Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyers
Hit by an 18-wheeler or commercial truck? We fight for maximum compensation. Your fight is ours.
Free Case Review
Tell us what happened — an attorney calls you back, usually within the hour.
No fee unless we win · Confidential · Se habla español
You've Seen Us On
Why You Need a Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyer After a Serious Collision
If you or a loved one was injured in a truck accident in Fort Worth, you need an attorney who understands the unique complexities of commercial trucking cases. Unlike standard car accidents, collisions involving 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and commercial vehicles involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and insurance policies that can reach into the millions. The right Fort Worth truck accident lawyer can mean the difference between a settlement that barely covers your medical bills and compensation that actually reflects the life-altering harm you’ve suffered.
Truck accidents in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have increased significantly as freight traffic along I-20, I-35W, and I-30 continues to grow. Texas leads the nation in fatal large truck crashes, with the Texas Department of Transportation reporting over 800 deaths involving commercial vehicles in recent years. Fort Worth sits at the crossroads of major trucking corridors, making serious collisions an unfortunate reality for local families.
At Varghese Summersett, our personal injury team has recovered millions for victims across Tarrant County and North Texas. We understand what’s at stake when you’re facing catastrophic injuries, mounting medical debt, and an uncertain future.
Meet your Fort Worth injury attorneys.
- Leads the firm’s Fort Worth personal injury practice
- Super Lawyers Rising Star (2025)
- Fort Worth Inc. 40 Under 40 (2025)
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (2024)
- Former prosecutor & former insurance-defense attorney
- Multiple seven-figure verdicts & settlements
- Trucking, oilfield, industrial & TBI cases
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers (2024, 2025)
- Founder of Varghese Summersett
- Former insurance adjuster before law school
- Tried 100+ cases before Texas juries
- Named a Super Lawyer for over a decade
- Former Assistant DA, Tarrant County
- Previously represented insurance companies
- Catastrophic injury & wrongful death focus
- Dual perspective: builds cases and knows how insurers attack them
- Texas Tech University School of Law
- Outstanding Brief Award, Duberstein National Moot Court
- Certified Mediator
- Began at the firm in client relations
What Makes Truck Accident Cases Different from Car Accidents
Many people assume a truck accident claim works the same as any other car wreck. This misconception can cost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential compensation.
Commercial trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds fully loaded create devastation that passenger vehicles simply cannot. The physics alone explain why truck accident injuries tend to be catastrophic: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, internal organ damage, and wrongful death. These cases require medical experts, accident reconstructionists, and economists to properly value the full scope of damages.
Beyond the severity of injuries, truck accident cases involve layers of complexity that standard auto claims don’t have. The trucking industry is governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which imposes strict regulations on everything from how many hours a driver can operate to how cargo must be secured. Violations of these federal rules can establish negligence and strengthen your case considerably.
Insurance coverage is another major difference. While most Texas drivers carry minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person, trucking companies are required to maintain policies ranging from $750,000 to $5 million depending on what they haul. This means there’s typically more money available to compensate victims, but it also means trucking companies and their insurers fight harder to protect their bottom line.
Why Fort Worth Is One of Texas's Most Dangerous Cities for Truck Accidents
Texas leads the nation in large-truck crash fatalities, and Tarrant County sits near the center of the problem. The numbers tell a sobering story.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Tarrant County alone saw 1,716 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles in 2024, including 19 fatal crashes that killed 19 people — roughly five commercial-vehicle crashes every day. Statewide, Texas recorded 39,393 CMV-involved crashes and 608 CMV-related fatalities that year, more than any other state in the nation.
Fort Worth’s location makes it a perfect storm for truck traffic. The city sits where I-20, I-30, I-35W, and Loop 820 intersect, with US-287 feeding freight in from the south and the massive AllianceTexas logistics hub — one of the largest inland ports in North America — pushing thousands of trucks onto local highways every day. A 2025 analysis of Texas’s deadliest road stretches identified several Fort Worth corridors in the statewide top tier:
- I-20 from Granbury Road to Bowman Springs Road
- I-35W from I-20 to E Long Avenue
- I-30 from S Cherry Lane to Beach Street
- I-820 from Mark IV Parkway to Randol Mill Road
Each of these stretches has seen dozens of fatal crashes over the past several years. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer weighing up to 80,000 pounds collides with a 4,000-pound passenger car at highway speeds, the results are catastrophic.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Fort Worth and North Texas
Understanding what caused your accident matters because it determines who can be held responsible and what evidence your attorney needs to preserve.
Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Violations
Federal law limits commercial drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers cannot exceed 60 hours in seven days or 70 hours in eight days. Despite these rules, pressure to meet delivery deadlines pushes many drivers to falsify their electronic logging devices (ELDs) or drive beyond safe limits. Fatigue impairs reaction time and decision-making as severely as alcohol intoxication.
Distracted Driving
Texting, eating, adjusting GPS systems, and other distractions cause truck drivers to take their eyes off the road at the worst possible moments. At highway speeds, a truck traveling 65 mph covers the length of a football field in just 4.5 seconds. That brief distraction can be deadly.
Improper Loading and Cargo Securement
FMCSA regulations under 49 CFR Part 393 establish specific requirements for how cargo must be loaded and secured. Improperly distributed weight causes trucks to roll over on curves. Unsecured loads can shift suddenly, causing the driver to lose control. Cargo that breaks free becomes a deadly projectile for other motorists.
Mechanical Failures and Inadequate Maintenance
Trucking companies must conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections and maintain detailed records of all maintenance performed. Brake failures, tire blowouts, steering malfunctions, and lighting defects cause preventable accidents when companies cut corners on maintenance to keep trucks on the road.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
Large trucks require significantly more distance to stop than passenger vehicles. A fully loaded semi traveling at 65 mph needs nearly 525 feet to come to a complete stop under ideal conditions. Speeding, tailgating, and aggressive lane changes eliminate the safety margins that prevent crashes.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Fort Worth Truck Accident?
One of the most significant advantages of working with an experienced Fort Worth truck accident lawyer is our ability to identify every party responsible for your injuries. Unlike car accidents where typically only the at-fault driver is liable, truck accidents often involve multiple defendants with deep pockets.
The Truck Driver
When a driver’s negligence directly caused the crash (speeding, distracted driving, impairment, fatigue), they bear personal responsibility. However, drivers often lack sufficient personal assets or insurance to fully compensate severely injured victims.
The Trucking Company
Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are liable for the negligent acts of employees performed within the scope of employment. Additionally, trucking companies can be held directly liable for negligent hiring (failing to screen drivers with poor safety records), negligent training, negligent supervision, and negligent maintenance of their fleet.
Cargo Loading Companies
Third-party companies that load freight can be liable when improper loading causes or contributes to an accident. This includes overloading, uneven weight distribution, and failure to properly secure cargo.
Truck and Parts Manufacturers
Defective brakes, tires, steering components, or other parts can make manufacturers liable under Texas product liability law. These cases require expert analysis of the failed component and the manufacturing process.
Government Entities
Poorly designed intersections, inadequate signage, dangerous road conditions, and failure to maintain safe roadways can make government entities partially responsible. Claims against government entities in Texas have special notice requirements and shorter deadlines under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 101).
Federal and Texas Trucking Regulations That Strengthen Your Case
Proving a trucking company or driver violated federal safety regulations provides powerful evidence of negligence. Your attorney must understand these regulations to build the strongest possible case.
The FMCSA’s Hours of Service rules (49 CFR Part 395) limit driving time and mandate rest periods. Since December 2017, most commercial trucks must use electronic logging devices that automatically record driving time, making it harder for drivers to falsify their logs. However, manipulation still occurs, and your attorney should know how to detect it.
Drug and alcohol testing requirements (49 CFR Part 382) mandate pre-employment testing, random testing, post-accident testing, and reasonable suspicion testing. Trucking companies that fail to conduct required testing or that ignore positive results can face significant liability.
Under Texas Transportation Code § 644.051, the Texas Department of Public Safety enforces federal safety regulations and conducts inspections. Inspection reports and out-of-service orders become valuable evidence when they reveal a pattern of violations.
Types of Compensation Available in Texas Truck Accident Cases
Texas law allows truck accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. In cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may also be available.
Economic Damages
These are the quantifiable financial losses caused by the accident:
- Past and future medical expenses (emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, rehabilitation, home health care, medical equipment, prescription medications)
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries
Catastrophic truck accident injuries often require lifelong medical care. A proper case valuation requires medical experts and economists to calculate future costs that may stretch decades into the future.
Non-Economic Damages
Texas recognizes compensation for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Physical impairment
- Loss of consortium (for spouses)
Unlike some states, Texas does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases. This allows juries to award compensation that truly reflects the harm victims have suffered.
