Truck Accident Lawyer
When a commercial truck, semi, or 18-wheeler crashes into a car, it’s not a “normal wreck.” It’s a high-force impact with high-dollar consequences—and the trucking company knows it.
If you were hit by a semi-truck, box truck, delivery truck, dump truck, or 18-wheeler in Dallas–Fort Worth, you need a law firm that treats your case like what it is: a fight.
The other side is already moving. Insurance adjusters, corporate lawyers, and “rapid response” investigators can be on the scene fast—working to shape the story, limit liability, and protect their money.
Rad Law Firm is built for this. We move immediately to secure evidence, lock down trucking records, and apply pressure where it hurts—because in truck crash litigation, speed + strategy wins cases.
Call Rad Law Firm now at 972-661-1111 for a free consultation. Rad Law Firm has been fighting for injured Texans since 1992 and has recovered over $1 billion recovered and a no-fee-unless-we-win model.
Table of Contents
Why Truck Accidents Are Different in Dallas
The Most Common Truck Crash Causes (and What We Look For)
Federal Trucking Rules That Can Make or Break Your Case
Who Can Be Held Liable After a Dallas Truck Accident?
Truck Accident Injuries We See Every Week
What Your Dallas Truck Accident Case May Be Worth
What to Do After a Truck Crash in Dallas (Protect Your Claim)
How Rad Law Firm Builds a Truck Accident Case
Deadlines and Fault Rules in Texas (Don’t Wait)
FAQs: Dallas Truck Accident Lawyer
1) Why Truck Accidents Are Different in Dallas
Truck accident claims aren’t just “car wreck claims with bigger vehicles.” They’re a different category of case—with different rules, different defendants, and different evidence.
Here’s what makes truck cases harder (and why victims get underpaid when they hire the wrong lawyer):
Multiple Defendants, Multiple Policies, Multiple Excuses
In a standard crash, you usually have one negligent driver and one insurance policy. In a trucking case, liability can involve:
The truck driver
The trucking company (motor carrier)
A trailer owner
A shipper / loader
A freight broker
A maintenance contractor
A manufacturer (brakes, tires, underride guards, etc.)
More defendants can mean more money available—but only if your lawyer knows how to identify every responsible party and prove their role.
Critical Evidence Disappears Fast
Truck cases are won with records: electronic data, logs, maintenance files, dispatch communications, inspection reports, and more. The longer you wait, the easier it is for evidence to get “lost,” overwritten, or buried behind corporate paperwork.
Trucking Companies Don’t “Negotiate Fair”
Trucking insurers don’t pay big money out of kindness. They pay when you prove liability, document damages, and show you’re prepared to take the case to trial if necessary.
That’s why Rad Law Firm approaches truck accidents with one mindset: take control early, build leverage, then demand maximum value.
2) The Most Common Truck Crash Causes (and What We Look For)
Trucks crash for predictable reasons. The trucking industry will call it “an accident.” We call it what it often is: preventable negligence—and sometimes a systemic safety failure.
Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations
Fatigue is a truck crash killer. Federal rules limit how long commercial drivers can operate without rest, including limits tied to 11-hour driving, 14-hour duty windows, and 60/70-hour weekly limits.
When drivers are pushed to meet deadlines—or ignore limits—the risk to everyone on Dallas roads spikes.
Distracted Driving in a 40-Ton Weapon
A truck drifting for even two seconds can cross lanes on I-35E or I-30 and wipe out a family. We investigate distraction evidence like:
Cell phone records
Onboard camera footage
Dispatch messages
GPS route changes or sudden braking patterns
Speeding, Tailgating, and Unsafe Lane Changes
A tractor-trailer takes longer to stop and needs more room to maneuver. Speeding or aggressive lane changes in Dallas traffic—especially around I-635, US-75, or the Dallas North Tollway—creates catastrophic rear-end and sideswipe collisions.
