Trucks and commercial vehicles
Dallas 18 wheeler and truck accident lawyer.
When an 18 wheeler hits you, the trucking company usually sends its own investigators and lawyers within hours. The truck's black box, the driver's electronic logs and the dashcam video can be erased or overwritten in weeks unless someone demands that they be kept. We send that demand right away, find every company behind the truck, and build your claim on the data, not on the driver's version. Free consultation in English or Spanish.
Right now
If the truck crash just happened.
- 01
Get checked by a doctor today
The weight of a loaded truck causes injuries that do not always hurt right away: brain, spine, internal organs. Go to the ER or your doctor and tell them a commercial truck hit you.
- 02
Write down the truck's numbers
Take photos of the cab door and the trailer. The company name, the USDOT number, the trailer number and the plates tell us who owns the truck, who hired the driver and which insurance applies.
- 03
Get the police report number
Truck crashes on interstates are often worked by DPS troopers or a sheriff's deputy, not city police. Write down the agency, the officer's name and the case number for the crash report (CR-3).
- 04
Do not talk to the trucking company's people
Adjusters and investigators for the carrier may call or even show up. You do not have to give a statement or sign anything. Tell them your lawyer will contact them.
- 05
Call us so the evidence is preserved
The sooner a preservation letter reaches the carrier, the better the chance the black box, logs and video still exist. The first consultation is free, and we answer 24/7.
Key deadlines and numbers
- Deadline to sue
- 2 years from the crashSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.003
- Federal minimum insurance, interstate freight
- $750,000 for general freight, more for oil and hazardous loadsSource: 49 C.F.R. 387.9
- Driving limit for truck drivers
- 11 hours of driving after 10 hours off, inside a 14 hour windowSource: 49 C.F.R. 395.3
- Alcohol limit for commercial drivers
- 0.04, half the limit for regular driversSource: 49 C.F.R. 382.201
- How long carriers must keep driver logs
- 6 months, which is why we send a preservation letter right awaySource: 49 C.F.R. 395.8(k)
- If you are partly at fault
- You can recover if you are 50% or less at fault, reduced by your shareSource: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 33.001
Texas law
How Texas and federal law treat a truck crash.
A truck crash is still a negligence claim under Texas law, but the trucking company has to follow federal safety rules on hours, inspections, drug and alcohol testing and driver hiring. When a company breaks those rules, the violation is strong evidence. And because a truck usually has more than one company behind it, there is often more than one source of insurance.
| Who | Why they may share responsibility |
|---|---|
| The truck driver | Speeding, fatigue, distraction, following too close, drugs or alcohol, unsafe lane changes. |
| The motor carrier | Responsible for a driver on the job, and for its own choices: hiring, training, schedules that push drivers past their hours. |
| Owner or leasing company | Trucks and trailers are often owned by one company and run by another. |
| Shipper or loader | Overloaded or badly secured cargo can shift, spill or cause a rollover. |
| Repair shop or manufacturer | Bad brake work, worn tires or a defective part. |
Federal safety rules set the standard
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations cover driver qualification files, hours of service, inspections, maintenance and post crash drug and alcohol testing. Texas applies very similar rules to trucks that never leave the state. We request those records and compare them to what happened.
Source: 49 C.F.R. parts 390 to 399Texas truck trials can be split in two
Since 2021, a trucking company sued in Texas can ask for a two phase trial. In the first phase the jury decides whether the driver was negligent and what the damages are. Claims about the company's own hiring, training and supervision usually wait for the second phase. This changes how a case is prepared from the first day.
Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 72, subch. BCausation has to be proved with evidence
In 2025 the Texas Supreme Court reversed a verdict of about $100 million from a 2014 crash on I-20 near Odessa, holding that the truck driver's conduct was not a legal cause of the crash. Truck cases turn on exactly how the crash happened, which is why speed data, video and scene measurements matter so much.
Punishment damages have limits
When a company acted with gross negligence, Texas allows exemplary damages, but they are capped. Medical bills, lost income, pain and impairment are not subject to that cap in a truck case.
Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 41.008How we work
How we build a truck case.
Mr. Estrada reads your file and sets the strategy. Our team works the details with him, and you get updates in English or Spanish.
