A semi truck crash in Houston changes everything instantly. Medical treatment starts immediately. Lost wages pile up. Insurance companies push for quick settlements while you’re still discovering how badly you’re hurt. Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, steps in with a proven plan. You focus on healing while we handle the fight.
Never give a recorded statement or sign medical releases before talking to Jim Adler, your Houston truck accident attorney. Insurance adjusters work for trucking companies, not for you. Jim Adler & Associates takes over all insurer contact from day one. Your medical records, key trucking documents, and updates from your doctors all become part of the case file we gather. Our team reviews how your treatment through your insurance affects your case and builds a settlement demand based on your actual diagnosis and documented losses.
Every Houston truck accident has multiple responsible parties. The truck driver, trucking company, maintenance contractors, or cargo loaders may share fault. Our Houston truck accident lawyers investigate who controlled what and which federal and state rules they may have violated. The Texas Hammer® builds your case using police reports, witness statements, photos, medical proof, lost wage documentation, and expert analysis specific to your crash. You receive regular updates about case progress and next steps, all while you focus on recovery and healing.
Jim Adler & Associates fights for maximum compensation. We focus on evidence and maintain relentless pressure on insurance companies. We never back down. We protect your rights and push your case forward until you get what you deserve.
Houston sits at the crossroads of the Gulf Coast industry and national freight routes. Heavy trucks barrel through neighborhoods, business districts, and refinery corridors around the clock. When semi trucks, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, crash into passenger vehicles, victims can face devastating injuries, mounting medical expenses, and lost wages.[7]
Texas reports hundreds of fatal crashes and thousands of injury crashes each year involving commercial motor vehicles. Recent trends show this continues across Houston’s busiest highways and interchanges.[1]
Serious truck crashes are common on the major freight routes that serve Houston’s port, refineries, and warehouse districts. Some of the most dangerous stretches include I-10 near Katy and Baytown, both the North and Gulf sections of I-45, and I-69/US-59 on the Southwest Freeway and Eastex Freeway. Wrecks are also common around the 610 Loop interchanges, along Beltway 8/Sam Houston Tollway, and on US-290, SH-288, and SH-225 running through the heavy industrial corridor.
Semi trucks need significantly more distance to stop than cars. A fully loaded truck traveling at highway speeds needs nearly two football fields to come to a complete stop.[4] Their height creates massive blind spots, and their wide turns sweep across multiple lanes. When they crash, the impact forces cause catastrophic injuries, permanent disabilities, and wrongful death.
For detailed information about heavy-vehicle cases and evidence requirements, see truck accidents.
With thousands of truck accident lawsuits filed, our numbers speak for themselves.
After a semi truck crash, you need The Texas Hammer® on your side. Jim Adler & Associates takes immediate action to preserve evidence, handle insurance companies, and build your case. We fight while you heal. We never back down and never settle for less than you deserve.
Trucking companies are required to follow strict state and federal safety rules, but many cut corners in day-to-day operations. Some push drivers past hours-of-service limits, overload trucks, skip key maintenance, or fall short on drug and alcohol testing. Our Houston truck accident lawyers understand these regulations and the ways carriers and drivers break them, and we know how to collect the proof you need. We uncover fake log entries, missed inspections, and scheduling practices that keep exhausted drivers on the road. The Texas Hammer® understands how the trucking industry really works and uses that knowledge to stand up for crash victims.
Evidence can disappear quickly after a truck accident occurs. We move immediately to secure black box data, driver logs, GPS records, maintenance files, and surveillance footage before it’s gone. This type of evidence can help prove things like how fast the truck was going, when the driver last slept, and whether the brakes failed.
Serious truck crashes rarely involve just one person or company. Responsibility can fall on the driver, the trucking carrier, the freight broker, the shipper, and even outside maintenance or repair contractors. When a wreck happens, these businesses often blame one another, while you are left dealing with the injuries and bills. Our Houston truck accident lawyers work to identify every party that played a role and every insurance policy that may apply. We dig into contracts, business relationships, and who actually controlled day-to-day operations to uncover all potential sources of coverage. When more negligent parties are held accountable, there is a greater chance of securing the full compensation you need to move forward.
Insurance companies fear The Texas Hammer®. We take over all communication from day one. We build your case with medical proof and lost wage documentation, then demand maximum compensation. When insurers refuse to pay fairly, we file suit and fight in court. We prepare every case for trial because insurance companies only pay when they know we’ll fight.
Houston’s busiest truck routes include I-45, I-69/US-59, US-290, the 610 Loop, and Beltway 8.[2] The Port of Houston generates thousands of truck trips daily through residential neighborhoods.[3] We know these roads. We know where crashes happen. We know which intersections and work zones create danger. Jim Adler & Associates has fought for Houston families for over 50 years. This type of local knowledge helps win cases.
