A truck crash on I-35E, I-20, or LBJ can turn an ordinary commute into a fight for your life in a matter of seconds. One moment you are sharing the road with a line of 18 Wheelers, the next you are in an ambulance, wondering how you will pay for surgery, therapy, and time away from work. While you are trying to catch your breath, the trucking company and its insurance carrier are already moving to protect themselves.
Dallas sits at the crossroads of some of the busiest freight corridors in the country, and thousands of commercial vehicles move through the area every day. That constant flow of heavy trucks is one reason Dallas County routinely ranks among the state’s leaders in serious commercial vehicle crashes. For the people in smaller cars, the consequences are often devastating:
Trucking companies do not wait to see how badly you are hurt. Their investigators are dispatched to the scene, their lawyers start reviewing driver logs and maintenance records, and their adjusters look for any way to blame you for what happened. They may ask for a recorded statement while you are still medicated, push early settlement offers that barely cover the emergency room, or suggest your injuries existed before the wreck. Without a Dallas truck accident lawyer in your corner, you are up against a system designed to protect corporate profits, not injured Texans.
Jim Adler, The Texas Hammer®, knows how these companies operate. Our Dallas truck accident team steps in to preserve critical evidence like black-box data, electronic driver logs, and dash-cam footage before it disappears. We deal with the insurance companies, coordinate with your doctors, and build demands based on documented losses instead of computer-generated lowball numbers. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you,* so our focus stays exactly where it should be, on getting you every dollar the law allows after a serious truck crash.
Our client’s husband was driving on a Texas highway when a tractor-trailer ahead of him missed its turn. Instead of continuing forward and circling back safely, the truck driver chose to stop and back up across the roadway. As he reversed the rig, the trailer crossed the center line and pushed into the path of oncoming traffic.
The husband, a father on his way home, had only seconds to react. With a fully loaded truck suddenly blocking his lane, there was no room or time to escape. His vehicle struck the trailer, and he suffered fatal injuries at the scene, leaving his family without a husband, father, and provider.
Jim Adler & Associates investigated the crash, obtained company and driver records, and showed how this reckless decision to reverse a tractor-trailer on an active highway violated basic safety rules. Through hard-fought litigation, we held the trucking company and its driver accountable for the harm they caused.
Result: $10,900,000 recovery for the surviving family members.
This result helped replace lost household income and support, cover final expenses, and, so far as money can, recognize the profound loss this family suffered because a professional driver chose convenience over safety.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different, and the value of your claim will depend on the specific facts of your truck accident.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident, you already know how overwhelming the days after can feel. You are dealing with painful injuries, growing treatment expenses, and questions about how your family will get through this. The trucking company and its insurance carrier are already working to protect themselves, and you deserve someone in your corner who will fight just as hard for you.
Dallas sits at the crossroads of some of the busiest freight routes in the country, and that puts local drivers at serious risk every day. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that Dallas and Harris Counties together account for nearly half of all commercial motor vehicle accidents in Texas.[1] Thousands of these collisions happen each year on roads like I-35E, I-20, I-30, I-635, and US-75. In fact, Texas leads the nation in deadly large truck accidents.[2]
At Jim Adler, The Texas Hammer®, we have spent decades helping injured Texans in Dallas and North Texas take on trucking companies and their insurers, and we are ready to fight for you, too.
The trucking company already has a team of lawyers and investigators working to protect its money, and they got started the moment the accident happened. Their job is to find ways to blame you or pay you as little as possible. You should not have to face that kind of pressure alone, especially while you are trying to heal and take care of your family.
The good news for you and your family is that trucking companies are required by federal law to carry insurance policies of at least $750,000, and many carry $1 million or more.[3] That means there is real money available to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain this accident has caused. The bad news is that the insurance company will fight hard to keep as much of that money as it can. An experienced truck accident lawyer in Dallas knows how to hold trucking companies accountable for breaking federal safety rules, and can make sure you get the compensation you actually deserve instead of a lowball offer designed to make you go away.[4]
After a serious truck accident, you need more than just a lawyer who will file some paperwork and wait for a check. You need a team that will move fast, dig deep, and fight hard to get you and your family what you deserve. At Jim Adler & Associates, we have been standing up for injured Texans since 1973, and we bring more than 50 years of experience to every case we handle.
