Black Truck Accident Lawyer - Texas Undefeated 18 Wheeler Crash Attorney
Attorney Niles Sneed is a nationally recognized black 18-wheeler accident lawyer who has helped hundreds of truck accident victims secure compensation for their injuries in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and across Texas.
Mr. Sneed founded Sneed & Mitchell LLP to advocate for accident victims and minorities who face obstacles while pursuing their claims. Driven by a passion for justice and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by the African-American community, Attorney Sneed takes a comprehensive approach, addressing both the legal and socioeconomic factors that impact each case.
If you are searching for a black truck accident lawyer in Texas, call (866) 434-0014 to speak with Attorney Niles Sneed today. Attorney Sneed is undefeated and has won over $20 million in settlements and verdicts for 18 wheeler accident victims across Texas. He also offers 100% free case consultations and handles each claim on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay any attorneys fees until we win.
Unbeaten Truck Accident Lawyers With Over $100 Million Won For Our Clients
Don't just hire a good law firm, hire an unbeaten one.
Our Texas truck accident lawyers are unbeaten in trial and have won over 100 million against the largest companies in courtrooms across Texas. From Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Dallas and College Station to El Paso, Midland and Amarillo, we set record for the clients that choose Sneed & Mitchell LLP.
More than being unbeaten, have have won some of the largest truck and 18-wheeler accident verdicts and settlements in Texas for victims of commercial truck accident victims and their families, including:
The Largest Truck Accident Settlement in Texas in 2024
Success Against Each Of The Major Fleet Operators in The United States
An $11 Million Truck Accident Recovery (2024)
Confidential Seven-Figure Victory in Fatal 18 Wheeler Crash
You can trust our 100% success rate and over 50 years of combined experience handling cases involved big rigs and poorly maintained vehicles.
Trucking companies know that once Niles Sneed and our team of 18 wheeler accident attorneys are involved, they only one choice: to offer a high dollar settlement that fully compensates you and your family for the damages you're suffering from, or see our team at trail, where we are unbeaten.
We have handles cases involving every type of commercial truck, including semi-truck, garbage truck, flat best, tippers, tankers, buses, dump trucks, vans, and 18 wheelers. Our Texas Truck Accident Attorneys know what to look for and how to use the importation to prove your innocence and the commercial truck driver's responsibility for the crash.
What Is A Black Truck Accident Lawyer?
A Black truck accident lawyer is an African American attorney who specializes in representing individuals hurt in truck accidents. These attorneys have extensive experience in the realm of commercial trucking accident litigation and help clients obtain the medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages recoverable under Texas law.
Many clients seek attorneys who are African American for their legal expertise, cultural understanding, and commitment to justice for the community at large. Black attorneys handle cases involving negligent truck drivers, fleet operators, and insurers, fighting for the rights of injured individuals and their families.
If you were seriously harmed or lost a loved one in a crash involving a reckless 18-wheeler, call 866-434-0014 to speak with an attorney immediately.
When Should I Get a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer?
You should hire a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer as soon as possible following the accident. You don’t want to wait until an insurance adjuster contacts you asking for a recorded statement. Clients often are tricked into accepting subpar bodily injury offers and waiving their rights to additional conversation. Adjusters typically offer settlements to injured victims before victims have an opportunity to realize the full value of their claim.
While calling an attorney as soon as possible is always the best option, here are a few conditions that merit reaching out to a truck accident lawyer.
A fatal truck accident
An accident that caused serious bodily injury, including fractures, concussion, paralysis, amputations, skin burns, blindness, and other types of life-altering physical impairments
If there is even a small chance that you’re at fault or contributed to causing the accident
The truck wreck involved multiple vehicles
The crash occurred in a construction zone or school zone
The CR-3 crash report is not complete or does not accurately describe what happened
A Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyer helps you get the facts and evidence supporting how the wreck happened in the first place. There are many causes of trucking accidents across our counties here in Texas, and being able to sort through all of it and pinpoint the contributing causes often takes an expert. The better the truck accident attorney, the better your case becomes. Many can guess as to what went wrong, but attorney Niles Sneed and his team of professionals can provide the hard evidence you need.