For more on our Houston truck accidents, see Houston 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer.
Houston truck crashes aren’t fender benders. These catastrophic collisions involve massive corporations, multiple insurance companies, and complex state and federal regulations. Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, knows how to fight these cases and win.
When a large commercial truck hits your car, the injuries are devastating. Victims suffer amputations, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and broken bones. Many face years of surgeries and rehabilitation. Some victims never work again. Insurance companies try to lowball these life-changing injuries with quick settlement offers. The Texas Hammer® documents every surgery, every therapy session, and every dollar of lost income to prove the true cost of your injuries both now and in the future.
In many truck crash cases, responsibility is split among several different businesses. One company may employ the driver, another may own the tractor or trailer, a separate company may handle loading the freight, and yet another may be in charge of maintenance and repairs. When a wreck occurs, these companies often blame one another instead of accepting fault, leaving you caught in the middle. Our Houston truck accident lawyers investigate each link in this chain to identify every party whose negligence contributed to your injuries.
Most trucking companies are backed by insurance policies worth millions of dollars. A single crash can trigger several layers of coverage, including primary liability, excess, and umbrella policies, and sometimes separate cargo insurance. Every one of those insurers has lawyers and adjusters working to limit or deny your claim. The Texas Hammer® reviews each policy, evaluates how the coverages interact, and presents coordinated demands so that every insurance company is pushed to contribute its fair share toward your proven losses.
Punitive damages include extra money a jury can award to punish and deter especially bad actors. They apply only when a trucking company’s actions go beyond a simple mistake. This higher level, called gross negligence, means the company or driver knew about a serious risk and ignored it. Examples include drunk driving, falsifying logbooks to push hours, disabling safety systems, or sending out a truck with known brake problems. In those cases, the goal isn’t just to cover medical bills and lost wages. It’s to send a message that putting profit before safety has consequences.
The Texas Hammer® brings 50 years of Houston experience to complex trucking cases. We know these roads, these companies, and these tactics. We fight to win.
Different crash types require different evidence and strategies. Jim Adler & Associates examines crash patterns, vehicle damage, and trucking records to prove exactly how the collision happened. Skid marks, debris fields, and impact angles tell the story that trucking companies can try to hide.
Top-heavy trucks flip when drivers take curves too fast or swerve suddenly. This often happens when improperly loaded cargo shifts or when high winds catch empty trailers. Jim Adler & Associates investigates load distribution, tire condition, speed at rollover, and road grade. Black box data reveals steering inputs and brake patterns. We prove whether equipment failure, driver error, or improper loading caused the rollover.
Exhausted truckers drift across center lines into oncoming traffic. These crashes are almost always fatal for car occupants. The Texas Hammer® exposes hours-of-service violations, falsified logbooks, and cell phone records showing distraction. We map tire marks, review witness statements, and prove the trucker left their lane and crashed head-on into innocent victims.
When trailers swing sideways, they sweep across multiple lanes, crushing everything in their path. Jackknifes happen when truckers brake too hard, drive too fast for conditions, or lose control on wet roads. Our truck accident attorneys analyze Electronic Control Module (the truck’s computer that records speed and brake data) information for brake timing, Anti-lock Braking System activation, and speed changes. Scrape patterns and jackknife angles prove how fast the truck was going and why the driver lost control.
Semi trucks have massive blind spots, called “no-zones,” where cars disappear completely. Right turns require swinging left first, trapping cars alongside. Houston truck accident lawyers investigate mirror positioning, turn signals, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses. Paint transfer patterns prove where vehicles made contact. We show truckers failed to check blind spots before turning or changing lanes.
Too many truck accidents happen because trucking companies put profits over safety. Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, exposes their negligence and holds them accountable.
Our Houston truck accident lawyers help Texans get the financial compensation they deserve. We only get paid if you win.* And we fight to win.
Truck accidents often happen when trucking companies and drivers cut corners on safety. Understanding the most common causes of these devastating crashes is the first step in holding negligent parties accountable.
Truckers far too often like to text, watch videos, and eat while driving. Our Houston truck accident attorneys subpoena phone records, in-cab camera footage, and Electronic Control Module (the truck’s computer) data showing sudden swerves or late braking. Witnesses can also confirm seeing truckers on phones or drifting between lanes before impact.
Trucking companies often promise impossible delivery times, forcing drivers to speed. Jim Adler & Associates pulls black box data proving exact speeds at impact. We analyze skid marks, brake activation timing, and road geometry at Houston’s dangerous merge points. When truckers claim you cut them off, we prove they were speeding and couldn’t stop in time.
Drunk and drugged truckers can make serious mistakes on the road. Post-crash drug tests, prior violations, and dash camera footage expose impaired driving. Officers document bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and failed sobriety tests. The Texas Hammer® uses this evidence to pursue punitive damages (extra money awarded to punish companies for reckless behavior) against trucking companies that hired dangerous drivers.