Poor Maintenance: Brakes, Tires, Lights, and Mechanical Failure
Some companies cut corners on maintenance to keep trucks on the road. We look for:
Brake wear and inspection failures
Tire blowout history
Skipped maintenance intervals
Repair invoices that don’t match actual condition
Out-of-service violations
Overloaded or Improperly Loaded Cargo
Cargo issues cause rollovers, jackknifes, and loss-of-control crashes. We dig into:
Bills of lading
Load securement practices
Weigh station history
Shipper/loader responsibility
Trailer stability and center-of-gravity issues
Impaired Driving (Drugs, Alcohol, Prescription Misuse)
Truck drivers are subject to strict safety standards. When impairment plays a role, we pursue:
Post-crash drug/alcohol testing records
Prior violations
Company supervision failures
Repeat-offender patterns
3) Federal Trucking Rules That Can Make or Break Your Case
Trucking cases get stronger when your lawyer understands federal safety rules and uses them as leverage.
Hours of Service (HOS)
FMCSA’s Hours-of-Service framework is designed to reduce fatigue-related crashes by limiting driving and on-duty time.
If the driver violated HOS, it can support negligence—and can expose a pattern of company pressure or poor safety controls.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
Most drivers who must keep duty-status records are covered by the ELD rule, which is intended to improve accuracy and reduce falsified logs.
ELD data can be incredibly valuable—when preserved quickly.
Weight and Force: Why Truck Wrecks Are So Devastating
On interstate highways, federal weight standards commonly cap a vehicle’s gross weight at 80,000 pounds (subject to bridge formula and exceptions).
That weight changes everything: stopping distance, impact force, and injury severity.
4) Who Can Be Held Liable After a Dallas Truck Accident?
Truck crashes often involve corporate layers designed to deflect blame. Our job is to cut through the structure and put responsibility where it belongs.
Potentially liable parties can include:
The Truck Driver
Negligence may involve fatigue, distraction, speeding, impairment, unsafe lane changes, or failure to inspect equipment.
The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)
Even if the driver caused the crash, the company may be responsible for:
Negligent hiring
Poor training
Unsafe scheduling
Inadequate supervision
Maintenance failures
Forcing unrealistic delivery deadlines
Freight Broker / Logistics Company
Brokers sometimes push carriers to move loads under dangerous conditions or ignore safety red flags.
Shipper / Loader
If cargo was improperly loaded, overweight, or poorly secured, the entity responsible for the load may share liability.
Maintenance and Repair Contractors
Third-party maintenance failures—especially brakes and tires—can create a direct line to additional defendants and coverage.
Manufacturers (Defective Parts)
Defective tires, brakes, underride guards, or other components can create product liability claims in the right case.
5) Truck Accident Injuries We See Every Week
Truck crashes don’t cause “minor soreness.” They cause life-changing trauma, such as:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion
Neck and back injuries (herniations, nerve damage)
Spinal cord injury and paralysis
Fractures requiring surgery (hips, pelvis, legs, ribs)
Internal bleeding and organ damage
Burns and scarring (especially in fuel-related crashes)
Amputation and crush injuries
PTSD, anxiety, sleep disruption after violent impacts
If you’re feeling “okay” right after a crash, that doesn’t mean you’re uninjured. Adrenaline masks symptoms. Injuries reveal themselves later—often after the insurer is already trying to close the claim cheap.
6) What Your Dallas Truck Accident Case May Be Worth
Every case is different, but truck accidents tend to involve higher compensation because the injuries are often more severe and the available insurance can be larger.
Damages may include:
Economic Damages
ER visits, surgery, rehab, physical therapy
Medication, imaging, follow-up care
Future medical care and life care planning
Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
Property damage and out-of-pocket costs
Non-Economic Damages
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish and emotional distress
Physical impairment and loss of mobility
Disfigurement and scarring
Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful Death Damages (When Families Lose Someone)
If a truck crash killed your loved one, your family may be able to pursue damages related to loss of companionship, support, and more. (Deadlines matter—see below.)
Important: Insurance companies don’t “calculate” your pain fairly. They minimize it. A real Dallas truck accident lawyer documents the full picture—medical, financial, and human—and builds a demand that matches reality.
