18-wheeler and commercial vehicle accident claims are complex. Baker Matthews knows how to fight the trucking industry — and win.
Call (512) 474-0100 Free Case ReviewA collision with an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or other commercial vehicle is fundamentally different from a standard car accident — and more dangerous. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The force unleashed in a high-speed collision can cause catastrophic injuries: spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, internal organ damage, and death. If you or a family member has been struck by a commercial truck on I-35, US-183, or any Central Texas highway, the clock starts ticking immediately — and so does the trucking company's defense team.
Trucking companies carry substantial commercial insurance policies and deploy accident investigators within hours of a crash. Their goal is to minimize liability before evidence disappears. At Baker Matthews Law Collective PLLC, our Austin truck accident attorneys respond just as fast. We secure the scene, issue preservation letters, and begin building your case before critical evidence — including the truck's electronic control module (ECM/black box) data — is overwritten or destroyed.
Alex J. Matthews and Daniel Baker developed their truck accident litigation skills at Thomas J. Henry, one of Texas's preeminent personal injury firms. They know the federal regulations trucking companies must follow, the tactics their lawyers use, and how to identify every party that shares liability for your injuries.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique.
Commercial trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes strict rules that govern how long truck drivers can operate, how trucks must be maintained, how cargo must be secured, and how carriers must vet their drivers. When these rules are violated, companies and individuals are liable for the harm that results.
FMCSA regulations limit how many hours per day and per week a truck driver may operate a commercial vehicle. Fatigued driving is a leading cause of serious truck accidents. Driver logs (now often electronic logging device / ELD data) can prove a driver was operating in violation of these limits. We know how to obtain and interpret this data.
Modern trucks record speed, braking, acceleration, and other critical data in the moments before a crash. This data can prove a driver was speeding, failed to brake, or was distracted. Trucking companies often know how to overwrite or lose this data. A rapid legal response — including a spoliation letter — is essential.
Unlike a car accident with one at-fault driver, truck accident liability can extend to: the truck driver personally; the trucking company (negligent hiring, training, or supervision); the cargo shipper or loader (improper loading causing a rollover or spill); the truck manufacturer or parts supplier (defective brakes, tires, or steering); and maintenance contractors (failure to keep the vehicle roadworthy). We investigate all angles to maximize your recovery.
Also see our car accident page and wrongful death page for related practice areas.
Statute of Limitations: Texas gives you two years from the accident date to file suit (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003). For wrongful death claims arising from a truck accident, the same two-year period applies. Acting early preserves evidence and your legal rights.
Modified Comparative Fault: Texas's 51% rule applies in truck accident cases just as in car accidents. Trucking company defense lawyers frequently try to shift blame onto injured parties. Our attorneys anticipate and counter these tactics with thorough evidence development from day one.
Respondeat Superior: Under Texas law, trucking companies are generally liable for the negligent acts of their employee-drivers committed within the scope of employment. However, companies sometimes misclassify drivers as independent contractors to avoid liability — a classification we challenge when warranted.
Compensation Available: Past and future medical expenses, lost income and earning capacity, pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish, property damage, and in cases of gross negligence, exemplary damages.
The moment you call us, we begin securing evidence. We send legal hold letters to preserve the truck's black box, driver logs, maintenance records, and any onboard camera footage — before any of it can be erased.
Federal trucking regulations are dense and technical. Our attorneys know them thoroughly. We identify regulatory violations that translate directly into provable liability against drivers, carriers, and their insurers.
We do not stop at the driver. We investigate the trucking company, the shipper, the maintenance contractor, and the manufacturer. More liable parties often means more insurance coverage and a higher recovery for you.
Truck accident cases are complex and expensive to litigate. We fund the entire case — investigation, experts, depositions — at no cost to you. We only collect a fee when we win.
Truck accident cases are significantly more complex. They involve federal FMCSA regulations, multiple potentially liable parties (driver, carrier, shipper, manufacturer), specialized evidence like ELD data and maintenance logs, and large commercial insurance policies with aggressive defense teams. An attorney experienced in trucking litigation is essential.
Yes. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, trucking companies are typically liable for their employee-drivers' negligence. We also pursue independent claims against the company for negligent hiring, inadequate training, and failure to enforce safety policies. If the truck was defective, the manufacturer may also be liable.
Commercial trucks are equipped with an Electronic Control Module (ECM) — commonly called a black box — that records speed, braking, throttle input, and other data in the seconds before a crash. This data can definitively prove a driver was speeding or failed to brake in time. We move immediately to preserve this evidence before it is overwritten, which can happen in as little as 30 days.
FMCSA Hours of Service rules limit drivers to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour window, with mandatory rest periods. Drivers must maintain electronic logging device (ELD) records. Trucks must pass regular safety inspections. Cargo must be properly secured. Violations of any of these rules create a strong basis for liability claims against both the driver and the carrier.
Two years from the date of the accident under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §16.003. However, because critical electronic evidence can disappear quickly, you should contact an attorney immediately — not weeks or months later.
Most cases resolve through settlement negotiations, but Baker Matthews prepares every truck accident case as if it will go to trial. That trial-readiness is what drives insurers and trucking companies to offer fair settlements. We do not hesitate to take cases to a Travis County jury when the other side refuses to negotiate in good faith.
The trucking company's team is already working. Let Baker Matthews go to work for you — free consultation, no fee unless we win.
Call (512) 474-0100 Free Case Evaluation