Even without logbook violations, sleep-deprived truckers can have impaired reaction times while on the road. Pattern evidence reveals the truth, including overnight runs, back-to-back shifts, and telematics (vehicle tracking systems) showing lane departures and sudden corrections. All of these can help show that a driver was too tired to safely operate their truck.
Overloaded trucks have longer stopping distances. Improperly secured cargo shifts and causes rollovers. We examine bills of lading (shipping documents), weigh-station tickets, and load-securement photos. When companies overload trucks beyond safe limits or fail to properly secure cargo, we prove their negligence caused the accident.
Trucking companies often skip inspections to keep trucks rolling. This negligence causes disaster when worn brakes fail, or bald tires blow out at highway speeds. Jim Adler & Associates obtains Daily Vehicle Inspection Reports, maintenance logs, and work orders to prove that companies ignored dangerous defects. We show that the company knew about the problem and still sent an unsafe truck onto Houston highways.
Desperate for drivers, some companies are putting untrained rookies behind the wheel. In some cases, they skip thorough background checks, provide only minimal training, and ignore failed road tests. Our Houston truck accident lawyers examine driver qualification files, training records, and supervision notes to help prove that companies hired unqualified drivers who weren’t ready for Houston’s complex highway system.
When truck drivers change lanes without checking their mirrors or blind spots, smaller vehicles can be sideswiped, trapped, or crushed. Photos from the crash scene can reveal paint transfers, skid marks, and impact angles that show how the collision happened. The type and placement of mirrors on the truck help demonstrate just how large those blind spots really are. Evidence of missing or unused turn signals also shows that other drivers were never warned before the truck moved. The Texas Hammer® uses this evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events and prove that careless lane changes led to your truck wreck.
Some trucking companies create cultures of danger. They impose impossible delivery schedules, tie safety bonuses to miles instead of safe driving, and have dispatchers threaten drivers who refuse unsafe loads. Jim Adler & Associates can fight to obtain internal company documents showing systemic safety violations, performance metrics pushing speed over safety, and audit reports ignored by management. All can show that companies knowingly created conditions that caused the accident.
Semi-truck crashes can turn a family’s world upside down in an instant. Many victims spend weeks or months in the hospital, followed by long stretches of physical therapy and rehabilitation, and some are left with lifelong disabilities. While you are trying to heal, insurance companies move quickly to question your injuries and push for the lowest possible payout. Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, pushes back by carefully documenting every injury, every medical bill, and every dollar of income you have lost.
Truck crashes can leave people with devastating, long-term injuries. Some lose limbs and require prosthetics, others suffer spinal cord damage that results in partial or total paralysis. Traumatic brain injuries can affect memory, thinking, mood, and the ability to work. Severe internal injuries may crush or damage vital organs and lead to dangerous internal bleeding. Third-degree burns can demand multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and ongoing medical care. Injuries like these rarely affect only one area of life; they can change how a person works, moves through daily routines, and connects with family and friends.
For victims facing paralysis, see paralysis after a car accident.
Broken bones may sound straightforward, but the reality is often brutal for crash victims. Some people experience open fractures where the bone pushes through the skin, crushed vertebrae that destabilize the spine, or ribs that splinter and damage the lungs. Treatment can involve multiple surgeries, the placement of metal plates, rods, or screws, and long courses of physical therapy just to regain basic movement. Even with the best care, some victims are left with a permanent limp or changes in the way they walk, stand, and move for the rest of their lives.
The harm from a truck crash is not limited to broken bones and scars. Many survivors carry emotional injuries that are every bit as real as their physical pain. Some develop post-traumatic stress disorder, reliving the wreck through flashbacks, nightmares, or sudden panic. Others become terrified of riding in cars, struggle with overwhelming anxiety, or sink into depression after losing their independence and former way of life. Sleep problems, irritability, and withdrawal from family activities are common, and loved ones often feel like they have lost the person they knew before the crash.
Insurance companies may try to brush off these mental health problems as “all in your head” or too subjective to matter. The Texas Hammer® refuses to let that happen. Our Houston truck accident attorneys collect counseling and therapy records, psychiatric evaluations, and prescription histories to show the full scope of your emotional injuries. We also present detailed testimony from family members and close friends who have seen changes in your mood, behavior, and relationships. Our Houston truck accident lawyers pursue compensation for mental anguish and psychological harm with the same intensity and focus that we bring to your physical injury claim.
Catastrophic truck crashes often leave families buried under medical bills. Victims may spend time in trauma centers, undergo multiple surgeries, and then move through months of inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. Many people need home health aides, medical equipment like wheelchairs or braces, and ongoing prescription medications. Each specialist visit, test, and follow-up appointment adds another charge to an already overwhelming stack of bills.
