Truck Accident Lawyer | Nationwide Legal Help for Semi-Truck & 18-Wheeler Crash Victims

$100,000,000’s Recovered for Clients

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Why You Need a Top Truck Accident Lawyer After a Serious Crash

Truck accidents are among the most devastating and complex personal injury cases. The massive size and weight of 18-wheelers and semi-trucks often lead to catastrophic injuries or fatalities. These cases require deep legal knowledge, fast evidence preservation, and the ability to take on large trucking companies and their insurers.

At Willis Law, our nationally recognized truck accident lawyers bring 40+ years of courtroom experience.  

Truck accident Lawyer is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Led by a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1988, and former attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas, Willis has helped secured $100’s millions in recoveries for past accident victims. We don’t just represent you we build a powerful legal team, launch a full investigation, and fight to win maximum compensation on your behalf. Willis’ background includes:

  • Top 100 – National Trial Lawyers Award
  • Supreme Court of Texas Attorney (1983-84)
  • Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer*
  • 40+ Years of Catastrophic Injury Experience
  • $100,000,000’s in Past Recoveries for Clients
  • Texas (1983) & New York (2005) – Licensed
  • Steven J. Sharp – National Public Service Award Winner

Our semi-truck accident attorneys and legal staff are prepared to act immediately to preserve black box data, driver logs, and dashcam footage before it disappears. At Willis Law, we immediately send spoliation letters to trucking companies sometimes within hours of being hired, legally demanding preservation of black box (ECM) data, driver logbooks, dashcam footage, maintenance reports, and inspection records. We coordinate rapid black box downloads and electronic data capture before trucks are moved or repaired. Our team deploys accident reconstruction experts and safety engineers to document the crash scene, skid marks, debris fields, and mechanical failures.

We also interview eyewitnesses before memories fade or stories change. Every day lost, can weaken your case—important evidence can be erased, altered, or conveniently “lost.” By contacting a specialized truck accident attorney immediately, you give yourself the best chance to secure critical proof and build a winning case for full compensation

Remember, calling for a Free Case Review from a knowledgeable truck accident attorney costs you nothing. All cases are handled on a Contingency Fee Basis. This means – No Attorney’s Fees or Expenses Charged to You, Unless You Recover.

Call Us 24/7 – 1-888-LAW-2040

Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different from Car Accidents

semi truck accident with multiple defendants at fault

Truck accidents are vastly different from typical car crashes in ways that significantly impact your case—and your recovery. Most notably, the sheer size of the loaded truck between 48-55 ft long and weighing up to 80,000 lbs. The size, weight, and speed create enormous amount of energy in a crash, resulting in devastating injuries and deaths to anyone comes in contact with it.

Often truck crashes involve numerous violations of federal safety regulations, particularly the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Hours of Service (HOS) rules. These regulations govern everything from driver hours, vehicle maintenance, cargo loading, and driver qualifications. A violation can be critical proof of negligence, but only an attorney experienced in trucking law will know how to uncover and leverage it.

Second, truck accidents usually involve multiple liable parties beyond just the truck driver. The trucking company, maintenance contractors, cargo loaders, and even parts manufacturers could share responsibility. Navigating these complexities demands legal experience that goes beyond general personal injury practice.

Third, commercial trucks carry much higher insurance limits often ranging from $1 million to $10 million or more. Trucking companies and their insurers aggressively defend these claims from the outset, deploying teams of investigators and lawyers immediately after a crash.That’s why truck accident victims need a law firm with specific trucking litigation experience, immediate action plans, and a proven record of winning high-stakes battles not just any injury lawyer.

$100,000,000’s
Recovered for Our Clients

Some Past Truck Accident Cases Handled by the Willis Firm

Some Past Truck Accident Cases Handled by the Willis Firm

Why Truck Accident Lawsuits Require Immediate Legal Action and Specialized Strategy

FMCSA Regulations & Federal Oversight

Truck drivers and their companies must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, including Hours of Service (HOS), rest periods, inspections, and driver qualifications. Violations—like driving too long or skipping inspections—can lead to serious crashes. Our attorneys and truck accident experts understand how to audit driver’s logbooks, ELD data, and inspection records to find FMCSA violations that help prove negligence.

