault doesn’t exceed 50%. Without the assistance of our personal injury attorneys, you may underestimate the full impact of a crash, including future costs like long-term care, vocational rehabilitation, and lost earning capacity. We can assess your claim and work to establish compensation that reasonably reflects your losses.
Call us at (866) 927-3420 or use our contact form to schedule an initial consultation with a Texas truck accident attorney.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS real questions. Real answers.
-
How do I report the accident to the authorities?
Reporting the accident to the authorities is essential in the aftermath of a commercial truck accident involving you. Contact the local police or highway patrol to report the incident. They will document the details of the accident and create an official report, which can be invaluable when building your case.
-
What should I not do following a commercial truck accident?
While taking certain actions following a commercial truck accident is important, there are also things you should avoid. Do not admit fault or make any statements regarding your injuries or the accident to anyone other than the authorities and your attorney. Additionally, refrain from discussing the accident on social media platforms, as these posts can be used against you during the legal process.
-
Who can be held responsible for commercial truck accidents in Texas?
Texas is an at-fault state, meaning whoever caused the accident is liable for paying for the damages. Injured accident victims in Texas have the right to hold at-fault parties accountable for the losses they generate.
Commercial truck accidents are often more complex when it comes to assessing liability because they generally involve more parties than regular vehicle accidents. Depending on your specific truck accident claims, a careful investigation may reveal multiple parties to be responsible.
Any of the following parties and others may be found liable for a truck accident:
- Truck operators who drive while distracted or intoxicated
- Employers who hire truck drivers without adequately vetting them
- Trucking companies who require drivers to operate past their hours of service
- Maintenance companies who fail to address known truck maintenance issues
- Cargo loaders who load cargo onto trucks improperly
As the plaintiff, you must provide evidence supporting your claim that someone else’s negligence directly led to your accident and subsequent losses. To help determine who may be liable, it is important to contact our team at Hilliard Law with our skills and resources to investigate and identify your specific legal options.
-
What evidence should I collect to support my case?
Collecting evidence is crucial in establishing liability in a commercial truck accident case. Some essential evidence includes accident reports, witness statements, photographs of the accident scene, maintenance and inspection records, driver logs, and data from the truck’s event data recorder (EDR).
-
How do I establish negligence on the part of the trucking company or driver?
To establish negligence on the part of the trucking company or driver, it is necessary to demonstrate that they breached their duty of care. This can be done by proving that they violated trucking regulations, failed to properly maintain the vehicle, engaged in reckless driving behavior, or were otherwise negligent in their actions.
-
How can a lawyer help maximize the compensation I receive?
We can help maximize the compensation you receive by thoroughly investigating the accident, gathering compelling evidence, calculating the full extent of your damages, and negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. Our experience and advocacy can greatly increase the likelihood of obtaining fair compensation for your losses.
-
Are there time limits for filing a lawsuit in Texas?
Yes, there are time limits, known as statutes of limitations, for filing a lawsuit in Texas. It is important to consult with us as soon as possible to ensure you meet all necessary deadlines and preserve your right to pursue legal action.
-
When is it time to consider a settlement and when should I proceed to trial?
Deciding whether to accept a settlement or proceed to trial is a critical decision based on your case's specific circumstances. We will carefully assess the strength of your case, the likelihood of success at trial, and the potential outcomes of both settlement negotiations and a trial before advising you on the right course of action.
-
What does the legal process look like if we go to trial?
If your case goes to trial, the legal process will involve various stages, including jury selection, opening statements, witness testimonies, cross-examinations, presentation of evidence, closing arguments, and jury deliberation. Each stage is carefully orchestrated to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation of the case.
-
How long can I expect a trial to take and what should I be prepared for?
The duration of a trial can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the court’s schedule. While some trials can be resolved in a matter of days, others may take weeks or even months. It is important to be prepared for the potential length of the trial and to have realistic expectations regarding the outcome.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Commercial Truck Accident in Texas?
Texas is an at-fault state, meaning whoever caused the accident is liable for the resulting damages. Injured accident victims in Texas have the right to hold at-fault parties accountable for the losses they cause.
Commercial truck accidents are often more complex when it comes to assessing liability because they usually involve more parties than regular vehicle accidents. Depending on the facts of your case, a careful investigation may reveal multiple responsible parties.
As the plaintiff, you must provide evidence supporting your claim that someone else’s negligence directly led to your accident and subsequent losses.
Any of the following parties, and others, may be liable for a truck accident:
- Truck operators who drive while distracted, fatigued, or intoxicated
- Employers who hire truck drivers without adequately vetting them
- Trucking companies that require drivers to operate past their hours of service
- Maintenance companies that fail to address known truck maintenance issues
- Cargo loaders who secure cargo improperly
- Vehicle and parts manufacturers when defective equipment contributes to the crash
- Government entities responsible for road design or signage in some circumstances
Texas House Bill 19, effective September 1, 2021, added a layer of procedural complexity to commercial vehicle cases. Under this law, trucking companies can request a bifurcated (two-phase) trial that limits evidence of corporate negligence, such as hiring failures and training deficiencies, to the second phase, though exceptions allow certain regulatory compliance evidence and claims like negligent maintenance to be presented in the first phase. This structure can make it harder to pursue direct negligence claims against the company at the outset of trial. Navigating HB 19 calls for attorneys with specific experience in multi-party, multi-phase Texas commercial vehicle litigation.