The loss of income can be just as devastating to families. While you are unable to work, regular expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and groceries do not stop. Some people are never able to return to their old jobs or to any employment at all. Jim Adler & Associates carefully tracks every financial loss tied to the crash. Our team collects pay stubs to show missed wages, tax returns that reflect changes in earning capacity, and letters from employers documenting work restrictions or job loss. We also consult vocational experts to estimate how much income you are likely to lose over the course of your lifetime.
Insurance companies use computer programs to lowball your damages. They often ignore future surgeries, claim you’re exaggerating pain, or refuse to pay for psychological treatment.
Jim Adler & Associates coordinates with your doctors, economic experts, and life care planners. We prove the true cost of your injuries, not what insurance companies want to pay. You get straight answers about your case value and regular updates as we fight for maximum compensation.
Texas allows truck crash victims to recover two types of damages. Economic damages pay for your actual costs like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, and the way the crash destroyed your quality of life. When trucking companies show extreme recklessness, punitive damages (extra money awarded to punish dangerous conduct) punish their behavior and send a message. Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, proves every dollar you deserve with hard evidence, not insurance company guesses.
Trucking companies must follow hundreds of federal and state safety rules. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the agency regulating commercial trucking) sets strict limits on driving hours, vehicle inspections, and maintenance requirements.[6] Texas also has its own additional weight limits and cargo securement rules. When companies violate these regulations, they put everyone on the road at risk.
Common Federal Regulations include a maximum of 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, mandatory vehicle inspections before each trip and annual detailed inspections, drug and alcohol testing programs for all commercial drivers, electronic logging devices to track driving hours, specific load securement standards based on cargo type, and driver qualification requirements including medical certification.[5][6]
Texas State Requirements include a maximum of 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on state highways, enhanced cargo securement inspections at weigh stations, special permits required for oversized or overweight loads, compliance with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles commercial vehicle registration, and additional lighting requirements for wide loads.[7]
Texas House Bill 19 changed how truck accident cases work in court.[12] Now trials happen in two phases. First, a jury determines who caused the crash. If the trucking company is found responsible, a second phase determines the amount they must pay. This law limits the evidence victims can present in the first phase, making it harder to show the trucking company’s pattern of dangerous violations.
Jim Adler & Associates knows how to win under House Bill 19. We structure investigations and evidence to meet both phases’ requirements from day one. Houston truck accident lawyers must plan differently now, and The Texas Hammer® has the experience to navigate these new rules.
You have two years from the crash date to file a lawsuit in most Texas truck accident cases.[9] For injured children, the statute of limitations is paused until the child turns 18, meaning they generally have until their 20th birthday to file suit.[10] Insurance companies know that time works in their favor. As months pass, physical evidence can be cleaned up or thrown away, and witnesses may struggle to remember exactly what they saw or heard. Important medical records and billing documents can also be misplaced or destroyed. As soon as we’re hired, Jim Adler & Associates moves to secure proof and protect crucial evidence so your claim rests on the strongest possible foundation.
Most commercial carriers are protected by several layers of insurance that may be available to injured people. A primary liability policy is usually the first source of payment when a truck driver causes a crash. If the harm is greater than that policy’s limits, excess or umbrella coverage can add more money to the pot. There may also be separate cargo policies that, in some situations, provide an additional source of funds when freight is damaged in a serious wreck.
Within the trucking industry, very large jury awards are often labeled “nuclear verdicts.” That phrase is used when juries send a strong message about catastrophic injuries or wrongful deaths caused by unsafe companies. Rather than focusing on making families whole, many trucking interests respond by lobbying for laws that restrict what victims can recover, which protects their bottom line instead of the people they have harmed.
Jim Adler & Associates works to locate every policy that might apply to your claim. Each layer of coverage is a potential source of payment for your medical bills, lost income, and the pain and disruption the crash has caused in your life. Our team pushes every insurance company involved to contribute its fair share toward your full recovery.
Truck wrecks often pull in several different companies, and each one tries to push the blame onto someone else. A driver might point to bad weather or slick roads, the carrier may insist the driver alone is at fault, and the shop that serviced the truck can claim it never touched the brakes or other critical parts. Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, uses hard evidence to cut through these excuses and works to hold every negligent party fully responsible for the harm they caused.
Our Houston truck accident attorneys track down every company involved. We examine contracts to determine who controlled the truck, the driver, and the cargo. We identify who made decisions about routes, schedules, and safety. Each company tries to hide behind paperwork. The Texas Hammer® exposes their real involvement and their insurance coverage.
