Carabin Shaw is one of the leading personal injury law firms in San Antonio and Texas. They have extensive experience in truck/18-wheeler accident cases, focusing on securing compensation for clients that reflects the full extent of their medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Specialization: Personal injury, truck accidents, car accidents, wrongful death, 18-wheeler accidents.
Why choose them? Carabin Shaw Law Firm offers a complimentary initial consultation, and their team is recognized for aggressively advocating for their clients’ rights.

Truck Accident Lawyers Texas: Getting Justice After an 18-Wheeler Crash

Truck accident lawyers in Texas handle some of the most devastating cases on our roadways. When an 18-wheeler crashes into a passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic. Truck accident lawyers in Texas understand that these collisions differ significantly from typical car accidents, requiring specialized knowledge of federal regulations, commercial insurance policies, and complex liability issues. If you’ve been hurt in a collision with a semi-truck, finding experienced truck accident lawyers in Texas can make the difference between a minimal settlement and full compensation for your injuries.

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Why 18-Wheeler Accidents Cause Severe Injuries

The physics of a truck crash explain why injuries are so serious. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while most passenger cars weigh around 3,000 pounds. When these vehicles collide, the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the impact. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 5,788 large trucks involved in fatal crashes across the United States in 2021, representing a 17% increase from 2020.

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Texas sees more than its share of these accidents. The state’s extensive highway system, major shipping corridors, and growing population create dangerous conditions. Victims often suffer spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, multiple fractures, internal organ damage, or severe burns. Some accidents result in permanent disability or death. These life-changing injuries require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Higher Insurance Limits Mean Better Recovery Potential

Federal law requires commercial trucks to carry substantially higher insurance coverage than regular vehicles. Most passenger car policies have liability limits of $25,000 to $50,000. Commercial trucks must carry minimum coverage of $750,000, with many companies maintaining policies worth several million dollars. This difference matters tremendously when you’re facing mounting medical bills and lost income.

The availability of higher insurance limits means victims have a realistic chance of recovering full compensation for severe injuries. However, trucking companies and their insurers fight hard to minimize payouts. They employ teams of lawyers and investigators who start building their defense immediately after a crash. Having your own attorney levels the playing field and protects your rights during this critical time.

Going After the Trucking Company, Not Just the Driver

Most truck drivers work as employees or contractors for larger companies. While the driver may have caused your accident through fatigue, distraction, or reckless behavior, that individual likely has limited personal assets. The trucking company, by contrast, carries substantial insurance coverage and can be held liable for their driver’s actions under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior.

Beyond the driver’s negligence, trucking companies can be directly liable for their own actions. Did they push drivers to exceed hours-of-service limits? Did they fail to properly maintain the vehicle? Did they hire a driver with a dangerous driving record? Did they provide inadequate training? These company-level failures create additional grounds for liability and often justify larger settlements or verdicts.

What Damages Can You Recover?

Texas law allows truck accident victims to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover measurable financial losses: past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, prescription medications, medical equipment, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. Keep every receipt, bill, and pay stub documenting these losses.

Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and permanent disability. While harder to quantify, these damages often represent the largest portion of a settlement. When someone’s negligence leaves you unable to work, play with your children, or live independently, those losses have real value that deserves compensation.

In cases where the trucking company or driver showed gross negligence or willful misconduct, Texas law allows for exemplary damages. These punitive damages aim to punish egregious behavior and deter similar conduct in the future. Examples might involve a driver operating under the influence, a company knowingly allowing unsafe vehicles on the road, or falsified inspection records.

The Importance of Acting Quickly

Texas law imposes strict deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident to file suit. Miss this deadline, and you lose your right to compensation no matter how strong your case. However, waiting until the deadline approaches puts you at a serious disadvantage. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and the trucking company has time to build a defense.

Contact an attorney within days of your accident if possible, and definitely before you speak with the trucking company’s insurance adjuster. Insurance companies often approach victims quickly with lowball settlement offers, hoping to close the case before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, you cannot reopen the case even if your injuries prove more severe than initially thought.

Medical bills don’t wait for lawsuit resolution. Many truck accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you recover compensation. This arrangement allows you to access legal representation immediately without upfront costs, ensuring you have an advocate protecting your interests from day one.

What to Look for in a Truck Accident Attorney

Not all personal injury lawyers have experience handling truck accident cases. These cases require knowledge of federal motor carrier safety regulations, understanding of trucking industry practices, and the resources to investigate complex commercial vehicle crashes. When evaluating potential attorneys, ask specific questions about their experience with truck accident cases.

How many truck accident cases have they handled? What results have they achieved for clients with similar injuries? Do they have the financial resources to take a case to trial if necessary? Will your case receive personal attention from an experienced attorney, or will it be handed off to a paralegal? What is their fee structure, and what out-of-pocket expenses will you be responsible for?

Review the attorney’s track record, check client testimonials, and verify their standing with the state bar association. Meet with several attorneys before making a decision. Most offer free initial consultations where you can discuss your case and get a sense of their approach and personality.

Building Your Case

Strong truck accident cases are built on solid evidence. Your attorney will obtain the police report, interview witnesses, photograph the accident scene and vehicle damage, review the truck driver’s logbook and hours-of-service records, examine the trucking company’s safety ratings and inspection reports, analyze electronic control module data from the truck, and secure expert testimony from accident reconstructionists and medical professionals.

This investigation takes time and resources. Trucking companies often move quickly to repair or dispose of damaged vehicles, destroying potential evidence. Federal regulations require trucking companies to preserve certain records after an accident, but enforcement varies. Having an attorney issue preservation letters immediately after your crash ensures this evidence remains available.

Your Recovery Matters Most

Beyond securing financial compensation, a good truck accident attorney helps coordinate your medical care and rehabilitation. They can connect you with specialists who treat your type of injury, arrange for treatment on a lien basis if you lack insurance, and ensure medical providers properly document the extent of your injuries for legal purposes.

Your focus should remain on healing and rebuilding your life. Let your attorney handle the insurance companies, paperwork, negotiations, and legal proceedings. They will fight for a settlement that covers your current and future needs, not just the immediate expenses. If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, your attorney should be prepared to take your case to trial and let a jury decide what your injuries are worth.

Truck accidents change lives in an instant. The physical, emotional, and financial toll can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to face this challenge alone. Experienced legal representation ensures you receive the maximum compensation the law allows, holding negligent trucking companies accountable and helping you move forward with your recovery.