Multiple Defendants at Fault in a Trucking Accident

Truck crashes often involve multiple responsible parties beyond the driver, such as the trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance provider, and/or part manufacturer. We investigate all angles to identify every liable party. This comprehensive approach increases the potential compensation and holds all negligent actors accountable.

Multi-Jurisdiction Litigation

Because truck crashes frequently involve out-of-state trucking companies, determining where to file a lawsuit is key. Our team analyzes the facts to pick the most favorable court—based on liability law, damages caps, and jury tendencies—while complying with local bar rules through co-counsel partnerships.

High-Stakes Insurance with Trucking Companies

Most trucking companies carry large commercial policies worth $1M–$10M+ and many carry multiple layers of excess or umbrella insurance. Insurers often use legal teams to fight claims, by blaming the other driver, arguing the other driver was speeding, in the trucker’s blind spot, not being defensive and an entire textbook of delays to avoid payouts and blame anyone else. Our truck accident lawyers push forward with the client’s case and file lawsuits, backed by strong evidence and expert testimony. This strategic pressure during discovery and push toward trial, often helps to obtain a generous out-of-court settlement in mediation or at the courthouse steps.

Time-Sensitive Evidence

Critical evidence like black box data, driver logs, and dashcam footage can be altered or lost within days. We act fast to preserve it through putting the trucking company and others on legal notice, not to destroy or “lose” evidence by immediately sending spoliation letters by Certified mail or Fed-Express, file temporary restraining orders (TROs), and start immediate investigation of the scene and witnesses—ensuring your case starts with the strongest proof possible.

Talk to a Catastrophic Truck Accident Lawyer Who Knows How to Win Huge Injury Cases

No Fees Ever Charged to You, Unless You Win.

Don’t Delay, Call Today 1-888-LAW-2040

Types of Trucking Injury Accidents We Handle

Types of Trucking Injury Accidents We Handle

Construction Zone Rear-End Truck Crashes

Semi-trucks often crash into slowed or stopped traffic in highway construction zones or slow-downs due to distraction, texting, speeding, or driver fatigue. These rear-end collisions in construction zones typically involve a fully loaded truck failing to decelerate in time, causing devastating rear-end impacts. Victims often suffer spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or wrongful death. Upon being hired, we quickly secure black box data and investigate whether proper warnings and signage were in place—and whether the driver was adhering to FMCSA and HOS rules.

Jackknife truck wrecks happen when the trailer swings out at a sharp angle, forming a V-shape with the cab. This can block multiple lanes and cause multi-vehicle pileups. Common causes include sudden braking, poor road conditions, or equipment failure. Our truck accident lawyers work with accident reconstruction experts and crash engineers to analyze braking distances, skid marks, and maintenance records to establish liability for the jackknife event.

Semi-Truck Rollover Accidents

Tractor-trailers can tip over due to excessive speed, overloaded cargo, or driver inexperience. Truck rollover crashes are especially hazardous when they occur on curves or freeway ramps. These wrecks can crush nearby vehicles or spill hazardous materials. We analyze cargo weight reports, weigh station records, and trucking company safety audits to build your case.

Underride Rear-End Collisions

Underride collisions occur when a smaller vehicle slides under the rear bumper of the trailer of a semi-truck—often resulting in fatal head and neck trauma. These underride rear-end crashes are especially dangerous at night or when trucks are parked on the shoulder without adequate warning lights or underride guards. We pursue claims against both drivers and trucking companies who fail to install legally mandated safety equipment (underride protection devices/bumper guards) or improper parking on roadways.