Trucking companies know that evidence disappears quickly after an accident. Electronic data from the truck’s computer can be overwritten within days, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses gets recorded over if no one asks for it. People who witnessed the truck accident forget details or move away. The trucking company’s lawyers understand all of this, which is why they send investigators to the scene right away.
A truck accident lawyer Dallas families rely on can help level the playing field. At Jim Adler & Associates, our team moves just as fast as the insurance companies. We send preservation letters demanding that the trucking company secure all evidence related to your accident. We work to obtain the truck’s electronic control module data, the driver’s logs, dash cam footage, and maintenance records before anything gets lost or destroyed. The sooner you call us, the more evidence we can protect.
Trucking accident cases are expensive to fight. You need accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, economists who can calculate your future losses, and investigators who can dig into the trucking company’s safety record. Many law firms do not have the resources to go up against a big trucking company and its well-funded insurance carrier.
Jim Adler & Associates has a team of more than 30 attorneys and 300 legal professionals. We have the financial resources to build your case the right way, and we are not afraid to take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement. Our track record includes multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for truck accident victims, including a $25 million wrongful death settlement and a $16 million recovery for a family who lost a loved one in an 18 Wheeler accident.
When you call our firm, you will not be passed off or left wondering what is happening with your case. You work directly with a dedicated Dallas truck accident attorney and a legal team that keeps you informed every step of the way. We know that a truck accident affects your whole family, and we treat you like a person, not just another case number.
We can also help you get the medical care you need, even if you are worried about how to pay for it. Through a Letter of Protection, doctors in our trusted network can provide treatment now and wait for payment until your case is resolved. Your job is to focus on getting better, and our job is to handle everything else.
You should never have to pay out of pocket to find out if you have a case or to get a lawyer working for you. At Jim Adler & Associates, your consultation is free, and we handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis.* That means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.*
With thousands of Dallas truck accident lawsuits filed, our numbers speak for themselves.
Dallas is one of the most dangerous places in the country for truck accidents, and the numbers help explain why. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that Dallas County and Harris County together account for nearly half of all commercial motor vehicle accidents in Texas.[1] Dallas County consistently ranks as the second-highest county in the state for truck accidents, with thousands of collisions involving 18 wheelers and other commercial vehicles every year.[5] Many of these accidents happen on the major freight corridors that cut through the Dallas area, including I-35E, I-20, I-30, I-635, and US-75.
These are not just numbers on a page. Every one of these accidents represents a real person whose life was turned upside down, often through no fault of their own. If you were hurt on one of these Dallas roads, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not some rare event. Truck accidents happen in Dallas every single day because of the massive volume of commercial traffic moving through the region. Understanding how common these accidents are can help you see why it is so important to have experienced legal help on your side, and why trucking companies and their insurers fight so hard to avoid paying what victims deserve.
Truck accidents rarely happen by chance, and most of them trace back to someone failing to follow the rules of the road or their company’s rules. The driver, the trucking company, or both may have cut corners on safety in ways that put innocent people at risk. Federal regulations exist specifically to prevent these kinds of truck accidents, yet violations remain alarmingly common across the industry. Understanding how these accidents happen can help injured people recognize when they have a valid claim against a negligent trucking company or driver.
The causes outlined in this section represent patterns that experienced truck accident lawyers see over and over again. When these safety failures lead to a serious accident, the people responsible should be held accountable for the harm they cause. Our team at Jim Adler & Associates knows how to investigate these cases and find the evidence that proves what went wrong and who is at fault.
Federal law strictly limits how long truck drivers can stay behind the wheel because exhausted drivers cause accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that property-carrying drivers may only drive for 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, and they cannot drive past the 14th hour after coming on duty.[6] Drivers must also take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving and cannot exceed 60 or 70 on-duty hours in a seven or eight-day period.[6] Despite these rules, the FMCSA’s Large Truck Crash Causation Study found that 13 percent of commercial motor vehicle drivers were considered fatigued at the time of their accident.[7]
Trucking companies are required to use electronic logging devices (ELD) to track their drivers’ hours, and this data can prove whether a driver violated federal rest requirements before an accident.[8] An experienced accident attorney Dallas victims hire can obtain ELD records, fuel receipts, toll records, and dispatch logs to reconstruct exactly how long a driver was on the road. When the evidence shows that a fatigued driver caused your accident because they or their company violated hours-of-service rules, both parties may be held liable for your injuries.
