A Dallas truck accident lawyer represents people injured in collisions with 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and other commercial vehicles across Dallas County. At Amaro Law Firm, our Dallas truck accident attorneys handle catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases against trucking companies and their insurers.
In 2024, Dallas County recorded 3,857 commercial truck crashes and 29 truck-related fatalities — second in Texas only to Harris County. Truck accident victims in Texas have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Amaro Law Firm represents Dallas truck accident victims on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Compiled by Amaro Law Firm — Texas-licensed trial attorneys serving Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and the Greater DFW area.
Call 713-352-7975 for a free, confidential consultation.
If You Were Hurt in a Dallas Truck Accident, You Are Not Alone
If you are reading this page, you are likely in one of three situations.
You were hit by a commercial truck in Dallas and you are still in the middle of medical treatment, dealing with property damage, and getting calls from the trucking company’s insurance adjuster. You are trying to figure out what to do next.
Your spouse, parent, or child was killed in a Dallas truck crash, and you are trying to understand whether you have a wrongful death claim and what the next steps look like.
Or you are several days or weeks out from the crash. The insurance company has offered you a quick settlement, and something about the number — or the speed of the offer — does not feel right.
This page answers the questions Dallas truck accident victims and families ask most often. For the broader legal mechanics, damages framework, and statewide context, see our Texas Truck Accident Lawyer hub page.
Texas Truck Accident Law: The Essentials
Three pieces of Texas law shape every Dallas truck accident case.
Statute of limitations. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue, with very limited exceptions.
Modified comparative negligence (51% bar). Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, you can recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. This is one of the main reasons trucking companies fight hard to shift blame to the injured driver.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Commercial trucks crossing state lines or operating commercially within Texas are governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). FMCSA rules cover driver hours of service, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle maintenance, driver qualification, and cargo securement. Violations of these regulations are powerful evidence of negligence.
For deeper treatment of how these laws apply across Texas, see our Texas Truck Accident Lawyer hub page.
Types of Dallas Truck Accidents We Handle
Truck crashes are not all alike. Each type creates different liability questions, different injury patterns, and different evidence needs.
Underride Accidents
An underride accident happens when a passenger vehicle slides underneath a truck’s trailer, often shearing off the roof of the car. Underride crashes are among the deadliest truck accident types because the passenger compartment takes the full force of the impact.
Federal regulations require rear underride guards on most trailers. Side underride guards are not federally mandated, though rulemaking on the topic has been ongoing. Missing, damaged, or defective underride guards can extend liability beyond the driver and motor carrier to the trailer manufacturer and any maintenance contractor responsible for the guard.
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife accident happens when a truck’s trailer swings out at a sharp angle to the cab, resembling a folding pocketknife. Jackknifing is most often caused by sudden braking, slick roads, improper braking technique, or unbalanced cargo. Jackknifed trucks frequently block multiple lanes on DFW freeways and trigger secondary collisions.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover crashes happen when a truck tips onto its side or roof. Causes include taking curves too fast, shifting cargo, tire blowouts, and sudden evasive maneuvers. Tanker rollovers on Dallas freeways can trigger hazmat spills that close interstates for hours.
Override, Rear-End, and Intersection Crashes
When a truck rides up over a smaller vehicle, the crash is called an override — typically catastrophic and often fatal. Rear-end truck collisions are frequently tied to fatigue and distraction. In 2024, nearly 33% of all Texas commercial truck crashes occurred in intersections — a category that includes T-bone and angle collisions at Dallas surface streets.
Wide-Turn, Tire Blowout, and Hazmat Truck Accidents
Wide right turns crush smaller vehicles against the curb. Tire blowouts cause sudden lane departures. Hazmat and tanker truck crashes involve additional federal regulations and complex multi-party litigation.
Dallas Truck Accident Damages
Dallas truck accident victims may recover three categories of damages under Texas law.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses: medical bills (past and future), lost wages, lost earning capacity, property damage, and rehabilitation costs.
Non-economic damages cover human losses that don’t come with receipts: physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Exemplary (punitive) damages are available in cases of gross negligence — such as a trucking company that knowingly violated federal safety regulations or hired a driver with a documented history of substance abuse. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.003 sets the standard.
For a detailed breakdown of how damages are calculated in Texas truck accident cases, see our Texas Truck Accident Lawyer hub page.
How Trucking Companies Defend Dallas Truck Accident Claims
Trucking companies and their insurers do not wait. They run a defense playbook that starts within hours of the crash. Understanding the playbook is the first step in beating it.
Rapid-response teams. Major trucking companies dispatch lawyers, accident reconstructionists, and investigators to the crash scene before the injured driver leaves the hospital. They photograph the scene, interview witnesses, and inspect the trucks before any evidence is lost — or before any independent expert can examine it.
Electronic logging device (ELD) and ECM data tactics. Federal law requires trucks to record driving hours and engine data. That data can prove fatigue, speeding, and hard-braking — but only if it is preserved. Trucking companies have been known to “lose” or overwrite ELD and engine control module data unless they receive a formal spoliation letter from the victim’s attorney.