Mechanical Failures & Tire Blowouts

A sudden steering tire or trailer tire blowout, brake failure, or steering defect can cause a truck driver to lose control, swerve or even go off the road. Truck tire blowouts or failure can also cause pieces of the tire tread to explode into your lane of travel causing evasive steering and braking, contributing to collisions with other vehicles, off road wrecks and rollovers. These tire blowout and mechanical failure related accidents may stem from poor fleet maintenance, skipped inspections, or defective components. In such cases, we subpoena vehicle service records and work with forensic engineers to prove negligence on the part of the trucking company or parts manufacturer.

Lack of Sleep, Fatigue & Drowsy Driving

Despite strict Hours of Service (HOS) rules, truck drivers sometimes exceed their allowed hours to meet delivery quotas. Fatigue (lack of sleep) while driving dulls reaction time and impairs judgment—causing serious wrecks. Our attorneys obtain ELD data, rest schedules, and dispatch orders to determine if the driver was pushed to break safety laws or if this conduct is part of a history of HOS violations.

Distracted, DWI, Drug-Impaired Truck Drivers

When a truck driver is driving drunk or impaired, or while driving texting, surfing the internet, eating, adjusting GPS, while behind the wheel of a loaded 80,000-pound 18-wheeler, the results can be deadly. We subpoena phone records, toxicology reports, and dashcam footage to show whether the driver was impaired or distracted at the time of the crash. In cases of drug use, we pursue punitive damages where applicable.

Illegal Parking on Shoulders

When trucks are illegally parked on highway shoulders—without cones, flares, or reflective triangles—they create a serious hazard, especially at night or in poor weather. Many underride crashes are caused this way. Our truck accident lawyers investigate whether the stop was mechanical or simply due to hours-of-service expiration and work to hold negligent drivers and carriers accountable.

No matter what the excuse, safety reflectors, hazard lights and other safety measures must be immediately after pulling off to the shoulder. Similarly, if a truck and trailer are parked near a commercial entity such as a fast-food restaurant or truck stop and is blocking the view of the exiting vehicle, the truck driver, his employer, and possibly the business in question can be held negligent for any injuries for allowing this a dangerous condition to exist.

Nationwide Legal Help with Local Support

Willis is licensed in Texas and New York but can represent semi-truck crash clients in across the country through co-counsel agreements with trusted local attorneys. Whether your accident occurred in the city, on an interstate freeway, or on any of the 10,000’s of small county roads across the countryside, we can help. You get national power and local legal support—with no extra cost.

One Team. One Goal. One Fee.

Top Mistakes to Avoid After a Truck Accident

After a serious truck crash, the actions you take—or fail to take—can make or break your case. Victims often unknowingly hurt their chances at a full financial recovery. Common mistakes to avoid include:

Talking to the Insurance Adjuster Without a Lawyer

Insurers are trained to get you to say things that minimize your claim or suggest partial fault. Never give a recorded statement, speculate about fault, or sign anything without legal advice.

Accepting Quick Settlement Offers

Early offers are designed to close your case cheaply—often for a fraction of your true damages. Always allow an experienced attorney to fully evaluate your injuries and future needs before settling.

Failing to Preserve Critical Evidence

Black box data, dashcam footage, maintenance records, and crash debris can be destroyed within days. Immediate preservation actions are crucial to proving fault.

Waiting Too Long to Hire an Attorney

Trucking companies start building their defense within hours. They intentionally drag out or stall the initial discussions, delay answering emails or returning calls to have more time to talk to witnesses, the police and hire experts in preparation for a possible lawsuit. These delays allow insurers to gain a big advantage.

Remember, the Adjuster is Not Your Friend

Everything you say may in fact be recorded either digitally or manually. Lastly, the adjuster works for the other side, they are not to be told anything personal or told “off the record”.

Protect your future and maximize your recovery. Contact a specialized truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after the crash.

Who Can Be Sued in a Truck Accident Case

Truck accidents often involve far more than just the driver behind the wheel. To maximize your recovery, it’s critical to identify and pursue claims against every party responsible for the crash. At Willis Law, we conduct aggressive multi-party investigations to expose all sources of liability. Key defendants in truck crash cases often include:

The Truck Driver: Drivers who speed, work excessive hours, drive fatigued, use drugs, or violate FMCSA safety regulations can be held personally responsible for causing catastrophic wrecks.