Punitive Damages
When a trucking company’s conduct rises to the level of gross negligence, fraud, or malice, Texas law permits punitive damages designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.008, punitive damages are capped at the greater of $200,000 or two times economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages (up to $750,000).
Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements in Texas
Federal law requires commercial trucks to carry far more liability insurance than ordinary drivers. The exact minimum depends on the truck’s weight and what it is hauling. These higher limits are one reason a truck accident claim is worth pursuing with an experienced attorney — and also why trucking companies and their insurers fight so hard to limit what they pay.
| Type of commercial vehicle / cargo | Minimum liability coverage |
|---|---|
| Freight trucks over 10,001 lbs (general freight) | $750,000 |
| Trucks hauling oil or certain petroleum products | $1,000,000 |
| Trucks hauling hazardous materials, explosives, or poison gas | $5,000,000 |
| For-hire passenger carriers (16+ seats) | $5,000,000 |
By comparison, Texas only requires ordinary drivers to carry $30,000 in bodily-injury coverage per person. When a commercial policy applies there is typically far more compensation available — but identifying every applicable policy, and every liable party behind it, takes an attorney who knows how motor-carrier coverage is layered.
The Timeline for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Texas
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This means you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Miss this deadline, and you lose your right to compensation forever.
While two years sounds like plenty of time, truck accident cases require extensive investigation that should begin immediately. Critical evidence disappears quickly:
Electronic logging device data may be overwritten within days or weeks. Federal regulations only require trucking companies to retain ELD records for six months.
Keep Reading
Black box data from the truck’s event data recorder captures speed, braking, and other crucial information but can be lost if the truck is repaired or returned to service.
Witness memories fade rapidly. Statements taken days after an accident are far more reliable than recollections months or years later.
Physical evidence at the scene (skid marks, debris patterns, roadway conditions) may be cleaned up or altered within hours.
Trucking company records including driver qualification files, training records, maintenance logs, and dispatch communications must be preserved through a litigation hold letter. Without prompt legal action, companies may destroy documents (intentionally or through routine purging).
This is why contacting a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer immediately after a collision matters so much. Evidence that could prove your case may vanish before you even leave the hospital.
How Varghese Summersett Investigates Truck Accident Cases
Our personal injury team approaches truck accident cases with the same meticulous attention we bring to complex criminal defense matters. We have the resources to go toe-to-toe with major trucking companies and their insurers.
Within hours of taking your case, we send spoliation letters demanding the trucking company preserve all evidence. We dispatch investigators to the scene to document conditions before they change. We obtain the police report, interview witnesses, and begin collecting medical records.
For complex cases, we work with accident reconstructionists who can analyze physical evidence to determine exactly how the crash occurred. We retain medical experts who can explain your injuries to a jury and project your future care needs. Economists calculate lost earning capacity and the present value of lifetime medical expenses.
Our attorneys have tried cases in courtrooms across Tarrant County and throughout Texas. Insurance companies know which firms are willing to go to trial and which will fold for a quick settlement. That reputation matters when negotiating on your behalf.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Fort Worth
The steps you take immediately after an accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation.
Call 911 and seek medical attention. Your health comes first. Additionally, the police report creates an official record of the accident, and prompt medical treatment documents the connection between the crash and your injuries.
Document everything possible. If you’re physically able, photograph the scene, all vehicles involved, your injuries, and any visible hazards. Get contact information from witnesses.
Do not give recorded statements to insurance companies. The trucking company’s insurer will contact you quickly, often within hours. Adjusters are trained to get statements that can be used against you later. Politely decline until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
Preserve evidence. Keep the clothes you were wearing, save all medical records and bills, and maintain a journal documenting your pain levels, limitations, and emotional state.
Contact a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer before accepting any settlement. Initial offers from insurance companies rarely reflect the true value of serious injury claims. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot go back for more, even if your injuries turn out to be worse than initially believed.
Real Results in Truck and 18-Wheeler Cases
A sample of outcomes our personal injury team has secured for people harmed by commercial trucks. Every case turns on its own facts, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Fatal 18-Wheeler Collision
An 18-wheeler stopped and began reversing across a two lane highway, carrying none of the reflective markings or lighting that federal and state trucking rules demand. A man on his way to work never had a chance to react, and the collision killed him. The trucking company moved fast to settle before we could file suit and subpoena the driver’s logs and safety history, because it knew what those records would show. Law enforcement had already arrested the driver for criminally negligent homicide, a charge you almost never see come out of a highway wreck. We turned down the insurer’s early number and delivered one of the top ten reported settlements in the entire state of Texas that year.