The trucking industry has struggled for years to find enough qualified drivers, and this shortage creates pressure to put people behind the wheel who may not be ready for the job. Some trucking companies respond by lowering their hiring standards, bringing on drivers with poor safety records or insufficient training. Operating an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer requires specialized skills that take time to develop, and drivers who lack proper training may not know how to handle dangerous situations on the road.
Trucking companies have a legal duty to thoroughly vet the drivers they hire and to provide adequate training before sending them out on delivery routes. When a company hires a driver with prior violations, fails to verify their qualifications, or skips essential safety training to fill a seat faster, that company shares responsibility for any accidents the driver causes. Our attorneys investigate the hiring and training practices of trucking companies involved in serious accidents to determine whether negligent decisions contributed to our clients’ injuries.
Commercial trucks require constant maintenance to operate safely, yet some trucking companies skip inspections and ignore warning signs to save money and keep their trucks on the road. Worn brake pads, bald tires, faulty lighting systems, and steering problems are all preventable issues that can directly cause serious accidents. Federal regulations require carriers to inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles, and every truck must undergo a thorough pre-trip inspection before each run.[4] When a trucking company fails to maintain its equipment properly and that failure causes an accident, the company can be held liable for the resulting accident.
Overloaded and improperly secured cargo presents another serious danger on Texas highways. Federal weight limits exist because overloaded trailers are harder to stop, more prone to tire blowouts, and more likely to tip over during turns or sudden maneuvers. Cargo that shifts during transport can also cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. Our attorneys review bills of lading, cargo weight tickets, and securement records to determine whether overloading or improper loading contributed to an accident.
Speeding dramatically increases both the likelihood and severity of truck accidents because large trucks need much more distance to stop than passenger vehicles. At highway speeds, a fully loaded tractor-trailer may require the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop. Evidence such as the truck’s event data recorder, skid marks at the scene, and witness statements can prove that a driver was traveling too fast for conditions or exceeding the posted speed limit.
Distracted driving has become one of the most dangerous behaviors in the trucking industry, and a 2009 FMCSA study found that drivers were engaged in non-driving tasks in 71 percent of large truck accidents.[9] Cell phones, GPS devices, dispatching equipment, eating, and even reaching for objects in the cab all take a driver’s attention away from the road. Commercial drivers also face stricter alcohol limits than other motorists, with federal regulations setting the blood alcohol concentration limit at 0.04 percent rather than the standard 0.08 percent.[10] Our team can subpoena phone records, dash cam footage, and toxicology reports to prove that distracted or impaired driving caused your truck accident in Dallas.
Many Dallas truck accidents happen simply because a driver ignored basic traffic laws that every motorist must follow. Unsafe lane changes are especially dangerous with large trucks because of the massive blind spots that extend along both sides, behind the trailer, and directly in front of the cab. Running red lights or stop signs, failing to yield the right of way, and following other vehicles too closely are all violations that truck drivers commit every day on Dallas roads.
Other accident causes include jackknife incidents where the trailer swings out from behind the cab, rollover accidents on curves or highway ramps, and collisions caused by adverse weather conditions that a properly trained driver should have anticipated. Some accidents also trace back to negligent hiring practices, where a trucking company failed to check whether a driver had a history of accidents or violations.
Whatever caused your accident, you deserve to know the truth about what happened and who should be held responsible. The Texas Hammer® has spent more than 50 years fighting for injured Texans against trucking companies and their insurers, and we know how to dig into the evidence and build a case that gets results. Call us today for a free consultation, and let our team start fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Our Dallas truck accident lawyers help Texans get the financial compensation they deserve. We only get paid if you win.* And we fight to win.
If you have been hit by a commercial truck, you already know how terrifying and violent these collisions can be. A fully loaded 18 Wheeler can weigh 20 to 30 times more than a passenger car, which means the people in smaller vehicles almost always suffer the worst injuries. Understanding the type of accident you were in can help you recognize the challenges ahead and why having an experienced legal team matters.
No matter what type of truck accident caused your injuries, The Tough, Smart Lawyer® is here to help you understand your options and fight for the compensation you deserve.
The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks mean that people in passenger vehicles often suffer devastating injuries when these collisions occur. Even accidents at moderate speeds can leave victims with injuries that change their lives forever, requiring months or even years of medical treatment and rehabilitation. If you are dealing with serious injuries after a truck accident, understanding what you are facing can help you make informed decisions about your medical care and your legal options.
