18 Wheeler Accidents

Get a Free Case Review

SERIOUS ATTORNEYS FOR SERIOUS INJURIES

Generating summary...

AI can make mistakes and some summarized content may not be accurate.

Schedule a Consultation Call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys

Practice Areas

FREE CONSULTATION

Chandler Ross is the best hands down! You can not go wrong with these attorneys!

— Tracy P.

Denton Truck Accident Attorney

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a total of 4,102 people died in truck crashes in 2017. Seventeen percent of the fatalities were truck occupants, 68% were occupants of passenger vehicles, and 14% were bicyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 30 percent higher in 2017 than in 2009, when it was the lowest it has been since the collection of fatal crash data began in 1975. The number of truck occupants who died was 52 percent higher than in 2009.

Texas is a popular and extremely busy thoroughfare for large commercial trucks, semi-trucks, big rigs, and 18-wheelers. These are considered commercial motor vehicles. Texas roads are full of commercial motor vehicles transporting everything from frozen food and farm animals to car parts, as well as oil tankers and hazardous chemical trucks. Truck drivers routinely face long hours and tight deadlines to meet the demands of trucking companies. And while most truckers have at least some training, appear to be capable drivers, sometimes disastrous accidents occur because of a truck driver’s and/or the trucking company’s negligence. Inevitably, these drivers and their large vehicles pose the general motoring public problems when they share the roads and are responsible for catastrophic accidents.

A commercial motor vehicle, which requires its drivers to have a valid commercial driving license (“CDL)”, is any vehicle with a gross weight of 26,001 pounds or more. However, a fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. In comparison, an automobile weighs a mere 3,000 pounds. When these two vehicles collide, the automobile’s occupants are the ones who sustain the majority of the injuries.

As a result, the trucking industry has become one of the most regulated commercial industries in the United States. The Federal and/or Texas Motor Carrier Safety Regulations govern both commercial drivers’ minimal training requirements and qualifications, as well impose various legal duties on the trucking companies, including the requirements for hiring, training, and supervision of their drivers, as well as retention requirements for driver logs and maintenance records. If any of the regulations are violated or ignored this can be used to establish the negligence of the truck driver, the trucking company or both, which then may be used to maximize any monetary reward an injured person would be entitled to receive.

Unfortunately, trucking companies have large law firms dedicated to protecting their interests and reducing their liabilities. As such, trucking accident victims in Texas need aggressive and knowledgeable legal representation from the moment they are injured in a trucking accident. The legal team at Chandler | Ross, PLLC has extensive experience working 18-Wheeler/Truck accident cases involving commercial motor vehicles and the regulations that govern them. We are here to help. Please contact us for a free consultation.

What to Do After an 18-Wheeler/Truck Accident

In Texas, leaving the accident scene could result in a hit-and-run charge. As such the first thing you should do after an accident is get to a safe place, but stay at the accident scene until the police and medical assistance have arrived. If you can, leave your vehicle in the position where it came to rest after the accident. The police may need this as evidence.

Commercial motor vehicle accidents often mean serious injuries and damages. Because your safety and health are most important, please call 911 immediately after any accident. Notify 911 of the accident and request that police be dispatched to the scene. This call will dispatch the police, who can help with collecting evidence and witness testimony. Always request that police be dispatched and for a police report to be made. This will preserve the accident facts if they are contested later.

The accident scene immediately after the crash gives you the best chance to capture vital evidence to prove that the truck driver’s negligence harmed you. So, take pictures of everything, including, but not limited to:

All vehicles
All damaged property
The Department of Transportation (“DOT”) operating numbers on the side of the commercial vehicle
All license plate numbers
All drivers and passengers
Witnesses
Vehicles’ mileage
Street signs and/or lights
Emergency personnel
Insurance cards

This evidence can help your trusted personal injury lawyer file a lawsuit against the truck driver and the trucking company later.

After an accident, do not claim responsibility for the accident to the truck driver, the police or anyone else at the scene of an accident, and generally, do not make any statements that involve responsibility for the accident.

Truck accidents can involve serious injuries and a lot of medical expenses. It is wise to have any 18-wheeler truck accident case reviewed by personal injury attorneys with years of experience, such as Chandler | Ross, PLLC.

