Texas Truck Accident Lawyer
Joe is one of the few Texas lawyers that is double board certified.
“No Legal Fees Until Joe Wins Your Case”
Content Reviewed by: Joe Stephens
After a collision with an 18-wheeler, you may be facing serious injuries, time away from work, and questions about how your family will manage. If you lost someone you love, dealing with a trucking company or insurer may feel like one more burden at an already devastating time.
Joe Stephens is a double board-certified Texas truck accident lawyer who has represented injured people and grieving families for more than 40 years. At The Stephens Law Firm, we can investigate what happened, deal with the insurance companies, and pursue compensation for the harm the crash has caused. Joe personally handles every case, giving you direct support from the initial investigation through settlement or trial.
Table of Contents
- You Do Not Have to Face the Trucking Company Alone
- How Joe Protects Your Texas Truck Accident Claim
- How Much Is a Texas Truck Accident Claim Worth?
- Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Texas Truck Accident?
- Evidence Used to Prove a Texas Truck Accident Claim
- Texas Laws That Affect Truck Accident Claims
- Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Truck Accident Claims
- Talk to a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer
You Do Not Have to Face the Trucking Company Alone
Trucking companies and their insurers may start investigating within hours of a serious crash to protect their financial interests. Adjusters may dispute fault or question the cause and severity of your injuries. They may also push for a settlement before you know the full cost of your recovery.
You do not have to handle insurance discussions or gather evidence alone. Joe Stephens has more than 40 years of legal experience, including handling commercial truck accident cases. He has tried more than 150 cases and holds double board certification in personal injury trial law and civil trial law. Joe can put that experience to work by preserving records, consulting qualified experts, and dealing directly with insurers while you focus on your health and family.
How Joe Protects Your Texas Truck Accident Claim
A truck accident claim may involve more than the driver. The trucking company, a maintenance provider, a cargo loader, or another business may also share responsibility. Identifying who was at fault often requires access to company records, some of which may be overwritten or discarded.
Joe helps protect your claim by:
- Sending preservation notices for driver logs, black box data, maintenance records, inspection reports, and video footage
- Examining evidence from the crash scene, reviewing the police report, and interviewing witnesses
- Identifying the people and companies whose actions contributed to the collision
- Working with qualified experts to evaluate technical questions and medical issues
- Handling insurance communications and negotiating on your behalf
Involving Joe early gives him time to secure evidence and develop your case. While he manages the investigation and insurance discussions, you can focus on your recovery.
How Much Is a Texas Truck Accident Claim Worth?
There is no dependable average settlement for a Texas truck wreck claim. Two people can be hurt in similar crashes and face very different medical needs, work limitations, and long-term effects. Joe evaluates what the collision has already cost you and what it is expected to cost in the future.
The value depends on the seriousness and permanence of your injuries, medical bills, future treatment, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and available insurance coverage. Evidence of fault and the number of responsible parties also affect the potential recovery.
A fast offer can be tempting when bills are piling up. Before accepting it, you need to know whether it accounts for future care, lasting limits on your work, and the ways the injury has changed your daily life.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Texas Truck Accident?
A truck crash doesn’t always have a single cause. Joe looks beyond the driver’s actions and examines the conduct of every person or business connected to the truck, including:
- The truck driver’s decisions before and during the crash
- The carrier’s hiring, training, supervision, and safety practices
- The work of cargo loaders and maintenance or inspection providers
- The design and manufacture of the truck and its parts
- The decisions of brokers, shippers, or other businesses involved in the load
- Other motorists or entities connected to the collision
Records, contracts, and expert analysis help Joe determine who contributed to the crash. Identifying each responsible party also helps uncover relevant evidence and insurance coverage.
Case Study: $1 Million Verdict Against an Equipment Manufacturer
Liability doesn’t always begin with a driving mistake. In Harris County, Devin Finke’s hand was crushed by the rotating drum of a concrete truck. His claim alleged that the manufacturer, Continental Equipment, failed to guard a dangerous pinch point in the truck’s design.
A Texas jury awarded Finke $1 million. After fees and expenses, he received $335,928. The result shows why a truck-related injury requires a careful examination of the equipment itself, not just the conduct of the person operating it. Every case depends on its own facts, and a previous verdict doesn’t guarantee another result.
Evidence Used to Prove a Texas Truck Accident Claim
A strong truck accident claim needs evidence showing who was at fault, how the crash caused your injuries, and the losses you suffered. That evidence may include:
- Crash documentation: Police reports, witness statements, photographs, dashcam footage, and nearby surveillance video
- Truck data: Electronic logging device (ELD) records and black box data
- Trucking company records: Maintenance histories, inspection reports, cargo documents, and dispatch communications
- Proof of injuries and financial losses: Medical records, bills, wage statements, and other documentation of the crash’s financial impact
- Expert analysis: Evaluations of the collision, trucking practices, your injuries, and their long-term effects
Acting quickly can help protect this evidence. Some company records are kept for limited periods, and electronic data or video may be overwritten. Involving Joe early gives him time to send preservation notices, request records, and arrange expert review before critical evidence is lost.
Texas Laws That Affect Truck Accident Claims
Several laws shape a Texas truck accident claim. Under the Texas statute of limitations, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. For wrongful death, the two-year period begins on the date of death. Limited exceptions exist, so don’t assume extra time is available.
Texas also uses a modified comparative fault rule called proportionate responsibility. You cannot recover if you’re more than 50% responsible, and any lower percentage reduces your compensation. If your damages total $100,000 and you’re 20% at fault, your recovery drops to $80,000.
Commercial trucks are also subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules covering driver hours, qualifications, maintenance, inspections, and cargo securement. A violation doesn’t automatically prove liability, but electronic logs or inspection records can help show whether fatigue or poor maintenance contributed to the crash.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Truck Accident Claims
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer?
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
Most Texas truck accident lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. For wrongful death, the period generally begins on the date of death. Exceptions can change the deadline, so don’t wait to have your case reviewed. Joe explains more in this filing-deadline video.
Should I Give a Recorded Statement to the Trucking Company’s Insurance Company?
You aren’t required to give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer. Your answers could be used to dispute fault or minimize your injuries. Speak with Joe first. If your own insurer requests a statement, don’t ignore it; your policy could require cooperation. Joe can handle these communications during the claim process.
How Can I Preserve Evidence After a Texas Truck Accident?
Keep original photos, videos, witness information, medical records, bills, wage records, and insurer messages. Don’t edit or delete files or post about the crash. Preserving evidence after a truck accident should begin quickly because trucking records and electronic data can disappear. Joe can send formal notices directing the company to retain relevant materials.
Talk to a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a commercial truck crash, you deserve clear answers about what comes next. Texas truck accident lawyer Joe Stephens will review what happened, explain your options, and personally handle your claim. Your consultation is free, and there are no legal fees unless Joe wins your case.
Call (281) 201-0035 or contact The Stephens Law Firm online to discuss your claim.