Our team has the investigative resources and trial experience to identify all responsible parties and pursue multi-defendant truck accident claims in Texas. In March 2026, we secured a $6.1 million Winkler County jury verdict in a contested West Texas truck crash. That result reflects our willingness to take complex cases to trial when settlement discussions don't resolve them fairly.
Class Actions & Mass Torts in Commercial Truck Accidents
In some situations, commercial truck accidents injure multiple victims. A class action or mass tort lawsuit may be appropriate in those cases. These legal avenues allow multiple victims to bring their claims together, pool resources, and present a unified case against the responsible parties.
Class actions and mass torts can be complex, requiring extensive coordination among victims and their legal teams. Shared discovery, joint expert witnesses, and coordinated litigation strategy can strengthen each individual claim. Our team has experience handling class actions and mass torts involving commercial trucking and can help you evaluate whether this type of proceeding fits your situation. In one recent period, we recovered $70 million in commercial trucking cases within two months. That result reflects our capacity to handle serious, high-value trucking litigation at scale.
Texas Truck Accident Claims Involving Out-of-State Trucking Companies
A large share of the commercial trucks on Texas highways are registered and operated by carriers based in other states. An out-of-state registration doesn’t shield a carrier from liability when a crash occurs on Texas roads. Texas courts have jurisdiction over claims where the accident happened in Texas, regardless of where the trucking company is incorporated or domiciled.
Interstate trucking cases can involve disputes over which state’s law applies, coordination with federal FMCSA records, and pursuit of carriers through multiple jurisdictional channels. Our firm represents clients throughout Texas, across the United States, and in Mexico, and we have direct experience handling multi-jurisdictional commercial vehicle cases where the carrier operates far from the crash site.
Real Results Real Justice
-
$50Wrongful Death
Million SettlementIn September 2021, Hilliard Law attorneys secured a $50 Million settlement for the family of a man who died in a commercial trucking accident.
-
$21.5Distracted Driving Accident
Million VerdictMr. Hilliard was the lead trial attorney in a case involving a woman who was injured in a two-vehicle accident. The driver of the second car, an employee of Coca-Cola, was talking on her cell phone at the time of the accident.
-
$20Catastrophic Injury
Million SettlementAfter a week of trial, a $20 Million settlement was reached on behalf of a man who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and back injury resulting from a commercial motor vehicle rollover crash caused by defective road construction conditions.
-
$7.5Rear-End Accident
Million SettlementHilliard Law recovered $7.5M for a client who sustained significant injuries after being rear-ended by a commercial truck.
-
$6Truck Accident
Million SettlementHilliard Law attorneys achieved a $6M settlement for a man who sustained serious injuries after being struck by an 18-wheeler.
-
$1.375Catastrophic Injury
Million VerdictIn 2019, Hilliard Law attorneys won a $1.375M jury for a man who sustained serious injuries in an automobile accident. This was a 2019 Top 100 Verdict.
Why Early Legal Representation Matters in Truck Accident Cases
When a commercial truck crash occurs, the carrier’s response is immediate. Investigators arrive at the scene, legal teams are notified, and the process of limiting company liability begins within hours. Injured victims who delay retaining an attorney risk losing the evidence that could support their case.
We prepare every truck accident case for trial from day one. That means our response is immediate too. We send spoliation letters demanding preservation of ELD data, black box recordings, driver logs, maintenance files, and employment records before trucking companies have any opportunity to overwrite or discard them. Cell phone records, GPS data, and witness accounts are documented before memories fade. Every case is built as if it will go before a jury because sometimes it does, and you need a firm that won’t flinch when it gets there.
Delays in retaining a semi-truck accident attorney in Texas also affect the medical record. Gaps between the crash and treatment give insurers room to argue that injuries aren’t as serious as claimed, or that they weren’t caused by the accident at all. Early representation helps connect the medical picture to the legal one from the start, giving your claim a stronger foundation.
Texas Truck Accident Attorneys With Verified Results
Numbers tell part of the story. In September 2021, we secured a $50 million settlement for the family of a man killed in a commercial trucking accident. In March 2026, a Winkler County jury returned a $6.1 million verdict in a contested West Texas truck crash where liability was disputed. We’ve also recovered $7.5 million for a client rear-ended by a commercial truck and $6 million for a man struck by an 18-wheeler. These results reflect our approach of preparing every case for trial rather than waiting to see what the insurance carrier offers.
Bob Hilliard is double board-certified and recognized as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States. Our firm is based in Corpus Christi. The Hilliard Center reflects our lasting commitment to South Texas, and we represent clients in truck accident cases across the state, nationwide, and in Mexico. We’re not a volume operation. We take on powerful trucking companies and their carriers because nearly 40 years of experience has shown us what it takes to stand up to them in court.
We handle commercial truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you, and your initial consultation is free.
Call (866) 927-3420 or contact us online today to speak with a Texas truck accident attorney and schedule a free consultation.
It’s our mission to hold the powerful accountable for their wrongdoing. Reach out to our team immediately regarding your case to schedule a free attorney consultation today.