18-Wheeler/Truck Accident Causes

18-Wheelers, Trucks and other Commercial Motor Vehicles weigh approximately 25 times more than the typical passenger vehicle. When being driven at highway speed, these vehicles have longer stopping distances, and impact force can be devastating. Truck accidents are among the most damaging and deadly of all motor vehicle accidents. When an accident with an 18-Wheeler or Truck is imminent, due to the size and weight of commercial motor vehicles, they cannot turn or stop quickly. This increases the risk of serious injury upon impact especially at high speeds or in poor weather conditions. In fact, if you are in an accident with a truck, it is probably serious.

Any number of factors can cause a truck accident, but some of the more common causes of 18-Wheeler, Truck and Commercial Motor Vehicle accidents include:

Types of Truck Accidents in Denton & North Texas

High-Risk & Specialized Truck Accidents in Denton & North Texas

Truck Accidents Involving Dangerous Crash Scenarios

Truck Accidents Caused by Negligent or Reckless Driving

Truck Accidents Caused by Trucking Company Negligence

Truck Accidents Caused by Mechanical & Environmental Issues

Common Injuries from Truck Accidents in Denton & North Texas

Regional Roadways with Truck Accident Risks

If any of these possible causes apply to your accident, please contact our firm to discuss a possible lawsuit. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, multiple parties, such as the driver, truck owner, trucking company, broker company, maintenance provider and loading agent, may be held responsible for your damages. The legal team at Chandler | Ross, PLLC are here to help. Please contact us for a free consultation.

18-Wheeler/Truck Accident Injuries

Cars, SUVs, and other passenger vehicles are no match for the size or weight of an 18-wheeler in an accident. Loaded 18-wheelers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, thereby easily crushing smaller vehicles in a crash.

Unfortunately, common truck accident injuries include:

Wrongful death
Spinal cord injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Broken bones and fractures
Limb Loss
Paralysis
Internal organ injuries
Burn injuries

Occupants of passenger vehicles are the most common victims of truck. Trucks weigh as much as 30 times more than passenger vehicles, and because they are taller and have much higher ground clearance, they can essentially run over passenger vehicles in an accident. Truck braking capability can be a factor in truck crashes. Loaded tractor-trailers take 20-40 percent farther than cars to stop, and the discrepancy is greater on wet and slippery roads or with poorly maintained brakes. Truck driver fatigue also is a known crash risk. Drivers of large trucks are allowed by state and/or federal hours-of-service regulations to drive up to 11 hours at a stretch. Surveys indicate that many drivers violate the regulations and work longer than permitted.

When Trucking Company’s Negligence is to Blame

Trucking companies may be to blame after a serious trucking accident. In an attempt to increase profits, many trucking companies routinely push drivers to log longer hours than are allowed by trucking regulations, to use unsafe practices to cut time and corners, and/or fail to properly hire, train, monitor, and/or supervise their truck drivers. They may also cut corners when servicing vehicles.

The Federal and/or Texas Motor Carrier Safety Regulations govern the legal duties of trucking companies, including the hiring, training, and supervision of their drivers, as well as retention requirements for required operational documents, including driver logs, accident register, inspection records, and maintenance records. If any of the regulations are violated or ignored this can be used to establish direct negligence against the trucking company and to assess additional damages directly against the trucking company.

When this occurs, our experienced Denton, Dallas, Fort Worth 18-Wheeler/Truck Accident Attorneys at Chandler | Ross, PLLC, are immediately needed after an accident to collect evidence, to investigate the cause of the trucking accident, and to fight to hold these large trucking companies responsible for their own direct negligence and the negligence of their drivers, and they should be required to pay your damages.

When Truck Drivers are to Blame

There are times when trucking companies operate within the Federal and/or Texas Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, but their truck drivers do not. They may drive in poor weather, fail to observe speed signs, drive distracted, violate hours of service requirements, fail to inspect their vehicles, drive while distracted, and even drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

When this occurs, the truck driver should be held liable for their negligence. Determining who is ultimately to blame for your auto accident and your injuries is the first step towards receiving the compensation you deserve after a catastrophic trucking accident.

Obtaining Black Box Data

The days and weeks that immediately follow a trucking accident are critical. If you are not careful, valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed. The truck’s black box (also known as the electronic control model or “ECM”) is a critical piece of evidence that could shed light on the cause of your accident.

Your attorney will need to obtain the black box data before it is lost or destroyed by the trucking company. The information contained in this box includes the truck driver’s daily driving schedule, hours on the job, important information about the truck, maintenance, locations of truck, and critical pre-accident information including the truck’s speed, evasive actions attempted by the truck driver to avoid the collision, brake application, steering, and even seat belt usage.