Blame-shifting. Insurers exploit Texas’s 51% bar rule by trying to pin a significant share of fault on the injured driver. Even a 20% fault finding reduces a $1 million claim to $800,000. A 51% finding wipes it out entirely.
Quick lowball settlement offers. Insurers offer fast settlements before victims understand their injuries or future medical needs. Once you sign a release, the case is over — even if your injuries get worse.
Surveillance and social media monitoring. Insurers monitor claimants’ social media and sometimes hire private investigators. A single photo of you smiling at a family event can be used to argue you are not really injured.
Common Mistakes After a Dallas Truck Accident
Five mistakes hurt Dallas truck accident cases more than any others.
- Giving a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer. Adjusters are trained to extract statements that minimize the carrier’s exposure.
- Signing a release or settlement document before consulting an attorney. Once signed, the case is over.
- Skipping medical appointments or treatment. Gaps in treatment let insurers argue your injuries are not serious or were caused by something else.
- Posting on social media. Photos, location check-ins, and even simple status updates can be used against you.
- Waiting too long to contact a lawyer. Evidence disappears. Witnesses move. ELD data gets overwritten. The trucking company’s rapid-response team is already working.
How Amaro Law Firm Handles Dallas Truck Accident Cases
Our process is built around what trucking defense lawyers do — and how to beat it.
Step 1: Investigation. We obtain the CR-3 crash report, scene photos, surveillance footage, dashcam video, 911 calls, and any witness statements.
Step 2: Evidence preservation. We send formal spoliation letters demanding the trucking company preserve electronic logs, ECM (black box) data, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing results, and maintenance records.
Step 3: Liability mapping. We identify every party that may share fault — driver, motor carrier, shipper, cargo loader, parts manufacturer, maintenance vendor — to maximize the available insurance coverage.
Step 4: Damages build-out. We work with treating physicians, life-care planners, vocational experts, and economists to document the full long-term cost of your injuries.
Step 5: Negotiation. We present a documented demand to the insurer with the evidence assembled.
Step 6: Litigation, if needed. When carriers refuse to offer a fair settlement, we file suit in Dallas County District Court or the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. We prepare every case as if it will be tried.
Why Choose Amaro Law Firm for Your Dallas Truck Accident Case
- Trial attorneys, not settlement mills. Our litigators have experience taking cases through state district courts, federal courts, and the Texas Courts of Appeals.
- Resources to take on national trucking companies. We front the costs of accident reconstructionists, biomechanical engineers, trucking industry experts, and medical specialists.
- Statewide reach with Dallas presence. Our team handles cases across Texas, with attorneys familiar with Dallas County courts and the DFW freight environment.
- No fee unless we win. Our Dallas truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
- 24/7 availability. Truck accidents do not wait for business hours. We respond around the clock.
Recent Dallas-Area Truck Accident Case Results
[INSERT 3 DALLAS-SPECIFIC TRUCK ACCIDENT RESULTS WITH SETTLEMENT/VERDICT AMOUNTS, INJURY TYPE, AND BRIEF FACTS]
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is evaluated on its individual facts.
Dallas Truck Accident FAQ
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Texas?
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue, with very limited exceptions.
How much is a Dallas truck accident case worth?
There is no average. Case value depends on the severity of injuries, the strength of liability evidence, the available insurance coverage, and the long-term financial impact. Damages may include medical bills (past and future), lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and mental anguish, disfigurement, and — in cases of gross negligence — exemplary damages.
Who is liable in a Dallas truck accident?
Liability often extends beyond the driver. Parties that may be liable include the truck driver, the trucking company (motor carrier), the truck owner if separate from the carrier, the cargo loader or shipper, the truck or parts manufacturer, a maintenance contractor, and in limited cases a government entity. Identifying every liable party expands the available insurance coverage.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Yes, as long as you were 50% or less at fault. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.
What are the most dangerous roads for truck accidents in Dallas?
The Dallas roads where truck accidents most commonly occur include Interstate 35E, Interstate 30, Interstate 20, Interstate 635 (LBJ Freeway), US-75 (Central Expressway), and Interstate 45. These corridors carry heavy commercial freight and combine high speeds, dense traffic, and frequent construction.
How much does a Dallas truck accident lawyer cost?
Amaro Law Firm handles Dallas truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, agreed to in writing before we start.
What is an underride accident?
An underride accident happens when a passenger vehicle slides underneath a truck’s trailer, often shearing off the roof of the car. Underride crashes are among the deadliest truck accident types because the passenger compartment takes the full force of the impact. Missing or defective underride guards may extend liability to the trailer manufacturer.
What if a loved one was killed in a Dallas truck accident?
Surviving spouses, children, and parents may file a wrongful death claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.002. Damages may include lost financial support, lost companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. The estate may also bring a survival claim for the decedent’s pre-death pain and suffering and medical bills.
Talk to a Dallas Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was hurt in a Dallas truck accident, time is working against you. Evidence disappears. Witnesses move. The trucking company’s lawyers are already working.
Amaro Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations. We will review your case, explain your options, and tell you honestly whether we believe we can help. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Call 713-352-7975 or request a free case review online.