You saw the headlights. You swerved. It wasn’t enough.
When an 18-wheeler hits a passenger vehicle, the outcome is devastating. It is not just a crash; it is a collision with consequences that can last a lifetime, and the systems meant to protect you are often built to favor the trucking companies.
We take on the trucking companies
Loosened federal hours rules mean more tired drivers and more catastrophic crashes, while trucking insurers work to deny or minimize your claim. We fight aggressively to hold them accountable and know the tactics their insurers use.
We pursue maximum damages
We investigate thoroughly, consult experts, and pursue full compensation for your injuries, your lost wages, and your future. You do not have to face the trucking company or its insurer alone.
Practice Areas
Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how we can help.
(281) 500-1000
What Causes Truck Accidents in Texas and California
A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh 80,000 pounds, about 20 times more than a typical passenger car, and it needs nearly the length of two football fields to stop from highway speed. When a driver or trucking company cuts corners, the people in smaller vehicles pay the price. The causes we see most often:
Distracted driving
Phones, dispatch tablets, and in-cab screens. At 55 mph, a driver who looks down for five seconds travels the length of a football field without watching the road. Federal rules ban truck drivers from texting or holding a phone while driving.
Driver fatigue
Hours-of-service rules limit how long truckers can drive, but tight delivery schedules push drivers past safe limits. Electronic logging device (ELD) data can show what really happened.
Speeding & unsafe lane changes
Big rigs have large blind spots and need far more room to slow down, stop, or change lanes safely.
Poor maintenance
Worn brakes, bald tires, and broken lights. Trucking companies must inspect and maintain their fleets, and their maintenance records often tell the story.
Improperly loaded cargo
Overloaded, unbalanced, or unsecured cargo can cause rollovers, jackknifes, and spilled loads.
Unqualified drivers
Companies under pressure to fill seats sometimes put drivers on the road without proper training, licensing, or a clean safety history.
More Than One Company May Be Responsible
Truck crash cases often involve several companies, each with its own insurer and its own lawyers. We look at everyone whose choices contributed to the crash, including:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company or motor carrier
- The owner of the truck or trailer, if different
- The company that loaded or secured the cargo
- Maintenance and repair contractors
- The maker of a defective part, such as brakes or tires
Evidence in these cases disappears fast. ELD data, the truck’s event data recorder, dashcam video, and driver records can be lost if no one acts to preserve them. We send preservation demands early so that evidence is protected.
What your claim can include
- Medical bills, past and future
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
- Property damage
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one
Every case is different. What you can recover depends on the facts of your case.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Get medical care
Call 911 and get checked out, even if you feel okay. Some serious injuries don’t show symptoms right away.
Call the police
Make sure a crash report is made. Write down the officer’s name and the report number.
Take photos
Photograph the vehicles, the truck’s company name and USDOT number, the road, skid marks, and your injuries.
Get names and numbers
Collect contact information for witnesses and the truck driver, plus the trucking company and its insurer.
Don’t talk to their insurer
Don’t give a recorded statement or sign anything from the trucking company’s insurer before you talk to a lawyer.
Call us quickly
Trucking companies start building their defense right away. The sooner we’re involved, the more evidence we can protect.
What to Know About Texas Truck Accident Claims
You generally have two years
Most Texas personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years. Claims against a city, county, or state agency can require written notice much sooner, sometimes within months.
Shared fault doesn’t end your case
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. You can recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible, though your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. Insurers use this rule to shift blame, so evidence matters.
Federal safety rules apply
Commercial trucks must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules on driver hours, drug and alcohol testing, inspections, maintenance, and phone use. Violations can be powerful evidence.
Hurt in Southern California?
California has its own rules on several of these points. Our founder, Charles Vethan, is licensed in both Texas and California, so call us either way and we’ll explain the rules that apply to your case.
Truck Accident Questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. Have a different question? Call us.
- Free, confidential case review
- No fee unless we recover
- We’ll call you back within one business day
How much is my truck accident case worth?
It depends on the facts: how badly you were hurt, your medical costs now and in the future, your lost income, and how the crash has changed your daily life. Federal law requires motor carriers to carry more insurance than ordinary drivers, which can matter when injuries are serious. We can give you a realistic picture after we review your case.
Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?
Not before you talk to a lawyer. The adjuster works for the trucking company. Anything you say in a recorded statement can be used to argue that you were at fault or that your injuries are not serious. You can politely decline and refer them to us.
What if I was partly at fault for the crash?
You may still have a case. Under Texas law, you can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
How long does a truck accident case take?
Some cases resolve in months. Others take longer, especially when injuries are severe or several companies are involved. We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, which puts us in a stronger position to negotiate.
How much does it cost to hire Raven Injury Law?
Nothing up front. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover for you.
The information on this page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different.