Your case stays with your lawyer, from the first consultation to the end.
If an 18-wheeler hit you or someone you love, you are hurting and you have questions, and there is no time to waste. Call (214) 380-4000 now any time, 24/7. The consultation is free. Hablamos Español. While you are in the emergency room, the trucking company may already have investigators at the scene, its insurer may already be reviewing coverage, and its lawyers may already be building a defense. Attorney Rolando Quesada (Texas Bar No. 24083694) and Guardia Law represent people hurt by commercial trucks across Dallas–Fort Worth, from Carrollton and Farmers Branch to Garland, Mesquite, Irving, and Arlington.
Leer en español: Abogado de accidentes de tráiler en Dallas
Why an 18-Wheeler Case Is Not a Car Wreck
People think a truck crash is just a bigger car accident. It is not. The rules, the parties, and the insurance are different, and the trucking company knows it.
Federal safety rules apply
Commercial trucks that cross state lines must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules: limits on driver hours, drug and alcohol testing, driver qualification files, vehicle inspections and maintenance, and cargo securement. When a company breaks those rules and someone gets hurt, the violation is powerful evidence that the company was careless.
More than one party can be responsible
In a car wreck you usually deal with one driver and one policy. In a truck wreck, responsibility can reach the driver, the motor carrier, the company that loaded the trailer, the shop that maintained the brakes, and the maker of a failed part. Each may have its own insurer and its own lawyers.
Higher insurance, harder fight
Federal rules require for-hire interstate carriers hauling ordinary freight to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and $5,000,000 for certain hazardous materials (49 C.F.R. § 387.9). More coverage means the insurer has more to lose. Expect it to fight harder.
The injuries are worse
A loaded tractor-trailer weighs many times more than a passenger car. The results are traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, burns, amputations, and deaths. These cases need to be valued for a lifetime, not a few months of treatment.
The defense moves first
Large carriers and their insurers often send response teams within hours of a serious crash. Their job is to document the scene in the way that helps the company. If you wait weeks to call a lawyer, you start behind.
Where DFW Trucking Accidents Happen
Dallas–Fort Worth is a major freight hub. Warehouses, distribution centers, rail yards, and the interstates that connect them put 18-wheelers on almost every major road in the metro. We handle truck cases along all of them:
- I-35E (Stemmons north of downtown, R.L. Thornton south) north through Farmers Branch, Carrollton, and Lewisville, and south through Oak Cliff toward Lancaster. Heavy warehouse and distribution traffic, frequent lane changes, and construction zones.
- I-635 (LBJ Freeway) across North Dallas, Farmers Branch, Garland, and Mesquite, with express-lane merges and interchanges at I-35E, US-75, and I-30.
- I-30 between Dallas, Mesquite, Garland, Grand Prairie, and Arlington, the main east-west route to Fort Worth.
- I-20 along the southern edge of the metro, through Balch Springs, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, and Arlington, a major freight corridor.
- I-45 south from downtown Dallas toward Houston, carrying freight from the Southern Dallas County distribution centers.
- US-75 (Central Expressway) north through Richardson and Plano.
- SH-183 (Airport Freeway) through Irving and the mid-cities toward DFW Airport.
- I-35W north from Fort Worth past the AllianceTexas airport and rail hub, and I-820 around Fort Worth.
If you were hit by a truck in Farmers Branch or Carrollton, Garland, Mesquite, or anywhere else in DFW, the first steps are the same: get medical care, then get the evidence locked down before it is gone.
Who Can Be Held Responsible
The truck driver
Distracted driving, speeding, impairment, unsafe lane changes, and fatigue from breaking the hours-of-service rules are all common causes.
The trucking company
A motor carrier is generally responsible for the careless driving of its drivers on the job. It can also be directly responsible for hiring an unqualified driver, failing to train or supervise, or pushing a driver to meet a schedule that cannot be met legally. Carriers often call their drivers “independent contractors” to avoid responsibility. That label does not end the question. We look at the leases and contracts behind the truck, and the carrier can still be responsible for its own careless hiring, training, or supervision.
The loading company
Overloaded or unsecured cargo causes rollovers, jackknifes, and spilled loads. The company that loaded the trailer can share responsibility.
The maintenance shop
Worn brakes, bad tires, and faulty couplings cause crashes. If an outside shop did the work, it can be responsible.
The manufacturer
When a defective tire, brake, or steering part fails, the company that made it may be responsible under Texas product liability law.
The FMCSA Rules Behind Most Truck Cases
Hours of service
A property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours, and only within a 14-hour window, after 10 consecutive hours off duty (49 C.F.R. § 395.3). Fatigue from ignoring these limits is a known cause of serious truck crashes, and the electronic logging device (ELD) records can show whether the driver complied.
Drug and alcohol testing
Federal rules require carriers to test drivers before hiring, at random, after certain crashes, and when there is reasonable suspicion. A carrier that skipped testing, or kept a driver who failed, has a serious problem.
Driver qualification
Carriers must keep a qualification file on every driver: license, driving record, medical certificate, and employment history. These files often show that the company knew, or should have known, about a dangerous driver.
Inspection and maintenance
Drivers must inspect their trucks, and carriers must keep inspection and repair records. Deferred maintenance on brakes and tires is a common thread in serious crashes.