The violent force of a truck collision can cause your head to strike the steering wheel, window, dashboard, or other surfaces inside your vehicle. These impacts can result in skull fractures, bleeding in the brain, and diffuse axonal injury, where the brain’s internal connections are torn. Even a concussion that seems minor at first can lead to lasting problems with memory, concentration, mood, and behavior.
Many truck accident victims do not realize they have a brain injury until days or weeks after the accident, when symptoms begin to interfere with daily life. Headaches, confusion, difficulty sleeping, personality changes, and trouble completing tasks are all warning signs that something is wrong. These injuries often require extensive neurological treatment and may permanently affect your ability to work and enjoy life the way you did before the accident.
Your spine absorbs tremendous force during a truck accident, and the damage can range from painful herniated discs to complete paralysis. When the spinal cord itself is damaged, victims may lose feeling and movement below the point of injury, sometimes permanently. Even injuries that do not affect the spinal cord can cause chronic pain that makes it difficult to sit, stand, walk, or perform basic activities.
Back injuries from truck accidents frequently require surgery, physical therapy, pain management, and ongoing medical care that can last for years. Many victims find that they can no longer work in their previous occupation or enjoy hobbies and activities that once brought them happiness. The financial and emotional toll of living with a spinal injury extends far beyond the initial medical expenses.
Truck accidents can involve hazards that other vehicle collisions do not, including fuel fires, chemical spills from hazardous cargo, and heavy debris that pins victims inside their vehicles. Severe burns require specialized treatment at burn centers, often involving multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and painful rehabilitation. The scarring and disfigurement from serious burns can affect victims for the rest of their lives.
Lacerations from broken glass and torn metal can cause permanent scarring and nerve damage, while crush injuries occur when parts of the vehicle collapse onto occupants or when victims become trapped beneath truck parts. These injuries often require emergency surgery and can result in long-term complications, including chronic pain, limited mobility, and increased risk of infection.
The blunt force trauma of a truck collision can damage internal organs even when there are no visible wounds on the outside of the body. Ruptured spleens, lacerated livers, punctured lungs, and internal bleeding are all life-threatening conditions that require immediate emergency surgery. Victims may not realize the severity of their internal injuries until their condition becomes critical.
Broken bones are extremely common in truck accidents, and the fractures are often more severe than those seen in typical car crashes. Shattered pelvises, crushed legs, broken ribs, and compound fractures where the bone pierces the skin all require extensive surgical repair and lengthy recovery periods. Many victims need metal plates, screws, or rods implanted permanently, and some fractures never heal properly despite the best medical care.
In the most catastrophic truck accidents, victims may lose arms, legs, hands, or feet either during the collision itself or through surgical amputation when doctors cannot save a crushed limb. Learning to live with an amputation requires not only physical rehabilitation and prosthetic devices but also profound emotional adjustment. Many amputees struggle with phantom pain, depression, and the challenge of relearning how to perform everyday tasks.
Tragically, many truck accidents result in death, leaving families to cope with sudden and devastating loss. When a loved one dies because of a trucking company’s negligence or a driver’s reckless behavior, surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. No amount of money can replace someone you love, but holding the responsible parties accountable can provide financial security and a measure of justice.
For more details about how claims work, see our guide on understanding personal injury claims.
Physical injuries are not the only wounds that truck accident victims carry with them. The terror of the collision itself, the pain of recovery, and the stress of dealing with mounting bills and an uncertain future all take a psychological toll. Many victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and an inability to drive or even ride in a vehicle without intense fear.
Depression, anxiety, and emotional distress are real injuries that deserve recognition and treatment just like broken bones or brain injuries. These psychological effects can strain relationships, interfere with work, and diminish your quality of life for years after the accident. As The Voice of The Victims™, we believe that every aspect of your suffering should be accounted for when seeking compensation from the people who caused your injuries.
The moments after a truck accident can be overwhelming, and it is hard to think clearly when you are hurt, scared, and trying to process what just happened. Taking certain steps in the hours and days following your accident may help protect both your health and your ability to seek compensation later. The following suggestions are general guidelines only, and your specific situation may require different actions depending on the circumstances.