To win your case, we prove four things. First, we prove duty of care, meaning the trucking company had a legal obligation to operate safely. Second, we prove breach, showing that they violated safety rules or acted carelessly. Third, we prove causation, meaning their violations directly caused your crash and injuries. Fourth, we prove damages, demonstrating that you suffered real losses like medical expenses and lost wages.
Many trucking companies fail to live up to their safety obligations in everyday operations. Some push drivers to stay on the road beyond hours-of-service limits, skip mandatory inspections, overlook red flags in a driver’s record, or disregard Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules. Jim Adler & Associates works to show how these unsafe choices led directly to your crash, relying on physical evidence, detailed records, and expert witnesses. We then document the full extent of your harm with medical reports, wage information, and evidence of the pain and disruption the accident has caused in your life.
Strong evidence is what wins truck accident cases. The Texas Hammer® works to collect every piece of proof that can support your claim, including police reports, photographs from the crash scene, witness statements, and your medical records and bills. We also gather employment and income documents that show how much money you have lost because you cannot work.
We then turn to the trucking company for critical internal records. Our team demands driver logs, Electronic Logging Device data, GPS tracking information, dispatch communications, bills of lading, weigh-station tickets, and maintenance and repair files. When necessary, we subpoena cell phone records to uncover distracted driving. We also obtain data from the truck’s Electronic Control Module, or “black box,” which can reveal the vehicle’s speed, braking, and potential mechanical issues in the moments before the crash.
Experienced experts help us interpret this evidence. They analyze skid marks, vehicle damage, and impact angles to rebuild the collision step by step. Their reconstruction shows how the wreck happened and supports our case that the truck driver and trucking company were at fault.
Truck crashes often bring several insurance companies into the same claim, which makes the process more complicated. The trucking company’s primary liability policy is usually responsible for paying first. If the losses are higher than that policy’s limits, additional excess or umbrella policies may have to contribute. In many cases, the trucking company, the freight broker, and the cargo shipper each have their own insurers and adjusters. Every one of those insurers is looking for a way to limit what they pay, so you can end up fighting several companies at once.
The Texas Hammer® manages this complexity so you do not have to. We identify every available policy and force these companies to stop pointing fingers and pay their full share of your compensation.
Following a serious truck accident, your safety and well-being are the first priority. Here are a few things to consider doing after a truck accident in Houston.
Move to a safe location right away, if you can do so without putting yourself in more danger. Call 911 to report the crash and clearly describe where it happened. Tell the dispatcher if anyone is hurt and ask for Emergency Medical Services. Let them know about any fuel spills, cargo on the roadway, or blocked lanes so they can send the right help. Stay away from the truck and any leaking cargo. Diesel spills and unstable loads can trigger additional crashes and put you and others at serious risk.
Get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible, ideally the same day as the crash. Adrenaline and shock can hide serious injuries, and internal damage may not cause obvious symptoms right away. Prompt medical care protects your health and also creates clear medical records that tie your injuries directly to the crash.
For head injury symptoms, see concussion after a car accident.
If possible, photograph everything before the truck and your vehicle gets towed. Take wide shots showing vehicle positions, close-ups of damage, skid marks, debris patterns, traffic signs, construction zones, and weather conditions. Also, get the truck’s Department of Transportation number, trailer numbers, and company names on the door. These help identify who’s responsible.
Get the truck driver’s name, phone number, and insurance information. Record the trucking company’s legal name and their United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers from the door placard. These numbers reveal safety violations and insurance coverage.
A USDOT number is a unique ID that the federal government assigns to companies that operate large commercial vehicles, and it’s used to track their safety record, inspections, and crash history. An MC number is a separate identifier for for-hire carriers, brokers, or freight forwarders that shows they have permission to transport goods across state lines for pay. Together, these numbers link a truck on the road to its official authority, insurance filings, and safety performance in federal databases.
Use the door placard as your source. Write down the carrier’s legal name exactly as shown, and copy the USDOT and MC numbers as digits only (no extra letters or spaces).
Keep every document and record related to your injury, including medical reports, prescription receipts, travel mileage for doctor visits, and pay stubs that show lost income. Do not repair or get rid of your vehicle until a qualified expert has had a chance to inspect it. The condition of the car or truck can show how hard the impact was and help explain your injuries. The Texas Hammer® also moves quickly to send formal preservation letters to the trucking company. These letters demand that the company safeguard critical evidence such as black box data, driver logs, dispatch communications, and maintenance records before anything can be altered or destroyed.
Do not speak with the trucking company’s insurance adjuster on your own. Call Jim Adler & Associates as soon as possible before you talk to any insurance company. Adjusters often record your statements and look for anything they can twist to weaken your claim. Avoid signing any forms or authorizations they send you. Broad medical releases can give them access to your entire medical history, which they may use to argue that your injuries are unrelated to the crash.