18-Wheeler Accident Claims and Lawsuits

If the truck driver or company is at fault for your accident, you can file a claim or lawsuit against them to recover damages for your injuries and/or damages. Common collectible damages include compensation for property damages, medical bills, rehabilitation services, loss of income due to time missed at work, future medical expenses, disfigurement, impairment and loss of earning capacity, as well as mental anguish ad pain and suffering.

While filing a claim may sound simple, proving fault and damages is complicated when up against a truck insurance company’s team of insurance adjusters, attorneys and legal experts. Insurance carriers will fight hard to deny truck accident claims and to pinch pennies for their insureds, while you suffer from being injured as result of the negligence of a truck driver and/or a trucking company. This is why it is important to have an experienced truck accident lawyer fighting for your legal rights.

With offices in Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth, Texas, Chandler | Ross, PLLC and our 18-Wheeler/Truck Accident Attorneys are well positioned to provide the most effective and highly-skilled representation possible. Don’t wait, and don’t compromise – contact us today for a Free Case Evaluation and see how we can help you. In most cases, you pay nothing unless settle your case or win a verdict. Contact us now at (940)-800-2500 or support@chandlerrosslaw.com to schedule your free personal injury case evaluation and consultation.

EXCELLENT

Based on 129 reviews

Robbin Shull

36 days ago

It took sometime but I am well satisfied with the service that I got from being involved in a car accident. Arecka Harris my case manager went out of her way to make sure that I got the necessary medical attention and follow up with Physical Theraphy during recovery. She kept me informed of how the case was progressing and made sure I understood what was taking place. I got what I expected in a settlement from the claim and I am well satisfied with Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys. Just remember call someone to help you when you are not sure of what to do after an injury. Thank you for all you have done.

Robert Berg

45 days ago

My experience with Chandler Ross was great. Dealing with the other driver’s insurance after my car accident was becoming a headache and hiring them to handle the communications was the best decision I made. They made the entire process seamless and ended up delivering a great result. Arecka, the legal assistant who worked on my case, was absolutely incredible to work with from start to finish. I highly recommend working with Chandler Ross, don’t try to deal with the insurance on your own!

Jessica Nesmith

54 days ago

I cannot say enough positive things about my experience with Chandler Ross Injury Attorney Law Firm, especially Arecka Harris, Legal Assistant. She has been extremely punctual and responsive to every correspondence and has consistently treated my case with the utmost professionalism, respect, and genuine concern. Arecka goes above and beyond to listen to my concerns and make sure they are communicated to the attorneys. She is an excellent legal assistant who keeps communication clear, timely, and organized while making you feel heard and supported throughout the process. This has been the BEST representation I have ever experienced from a law firm, and I am truly grateful for Arecka’s dedication and exceptional customer service. She is absolutely an asset to the firm! My lawyer fought me to get what was deserved! CHANDLER ROSS, INJURY ATTORNEYS and Legal assistance, are top TIER quality.

Elena Serrano

57 days ago

The whole staff is so amazing and welcoming. Erin really explained how the whole process worked and made it very easy for me to see the doctors I needed to see and get the treatment I needed. She kept in touch with me every week to see how I was doing and at the end of the case I walked away with a very good settlement. I felt very at ease and peace knowing they were handling my case great and i’m very thankful to all the staff.

Chasey Malone

64 days ago

Erin was amazing. I had no idea what I was doing and they made the entire process simple and stress free. I cannot thank them enough for what they’ve done for me

Kristin Porter

66 days ago

After my car accident, we called Chandler Ross and from the very first phone call we knew we had called the right people. They were sensitive, caring, and truly helped guide us in all of our decisions. We couldn't have asked for a better experience, and we were very happy with the outcome of our case. My husband and I would recommend Chandler Ross to anyone experiencing an injury due to a car accident. They were wonderful!

Payton DePalma

72 days ago

Erin was an awesome case manager! Made the best of a tough series of events.

Brittany & Chris Beeson

75 days ago

Professional and easy to work with! Thankful for all of their help and advice!

Terrence Oflaherty

92 days ago

I was in a car accident July 2025 and had a neck injury that required me to take time off of work. I reached out to Chandler & Ross three days after the accident and after reviewing all the info they took my case. They handled everything for me and got the PT appointments that my body needed to get to speed. On top of that, my settlement was alot more than I was expecting. They are an extremely professional law firm. I’m glad I let them take my injury case.

Sarah Walters

106 days ago

Absolute best personal injury attorney I have ever had! They made my experience such a breeze! Arecka is the best! She’s friendly and kind and quick to respond! Will definitely be using them in the future!!

(940) 800-2500