Truck Accident Attorneys in Houston, Texas

January 1, 2026 / Comments Off

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.

Truck Accident Laws and Regulations in Texas

Statute of Limitations: Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from truck accidents. The deadline runs from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations is also two years from the date of death.

Property Damage Claims: Claims for property damage resulting from truck accidents must be filed within two years of the accident date under Texas law.

At-Fault Insurance System: Texas operates under an at-fault insurance system. The party responsible for causing the accident is financially liable for damages.

Comparative Negligence: Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule under the proportionate responsibility statute. An injured party can recover damages only if they are 50% or less at fault for the accident. If the injured party is found to be 51% or more at fault, they are barred from recovering any damages. If the injured party is 50% or less at fault, their recovery will be reduced by their percentage of fault.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Texas requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $30,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (30/60/25).

Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements: Commercial trucks operating in interstate commerce must carry minimum liability coverage as required by federal law. Trucks carrying non-hazardous freight over 10,001 pounds must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage. Trucks hauling hazardous materials may require $1 million to $5 million in coverage depending on the cargo type.

Vicarious Liability: Texas recognizes respondeat superior, holding employers vicariously liable for accidents caused by employees acting within the scope of their employment. Trucking companies can be held liable for negligent acts of their employed drivers.

Independent Contractor Issues: Texas law addresses whether truck drivers are employees or independent contractors for liability purposes. Even if a driver is classified as an independent contractor, the trucking company may still be liable under various theories if they exercised control over the driver’s work.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: Federal trucking regulations, including hours of service rules and vehicle maintenance requirements under 49 CFR, are applicable in Texas state courts. Violations of FMCSR regulations can establish negligence.

No Damage Caps: Texas does not impose caps on economic damages in personal injury cases. Non-economic damages are not capped in most personal injury cases, though some limits apply in medical malpractice cases.

Government Entity Claims: Claims against Texas state government entities are governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act. Notice requirements and caps on damages apply to claims against governmental entities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline to file a truck accident lawsuit in Texas?

In Texas, you have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death. Missing this deadline typically bars your claim entirely. If a government vehicle was involved, additional notice requirements and different deadlines may apply. Consulting with an attorney promptly is important because trucking companies often send investigators to accident scenes immediately to gather evidence, and critical records like ELD data may be overwritten.

How does Texas’ comparative negligence rule affect my truck accident case?

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule called proportionate responsibility. You can recover compensation only if you are 50% or less at fault for the accident. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you are completely barred from recovering any damages. If you are 50% or less at fault, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you suffered $100,000 in damages and were found 25% at fault, you would recover $75,000. Insurance adjusters often try to shift blame to accident victims to reduce their company’s liability.

Who can be held liable for a truck accident in Texas?

Multiple parties may be held liable in a Texas truck accident case. These include the truck driver for negligent operation such as speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence, or violating hours of service regulations, the trucking company for negligent hiring, training, supervision, negligent entrustment, or for pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic schedules, the owner of the truck if different from the driver or trucking company, cargo loading companies for improperly secured loads, freight brokers in some circumstances, manufacturers of defective truck parts, and maintenance contractors who performed inadequate repairs. Texas applies respondeat superior, holding employers liable for employee negligence within the scope of employment.

What types of damages can I recover in a Texas truck accident case?

You may recover economic damages including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and rehabilitation costs. Non-economic damages may include physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. In cases involving gross negligence, fraud, or malice, exemplary (punitive) damages may be available to punish the defendant. Texas caps exemplary damages in most cases.

What makes truck accident cases different from car accident cases in Texas?

Truck accident cases are more complex due to several factors including federal regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, multiple potentially liable parties (driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, manufacturers), larger insurance policies (minimum $750,000 for interstate carriers), specialized evidence like electronic logging device data, driver qualification files, and vehicle inspection records, and the severity of injuries due to the size disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. Trucking companies often deploy rapid response teams to accident scenes, so preserving evidence quickly is important.