The Types of 18 Wheeler Accidents We Handle Here At Sneed & Mitchell LLP
Sneed & Mitchell LLP handles cases involving every type of tractor-trailer accident that occurs on Texas roadway. Here are some of the more frequent types of truck accidents we see occur and the details on what causes these near-death experiences.
Truck Rollovers:
Truck rollover accidents are downright terrifying. Rolling a 20,000 pound rig often leaving victims with serious, life-changing disfigurement and injuries. Just recently in Guadalupe County a Blue Bell Ice-cream truck rolled in a crash that killed the driver. Quickly figuring out what went wrong is crucial, was the driver speeding? Was the truck overloaded? Did faulty brakes or steering play a role? Black box data shows might also show the driver's mistakes like oversteering, dozing off, or failing to adjust to road conditions. Jackknifing and improper turns are also causes of these rollovers.
Underride Accidents
Underride crashes happen in Texas when a smaller cars slides under a large truck, often resulting in catastrophic injuries due to the height difference. On February 8, 2025, Sneed & Mitchell LLP retained a new client whose vehicle was crushed in an underride incident by a truck that had no side guards. While rear underride guards are required by the Department of Transportation (DOT), there are no federal requirement. FMCSA data suggests underride crashes are underreported, partly due to inconsistent crash classifications from State of State. In Harris County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, Bexar County, and Travis County, the responding officers are older too busy to classify wrecks with the specific crash time. For this reasons, getting an accurate account on the wrongful death incidents causes by underrides is also impossible.
Can I Sue The Commercial Driver Personally For Causing The 18 Wheeler Crash?
Yes, you can sue the truck driver personally for their negligent or unsafe actions that resulted in causing the crash, but it is best to also include the fleet operator, as well as any additional parties at fault.
To file a civil suit for your trucking accident personal injury claim, you must provide evidence of the truck driver’s negligence and that of any other party named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
A personal or entity is considered negligent if:
They owe you a duty of care (i.e., the legal responsibility to avoid causing you harm and follow all applicable State and Federal driving laws;; this includes following the hours of service regulations, load capacity guidelines, drug and alcohol testing, hiring practices, etc.)
Violated the duty of care through carelessness, recklessness, or wrongdoing
AND
Caused you or your loved one injury and damages
When you file a lawsuit after being hit by an 18-wheeler, the claims have to be asserted against each of the persons or entities responsible. The defendants will be represented by a law firm retained by the applicable insurance company (or a few insurers). Defendants often include the CDL driver and the company they were working for at the time of the collision, but many more types of entities are often added.
A filed lawsuit does not mean your case will go to trial and be determined by a jury. In most cases, the parties begin settlement negotiations or schedule to mediate the matter after depositions have occurred.
Will My Truck Accident Case Be Filed In My County?
Not always. Choosing the best venue for your truck accident lawsuit is strategic and allows your attorney to select a court location most favorable in your circumstance. Dallas County and Harris County hold the majority of state court verdicts considered nuclear verdicts, but the Rio Grand Valley and Bexar County are also known to be here plaintiff-friendly. Certain areas are known to have an elevated sense of empathy for victims harmed by the unsafe actions of much larger corporations.
What Makes A Successful Truck Accident Case In Texas?
A successful truck accident case has clear evidence that demonstrates a defendant’s level of fault, the extent of a victim’s damages, and the link between the defendant’s actions and the resulting injuries.
Evidence of Fault
A plaintiff has the burden of proof to provide physical evidence that shows how the defendant was at fault for the accident. This evidence must prove that the defendant had a duty towards the plaintiff and failed to carry out that duty, directly resulting in their injuries. Evidence of fault can be obtained by taking pictures of the truck’s tire marks, vehicle damage, its position on the road, your injuries, and any remaining debris around the scene of the accident.
Evidence of Your Injuries
Plaintiffs must prove that the accident caused them significant bodily harm that requires medical treatment. To gather evidence of your injuries, you can request copies of your medical records from your healthcare providers, including diagnostic tests, prescriptions, surgeries, assistive devices, future treatment plans, and other documentation that highlights the severity of your injuries.
