Truck Accident Attorney in Austin

Millions Recovered for Truck Accident Victims

A collision with a semi-truck or 18-wheeler can cause devastating injuries. These crashes may result from truck driver negligence, truck equipment defects, trucking company negligence, inadequate maintenance, improper cargo loading, or the conduct of another responsible party.

Truck and commercial-vehicle claims differ from ordinary car collisions in meaningful ways. They can involve multiple potentially responsible parties, more extensive evidence, and commercial insurance issues that ordinary claims don’t raise. At Law Offices Of Vic Feazell, P.C., we provide personalized legal support while pursuing compensation for medical costs, recovery expenses, lost wages, and other losses. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients and represent injury victims on a contingency-fee basis, meaning no legal fees unless we obtain a settlement or jury verdict in your favor.

Call (254) 938-6885 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation with our truck accident lawyers in Austin, TX.

Types of Commercial Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents occur in many different ways. The collision configuration often shapes what evidence matters and which parties may be involved. Some of the most common types include:

• Jackknife Accidents: A truck may fold at the hinge between the cab and trailer, often caused by sudden braking, improper maneuvering, or slippery road conditions. Questions about vehicle speed, road surface, and driver response are typically relevant.
• Rear-End Collisions: Due to their long stopping distances, semi-trucks can rear-end smaller vehicles when drivers are distracted or following too closely.
• Underride Accidents: These devastating accidents happen when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a big rig and can result in fatal injuries. Trailer underride guards and their condition may be relevant to how the crash unfolded.
• Rollover Accidents: Improper cargo loading, speeding, or sharp turns can cause a truck to overturn and collide with multiple vehicles. Cargo securement records and load distribution may become part of the investigation.
• Wide-Turn Accidents: Also known as “squeeze play accidents,” these occur when trucks swing wide to turn and trap other vehicles in the process.
• Tire Blowouts: Defective or poorly maintained tires can cause a truck driver to lose control. Maintenance records and inspection history can be relevant when tire failure contributes to a crash.

Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents

Commercial truck accidents are often the result of negligence. We investigate the facts needed to identify who may be responsible, which can involve reviewing driver logs, dispatch records, vehicle inspection and maintenance records, cargo-loading information, drug and alcohol test results, and available crash-scene evidence. Common causes include:

• Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers work long hours, and fatigue can contribute to serious crashes. Hours-of-service records and electronic logging device data may be relevant when fatigue is alleged.
• Distracted Driving: Texting, GPS use, and in-cab technology can take a driver’s attention away from the road.
• Speeding or Reckless Driving: Trucks require significantly more time and distance to stop; speeding can quickly lead to catastrophic accidents.
• Improper Loading or Overloaded Cargo: Top-heavy or unbalanced cargo makes trucks difficult to control and may involve a cargo loader or broker as a responsible party.
• Mechanical Failures: Brake failure, tire defects, and other maintenance problems can contribute to crashes. Depending on the facts, responsibility may rest with the carrier, a maintenance contractor, or a parts manufacturer.
• Driving Under the Influence: Although regulations are strict, impairment can contribute to commercial vehicle accidents.
• Inadequate Driver Training: Inexperienced drivers may not know how to safely operate a large truck in traffic, poor weather, or congested conditions.

Federal Trucking Regulations and Their Role in Injury Claims

Commercial trucking is regulated at the federal level by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). FMCSA regulations are compiled in the Code of Federal Regulations and address commercial-driver operations, vehicle safety, inspections, and cargo securement. When we investigate a truck claim, applicable FMCSA requirements help us identify what records should exist and what standards apply to the conduct at issue. A regulatory violation doesn’t by itself establish every element of a personal-injury claim, but it can be relevant evidence depending on the facts and applicable law. 

Key regulatory areas include:

• Hours-of-Service (HOS) Regulations: Limit the number of hours truck drivers can be on duty to reduce fatigue-related risks. Electronic logging device records may be relevant when fatigue is alleged.
• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Requirements: Drivers must meet applicable licensing, testing, and qualification requirements.
• Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection Rules: Trucking companies must regularly inspect and service their vehicles. Maintenance and inspection records can be important evidence.
• Drug and Alcohol Testing Requirements: Federal regulations require drivers to undergo testing at multiple points, including pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion testing, among other required categories.
• Cargo Securement Standards: Rules address how loads must be tied down and balanced to prevent cargo from shifting or falling during transportation.