01
Send the preservation letter
To the carrier and its insurer, demanding they keep the engine control module (black box) data, electronic logging device records, dashcam and in-cab video, GPS, dispatch messages and the truck itself.
02
Get the driver and company records
The driver qualification file, drug and alcohol test results, inspection and maintenance reports, prior crashes and the carrier's federal safety history.
03
Reconstruct the crash
When the case calls for it, we bring in accident reconstructionists who use the speed and braking data, scene measurements and video to show exactly what happened.
04
Put a full number on your losses
For serious injuries we work with your doctors, life care planners and economists so future care and lost earning capacity are counted, not guessed.
05
Negotiate, and file suit when needed
Trucking insurers know which firms prepare cases for trial. When the offer does not match the evidence, we file in the right court and prepare the case for a jury.
Who handles it
The lawyer on the sign is the lawyer on your case.
Mr. Estrada has practiced in Texas since 2003, in state court and in the Northern, Eastern and Western federal districts of Texas. He reads the file and sets the strategy, with associates and staff who work the case alongside him. Everything is explained to you in English or Spanish.
What clients say
“Our experience with this law firm was simply everything we could've asked for. They answered all of our questions in a timely manner, followed up with us. As for pricing, it was very reasonable and honestly less than we anticipated. Last, but not least, thank you Liz and Vianey for being so helpful throughout this process.”Questions people ask us about money and paperwork.
- Who pays my medical bills right now?
- Usually your own PIP coverage, your health insurance, or a doctor who agrees to wait for the case. The trucking company's insurer almost never pays as you go. We help you set this up so treatment does not stop.
- I was driving for work when the truck hit me
- You may have a workers' compensation claim and, separately, a claim against the trucking company. Both can exist at the same time, and the comp carrier may have a lien on part of the recovery. We sort out the order.
- Do I need papers or a license to make a claim?
- If the truck caused the crash, you can make a claim. Talk to us privately about your situation. What you tell us stays between you and the firm.
Dallas and Odessa
Truck corridors we know in Dallas and West Texas.
Our Oak Cliff office on Jefferson Boulevard sits a few minutes from I-35E, I-30, I-20 and I-45, some of the busiest freight routes in Texas, plus the warehouse and distribution traffic of southern Dallas County. Our Odessa office handles 18 wheeler crashes on I-20 and the oilfield highways of the Permian Basin. When an out of state carrier moves a case to federal court, Mr. Estrada is admitted in the Northern and Western Districts of Texas.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
How is a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
There are federal safety rules, more companies involved, larger insurance policies and much more electronic evidence. The trucking company also starts defending the case right away. Those differences are why the first days matter so much.
What is a truck's black box and how long does the data last?
Most big trucks have an engine control module that can record speed, braking and throttle around a hard stop or crash. Electronic logging devices record the driver's hours. Data can be overwritten as the truck keeps working, so a written demand to preserve it should go out as soon as possible.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Texas?
Generally two years from the crash. If a city or county truck was involved, written notice can be due within months. Waiting also risks losing the electronic evidence long before the deadline.
How much insurance does a trucking company have?
Interstate carriers hauling general freight must carry at least $750,000, and many carry more. Trucks that stay inside Texas may have different minimums. We find every policy that applies, including the trailer owner and any company that shares fault.
What if a family member died in a truck crash?
The spouse, children and parents can bring a wrongful death claim, and the estate can bring the claim the person had. The deadline is generally two years from the date of death. We handle these cases with care and keep the family informed at every step.
How much does it cost to hire you?
The first consultation is free. Injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means the fee comes out of the recovery, not out of your pocket. We explain the exact terms, including case costs, before you sign.
Related situations
- Oilfield truck accidents
- Delivery and work vehicle accidents
- Car accidents
- Wrongful death
- Catastrophic injuries
- Brain injuries
- All: Personal Injury
Updated October 2026
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Two offices
Oak Cliff and Odessa.
Mon to Fri 9 to 5, Sat 9 to 12. Emergencies 24/7 by phone.
Law Office of Olegario Estrada, P.C.
We explain everything.We answer 24/7.Se habla español.
Free consultation by phone, video, or in person. Offices in Dallas and Odessa.