Every truck accident is different, and you should always prioritize your health and safety above everything else. If you have questions about your specific situation or want to understand your legal options, The Texas Hammer® is here to help with a free consultation.*
One of the biggest differences between a regular car accident and a truck accident is the number of people and companies who might share responsibility for what happened. Unlike a crash between two passenger vehicles, where blame usually falls on one driver or the other, truck accidents often involve a web of businesses that all played a role in creating a dangerous situation on the road. Figuring out who is responsible matters because each party typically carries its own insurance, and identifying everyone at fault can significantly increase the compensation available to cover your injuries.
The truck driver is often the most obvious person to blame, but they are rarely the only one who is responsible for an accident. The trucking company that hired the driver may be liable if they failed to properly screen, train, or supervise their employees, or if they pressured drivers to violate safety rules to meet delivery deadlines. The company that loaded the cargo could be responsible if improper loading caused the truck to tip over or lose control, while the company that owns the trailer might share blame if they failed to maintain it properly.
Other potentially responsible parties include maintenance contractors who were supposed to inspect and repair the truck, parts manufacturers whose defective components contributed to the accident, and freight brokers who hired unqualified carriers to save money. In some cases, even government entities can be held accountable if poorly designed roads or missing signage played a role. Our Dallas truck accident lawyers investigate every link in the chain to make sure no responsible party escapes accountability.
To hold someone legally responsible for your injuries, you generally need to show four things. First, you must establish that the person or company had a duty to act safely, which is usually straightforward since everyone on the road has an obligation not to hurt others through careless behavior. Second, you need to prove they failed to meet that duty by doing something wrong or failing to do something they should have done.
Third, you must connect their failure directly to the accident that hurt you, showing that the crash would not have happened if they had acted responsibly. Finally, you need to document the actual harm you suffered, including your medical expenses, lost income, pain, and other losses. For example, if a truck driver was texting behind the wheel and rear-ended your vehicle, they breached their duty to pay attention to the road, that breach caused the collision, and your broken bones and hospital bills are the resulting damages.
Strong evidence is what separates successful truck accident claims from those that fail. Police reports provide an official account of what officers observed at the scene, while photographs of the vehicles, road conditions, and your injuries create a visual record that can be powerful in negotiations or at trial. The truck’s electronic logging device records show whether the driver violated federal rest requirements, and the electronic control module, which works like a black box, can reveal the truck’s speed and braking in the seconds before impact.
Maintenance records may show that the trucking company knew about mechanical problems and ignored them, while driver qualification files can expose inadequate training or a history of safety violations. Witness statements from people who saw the accident or noticed the driver behaving erratically provide independent support for your version of events. Jim Adler, The Texas Hammer®, and our legal team know exactly what evidence to pursue and how to obtain it before trucking companies have a chance to make it disappear.
Serious truck accidents leave victims facing enormous financial pressure. You may be unable to work while treatment expenses continue to pile up. Understanding what types of compensation you may be entitled to can help you make informed decisions about your case and avoid settling for less than you need to fully recover.
Economic damages cover the financial losses you can calculate and document with receipts, bills, and pay stubs. Medical expenses are often the largest category, including emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, medications, physical therapy, and any future treatment your doctors say you will need. Rehabilitation costs for serious injuries can stretch over months or years, and you may need specialized equipment, home modifications, or in-home care to manage your recovery.
Lost wages compensate you for the income you missed while you were too hurt to work, but the impact often goes beyond your immediate paycheck. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job or limit the type of work you can do in the future, you may be entitled to compensation for your diminished earning capacity over the rest of your working life. Property damage covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any personal belongings destroyed in the accident.
Not every loss from a truck accident shows up on a bill or bank statement. Non-economic damages recognize the human cost of your injuries, including the physical pain you have endured and will continue to experience during your recovery. Emotional distress covers the anxiety, depression, fear, and psychological suffering that often accompany serious injuries, while loss of enjoyment of life compensates you for hobbies, activities, and experiences you can no longer participate in because of what happened.
Permanent scarring and disfigurement can affect your self-confidence and how others perceive you, and Texas law allows compensation for these lasting changes to your appearance.[11] If your injuries have damaged your relationship with your spouse, including your ability to provide companionship, support, and intimacy, your spouse may have a separate claim for what the law calls loss of consortium.[13] These damages are harder to quantify than medical bills, but they represent real harm that deserves fair compensation.
