Houston Truck Accident Lawyer

One second you’re driving to work or picking up your kids, and the next, an 18-wheeler changes everything: surgery, months off work, and an adjuster pushing you to settle for less than your case is worth.

You don’t have to face that alone. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our Houston truck accident lawyers:

• Work on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win your case
• Have a team member available 24/7 to talk through what happened
• Investigate your crash and identify every party who may be responsible
• Pursue the compensation you may be entitled to under Texas law

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Houston

Getting in an accident on the road is a stressful experience. Don’t wait until an accident occurs to figure out how you should respond. Knowing what steps to take before an accident happens will help you secure maximum compensation down the line. Here are the seven steps you should take immediately after getting in an accident with a semi-truck or 18-wheeler.

1. Get to Safety
   Check yourself for injuries, and call 911 if you need emergency medical attention. If you’re able to, move your vehicle to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot to get out of oncoming traffic.
2. Contact the Police
   Texas requires drivers to report any and all vehicle accidents, no matter how minor. If you don’t, you could end up having your license suspended. All you need to do is call the local police department and tell them what happened and where. Depending on the accident’s severity, officers might arrive at the scene to file a police report. If the accident is minor and officers don’t respond to the scene, file an accident report through the local DMV. Request a copy of whichever report is filed.
3. Take Photos and Videos
   Get plenty of photos and videos of the crash scene and surroundings for later use.
4. Gather Witness Statements
   Eyewitnesses have a unique perspective on truck accidents. When you’re driving, you have a limited view of your surroundings. Eyewitnesses, whether they be other drivers or bystanders, can see what you don’t. Get their contact information.
5. Exchange Information
   Be sure to exchange contact, vehicle, and insurance information with other drivers involved before leaving the accident scene.
6. Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
   A Houston personal injury lawyer who specializes in truck accidents will help you navigate the complexities of your case from start to finish. You can rest easy knowing you’re in good hands.
7. Notify Your Insurance Company
   Don’t forget to let your insurance provider know about the accident. They can’t start the claims process until you notify them. Be prepared to speak with an adjuster about what happened in the days following your case.

The Complexities of Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident claims aren’t just bigger versions of a typical car accident case. They come with their own set of moving parts. Here’s what makes them more complicated, and why having the right legal support from the start makes a real difference.

• The truck is a commercial vehicle, and that changes the rules. Unlike a crash with another driver’s personal car, a truck accident involves a business asset covered by commercial insurance and federal safety regulations. That usually means higher policy limits than a typical auto claim, but it also means a company with its own legal team working to protect those limits from day one.
• More than one party may be responsible, which means more than one insurance policy to pursue. A truck accident can involve the driver, the trucking company, the company that loaded the cargo, and even the truck’s manufacturer or mechanic. If your case only looks at the driver, you could be leaving real compensation on the table.
• Federal safety rules and driver logs can prove what really happened, but the trucking company controls that evidence. Violations of hours-of-service rules or maintenance requirements often explain why a crash happened, but the records that prove it live with the company you’re up against.
• Evidence has a short shelf life. Skid marks fade, vehicles get repaired, and black box or driver log data can be overwritten or “lost” if no one moves quickly to preserve it.
• Eyewitness accounts can be shaky. High-speed crashes happen fast, and witness memories don’t always line up. That testimony needs to be backed up with harder evidence to hold up against a well-funded defense team.
• Some cases need outside experts to prove. Accident reconstruction specialists, engineers, or medical professionals are often necessary to establish exactly how the crash happened and how it’s affected your health.
• Insurers may try to shift blame onto you. Under Texas’s comparative negligence rule, every percentage point of fault assigned to you reduces or eliminates what you can recover, so it’s common for a trucking company’s insurer to push hard to make the crash look partly your fault.

That’s exactly why our Houston truck accident team moves quickly from the moment you call us. We send our own investigators to preserve evidence, request driver logs and maintenance records before they disappear, and bring in the right experts early, so you’re not the only one racing against the clock.

Why Houston Sees So Many Truck Accidents and Common Causes

Nationally, Texas has consistently led the country in large-truck crash involvement. According to the NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts report, Texas recorded 832 large-truck crashes involving fatalities and 170 large-truck occupant fatalities in the most recent year the report covers Locally, the picture looks similar: Harris County alone saw 41 truck-involved fatalities in 2024, per TxDOT.