The Trucking Company (Employer Liability): Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, trucking companies are liable for the negligence of their drivers. We also pursue direct claims for negligent hiring, inadequate training, unsafe dispatch practices, and failure to supervise drivers properly.

Cargo Loading Companies: Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause rollovers, jackknife crashes, and lost-load accidents. Third-party cargo loading / logistics companies responsible for cargo handling can be sued when dangerous loads contribute to a crash.

Truck Maintenance Providers: Poorly maintained brakes, tires, steering systems, and lighting can all lead to deadly crashes. Maintenance contractors who cut corners or ignore required inspections are often liable alongside the carrier.

Truck and Parts Manufacturers: When defective truck components—such as the front steering tires, brakes, underride guards, or steering systems—contribute to a collision, we bring product liability claims against manufacturers and suppliers.

Identifying every responsible party isn’t just important — it’s essential for achieving maximum compensation. Trucking companies and their insurers fiercely defend these cases, but our team is prepared to go the distance against every liable entity.

What Sets Our Truck Accident Investigations Apart

  • Immediate black box and ELD data downloads before evidence disappears
  • Rapid deployment of certified accident reconstruction experts
  • Aggressive crash scene documentation, including skid marks, debris fields, and gouge marks
  • Fast preservation of driver logs, dispatch records, and maintenance history

We know trucking company defense tactics—and we’re ready before they are.

Semi-truck accident attorneys proving negligence in trucking litigation
semi-truck accident lawyer files lawsuit to fight for client’s damages

Damages In a Truck Accident Lawsuit – Monetary Compensation We Fight to Recover for You

  • Past and Future Medical Bills
  • Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
  • Long-term Disability and Rehab Costs
  • Pain and Suffering – Past & Future
  • Loss of Consortium / Companionship Spousal Damages
  • Funeral costs and Wrongful Death Damages
  • Punitive Damages for Reckless Behavior
  • Home Modifications & Transportation Needs
  • Home Health Care Nurse
  • Spousal Emotional Injuries – Loss of Consortium

Remember, we do not charge any legal fees unless we win your case.

Fatal Truck Accidents and Your Right to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

When a loved one is killed in a fatal truck accident, surviving family members may have the legal right to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in a truck accident, against the truck driver, the trucking company, and other responsible parties. These claims can provide vital compensation for:

  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of Income
  • Emotional Pain
  • Mental Anguish
  • Grief & Depression
  • Loss of Companionship
  • Loss of Insurance & Retirement Benefits

Hiring a Truck Accident Wrongful Death Attorney to Take Over After a Tragic Death

Wrongful death cases involving semi-trucks demand swift legal action and experienced representation. Let our wrongful death truck accident lawyers help you seek accountability and justice for your losses. After a death of a loved one, loss of a partner, one’s world becomes somewhat chaotic, new financial stresses, lack of direction and lots of questions as to what’s your next move.

After 40+ years we do understand your need to recover. When we are hired, we can immediately act as a stone wall to shield you form an onslaught of harassing calls from ambulance chasing lawyers, case runners, bill collectors and help you file for any insurance benefits available including worker’s compensation death benefits, life insurance and other private and governmental monies available, all at the same time as investigating your case and preparing it for a lawsuit and trial.

Wrongful Death Beneficiaries in Truck Accident Fatality Case

Eligible beneficiaries in these cases often include the victim’s spouse, biological or adopted children, and parents. Depending on the state, others—such as siblings, stepchildren, or court-appointed estate representatives—may also have the right to file or share in the recovery. Our team can help you understand your rights and make sure every eligible party is fully represented.

Filing deadlines in a wrongful death claim in some states have shorter expirations than the governing statute of limitations of that state. Let an experienced semi-truck attorney familiar with the ins and outs of truck accident death cases study the facts of your accident and losses and make sure you don’t miss any mandatory filing or notice deadlines. Trucking accidents with deaths and catastrophic injuries must be aggressively pursued and pushed to settlement or trial.