You should also be very careful about what you post online. Even a casual photo, joke, or short comment can be taken out of context and used to suggest you are not really hurt. Insurance companies and their investigators routinely monitor social media, so it is safest to stay quiet about the truck accident and your injuries until your case is resolved.
Your first call should be to Jim Adler & Associates. Call before you give a statement and before evidence disappears. Call now. We take over immediately, protect your rights, and start building your case while the evidence is still fresh.
Houston truck accident lawyers at The Texas Hammer® know that trucking companies start covering up evidence within hours. Early representation protects your rights and preserves the evidence that wins cases. Call us before you call anyone else.
A serious truck crash can upend every part of your life, including your finances. Medical bills arrive quickly, and at the same time, your injuries keep you from earning a paycheck. While you are trying to heal and figure out how to move forward, insurance companies may push low offers that do not come close to covering a lifetime of pain, treatment, and lost opportunities. Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, works to pursue the full compensation the law allows, so you are not left to shoulder these losses alone.
Economic damages compensate you for the out-of-pocket financial losses caused by a truck crash. This category includes all medical costs, from the first emergency room visit through surgeries, hospital stays, follow-up appointments, and any future procedures or treatment you are expected to need. It also covers physical therapy, prescription medications, medical devices and equipment, and the mileage or transportation expenses you incur traveling to and from your doctors. In addition, economic damages account for the paychecks you missed while you were unable to work, the future earnings you may lose because of long-term or permanent injuries, and the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and other damaged property.
Not all of the harm from a truck crash can be measured in dollars and invoices, but it still matters. Non-economic damages recognize the physical pain that keeps you from resting, the anxiety or fear that comes from replaying the wreck in your mind, and the depression that can follow when you lose independence or the ability to live the way you once did. They also include the hobbies and everyday activities you can no longer enjoy, as well as the pressure the accident puts on your marriage and family relationships. Even though these losses do not come with bills or receipts, they are very real, and our goal is to seek compensation that genuinely reflects the impact the crash has had on your life.
In the most extreme cases, Texas law allows juries to award punitive damages to punish and deter outrageous misconduct. These damages may be available when a trucking company or driver acts with gross negligence, such as driving while intoxicated, falsifying safety or maintenance records, or knowingly sending trucks on the road with severe, uncorrected defects. Punitive awards are meant to send a clear message that choosing profits over human life carries serious consequences.
Texas reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault, but only if you’re less than 51% responsible.[11] Insurance companies exploit this rule. They may argue that you were speeding, distracted, or following too closely, so they can shift part of the blame onto you and reduce your recovery.
Jim Adler & Associates pushes back against these arguments with hard evidence. Our truck accident lawyers work quickly to secure photographs of the crash scene and document vehicle damage before anything is repaired or cleaned up. We obtain electronic data from both vehicles to show the truck’s speed, braking, and other key details in the moments before impact. We also collect medical records that connect the severity and pattern of your injuries to the actual forces of the collision, not to a minor bump or pre-existing problems. Our Houston truck accident lawyers know how to challenge unfair blame and protect your right to full compensation.
Don’t let insurance companies blame you for a crash you didn’t cause. Call The Texas Hammer® today for a free case review. We answer your questions and fight for every dollar you deserve.
Houston truck crashes leave injured people searching for clear information while insurance companies push hard for fast, low settlements. Jim Adler & Associates responds with straightforward guidance in plain language, not legalese or hollow promises. We explain what the law allows in your situation and outline the steps we’ll take to pursue the compensation you deserve.
In many Houston truck accidents, more than one person or company bears responsibility, and each may have insurance coverage that can help pay for your losses. Depending on the facts, you may have claims against the truck driver who caused the collision, the trucking company that employed or supervised the driver, the freight broker that arranged an unsafe or overloaded shipment, the maintenance shop that failed to repair worn brakes or other critical parts, the manufacturer of a defective component, or even another motorist whose careless driving set the chain of events in motion.
Jim Adler & Associates works to identify every potential defendant by following the paper and data trail that carriers cannot easily erase. Bills of lading and other shipping documents help show who controlled the load and how it was handled. Dispatch communications can reveal unrealistic schedules or pressure to rush. Driver qualification files may uncover poor training or red flags in a driving record. Electronic logging devices document hours-of-service violations, while GPS tracking data can show speeding or unsafe routing. Maintenance and inspection records may expose skipped or sloppy repairs. Phone records can support a distracted driving claim, and photographs, debris patterns, and skid marks from the scene help tell the story of how the crash actually occurred.
We also work with a network of experts to build a persuasive case on fault and damages. Accident reconstruction professionals analyze speeds, braking distances, and impact angles to explain the mechanics of the crash. Mechanical engineers evaluate failed brakes, tires, and other components to determine whether defects or poor maintenance played a role. Safety specialists compare company practices to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules to highlight dangerous policies and violations. Medical records, employment files, and wage information are gathered to document your injuries, lost income, and long-term financial harm.
