Truck Accident Attorneys in Houston, Texas

1. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, oilfield truck accidents, delivery truck accidents, tanker truck accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions.

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, override accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, cargo spill accidents, hazardous material truck accidents, truck fire accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, runaway truck accidents.

Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims, subrogation disputes.

Background: The firm has achieved record-setting truck accident recoveries in Texas, including a $37.5 million verdict in Dallas County in 2024. The firm maintains an undefeated trial record in truck accident cases. Attorneys focus exclusively on trucking accident litigation and have recovered billions of dollars for clients.

Location: 3040 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1550, Houston, TX 77056

Contact: (888) 603-3636 | https://www.zehllaw.com

Consultation: Free 24/7 consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery is obtained).

2. Baumgartner Law Firm

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo spill accidents.

Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, vicarious liability claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims.

Background: Houston truck accident law firm with over 35 years of experience. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for truck accident victims. Greg Baumgartner is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Location: 6711 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, TX 77069

Contact: (281) 587-1111 | https://www.txattorney.com

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis.

3. Smith & Hassler

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, construction vehicle accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries.

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo spill accidents, hazardous material accidents.

Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, property damage claims.

Background: Houston personal injury firm established over 35 years ago. The firm handles trucking accident cases throughout Texas. Attorneys are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Location: 1445 N. Loop West, Suite 325, Houston, TX 77008

Contact: (713) 739-1250 | https://www.smithandhassler.com

Consultation: Free consultation, no fee unless recovery.

4. Patrick Daniel Law

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, oilfield truck accidents, delivery truck accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions.

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, override accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents.

Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, vicarious liability claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims.

Background: Houston trial attorney with significant trucking accident experience. Patrick Daniel has secured substantial verdicts and settlements in truck accident cases. Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Location: 17225 El Camino Real, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77058

Contact: (713) 999-6666 | https://www.patrickdaniellaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement.

5. Thompson Law

Background: Personal injury firm with offices throughout Texas. The firm has recovered over $1.9 billion for personal injury clients, including truck accident victims. The firm provides same-day evidence preservation services.

Location: 909 Fannin Street, Suite 1850, Houston, TX 77010

Contact: (800) 546-6529 | https://www.1800lionlaw.com

Consultation: Free 24/7 consultation, contingency fee basis.

Hazardous Load Coverage, Carrier Proof of Insurance and City Claims in Houston Truck Crash Cases

A Houston truck crash can involve a tanker or other hazardous load, and federal rules set higher coverage amounts for those carriers and make proof of coverage available on request. If a city truck was involved, Texas sets separate liability rules, caps and a notice requirement, and the jury assigns a share of responsibility to each person involved.

Coverage for Hazardous Loads

Under 49 CFR 387.9, a for-hire carrier hauling nonhazardous property in interstate or foreign commerce in a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000; listed oil and hazardous materials not covered by the higher rows require $1,000,000, and bulk hazardous substances and listed explosive, poison and radioactive categories require $5,000,000. Under 382.201, a driver subject to the federal testing rules may not report for or remain on safety-sensitive duty with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater.

Proof of Insurance

Under 49 CFR 387.7(a), no motor carrier may operate until the required coverage is in effect. Under 387.7(d) and (e)(1), proof is an MCS-90 endorsement, an MCS-82 surety bond or an FMCSA self-insurance authorization, and that proof is public information that the carrier must produce on reasonable request.

A City Truck

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 101.021, a governmental unit is liable for injury from an employee’s operation or use of a motor-driven vehicle within the scope of employment when the employee would be personally liable. Under 101.023(c), a municipality’s liability is limited to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death, and under 101.101 the unit is entitled to notice within six months unless a ratified charter period or actual notice applies. Under 101.055(2), a claim arising from a city driver’s response to an emergency call or emergency situation falls outside the chapter if the action complied with the laws for emergency action or, absent such a law, was not taken with conscious indifference or reckless disregard for others’ safety.

Shares of Responsibility

Under Section 33.003(a), the trier of fact assigns a whole-number percentage of responsibility to each claimant, defendant, settling person and responsible third party designated under 33.004, and under 33.013(b) a defendant more than 50 percent responsible is jointly and severally liable for the claimant’s recoverable damages.

Houston Truck Accident Questions

Can I recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes, unless your percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent under Section 33.001. For example, imagine $100,000 in damages and 25 percent of the responsibility on the injured driver: the recovery would be $75,000.

How long do I have to sue the carrier?

Two years after the day the cause of action accrues under Section 16.003(a) for personal injury, and two years after the death under 16.003(b) for wrongful death.

Can my own policy pay my medical bills?

Yes, if it carries personal injury protection. Under Texas Insurance Code 1952.152, an automobile liability policy includes it unless any named insured rejects it in writing, and under 1952.151 it pays reasonable expenses arising from the accident and incurred within three years.