7) What to Do After a Truck Crash in Dallas (Protect Your Claim)
If you’ve been hit by a truck in Dallas, these steps can protect your health and your case:
Get medical care immediately. Don’t “tough it out.”
Call police and request a report.
Take photos/video (vehicles, plate numbers, DOT numbers, skid marks, debris, injuries).
Get witness contact info before they disappear.
Don’t give recorded statements to the trucking insurer.
Don’t sign anything from the company or adjuster.
Call a Dallas truck accident attorney fast so evidence can be preserved and the narrative doesn’t get hijacked.
Rad Law Firm’s approach is simple: the sooner we get involved, the more we can protect—and the stronger we can make your claim.
8) How Rad Law Firm Builds a Truck Accident Case
Truck cases aren’t won by “filling out paperwork.” They’re won with investigation and pressure.
When you hire Rad Law Firm, we immediately work to:
Launch a Rapid Evidence Plan
Preserve electronic evidence (ELD/telemetry where applicable)
Secure records tied to fatigue and HOS compliance
Identify all policies and all defendants
Examine maintenance and inspection history
Track down video, witnesses, and crash scene evidence
Control Communications
You shouldn’t be negotiating with an adjuster while you’re injured. We take over communications so you can focus on treatment while we focus on the claim.
Build Damages Like We’re Going to Trial
We document injuries, future care needs, and wage losses in a way that forces the insurer to take the case seriously.
Push for Maximum Value—Not “Quick Money”
Fast settlements are often low settlements. We don’t let insurers close the file before your injuries and long-term costs are understood.
Rad Law Firm also publicly promotes being available 24/7, including home or hospital appointments, and operating under a “Clients First. Always.” mission.
9) Deadlines and Fault Rules in Texas (Don’t Wait)
The 2-Year Deadline (Statute of Limitations)
Texas generally gives injured people two years to file suit in personal injury cases, and wrongful death actions also have a two-year limitations period tied to the date of death.
If you miss the deadline, your claim can be barred no matter how strong it is.
Texas “51% Bar” Rule (Proportionate Responsibility)
Texas applies proportionate responsibility. If you are found more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover damages.
Insurers use this to shift blame onto victims—especially in lane-change, merging, or “you stopped short” truck cases. Early investigation matters because it can prevent blame games from sticking.
10) FAQs: Dallas Truck Accident Lawyer
Do I really need a Dallas truck accident lawyer?
If a commercial truck was involved, yes—because trucking cases involve specialized records, corporate defendants, and federal safety rules that standard car-wreck handling often misses.
How much is my truck accident case worth?
It depends on injury severity, medical costs, future care, wage loss, and the strength of liability evidence. Truck cases often have higher value because the injuries and insurance exposure can be significant.
What if the trucking company says I’m partially at fault?
Texas reduces recovery by your percentage of fault, and bars recovery if you’re more than 50% responsible.
That’s why it’s critical to preserve evidence and build the liability story early.
How long do truck accident cases take in Dallas?
Some cases resolve in months; others take longer if injuries are severe or the insurer refuses to pay fair value. Serious cases often require time to document future care needs and prove full damages.
What if the truck driver was from out of state?
Out-of-state drivers and carriers still must comply with FMCSA safety rules in many operations, including HOS/ELD frameworks where applicable.
Jurisdiction and venue strategy matter—your lawyer should know how to position the case.
What if my loved one died in a Dallas truck crash?
You may have a wrongful death claim, but deadlines are strict—often two years tied to the date of death.
Speak with counsel immediately to preserve evidence and protect the family’s rights.
Call a Dallas Truck Accident Lawyer Who Moves Fast
After a truck crash, the trucking company starts protecting itself immediately. You should, too.
Rad Law Firm has built its brand around aggressive injury representation in Texas, publicly stating it has served injured Texans since 1992, recovered $1 billion, and charges no fee unless it wins.
Call 972-661-1111 now for a free consultation.
If you’re too injured to travel, Rad Law Firm also promotes 24/7 availability and home or hospital appointments.