Oilfield Truck Accidents in
West Texas & New Mexico

Involving Frac Sand, Pipe, and Rig Haulers

$100,000,000’s Recovered for Clients

Free Confidential Consultation

Deadly Crashes are Increasing in Rural Towns Across Texas & New Mexico. Nonstop Convoys of 18-Wheelers, Flatbeds, Tankers, and Service Trucks Have Sadly Become the Norm

Oilfield operations across Texas and New Mexico depend on nonstop 18-wheeler traffic—hauling everything from fracking chemicals and sand to drill pipe, compressors, and rig equipment. But behind that industry movement lies a deadly reality: thousands of catastrophic truck crashes involving oilfield haulers, tankers, and heavy-duty transport rigs.

Trial attorney David P. Willis has helped 100’s of victims of serious 18-wheeler truck accidents and catastrophic injuries for over 40 years. He is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (since 1988) and is licensed to practice in both Texas and New York. His firm focuses on representing injured victims and their families after serious oilfield trucking accidents, dangerous equipment, defective product and holding negligent drivers, employers, subcontractors, and oilfield operators accountable.

Oilfield trucks are dangerous. In West Texas, oil drilling towns like Monahans, Pecos, Sanderson, and Synder, local drivers are forced to share small roads with exhausted truck drivers operating overloaded, poorly maintained rigs. The result? Jackknife collisions, rear-end wrecks, speeding related accidents and fatal T-bone crashes that devastate families and communities. In many cases, what once was a quaint little town perfect for raising a family, is now a dead trap.

What Makes Oilfield Truck Accidents So Common?

Oilfield haulers often operate in unsafe conditions:

Tight schedules driven by rig production deadlines
Poor road infrastructure—two-lane highways with no shoulders
Inexperienced or undertrained drivers subcontracted by third-party carriers
Haulers running overweight, with loose or unbalanced loads
Driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations

These problems aren’t theoretical. In all the top oil and gas producing areas of Texas, New Mexico and parts of Oklahoma in major fields such as the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, Barnett Shale and parts of the East Texas Hayneville and Bossier Shale multiple studies have shown a massive spike in traffic fatalities directly tied to oilfield activity especially during peak drilling and fracking surges. When convoys of tankers, pipe trailers, and hotshot pickups descend on rural towns, crash rates rise. After a devastating oilfield truck wreck, legal help is often needed to help pick up the pieces and secure the just compensation deserved by the victims and their families.

Call Us 24/7 – 1-888-LAW-2040

Types of Trucks Involved in Oilfield Accidents

Pipe Trailers and Flatbeds – Often overloaded, causing jackknifes and rear-end crashes
Frac Sand Haulers – Prone to rollovers due to shifting dry bulk material
Vacuum and Tanker Trucks – Carry flammable or corrosive liquids;
Winch Trucks and Hotshots – Speeding between sites with cargo, and equipment;
Heavy Equipment Haulers – Bulldozers, compressors, and generators
Fracking Trucks and Equipment – High pressure pumps, water, chemicals & sand

Typical Injuries in Oilfield Truck Crashes

Victims of oilfield truck wrecks often suffer severe, life-altering injuries:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Spinal cord damage and paralysis (SCI)
Crushed limbs or traumatic amputation
Impact Trauma to heads, chest and body
Wrongful deaths

Many victims are workers commuting to job sites, residents traveling on oilfield corridors, or even family members in town when overloaded trucks collide at high speed. These aren’t minor fender-benders—they’re often catastrophic life altering injuries, and they deserve aggressive legal representation

Common Accident Types in the Texas Oilfield Corridor

Rollover accidents in curves on smaller 1-2 lane roads
Jackknife collisions during sudden braking or load shifts
Underride crashes involving passenger vehicles hitting stopped trucks
Rear-end wrecks from fatigued or distracted drivers in slow down zones
T-bone crashes at rural intersections and rig entrances
Pipe trailer collisions from swinging loads or shifting unsecured cargo
Frac sand truck rollovers on soft lease roads or steep inclines
Tanker truck crashes during turns with high center of gravity and sloshing liquid

Why Oilfield Truck Routes in Texas and New Mexico Are So Dangerous

The highways and backroads crisscrossing the Permian Basin and surrounding shale plays were never designed to support today’s industrial traffic. Across these routes, oilfield activity has transformed rural farming roads into high-risk truck corridors used by 18-wheelers hauling frac sand, pipe, rigging equipment, chemicals, and heavy machinery.

Every day, drivers in towns like Odessa, Pecos, Midland, Andrews, and Hobbs share aging infrastructure with tanker convoys and oversized loads—often with fatal results. The combination of overloaded trucks, poor road conditions, and time-pressured haulers creates one of the most dangerous driving environments in the U.S.