Talk to a Wrongful Death Truck Accident Attorney Today

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?

statute of limitations deadlines  in a truck accident

Deadlines to file a truck accident lawsuit—known as statutes of limitations—vary by state. For personal injury claims, most states allow 1 to 3 years from the date of the crash. However, if the accident caused a fatality, the deadline to file a wrongful death lawsuit is often shorter and the “time clock” may begin on the date of death—not the accident date. This varies by state.

If a government agency (US, State, County or City) is also partially responsible, for example, due to negligent roadway design, unsafe construction zones, or poor maintenance you may have to file a statutory notice of claim within 90 to 180 days of the accident, depending on the agency in question. This notice is required before filing any type of lawsuit and missing this deadline can void your right to sue the government entity. Don’t wait—speak with a qualified truck accident attorney immediately to and find out the filing deadlines that apply in your accident. 

Don’t Guess – You Only Have ONE CHANCE to Get This Correct

Common Insurance Company Tactics We Battle After Truck Crashes

Trucking companies will do everything possible to minimize your payout after a truck crash. Some of the most common tactics include:

  • Blaming the Victim: Suggesting you caused or contributed to the accident.
  • Assigning Percentages of Fault: Trying to reduce what they owe by claiming partial blame rests with you.
  • Disputing Injury Severity: Downplaying your injuries or accusing you of exaggeration.
  • Destroying or “Losing” Critical Evidence: Losing dashcam footage, black box data, or maintenance logs that could prove fault.
  • Refusing to Pay for Vehicle Damages: Undervaluing your car’s replacement or repair costs.
  • Delaying the Claims Process: Using endless paperwork and red tape to pressure you into giving up or settling cheap.
  • Offering Lowball Settlements Early: Rushing small offers before you know the full extent of your injuries.
  • Rotating Insurance Adjusters: Reassigning your case repeatedly to confuse you and delay resolutions.
  • Refusing to Accept Liability: Denying fault outright even when evidence is clear.
  • Misleading You About Your Rights: Telling you to “use your own insurance first” to limit their exposure.

We know their playbook—and we know exactly how to beat them.

How We Force Trucking Companies to Pay Maximum Settlements

  • Strategic, aggressive discovery targeting hidden safety violations
  • Uncovering falsified driver logs, ignored inspections, and illegal dispatch practices
  • Filing suit immediately to pressure trucking company insurers
  • Preparing every case for trial from day one—no lowball settlements accepted

Insurance companies know we are prepared to win in court—and that’s how we secure maximum results for our clients.

Texas Truck accident attorney ensuring fair compensation in court for truck injury victims

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in Big Rig Truck Accidents

Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee basis—you only pay us if we win your case.

Immediately. Critical evidence like black box data, skid marks, and witness memories can vanish within hours or days after a crash.

Usually, yes. Many states allow compensation even if you were partially responsible, under comparative negligence laws. Even if you were not belted or speeding, you still may have a case against the truck’s driver and company

Every case is unique. Your compensation depends on injury severity, medical bills, lost income, future care needs, and the degree of fault involved. Best to talk to a lawyer and NO LISTEN to what the trucking company’s agent or adjuster says.

No. We handle truck accident cases nationwide with trusted co-counsel partnerships, meaning you get local support and national resources without extra fees. If a local truck accident attorney near you needs to be hired as co-counsel or as local counsel in a particular court, we will research and hire the best one for the situation and their knowledge of the local court system, the juries and compensate them from our attorney’s fee, with no extra charge to the client.

If the adjuster or company rep calls you or shows up at your door and asks to ‘just talk” or requests a short recorded statement, its best to politely tell them you aren’t ready to talk and instead call a truck accident attorney that understands “the playbook” of the adjusters and let the attorney be your spokesperson or “buffer” after such a tragic accident. Remember the adjuster is not your friend and you should NEVER divulge anything confidential to them. Nothing you tell them is “off the record”.. Nothing!