Potentially liable parties in a commercial truck accident include the truck driver, the trucking company, maintenance contractors, cargo loaders, and parts manufacturers. A truck claim may involve more than one responsible party, and the legal relationship between a driver, carrier, broker, maintenance provider, cargo loader, and manufacturer must be evaluated from the facts and available records. We investigate those facts and handle negotiations with all opposing parties and their insurers.

Common Semi-Truck Accident Injuries

Because of the size difference between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, injuries tend to be severe. Truck crashes can result in immediate emergency care, extended rehabilitation, permanent impairment, reduced earning capacity, or fatal injuries. Common injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Multiple fractures
• Internal bleeding or organ damage
• Severe burns
• Crush injuries
• Amputations
• Wrongful death

A claim may need to account for both current losses and future medical or financial needs supported by the evidence. Our firm has obtained multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in catastrophic-injury and wrongful-death matters.

Where Do Truck Accidents Often Occur in Austin?

Austin’s rapid growth and heavy traffic create conditions where commercial trucking collisions can happen across a range of roadways. Common locations include:

• I-35: A heavily traveled commercial corridor with ongoing construction activity.
• US-290 and SH-71: Construction, high speeds, and mixed traffic can contribute to crashes along these routes.
• MoPac Expressway (Loop 1): Congestion and merging traffic can contribute to truck-involved collisions.
• FM and rural roads surrounding Austin: Commercial trucks servicing surrounding communities often travel on narrow or poorly lit roads.

Austin truck-crash investigations may involve lane shifts, merges, congestion, construction activity, delivery routes, and interactions between commuter traffic and commercial vehicles. Depending on the road and location, responsibility for roadway conditions may involve TxDOT, the City of Austin, or another entity. If you were injured at any of these locations or elsewhere in the Austin area, we can investigate the crash and identify who may be responsible.

What We Do After an Austin Truck Accident

A thorough, well-organized claim requires more than filing paperwork. We assemble the facts so the claim is fully prepared before any negotiation or demand. Evidence in a truck claim can include photographs, witness information, police records, vehicle data, driver records, inspection materials, maintenance records, cargo records, and video when available. Because evidence can become harder to obtain as time passes, prompt legal evaluation can help preserve it.

Once we have the facts, we take on the full range of tasks that follow:

• Negotiations With Insurers and Other Parties: We handle communications and negotiations with insurance companies, medical providers, and opposing counsel to address issues tied to the claim.
• Medical Bills and Legal Expenses: We coordinate medical bills and legal expenses to help use available funds effectively and address important issues.
• Administrative Support: We take on the administrative burden and simplify documentation so clients don’t have to navigate complex processes on their own.
• Consistent Communication: We stay in regular contact, explain timelines and expectations, return calls quickly, and remain available whenever questions come up.

Trucking companies and their insurers move fast after a crash to protect their own interests. We do the same for our clients.

Truck Accident FAQs

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Texas?

In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, the limitations period can involve exceptions and accrual questions depending on the circumstances, so it’s important not to treat two years as a universal deadline for every claim. Speaking with our attorneys promptly can help you understand which deadline applies.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident?

Potentially liable parties include the truck driver, the trucking company, maintenance contractors, cargo loaders, and parts manufacturers. Whether a specific party is responsible depends on the facts, the available records, and the legal relationships involved. A tractor-trailer accident claim may involve multiple responsible parties at once.

What Compensation Can I Recover?

You may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and future care needs. The damages available in any specific claim depend on the evidence, the nature and extent of the injuries, the responsible parties, and applicable Texas law.

Should I Speak to the Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster?

An insurer’s request for a statement, release, or early settlement discussion can affect your claim before you fully understand your losses. The insurer has a financial interest in limiting what it pays. Speaking with our attorneys before responding to insurer communications can help protect your rights.

Will My Claim Require Testimony From Outside Professionals?

It may. Accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and trucking-safety consultants may be needed depending on the disputed issues and evidence in a given case. Whether testimony from outside witnesses is necessary depends on the specific facts and what is contested.

Recommended Reading:

• Trucking Accidents vs. Car Accidents: What's the Difference?
• Sleep Apnea in the Trucking Industry
• Trucking Accidents: Causes & Liability

Talk to an Austin Truck Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one was injured in a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or commercial vehicle accident in Austin, we can evaluate your claim. We handle negotiations, coordinate medical bills and legal expenses, manage documentation, and stay in contact throughout the process so you can focus on recovery.

We represent truck-accident victims and their families on a contingency-fee basis. No legal fees unless we obtain a settlement or jury verdict in your favor.

Contact us today at (254) 938-6885 to request a free consultation with our Austin truck accident attorneys.