Crumbling Infrastructure and Narrow Rural Roads

Many oilfield roads were built decades ago for ag tractors and pickups—not modern rigs fully loaded weighing up to 80,000 pounds. Common issues include:

Two-lane blacktops with no shoulder or faded striping
Lease access roads made of gravel or compacted dirt
Potholes, rutting, and crumbling roadbeds from heavy oilfield traffic
Trucks speeding on narrow roads with no enforcement of speed limits
A lack of lighting, guardrails, and emergency pull-offs

The result is a deadly mix of conditions that can make even routine driving hazardous—especially when trucks speed, drift across lanes, or attempt sharp turns near rig entrances.

Dangerous Oilfield Truck Routes in Texas and New Mexico

Across the Permian Basin, several key highways have become some of the most dangerous truck corridors in America. Originally built for light local traffic, these roads now carry thousands of heavy 18-wheelers, tankers, and oilfield service vehicles every day—often with deadly consequences. Below are some of the most dangerous and deadly crashes and involving Explore the roads below to understand the hazards and which towns are most affected.

U.S. Highway 285
Runs through Pecos, Orla, and Jal—narrow, deadly oilfield route known as “Death Highway.”
State Highway 302
Connects Odessa, Kermit, and Mentone—sharp curves and overloaded haulers cause fatal crashes.
State Highway 349
Between Midland, Rankin, and Lamesa—oilfield corridor with rollovers and rear-end collisions.
FM Road 1788
Midland to Odessa shortcut—tight shoulders and heavy hauler traffic near Midland Airport area.
State Highway 18
Hwy 18 links Monahans, Kermit, and Jal—oilfield traffic and eroded pavement make this stretch high-risk for oilfield semi collisions and crashes.
Other Dangerous Oilfield Roads & Highways in Texas Include:

U.S. Highway 67 (San Angelo to Ft. Stockton), U.S. Highway 83 (Iraan to Menard), U.S. Highway 87 big Spring to Lamesa), U.S. Highway 377 (Big Lake to Eldorado) and State Highway 176 (Andrews to Seminole) and many other US Highways, State Highways Farm to Market Roads, Lease Roads, and even one lane gravels roads throughout the entire Permian Basin, East Texas Oilfields, South Texas Oilfields, Barnett Shale of North Texas, Delaware Basin and Eagle Ford Shale Oil and Gas Fields.

U.S. Highway 285 (“Death Highway”) — Pecos, Orla, Jal
U.S. 285 runs through the heart of the Permian Basin and is infamous for fatal crashes involving oil haulers. Narrow lanes, fatigued drivers, and overloaded rigs make towns like Pecos, Orla, and Jal frequent crash sites. Mentone and Loving see bottlenecks and hazardous roadside conditions. Carlsbad, NM has also seen a surge in fatal wrecks as oil activity pushes eastward.
State Highway 302 — Odessa, Kermit, Mentone
SH 302 carries high volumes of frac sand haulers and tankers at speed through fading lanes and tight curves. Fatal wrecks are common near Kermit and Mentone. Wickett and Notrees experience high crash rates from trucks accessing disposal and wind-energy sites. Pyote sees frequent collisions at I-20 interchanges.
FM 1788 — Midland, Odessa, Midland Airport Area
FM 1788 is a key oilfield route between Midland and Odessa. Tanker trucks and hotshots race past local traffic, causing frequent wrecks. Gardendale, West Odessa, and Goldsmith are hotspots for accidents due to poor lighting, visibility, and lease road crossings.
State Highway 349 — Midland, Lamesa, Rankin
SH 349 connects major oilfield zones and sees crashes from fast-moving trucks hauling rigging gear. Rankin and Ackerly face frequent wrecks near lease road entrances, while Tarzan’s tight curves create rollover hazards for flatbeds and vac trucks.
State Highway 18 — Monahans, Kermit, Jal
Tanker and chemical hauler traffic makes SH 18 one of the region’s most dangerous routes. T-bone and rear-end crashes plague towns like Wink, Andrews, and Eunice, especially at unprotected intersections and poorly lit stretches.
U.S. Highway 67 — Rankin, Big Lake, Fort Stockton
This isolated corridor sees fatigue-related wrecks as long-haul rigs cross West Texas. Limited enforcement, few pull-offs, and long stretches of rural highway contribute to frequent collisions.
U.S. Highway 83 — Iraan, McCamey, Menard
Originally a farm route, U.S. 83 now carries nonstop oilfield truck traffic. Sharp elevation changes, narrow lanes, and outdated road design cause recurring crashes, especially near Iraan and McCamey.
U.S. Highway 87 — Big Spring, Ackerly, Lamesa
High truck volumes, blind intersections, and uncontrolled access points make U.S. 87 a major crash corridor. Big Spring and Ackerly are frequent sites of rear-end and T-bone collisions.
U.S. Highway 377 — Big Lake, Junction, Eldorado
This narrow, winding route is prone to head-on crashes, fatigue-related wrecks, and rollovers. Towns like Big Lake and Eldorado face constant danger from passing oilfield trucks on roads with little shoulder room.
State Highway 176 — Andrews, Seminole, Lenorah
Used heavily by flatbeds and pipe haulers, SH 176 features sharp curves, low visibility, and dense early fog. Crashes are common near Seminole and Lenorah, where multiple traffic flows converge dangerously.