Result: the family received $2,317,515.82.
Distracted Trucker, Motorcyclist Killed
A commercial truck driver, distracted behind the wheel, rear-ended a motorcyclist and left him to be struck by a second vehicle. He did not survive. The trucker kept driving for about a hundred miles before police caught up with him, insisting he never realized he had hit anyone. Our investigation took that claim apart, surfacing a documented habit of filming himself while driving. The out of state carrier had bought only the bare federal minimum coverage with nothing above it, so we drove straight at that limit and collected every available dollar, from intake to resolution, in roughly six months.
Result: the family received $654,842.86, the full available policy limits.
Family Broadsided by a Commercial Truck
A mother and her adult son were broadsided by a commercial 18-wheeler. With the property damage looking modest, the insurer tried to treat the claim as a small one and priced it to match. Discovery changed everything. The motor carrier was buried in federal safety violations, and its driver had roughly ten prior crashes and did not even hold a valid medical card. The deeper we dug into how the company was run, the higher the case climbed. We filed suit, pressed through mediation, and resolved it for several times what the insurer first put on the table.
Result: the clients received $302,055.14.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case depends on its own facts, and no particular outcome can be promised.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Worth Truck Accident Claims
How much is my truck accident case worth?
Every case is different, and anyone who quotes a number without thoroughly reviewing your situation isn’t being honest with you. Factors that influence case value include the severity of your injuries, the clarity of liability, available insurance coverage, your age and earning capacity, and whether the trucking company’s conduct warrants punitive damages. Catastrophic truck accident cases involving permanent disability or wrongful death can reach seven figures or more.
How long will my truck accident case take to resolve?
Simple cases with clear liability and straightforward injuries may settle within months. Complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, disputed liability, or multiple defendants can take two to three years or longer if they go to trial. We never recommend accepting a settlement until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement and the full extent of your injuries is known.
What if I was partially at fault for the truck accident?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. You can still recover damages as long as you were not more than 50% responsible for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault and your damages total $1 million, you would recover $800,000.
Should I accept the insurance company's first settlement offer?
Almost never. Initial offers are designed to close claims quickly and cheaply before victims understand the full value of their cases. This is particularly dangerous with truck accidents where injuries may require years of treatment. Let an experienced attorney evaluate any offer before you make a decision you can’t undo.
Can I afford a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer?
Varghese Summersett handles truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. This allows injured victims to access the same quality legal representation that trucking companies and their insurers have, regardless of their financial situation.
Get Help from an Experienced Fort Worth Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents leave families facing impossible situations. Catastrophic injuries mean months or years of medical treatment, lost income during recovery, and uncertainty about the future. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters, investigators, and lawyers working to minimize what they pay you. You deserve someone fighting just as hard on your side.
At Varghese Summersett, we’ve built our reputation on taking complex, high-stakes cases and achieving results for our clients. Our team of over 70 legal professionals includes attorneys with backgrounds as former prosecutors, seasoned trial lawyers, and specialists in personal injury litigation. We have the resources to investigate thoroughly, retain top experts, and take your case to trial if the insurance company won’t offer fair compensation.
We represent truck accident victims throughout Fort Worth, Dallas, Southlake, Houston, and across Texas. Our attorneys understand Texas courts, local judges, and the strategies that work in Tarrant County courtrooms.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, time matters. Evidence is disappearing, deadlines are running, and the trucking company’s team is already building their defense. Call Varghese Summersett today at (817) 203-2220 for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and help you understand what your claim may be worth. There’s no obligation, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Downtown Fort Worth, by the courthouses.
Varghese Summersett — Fort Worth
One City Place Building, 300 Throckmorton Street, Suite 700, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Our Fort Worth office sits in the heart of downtown — three blocks from the Tarrant County Civil Courts complex and seven from the Eldon B. Mahon Federal Courthouse. That proximity reflects how central litigation readiness is to everything we do.
Areas We Serve
We serve injured clients throughout Tarrant County and surrounding communities — Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Burleson, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, North Richland Hills, Haltom City, Benbrook, Crowley, and Colleyville — with cases arising from I-30, I-35W, I-20, Loop 820, SH-121, and SH-183.