In most cases, compensation focuses on making you whole by covering your losses. However, Texas law allows for an additional category called exemplary damages, commonly known as punitive damages, when the person or company that hurt you acted with fraud, malice, or gross negligence.[13] These damages are designed to punish especially reckless or intentional behavior and discourage others from acting the same way.
Punitive damages might apply if a trucking company knowingly forced drivers to violate federal rest requirements, falsified safety records, or continued operating trucks they knew were dangerous. While these damages are not available in every case, they can significantly increase your total recovery when the evidence shows truly outrageous conduct. Our truck accident attorneys evaluate every case for potential punitive damages and pursue them aggressively when the facts support it.
Texas law sets strict deadlines for filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, and missing these deadlines can permanently destroy your right to seek compensation. Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for your injuries.[11] Wrongful death claims must also be filed within two years from the date of the victim’s death.
Two years may sound like plenty of time, but building a strong truck accident case requires extensive investigation, and critical evidence can disappear quickly if you wait too long. Bill Adler and our legal team encourage you to contact us as soon as possible after your accident so we can begin protecting your rights and collecting the evidence you need to pursue full compensation.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident, you do not have to face the trucking companies and their insurers alone. The Texas Hammer® has spent more than 50 years standing up for injured Texans, and we are ready to fight for you, too. Our team will investigate your truck accident, identify every responsible party, and pursue the full compensation you deserve while you focus on healing. You pay nothing unless we win your case, and your initial consultation is completely free.* Call us today or fill out the form on this page to get started.
After a serious truck accident, you probably have a lot of questions about what comes next and how to protect your family’s future. The answers below address some of the concerns we hear most often from people in your situation. If you have questions that are not covered here, our team is always available to speak with you directly.
Truck accidents often involve multiple parties who may share responsibility for what happened. The truck driver is an obvious potential defendant, but the trucking company that employed them can also be held liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or pressuring drivers to violate safety rules. If improper loading caused the accident, the company that loaded the cargo may be responsible, and if faulty brakes or other mechanical failures played a role, the maintenance provider or parts manufacturer could be on the hook as well.
Identifying all responsible parties matters because each one typically carries separate insurance coverage. A truck driver’s personal policy has limits, but the trucking company is required to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage under federal regulations, and many carry much more.[3] Our attorneys investigate every potential defendant to make sure you have access to the maximum insurance coverage available.
The value of your case depends on the specific facts of your situation, including how badly you were hurt, how much your medical treatment costs, how much income you have lost, and how the accident has affected your daily life and relationships. Truck accidents tend to result in larger settlements and verdicts than regular car accidents because the injuries are often more severe, and more insurance coverage is typically available.
We cannot promise a specific dollar amount without understanding your full situation, but we can promise that we will fight for every dollar you deserve. Our team does not accept lowball settlement offers just to close cases quickly, and we are fully prepared to take your case to trial if that is what it takes to get you fair compensation.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.[11] If a loved one died in the accident, wrongful death claims must also be filed within two years of the date of death.[11] Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to seek compensation forever, no matter how strong your case might be.
Two years can pass faster than you expect, especially when you are focused on recovering from serious injuries. Important evidence can also disappear during that time if no one is working to preserve it. We encourage you to contact an attorney as soon as possible so we can protect your rights and start building your case while the evidence is still available.
Strong truck accident cases rely on thorough documentation from multiple sources. Police reports provide an official account of the accident, while medical records document your injuries and connect them to the collision. Photographs of the scene, the vehicles, and your injuries create a visual record that can be powerful evidence, and witness statements from people who saw what happened provide independent support for your version of events.
Truck-specific evidence is equally important and often requires legal action to obtain. Electronic logging device records show whether the driver violated federal hours-of-service rules, and the truck’s electronic control module can reveal speed and braking data from the moments before impact.[8] Maintenance records, driver qualification files, and cargo documentation can expose safety violations that contributed to your accident. Our team knows how to obtain and preserve this evidence before trucking companies have a chance to destroy it.
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, you can still recover compensation even if you were partially responsible for the accident.[12] Your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault, so if you were found to be 20 percent at fault and your total damages were $100,000, you would receive $80,000.
However, there is an important limit to this rule. If you are found to be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident, you cannot recover anything at all. Insurance companies know this and often try to shift as much blame as possible onto the injured person. Our attorneys fight back against these tactics and work to make sure fault is assigned fairly based on the evidence.