Houston sits at the intersection of some of the busiest freight corridors in the country, and that’s a big part of why truck accidents happen here so often. Interstate 45, Interstate 10, US-59/69, Beltway 8, and the 610 Loop all carry heavy commercial truck traffic every day, and the interchanges where these routes meet, like I-10 and 610, or I-45 and Beltway 8, see some of the highest rates of truck-involved crashes in the region.

Port Houston adds another layer to the problem. The port served roughly 2.5 million truck transactions in 2025 alone, according to Port Houston’s own year-end report, and most of that traffic moves through surface streets and freeways shared with everyday drivers. Add in the oil and gas trucking corridor running through Pasadena, Baytown, and Deer Park, where tanker trucks and oilfield service vehicles are a constant presence, and Houston ends up with a mix of commercial truck traffic most cities don’t see at this scale.

The numbers reflect it. In 2024, Harris County recorded 6,313 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, including 41 fatalities, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s crash records. If you were hurt in one of these crashes, you’re far from alone, and the routes and industries driving that traffic often factor directly into how a case gets investigated.

A truck accident can happen for a lot of reasons, and Houston’s freeway system and industrial traffic tend to bring certain causes to the surface more than others. These are the ten we see most often.

1. Driver Fatigue: Long-haul drivers moving freight through Houston on I-45 or I-10 often log hours before they ever reach the city. Prolonged periods behind the wheel induce fatigue and slow a driver’s reaction time, and fatigued truck operators are at a heightened risk of drifting out of a lane or falling asleep at the wheel.
2. Speeding: The greater a vehicle’s size, the greater the stopping distance it needs. Given the dimensions of semi-trucks and 18-wheelers, they take significantly longer to slow down, and that becomes especially dangerous at high-speed merge points like the 610 Loop or Beltway 8, where speed differentials between trucks and passenger vehicles are common.
3. Distracted Driving: When a truck driver looks away from the road, even for a moment, to text, eat, adjust music, or check directions, the risk of causing an accident goes up. On a route as dense with merges and exits as US-59/69 through Houston, even a brief distraction can turn into a serious crash.
4. Impaired Driving: Operating a large truck under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous for the driver and everyone else on the road. These substances compromise judgment, coordination, and reaction time, which is especially hazardous behind the wheel of a vehicle that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
5. Insufficient Training: Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers require specialized training to operate safely, and that includes the drayage trucks moving containers in and out of Port Houston. Without the right training, drivers are more likely to misjudge turns, blind spots, or braking distances that a passenger vehicle driver would never have to think about.
6. Adverse Weather Conditions: Houston’s heavy rain, flash flooding, and occasional hurricane-season conditions compromise road safety fast. They cut visibility and make road surfaces slick, and a fully loaded truck reacts to those conditions very differently than a car does.
7. Mechanical Failures: Brake systems malfunction, tires blow out, and steering mechanisms fail unexpectedly. Any of these can take away a driver’s ability to control the vehicle, and skipping routine maintenance only raises the odds of it happening.
8. Improper Cargo Loading: Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers have specific load limits, and that matters just as much for containers coming off Port Houston as it does for the tanker trucks running the oil and gas corridor through Pasadena and Baytown. An overloaded or unevenly loaded truck is more likely to swerve or tip, and cargo that isn’t secured properly can fall off entirely.
9. Aggressive Driving: Tailgating and weaving between lanes put everyone on the road at risk, and Houston’s congested interchanges, especially where I-10 meets 610, give aggressive driving even less room for error.
10. Inadequate Following Distance: Large trucks need a longer braking distance than smaller vehicles do in an emergency, so drivers have to leave real space between themselves and the vehicle ahead. Following too closely can turn a sudden stop in traffic into a collision.

Our Houston 18-wheeler accident lawyer team is experienced in handling cases involving all these types of truck accidents and beyond, addressing a wide range of factors that contribute to these incidents.

See How We’ve Helped Clients Like You

An Amazon delivery truck struck Melissa during a routine shift, leaving her with neck pain and mounting pressure from insurers. We stepped in early, and the case settled for $500,000. Read the full case.

Texas Truck Accident Laws and Regulations

Truck accident cases are usually commercial vehicle accidents and don’t run on the same rules as an ordinary fender-bender. Federal and state law both come into play, and knowing how they work can make the difference between a claim that gets taken seriously and one that gets picked apart by an insurance adjuster. Here’s what matters most if you’re building a case in Texas.

