If a semi truck, tanker, or delivery truck hit you in Galveston County, The Daspit Law Firm can help you pursue a claim against the driver, the trucking company, and every other party that played a part. Our consultations are free, we are available 24/7, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Truck crashes are not ordinary car wrecks. An 80,000-pound rig can crush a passenger car, and the companies behind these trucks often send investigators and adjusters to the scene within hours. You deserve someone working for you just as fast. Call (281) 748-2044 to talk with our team today.
Galveston sits at the end of a busy freight corridor. Trucks move cargo to and from the Port of Galveston and Pelican Island, haul fuel and chemicals from the Texas City and La Marque refineries and petrochemical plants, and supply the hotels and restaurants along Seawall Boulevard. Most of that traffic funnels through the I-45 Gulf Freeway and over the Galveston Causeway.
Heavy trucks share these roads with commuters from League City, Dickinson, and Friendswood, plus thousands of visitors heading to the cruise terminals. Narrow lanes on the island, sudden congestion near the Causeway, coastal wind, and summer storms all raise the risk. Our page on the common causes of truck accidents explains how we trace a crash back to driver fatigue, speeding, or company policy.
• Rear-end collisions where a loaded truck could not stop in time
• Jackknife and rollover crashes on the Gulf Freeway
• Underride crashes where a car slides beneath a trailer
• Wide-turn and blind-spot crashes on Broadway and Seawall Boulevard
• Tanker and hazmat truck crashes near Texas City
• Crashes involving garbage trucks, box trucks, and delivery vans
A truck crash claim often involves more than one defendant. Identifying all of them matters, because each may carry separate insurance. Federal rules require many interstate carriers of general freight to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and hazardous cargo carriers must carry more.
• The truck driver, for unsafe driving, fatigue, or impairment
• The motor carrier, for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or pushing drivers past legal limits
• The truck or trailer owner, if different from the carrier
• Maintenance shops responsible for brakes, tires, and lights
• Shippers and loaders who overloaded or improperly secured cargo
• Manufacturers of defective trucks or parts
When the problem is worn brakes or bald tires, we look closely at the company's records, as described on our failure to maintain truck accident page. When a part simply fails, a claim against the maker may follow under Texas product liability law.
Commercial trucks must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. These include hours of service limits in 49 CFR Part 395, inspection and maintenance rules in Part 396, and drug and alcohol testing rules in Part 382. You can read more on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website. A violation of these rules can be strong evidence of negligence.
In most Texas truck accident cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003. If a loved one died, the two-year clock generally runs from the date of death. Our Galveston wrongful death lawyers can explain how that claim works for spouses, children, and parents.
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule in Chapter 33. You can recover damages if you are 50 percent or less at fault, but your award is reduced by your share of blame. Trucking insurers know this rule well and often try to shift fault onto the injured driver.
Truck crashes often cause spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, amputations, and severe burns. Many victims are treated at UTMB Health in Galveston. Depending on the facts, compensation may include:
• Past and future medical care, rehabilitation, and in-home help
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Physical pain and mental anguish
• Physical impairment and disfigurement
• Property damage and a rental or replacement vehicle
• Exemplary damages when a company acted with gross negligence
Life-changing harm is discussed further on our catastrophic injury page.
• Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel fine at first.
• Photograph the truck, its DOT number, the trailer, the road, and your injuries.
• Get names and contact details for witnesses.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company's insurer.
• Call a lawyer quickly so evidence can be preserved.
Evidence in truck cases can disappear fast. Electronic logging device data, engine control module downloads, dashcam video, and driver inspection reports may be overwritten or discarded. A prompt preservation letter puts the carrier on notice that it must keep this material.
Founding attorney John Daspit spent the early part of his career as an insurance defense lawyer. He has seen how carriers evaluate claims from the inside, and he uses that knowledge to anticipate their tactics. He also spent thousands of hours on litigation arising from the BP Texas City refinery explosion, so complex, document-heavy cases are familiar ground.
• Free consultations, available 24/7
• Contingency fee: no fee unless we win
• Home and hospital visits if you cannot travel
• Service in English and Spanish
• Accident reconstruction and trucking safety experts when needed
The trucking company is already building its defense. You can start building your case with one phone call. Call (281) 748-2044 or schedule a free case review and tell us what happened. There is no cost to talk with us, and no fee unless we win.
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003. Some exceptions can shorten or extend that window, such as claims against government entities, which often require notice within months. Because trucking evidence can be lost quickly, it is wise to speak with a lawyer well before the deadline.
Usually the motor carrier's commercial liability insurer pays, because Texas law generally holds employers responsible for drivers acting within the scope of their job. Other parties, such as a maintenance company, cargo loader, or parts manufacturer, may also share responsibility. Your own policy, including PIP and uninsured motorist coverage, can help cover early bills.
Electronic logging device records, engine control module data, dashcam footage, driver qualification files, inspection and maintenance logs, and post-crash drug and alcohol test results are often key. Police reports, photos, and witness statements also help. A lawyer can send a preservation letter so the trucking company does not destroy or overwrite these records.
Yes, in many cases. Texas uses proportionate responsibility under Chapter 33 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. If you are 50 percent or less at fault, you can still recover, but your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50 percent responsible, you cannot recover.
Nothing up front. The Daspit Law Firm handles truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means our fee comes from a settlement or verdict. If we do not recover compensation for you, you owe us no attorney fee. Your first consultation is free and available 24/7.
All too often, accident victims are steamrolled by insurance companies determined to minimize or deny their claims. Don't let this happen to you. Hire us to fight for the compensation you deserve.
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At The Daspit Law Firm, Our Team of Attorneys Handles the Full Range of Personal Injury Cases, Including Car and Truck Accidents, Industrial Accidents, Construction Accidents, Maritime & Offshore Accidents, and Much More.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
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