We strongly recommend that you speak with an attorney before giving any statements to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster. These adjusters are trained professionals whose job is to protect their company’s money, not to help you. They often reach out to accident victims within hours of a crash, hoping to get recorded statements or quick settlements before people understand the true value of their claims.
Anything you say to an adjuster can be used against you later to reduce your compensation. Even innocent comments about feeling fine or apologizing out of habit can be twisted to suggest your injuries are not serious or that you were at fault. Let our team handle all communications with the insurance companies so you can focus on your recovery without worrying about saying the wrong thing.
Before you give a recorded statement, a truck accident attorney Dallas crash victims rely on can take over communications and protect you from questions designed to shift blame.
If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, including the income you have already missed and the earnings you will lose in the future. Calculating future lost income requires analyzing your work history, your earning potential, and how your injuries will affect your ability to work over the rest of your career. In cases involving permanent disabilities, these damages can be substantial.
You may also be entitled to compensation for lost benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions, as well as diminished earning capacity if you can work but not at the same level as before. Our team works with economic experts when necessary to accurately calculate the full financial impact of your injuries and make sure nothing is left on the table.
The majority of truck accident cases settle before reaching trial, but the key to getting a good settlement is being fully prepared to go to court if necessary. Insurance companies know which lawyers are willing to take cases to trial and which ones will accept whatever offer is put on the table. When the defense knows you have a legal team that is ready and able to present your case to a jury, they have much more incentive to offer fair compensation.
At Jim Adler & Associates, we prepare every case as if it is going to trial, even while we pursue settlement negotiations. This approach consistently produces better outcomes for our clients because the insurance companies know we are not bluffing when we reject inadequate offers.
The timeline for resolving a truck accident case varies significantly depending on factors like the complexity of your injuries, how many parties are involved, whether liability is disputed, and how cooperative the insurance companies are. Some straightforward cases settle within a few months, while complex cases involving catastrophic injuries or multiple defendants can take a year or longer.
One factor that often extends the timeline is waiting until you reach maximum medical improvement, the point at which your doctors can say your condition is stable and predict your future medical needs. Settling too early, before you know the full extent of your injuries, can leave you without enough money to cover the treatment you will need down the road. We balance the need for a timely resolution with the importance of ensuring your settlement fully accounts for your long-term needs.
After an 18 Wheeler accident in Dallas, you need a team that knows how to take on trucking companies and their insurers. Jim Adler & Associates steps in to secure evidence, handle insurance communications, and build your case while you focus on recovery. We fight big trucking companies with thorough preparation and aggressive representation, not empty promises. Our team is available to speak with you in both English and Spanish.
We offer a free case review so you can understand your options before you commit. No fee unless we win.* Truck accident cases move fast, and early action protects your rights and preserves critical evidence. The Texas Hammer® is here for injured Texans and their families. If an 18 Wheeler turned your life upside down in Dallas or anywhere in the DFW metroplex, let our team carry the legal load so you can focus on healing.
[1] Texas Department of State Health Services, “Commercial Motor Vehicle Traffic Incidents in Texas,” EMS and Trauma Registries Data Brief. https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/injury/EMST-Registries/Data/DSHS-EMSTR-CMV-DataBrief-Jan2025.pdf
[2] National Safety Council. Large Trucks: Data Details. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/large-trucks/data-details/
[3] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Insurance Filing Requirements,” U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/insurance-filing-requirements
[4] Whip Around. Why Are Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspections Required? https://whiparound.com/why-are-pre-trip-vehicle-inspections-required/
[5] Texas Department of Transportation, Crash Records Information System (CRIS), Motor Vehicle Crash Statistics. https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/division/trf/crash-records/2024/30.pdf
[6] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Summary of Hours of Service Regulations,” U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/summary-hours-service-regulations
[7] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “CMV Driving Tips – Driver Fatigue,” U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/cmv-driving-tips-driver-fatigue
[8] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Electronic Logging Devices,” U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/electronic-logging-devices
[9] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations,” U.S. Department of Transportation, September 2009. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/DriverDistractionStudy.pdf
[10] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Regulations – Alcohol,” 49 CFR 392.5, U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-392/subpart-A/section-392.5
[11] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 16, Section 16.003, “Two-Year Limitations Period.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm
[12] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 33, Section 33.001, “Proportionate Responsibility.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.33.htm
[13] Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41. Damages. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/cp/htm/cp.41.htm
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