How Long You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Texas

Texas gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. That deadline applies whether you’re negotiating with an insurance company or heading to court, and it doesn’t pause just because settlement talks are ongoing. Miss it, and you lose your right to sue, no matter how strong your case would have been. The earlier you talk to a lawyer, the more time your legal team has to investigate, gather evidence, and build your case before that clock runs out.

Modified Comparative Negligence in Texas Truck Accident Cases

Under Texas’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can still seek compensation even if you share some of the fault for the accident, as long as you’re found 50% or less responsible. Cross that line into 51% or more, and Texas law bars you from recovering anything. Your compensation gets reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you, so a driver found 20% at fault would recover 80% of their damages. This rule matters most in multi-party truck accidents, where fault often gets split between the truck driver, the trucking company, and sometimes other drivers on the road. Trucking companies and their insurers know this rule well, and they’ll often push to shift blame onto you specifically to get you closer to that 51% cutoff. That’s one more reason it helps to have someone reviewing the evidence on your side early.

Duty to Report the Accident

Texas law also requires drivers involved in a crash to stop, remain at the scene, and report the accident under Texas Transportation Code Sections 550.021 and 550.062. This isn’t just a formality. The police report that comes out of this requirement often becomes one of the first pieces of evidence in your case, so it’s worth requesting a copy as soon as it’s available.

Cargo Limits and Securement Requirements

Texas mandates specific weight limits and securement practices for cargo on commercial trucks, ensuring that loads remain safe and balanced throughout transit. Trucks carrying cargo that exceeds weight limits or isn’t properly secured can pose serious risks, especially when maneuvering sharp turns. Evidence of overloading or insecure cargo can support a negligence claim against the trucking company responsible for the load.

Hours of Service Limits to Prevent Driver Fatigue

In Texas, truck drivers must comply with strict Hours of Service (HOS) regulations under federal law (49 CFR Section 395) that limit how long they can drive consecutively. A driver can be on duty for a maximum of 14 hours but may drive only for 11 of those, followed by a mandatory 10-hour rest period. These rules exist to prevent fatigue-related accidents, and any violations can become powerful evidence if you’re involved in a crash with a truck driver who pushed beyond legal limits.

Mandatory Safety Inspections and Maintenance

Commercial trucks on Texas roads must pass routine safety inspections, covering crucial areas like brake systems, tires, and other mechanical components. The law requires trucking companies to keep their vehicles in optimal working condition, since failing to do so endangers everyone on the road. If an accident stems from mechanical failure, liability could shift to the trucking company or mechanic, which is why documenting maintenance records matters.

Once you understand which laws apply, the next step is figuring out who’s actually responsible. Identifying the liable parties is crucial to pursuing your case, since it allows for a clear understanding of who is responsible and how different violations and negligent actions contributed to the accident.

Identifying Liable Parties in a Truck Accident Case

In a truck accident case, liability typically involves various individuals and entities connected to the truck’s operation and maintenance. Determining responsibility requires examining each party’s actions and adherence to legal and safety standards.

The Driver

The driver often holds primary responsibility, especially if the accident stems from negligent actions like speeding, distracted driving, or impaired driving. Texas law requires all drivers to maintain safe driving practices, and breaches of these duties can lead to direct liability for injuries caused.

Vehicle Owner

When someone other than the driver owns the truck, the owner may also be accountable. Texas law places responsibility on owners to ensure their trucks are only operated by qualified and safe drivers. Allowing an unlicensed or unsafe driver behind the wheel can establish liability for the vehicle owner as well.

Parts Manufacturer

Mechanical failures, such as faulty brakes or tire defects, can contribute to severe accidents. When defective parts are involved, the manufacturer or supplier of the faulty component may be held liable. Texas product liability laws address such cases, assigning responsibility when a defective part significantly contributes to the accident.

Repair and Maintenance Providers

Trucks require regular maintenance to remain safe on the road. When an accident results from poor maintenance or inadequate repairs, liability may extend to the mechanic or maintenance provider. Neglecting essential repairs or incorrectly installing critical parts can create hazards, especially in larger vehicles where minor issues can quickly escalate.

Cargo Loading Company

A truck can be perfectly maintained and still cause a serious accident if its cargo wasn’t loaded correctly. Federal cargo securement rules require loads to be properly distributed, balanced, and secured before a truck ever leaves the dock. When a loading company overloads a trailer, stacks cargo unevenly, or fails to secure it properly, that imbalance can cause a rollover, a jackknife, or cargo spilling onto the roadway. In these cases, the company responsible for loading the truck, which isn’t always the same company that owns or operates it, can be held liable separately from the driver and the trucking company.