The truck’s black box (Electronic Control Module) records critical data like speed, braking, and hours of service. It often provides key evidence proving liability. We can use other evidence like witness testimony, crash reconstruction, and cell phone records to prove fault—even if data goes missing.

Motor vehicle accidents involving delivery trucks, box trucks, or service vans may differ legally from 18-wheeler crashes. While both involve commercial vehicles, FMCSA and Hours of Service (HOS) rules often apply only to larger trucks over 10,000

 lbs. or involved in interstate commerce—smaller vehicles may not face the same strict federal oversight. Talk to a commercial truck accident attorney today to find out what needs to be done to protect your rights.

You may have a strong claim against the trucking company for negligent maintenance—or even against parts manufacturers for defective equipment.

In most states a common law wife or husband can file a wrongful death lawsuit for the death of their common law spouse for financial losses in past and future, mental anguish, loss of companionship, funeral expenses and other legal damages. If the same-sex marriage is legally recognized in the state where the lawsuit is filed, then you generally have the same wrongful death rights for the death of your partner as any other spouse in a truck crash case.

Time limits (statutes of limitations) vary by state—sometimes as short as one year. Contact us immediately to find out what deadlines and notice requirements apply in your case. Some governmental notice requirements are as short as 90 days form the date of the accident, in cases where there may be negligent conduct in the road’s design, maintenance, or location or warnings in construction zones. Don’t Assume. Find out For Sure.

That’s not a problem, we have handled cases in rural towns in California, West Virginia, Florida, Texas, Utah, Georgia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and dozens of other states in large and small towns across America. We bring the same fire power to the table in each case, no matter where it occurred. If we are not licensed in that state, we will associate with local attorneys near you to work with us on this team approach to help push the client’s case to settlement or trial.

Every case is different. Some settle quickly; others require full litigation. We prepare every case for trial from day one.

Every case is different. Some settle quickly; others require full litigation. We prepare every case for trial from day one. Most truck accident claims settle, but we always prepare aggressively for trial to maximize your leverage during negotiations.

Yes. Speeding and texting violate safety laws and strengthen your claim for full compensation—and sometimes punitive damages.

Yes, an adopted child is typically considered a legal beneficiary in a wrongful death case, including semi-truck accidents, and may be entitled to compensation in most states. Talk to a commercial truck accident lawyer today to learn more about your legal rights as an adopted child to be a beneficiary in a lawsuit of your adopted parent.

It depends on the state. Some states allow step-children to recover wrongful death damages if they were financially dependent on the step-parent or had a close relationship. In some cases, if the family members can agree, a step-brother or sister can recover as well. Let a lawyer study the facts and advise you.

Sometimes. In a few states, siblings can file wrongful death or serious injury claims if they were financially dependent or had a legally recognized relationship to the victim. Talk to a nationwide truck accident lawyer to make sure your rights are protected. 

Yes. We often help clients explore medical liens, letters of protection (LOPs), and other options to access medical care now without waiting.

Yes, if the truck driver or company acted recklessly, such as in cases involving drugged driving, egregious HOS violations, or gross negligence.

Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer Near You

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured or a loved one killed in a trucking accident, call a top truck accident lawyer near you. Immediately your lawyer will start documenting the scene, interviewing witnesses, preserving scene evidence, black-box & logbooks, hiring truck accident experts, file a lawsuit, take depositions, prove fault, and be prepared to try the case in court of law.

No matter if your accident occurred on a major interstate freeway in downtown New York City, or a small rural two lane road in Deep East Texas, we can assist you across the United States by building a strong team of truck accident attorneys for your case with the association of other trial lawyers as co-counsel and/or local counsel, all done in compliance with the governing bar rules of the state.

Call us 24/7 at 1-888-LAW-2040 or fill out our online form below to speak with a nationwide truck accident attorney today and find out how we can help you.  Your Consultation is Free—and You Don’t Pay Unless We Win Your Case.

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