Texas gives you two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit.[9] This deadline, called the statute of limitations, is strict. If you miss it, the court dismisses your case, and you lose the right to recover compensation through litigation.
For injured children, the deadline is paused until the child turns 18, meaning they generally have until their 20th birthday to file suit.[10] But waiting puts your case at risk. Physical evidence disappears, and witnesses often move away. Trucking companies destroy records after the minimum retention periods expire.
It is important to act quickly after a truck crash to protect your legal options. Trucking companies and their insurers begin building a defense right away. They send their own investigators to the scene, reach out to witnesses, and work to lock in a version of events that helps them. The more time that passes before you take action, the greater the chance that evidence disappears, memories fade, and your claim becomes harder to prove.
Texas allows you to recover compensation if you’re less than 51% at fault for the crash.[11] Your damages get reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover.
In a truck accident case, fault is based on the evidence, not just what the insurance company says. Investigators and experts may look at police reports, photographs of the scene, surveillance footage, skid marks, and damage to the vehicles. They also review black box data, cell phone records, and witness accounts, along with details such as speed at impact, following distance, turn signal use, lane position, and any violations of federal trucking safety rules. Each piece of information can shift how responsibility is divided among the people involved.
Insurance companies move quickly to build an argument that you caused most or all of the truck accident. Adjusters may insist that you were speeding, looking at your phone, or driving too close to the truck in an effort to cut the amount they have to pay.
Jim Adler & Associates answers these tactics with proof, not excuses. Our Houston truck accident lawyers work to secure photographs and vehicle damage evidence before anything changes or is repaired. We obtain electronic data that shows the truck’s speed, braking, and other key actions leading up to the collision. We also collect medical records that connect the seriousness and pattern of your injuries to the forces of the crash, rather than a minor bump or prior condition. Our Houston truck accident lawyers know how to challenge unfair blame and protect your right to pursue compensation even if the other side says you share some fault.
Truck accident claims are built on the strength of the evidence. Without solid proof, it is difficult to show who was at fault or to justify the full amount of compensation you need. Jim Adler & Associates, The Texas Hammer®, moves quickly to secure critical evidence before it can be altered, erased, or forgotten.
Scene Evidence
Truck Data and Electronics
Trucking Company Records
Medical and Financial Proof
In Texas truck accident cases, the law generally allows three categories of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Economic damages cover the financial losses you can measure in dollars and documents. Non-economic damages address the physical and emotional impact of the crash that does not show up on bills. Punitive damages are reserved for the most extreme misconduct and are meant to punish and deter dangerous behavior.
Economic damages include all of the costs you can prove with records. This often starts with medical expenses, from ambulance transport and emergency care to hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and follow-up appointments. It also includes future medical treatment you are expected to need. Lost wages and reduced earning capacity come into play when injuries keep you off the job or force you into lower-paying work. Property damage covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle and may include towing and storage fees. Our Houston truck accident lawyers collect pay stubs, tax returns, medical bills, estimates, and other financial paperwork to show the full economic hit you have taken.
Non-economic damages focus on how the truck wreck has changed your day-to-day life. These damages recognize physical pain, limitations on your movement, and discomfort that shows up in your medical chart and treatment notes. They also reflect mental and emotional injuries, such as anxiety, fear, sleep problems, or depression, that can follow a serious crash. If you can no longer enjoy hobbies, family activities, or social events the way you used to, that loss of enjoyment is part of your claim. Harm to your marriage or close family relationships, often called loss of consortium, may also be compensable. We use medical records, counseling notes, and statements from family and friends to demonstrate how deeply the collision has affected you.
Punitive damages are different from compensatory damages. They are designed to penalize a company or individual for gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing. In the trucking context, this might involve a driver operating while intoxicated, a company falsifying safety or maintenance records, or a carrier knowingly sending unsafe trucks onto busy highways. These claims require specific proof of extreme misconduct and are intended to punish the wrongdoer while warning others in the industry not to engage in similar behavior.
Insurance companies rarely accept your damages at face value. Adjusters may argue that medical treatment was unnecessary, insist that your injuries existed before the crash, or suggest that you are exaggerating your pain and limitations. Jim Adler & Associates responds with detailed documentation. We build medical timelines that link each treatment to the collision, collect records and bills for every expense, and work with your doctors to explain how the crash caused your injuries. We also collect employment records, expert economic opinions, and liability evidence to support each part of your damages claim and push for the full amount you are entitled to under Texas law.