West Texas Oilfield Truck Legal Help - Call 24/7

If you or a loved one was injured while driving on one of these oilfield truck corridors, don’t wait. Our legal team investigates oilfield-related truck crashes across Texas, New Mexico, and beyond. We work with co-counsel in compliance with each state’s bar rules to hold negligent companies and drivers accountable.

Call 1-888-LAW-2040 for a Free Case Review.

Speeding, Fatigue, and Unsafe Trucking Practices

Oil haulers are often paid by the load, incentivizing speed over safety. Drivers may work 12-14+ hour shifts, skip required rest breaks, and push overloaded rigs across unsafe terrain. This urgency leads to:

Speeding in small towns, school zones and residential areas
Fatigued driving and hours-of-service (HOS) violations
Tight turns at rig access roads that result in rollover crashes
Rear-end collisions in traffic slowdowns or intersections without signals

How We Build Strong Oilfield Truck Accident Cases

Upon filing a lawsuit in a truck accident case, we gather by subpoena or request for production the critical accident and truck evidence including”

Black box (ECM) data
Hours-of-service logs and timecards
Weight Slips
GPS tracking records and dispatch notes
Maintenance logs and pre-trip inspection reports
Driver CDL violations and safety records

We also work with experts in crash reconstruction, mechanical engineering, and oilfield safety compliance. If a subcontractor failed to follow FMCSA rules—or a trucking company ignored red flags—we build a case that holds them fully accountable.

We’ve handled catastrophic truck wrecks, truck rollovers, rear-end and underride collisions, product defects, tire defects and 100’s of more catastrophic injury cases across the Texas and in the oilfields and helped the accident victims and their families financially recover after these life-changing crashes. We know these cases aren’t simple. There are often multiple layers of liability: from truck drivers and leasing companies to oilfield contractors and third-party logistics firms. We know how to put the legal pieces together for you and navigate your case across the finish line for you.

Attorney David Willis is licensed to practice law in Texas and New York but is not licensed in New Mexico or other states. Legal representation for individuals injured in NM or other states is provided through co-counsel arrangements with local attorneys who are fully licensed to ensure your rights are protected. All services are rendered through a written co-counsel agreement in full compliance with that particular state bar rules and professional conduct requirements. Both firms will share in the attorney’s fees as set out in the contingency fee agreement and will maintain joint responsibility for the representation and handling of the client’s case.

¿HablaEspañol? El Top Truck Accident Lawyer puede ayudarle después de un choque con un camión petrolero o un tráiler de 18 ruedas en Texas o Nuevo México. Representamos a víctimas y familias lesionadas en lugares como Pecos, Monahans, Kermit, Andrews y Jal. El Attorney Willis tiene más de 40 años de experiencia, esAbogado Certificado en Juicios por Lesiones Personales (Texas, desde 1988), y ha recuperado $100,000,000’s para sus clientes.

Consulta gratuita en español. Llame al 1-888-LAW-2040 — Sin honorarios a menos que ganemos.

También brindamos ayuda legal en español a víctimas de accidentes de camiones petroleros en zonas del oeste de Texas y el sureste de Nuevo México. Si usted estuvo involucrado en un choque con un camión cisterna, camión de arena para fracking o camión de carga pesada, podemos ayudarle a presentar su reclamación legal y proteger sus derechos.

Hemos representado a personas lesionadas en accidentes de camión en Pecos, Texas, y en choques graves en Monahans, Texas, así como en casos de camiones petroleros en Kermit y accidentes con vehículos industriales en Jal, Nuevo México. También atendemos a víctimas de colisiones de camiones en Andrews, reclamos por accidentes en Wink, y choques de tráfico pesado en Orla y Mentone. Muchos de estos accidentes ocurren en rutas peligrosas como la Carretera 285, la Carretera Estatal 18, la SH 302, la FM 1788, y la U.S. Highway 67, conocidas por su alto volumen de tráfico petrolero y camiones de 18 ruedas.

Si su accidente ocurrió cerca de Fort Stockton o en zonas rurales del Permian Basin, no espere — podemos actuar rápidamente para preservar evidencia y presentar su caso.

Llámenos hoy al 1-888-529-2040 para una consulta gratuita en español. Solo cobramos si ganamos su caso

Speak with an Oilfield Truck Accident Lawyer for Accidents Across the Oil Patch

If you or a loved one was injured in an oilfield truck crash, we’re ready to fight for you. Hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer like David P. Willis can make all the difference. He’s Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1988 and has over 40 years of experience handling serious injury accidents and oilfield injury cases. All cases are handled on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Call Us at 1-888-LAW-2040 – Get the Help You Deserve

Oilfield Truck Accidents in West Texas & New Mexico