In commercial truck accident, liability extends further, potentially implicating trucking companies, cargo loaders, and third-party contractors. Commercial cases introduce additional complexities, as federal regulations and corporate responsibilities play a larger role, requiring a detailed examination of each party involved in the truck’s operation, cargo management, and upkeep.

Compensation in Houston Truck Accident Cases

Victims injured in truck crashes can seek comprehensive compensation to cover the physical, financial, and emotional burdens caused by their injuries. A traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury can mean months of therapy, permanent lifestyle changes, or care that lasts a lifetime, and the psychological toll of surviving a serious crash often lingers long after the physical wounds heal. Texas law accounts for that full picture, not just the medical bills on paper. It allows accident victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages tailored to the full impact of the accident on their lives.

• Economic Damages include tangible costs like medical bills, future treatment expenses, and lost wages due to time away from work. If the injury impacts your ability to earn in the future, you may also claim loss of earning capacity, calculated based on projected income lost due to long-term or permanent impairments.
• Non-Economic Damages address the emotional and psychological toll of the accident. Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and diminished quality of life fall under this category, recognizing the life-altering consequences that physical injuries and trauma can bring. Texas law allows compensation that reflects the extent of this distress, especially in severe or debilitating cases.
• When a fatal truck accident happens, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 71.004. This can include compensation for loss of companionship, funeral and burial expenses, and the financial support the family has lost, on top of the damages categories above. 
• In certain cases where a trucking company’s actions were reckless, such as violating safety regulations, skipping maintenance, or overloading carg, punitive damages may apply. While rare, these damages are intended to penalize gross negligence and deter similar misconduct, adding an additional layer of justice for the victim.

Texas truck accident laws support your right to seek a full financial recovery based on the unique circumstances of your injuries and losses. By clearly documenting the impact of your accident, you strengthen your claim for fair and just compensation that addresses every facet of your recovery. Our Houston semi-truck accident lawyer can help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Types of Truck Accidents We Handle in Houston

Not every truck accident happens the same way, and the type of crash often shapes how liability gets determined. Our Houston truck accident lawyers have handled cases involving:

• Jackknife accidents, where a trailer swings out and skids sideways
• Rollover accidents, often tied to overloaded or unevenly loaded cargo
• Underride and override accidents, where a smaller vehicle collides with the truck’s undercarriage
• Rear-end collisions caused by a truck’s longer stopping distance
• Tire blowouts and equipment failures linked to poor maintenance
• Cargo spill and lost-load accidents, including containers from Port Houston and tanker spills from the energy corridor
• Multi-vehicle pileups involving trucks and several passenger vehicles
• Blind-spot and lane-change collisions, particularly at busy interchanges like I-10 and 610

No matter how the crash happened, we investigate the specific factors that caused it and build your case around what actually went wrong.

How Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help

At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our trucking wreck attorneys are committed to helping truck accident victims receive the care, justice, and compensation they deserve. We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re taken care of and treated fairly. Here are just some of the ways we simplify the claims process for you.

Initial Case Assessment

Whether you prefer a face-to-face meeting or a phone consultation, we’ll dive into the specifics of your case. Our aim is to ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of your legal rights and available options. This preliminary assessment is provided at no cost to you. That way, you can focus on what matters most.

In-Depth Case Investigation

Our priority is to uncover the circumstances surrounding your injuries and how you sustained them. Our team will compile evidence and seek expert opinions to determine liability and calculate damages accurately.

Engage in Negotiations

We manage all correspondence with insurance providers to guarantee a fair settlement is achieved. While insurance companies might attempt to offer inadequate settlements or resort to unethical practices, our team is dedicated to securing the compensation you’re entitled to.

Representation in Court

Should a settlement not be reached, our personal injury lawyer take your truck accident lawsuit to court. We will present a robust case to enhance your chances of getting justice and maximum financial compensation for your injuries and damages.

Consult a Trusted Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Today

When it comes to seeking legal representation for your truck accident case, Steinger, Greene & Feiner is the name you can trust to get the results you want. Our Houston truck crash lawyers have the skills and experience required to bring the responsible party to justice and secure maximum compensation on your behalf. Don’t wait to take the first step. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. We’re ready to get to work.