Cargo securement
Federal rules set how loads must be tied down and braced. A load that shifts can throw a truck out of control in seconds.
Evidence That Disappears Fast
The most important evidence in a truck case is controlled by the trucking company. Some of it can be overwritten or thrown away in the ordinary course of business if no one demands that it be kept:
- ELD data: driving hours, duty status, and rest periods.
- Engine control module (“black box”) data: speed, braking, and throttle in the seconds before the crash.
- Dashcam and cab-camera video: often stored on a loop that records over itself.
- Dispatch records and messages: whether the driver was pushed to keep driving.
- Driver qualification file and drug and alcohol test results.
- Inspection and maintenance records.
In a new truck case, we send preservation letters to the carrier and its insurer demanding that all of it be kept. That is why the call matters early. Texas courts can sanction a party that destroys relevant evidence, but the better outcome is that the evidence never disappears.
Common 18-Wheeler Injuries
- Traumatic brain injury, from concussion to permanent cognitive impairment
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Herniated discs and fractured vertebrae
- Multiple fractures, including pelvis, femur, and ribs
- Crush injuries and amputations
- Burns from fuel fires
- Internal organ injuries
- Death. If you lost a family member, see our wrongful death lawyer page.
These injuries mean large medical bills, time off work or a career ended, and permanent changes at home. Your claim has to account for all of it, including the future.
What to Do After a Truck Hits You in Dallas
- Get medical care right away. Your health comes first, and the records tie your injuries to the crash.
- Call the police. The crash report identifies the driver, the carrier, witnesses, and any citations.
- Get the carrier’s name and DOT number from the truck door if you can, and photograph the truck, your vehicle, the scene, and your injuries.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer. You are not required to, and what you say can be used to reduce your claim.
- Call a truck accident lawyer early so preservation letters go out before evidence is lost.
- Keep records: medical bills, missed-work proof, and a short journal of your pain and limits.
Results We’ve Achieved
$1,067,874.84 | 18-Wheeler Accident / Wrongful Death. A commercial 18-wheeler rear-ended our client’s vehicle, causing catastrophic injuries that required emergency lumbar surgery. The collision also took the life of her son. Attorney Rolando Quesada held the trucking company and its insurer accountable, recovering every dollar of available insurance coverage for the family. Case resolved 2021. Read the case result.
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
$1.9 million | Commercial Vehicle T-Bone (Dallas). A Dallas driver was violently T-boned by a water-utilities company vehicle. We held the company accountable. Read the case result.
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Why Guardia Law
Wealthy people and corporations never leave money on the table. They have lawyers on speed dial. Why don’t you?
- You work with your lawyer. Attorney Rolando Quesada is your lawyer from the first consultation.
- Bilingual. We represent English- and Spanish-speaking families across DFW. Hablamos Español.
- No fee unless we win. You pay nothing up front. We advance the case expenses. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing, for fees or for expenses. If we recover money for you, the expenses are repaid from the recovery.
- Local. Our office is in East Dallas at 6301 Gaston Ave, Ste. 1215.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if a semi truck hits me in Dallas?
Get medical care, call the police, and photograph the truck, including the company name and DOT number on the door. Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer. Then call a lawyer quickly. The carrier controls the ELD data, black box data, and camera footage, and some of it can be overwritten if no one demands that it be preserved.
How much is an 18-wheeler settlement in Texas?
There is no average that fits your case. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your past and future medical care, lost income and earning capacity, pain and suffering, the available insurance, and how clearly the evidence shows the carrier’s fault. Commercial carriers often have higher coverage than ordinary drivers, which is one reason these cases are worth investigating fully before you accept any offer.
How do I sue a trucking company after a wreck on I-30 or I-35E?
The claim is usually brought against the driver and the motor carrier, and sometimes the loading company, maintenance shop, or parts maker. Most claims are negotiated with the carrier’s insurer first; if the insurer will not pay fair value, a lawsuit is filed. Texas generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury suit (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003), but evidence should be preserved long before that. If a city, county, or other government vehicle hit you, much shorter notice deadlines can apply, so call right away.
Do you handle Amazon and delivery truck accidents in Dallas?
Yes. Delivery vans and box trucks operating for large shippers raise the same questions as 18-wheelers: who employed or contracted the driver, whose insurance applies, and whether safety rules were followed. Those relationships are often layered, so it matters to identify every company involved early.
What if the trucking company says the driver was an independent contractor?
That label does not end the case. The carrier can still be responsible for its own careless hiring or supervision, and we review the leases and contracts behind the truck to find every source of insurance. Bring the crash report and any photo of the truck door, and we will trace which companies stood behind that truck.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
You can still recover as long as your share of the fault is not too high. Texas reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault and bars recovery above a set threshold. Trucking insurers routinely raise fault arguments, which is one more reason to preserve the evidence early.
Talk to a DFW Trucking Accident Lawyer Now
The trucking company started working on its defense the day of the crash. Start working on your case today.
Call (214) 380-4000 for a free consultation. Available 24/7. Hablamos Español.
No fee unless we win. If we don’t recover, you owe nothing, including expenses.
Guardia Law, PLLC | Attorney Rolando Quesada | 6301 Gaston Ave, Ste. 1215, Dallas, TX 75214 | (214) 380-4000
The information on this page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