Truck crashes involve multiple defendants with separate insurance policies. Car crashes usually involve one driver and one insurance company. Truck crashes can involve the driver, trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance contractor, parts manufacturer, and freight broker. Each has its own coverage and legal team. While Texas minimum car insurance is just $30,000 per person for bodily injury liability, trucking companies carry policies worth millions across multiple layers of coverage.[13] More defendants mean more insurance money available, but also more lawyers fighting your claim.
Truck accident cases require specialized evidence and expert analysis. Truckers must follow hundreds of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules that don’t apply to regular drivers. Truck crash claims involve a level of evidence and complexity that you rarely see in a typical car accident. Our Houston truck accident attorneys work to secure Electronic Logging Device data, black box downloads, GPS tracking information, and company safety and training records to show how federal rules and basic safety standards were violated. An 80,000-pound tractor-trailer can cause life-changing injuries, so these cases often require help from accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, vocational experts, and life care planners to explain the full impact on your health and your future.
Key proof can vanish quickly. Electronic data can be overwritten, damaged trucks may be repaired or sent to salvage yards, and paper records can “go missing” if they are not preserved. Jim Adler & Associates sends immediate preservation demands to lock down this evidence and coordinates the right experts so we can clearly demonstrate what happened and pursue every dollar the law will allow.
You pay nothing up front to hire Jim Adler & Associates. *There is no attorney’s fee unless we win. ** We work on contingency, meaning our fee comes from your settlement or verdict, not your pocket. Our fee is 35% if your case settles without filing a lawsuit and 40% if we file a lawsuit to get you fair compensation. Everything gets explained in writing before you sign.
The first few minutes and hours after a truck accident can have a major impact on both your health and your legal rights. While insurance companies and trucking carriers move quickly to protect themselves, you can take practical steps to protect your own interests if it is safe for you to do so.
Immediate Actions
Avoid These Common Mistakes
An 18 wheeler is a commercial truck consisting of a tractor unit (the cab where the driver sits) and a semi-trailer connected by a coupling device called a fifth wheel. The name comes from its 18 total wheels: typically 10 wheels on the tractor and 8 on the trailer. These trucks can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, which is 20 times the weight of the average passenger car.[7] You see them constantly on Houston highways like I-45, I-10, and the 610 Loop, hauling everything from consumer goods to chemicals for the refineries.
An 18-wheeler is a large commercial truck made up of a tractor and a trailer riding on a total of eighteen wheels. Its size and weight create risks that are very different from those of ordinary passenger cars. These trucks require much more distance to come to a complete stop, have long blind spots along both sides and behind the trailer, and must swing wide when turning, which can squeeze or trap smaller vehicles nearby. Their tall, heavy design also gives them a higher center of gravity, making them more likely to roll over when cargo is loaded incorrectly or when a driver makes a sudden maneuver.
When a fully loaded 18-wheeler weighing up to 80,000 pounds hits a car that weighs only a few thousand pounds, the smaller vehicle almost always absorbs the worst of the impact. That imbalance in size and force is why crashes with big rigs so often result in life-changing or fatal injuries. These cases are not just “big car accidents”; they involve complex federal trucking rules, multiple layers of insurance, and specialized forms of evidence such as Electronic Control Module (black box) data, electronic driver logs, and company safety records. Handling them correctly requires truck accident lawyers who know how the commercial trucking system really works.
Houston truck crashes require fighters who know these companies, these trucks, and these tactics. Jim Adler & Associates has battled trucking companies and their insurers for over 50 years. We know how to win. The Texas Hammer® fights for injured Texans and gets results. Call now and let us carry the fight while you heal.
[1] Texas Department of Transportation. Motor Vehicle Crash Statistics. https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/division/trf/crash-records/2024/01.pdf
[2] Texas Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Houston District Truck Mobility Study. TxDOT Houston District. https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/houston/district-truck-mobility-study.html
[3] Lodhia, P. (2023, November 11). Houston city leaders discussing plan to combat heavy truck traffic in residential areas. ABC13 Houston. Retrieved from https://abc13.com/post/18-wheeler-traffic-heavy-in-residential-neighborhoods-settegast-neighborhood-houston-city-council/14041518/
[4] Utah Department of Transportation. Stopping Distances. https://trucksmart.udot.utah.gov/stopping-distances/
[5] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/summary-hours-service-regulations
[6] Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations
[7] Texas Transportation Code § 621.101. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.621.htm
[8] 49 CFR § 393.86 – Rear impact guards and rear end protection. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-393/subpart-G/section-393.86
[9] Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 (Two-Year Limitations Period). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm
[10] Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001 (Effect of Disability – Minors Tolling Provision). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm
[11] Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001 (Proportionate Responsibility / Comparative Negligence). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.33.htm
[12] Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 72.051 et seq. (House Bill 19 – Commercial Motor Vehicle Trials). https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/HB00019I.htm
[13] Texas Department of Insurance. Texas Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (30/60/25). https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html
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