Truck accident
Truck Accident Attorneys in Lubbock, Texas
The firms in this guide
1. Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers (GVILAW)
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer crashes, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, oilfield accidents, construction accidents, pipeline explosions
Case Types Handled: Driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, overloaded truck accidents, jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, cargo spill accidents
Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver log analysis, vehicle maintenance record investigation, black box data retrieval, evidence preservation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Over 35 years of experience handling serious personal injury cases. Serve Lubbock and surrounding West Texas communities including Crosby, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Hockley, Terry, Lynn, and Garza counties. Also serve Eastern New Mexico. Handle cases on I-27, US-62, and local roads throughout the region.
Location: Lubbock, TX
Contact: (806) 741-0284 | 888-570-3628 | https://gvilaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis (no payment unless case is won)
2. Liggett Law Group, P.C.
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, semi-truck collisions, 18-wheeler crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, oilfield accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Driver negligence accidents, trucking company negligence, mechanical failure accidents, brake failure accidents, overloaded truck accidents, fatigued driver accidents
Legal Services: Trucking regulations investigation, evidence gathering, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Led by Ted Liggett. Focus on fighting for rights of injury victims against insurance companies and large corporations. Experience handling complex truck accident cases requiring investigation of multiple liable parties.
Location: Lubbock, TX
Contact: https://liggettlawgroup.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation
3. The Witt Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, trucking accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, oilfield injuries, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Driver negligence accidents, speeding accidents, distracted driving accidents, fatigued driving accidents, mechanical failure accidents
Legal Services: Case investigation, evidence collection, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Matt Witt is recognized for dedicated representation of clients. Known for relentless pursuit of justice in personal injury matters. Licensed to practice in Texas and New Mexico.
Location: 1500 Broadway St., Suite 102A, Lubbock, TX 79401
Contact: (806) 507-0404 | https://www.mattwittlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available
4. Perrin Law PLLC
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, trucking company negligence, 18-wheeler crashes, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death, oilfield accidents, construction accidents
Case Types Handled: Driver negligence accidents, fatigued driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, mechanical failure accidents, brake failure accidents, cargo shift accidents
Legal Services: Federal trucking regulations investigation, evidence preservation, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, punitive damages, wrongful death claims
Background: James Perrin has over 20 years of experience fighting for injury victims and families. Has tried cases to verdict in courtrooms across Texas and handled complex personal injury and wrongful death claims in eight different states. Earned Top 50 Personal Injury verdict in Texas in 2022.
Location: Lubbock, TX
Contact: https://perrinlawtexas.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee basis
5. The Gorilla Law Firm
Practice Focus: Truck accidents, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, commercial vehicle crashes, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Drunk driving truck accidents, fatigued driver accidents, distracted driving accidents, negligent truck operation, brake failure accidents
Legal Services: Investigation, evidence gathering, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, wrongful death claims
Background: Over $500 million recovered for injured clients in North Texas and New Mexico. Provides representation for personal injury victims in Lubbock and Northwest Texas, as well as Hobbs, New Mexico. Focus on protecting client rights against insurance company tactics.
Location: Lubbock, TX (serves Northwest Texas and Hobbs, NM)
Contact: (806) 375-3855 | https://www.gorillalawfirm.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation
Driving Window, Driver Files and Scene Duties in Lubbock Truck Crash Claims
A Lubbock truck crash claim can turn on how long the driver had been on duty, whether the driver was qualified, and what records the carrier kept. Texas law adds duties for every driver at the scene and decides when a single defendant answers for the whole recovery.
The Daily Driving Window
Except as otherwise provided in 49 CFR 395.1, 49 CFR 395.3(a) requires a property-carrying driver to have 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving, limits driving to 11 hours, bars driving after the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and bars driving once more than 8 hours of driving time have passed without a consecutive 30-minute interruption.
Driver Files and Records
Except as provided in subpart G, 49 CFR 391.11(b) requires a driver to be at least 21, to read and speak English sufficiently, to be able to safely operate the vehicle, to be physically qualified, to hold one currently valid commercial license, not to be disqualified, and to have completed a road test or an accepted equivalent. Under 395.8(k)(1), duty-status records and supporting documents are kept at least 6 months, and under 390.15(b) the accident register is kept for 3 years.
Duties at the Scene
Under Texas Transportation Code 550.021(a) and 550.023, the driver of a vehicle in a collision that results or is reasonably likely to result in injury or death must stop, determine whether anyone needs aid, remain at the scene, give name, address, registration number and liability insurer, show a driver’s license on request and provide reasonable assistance to anyone injured.
When One Defendant Pays the Whole Recovery
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.013, a liable defendant pays only its own percentage of the damages, unless its percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent, in which case it is also jointly and severally liable for all of the claimant’s recoverable damages.
Lubbock 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 $250,000 in damages and 40 percent of the responsibility on the injured driver: the recovery would be $150,000.
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.
What if a state truck or state road condition caused the crash?
Under Section 101.021, a governmental unit is liable for injury from an employee’s operation or use of a motor-driven vehicle when the employee would be personally liable, and for injury caused by a condition or use of tangible personal or real property; under 101.023(a), the state’s liability is limited to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death. Under 101.101, the state is entitled to notice within six months after the incident unless it had actual notice of the injury, and under 101.055(2) the chapter does not reach an employee’s emergency response that complied with the laws for emergency action or, where none applies, was not taken with conscious indifference or reckless disregard for others’ safety.