Evidence of Damages
For a plaintiff to prove their damages, they must provide physical evidence such as photos, videos, receipts, doctor's notes, medical records, psychotherapy notes, and insurance estimates. These pieces of evidence can show not only the psychological and physical damage to a plaintiff but also the damage to their vehicle from the accident.
What Can A Truck Accident Lawyer Do For Me?
A truck accident lawyer can help guide you through your claims process and perform duties on your behalf such as negotiating, calculating your settlement, gathering evidence, and more.
These are all the things a truck accident lawyer can do for you:
Gather Evidence: A lawyer can gather evidence such as police reports, pictures of the scene, medical records, and more.
Collect Documents: A lawyer can access the employment and driving records of the truck driver who hit you, collecting documents such as logbooks and maintenance reports.
Establish Liability: An attorney can determine each party’s degree of fault in the accident and establish who holds the most liability.
Determine the Cause of the Accident: A lawyer can analyze the accident evidence to determine the root cause.
Calculate Damages: A lawyer can use different methods to calculate a plaintiff’s economic and non-economic damages for things such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, and future medical treatments.
Collaborate With Experts: An attorney can collaborate with experts such as accident reconstructionist, psychologists, and doctors to evaluate the extent of their client’s losses and assess the crash’s long-term effects.
Negotiate: An attorney can negotiate with insurance adjusters, companies, and defendants for a fair settlement.
A lawyer can also take your case to court if a settlement cannot be reached by negotiation. While court cases typically take longer to resolve, they can be more effective and beneficial to the plaintiff, especially if a defendant refuses to offer a fair settlement.
Common Truck Accident Injuries Our Lawyers Handle
Truck accidents occur approximately every 15 minutes in the United States, resulting in thousands of injuries each year.
These are the common truck accident injuries our lawyers typically handle in Texas:
Spinal Cord Injuries
Organ Damage
Burns
Broken Bones
Back & Neck Injuries
Concussions
Lacerations
Broken Ribs
Paralysis
Wrongful Death
If you or someone you know has suffered injuries from a truck accident in Texas, call us at (866) 434-0014. Our black truck accident lawyers are compassionate, experienced, and relentless advocates, committed to securing the maximum settlement for you.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Texas?
Truck accidents are very common in Texas due to the state’s booming oil and gas industries along with other sectors that rely heavily on large truck transportation for their products. Additionally, Texas roadways are often complex and heavily congested, which increases the risk of accidents. According to statistics recorded by the FMCSA, 479,103 truck accidents occurred in Texas between the years 2019 and 2021, putting Texas in the lead for the highest truck accident rate in the nation.
Recent statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation show that Texas has remained a hazardous state for truck accidents.
In 2021, 11,355 people suffered injuries from commercial truck accidents and 796 people lost their lives.
In 2022, 612 truck accidents were fatal. Out of those accidents, 716 people died.
38,000 truck accidents occurred in 2023, causing 620 deaths that same year.
Truck accidents are often devastating because of the size and weight of trucks, easily crushing the standard vehicle upon impact.
Which Texas Counties Have the Highest Number of Trucking Accidents?
Here in Texas, trucking accidents are unfortunately happen often due to our extensive highway, booming commercial industry, and access to the gulf. However, in certain counties citizens are more exposed to the dangers of commercial vehicle accidents. The following compiled data ranks the top five counties with the most trucking accidents each annually:
Harris County – Harris County consistently ranks first with more than 6,000 truck accidents happening throughout Great Houston.
Dallas County – Dallas County is second with over 3,000 commercial motor vehicle wrecks.
Bexar County – Bexar County ranks third in Texas with over 2,000 trucking collisions.
Tarrant County – Tarrant County is fourth and generally has over 1,500 semi-truck wrecks in Fort Worth.
El Paso County – El Paso County ranks fifth here in Texas with slightly over 1,000 truck accidents occuring each year.
Types of Driver Mistakes That Cause Trucking Accidents
Truck drivers have very little room for error while they drive, as the smallest drift or misjudgment can result in devastating consequences. Truck accidents often happen when drivers are negligent, making mistakes such as:
Driving While Fatigued
About 13% of truck wrecks are caused by fatigue. Driving while fatigued can lead to delayed reaction times, impaired hazard awareness, and diminished cognitive judgment. To prevent this, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration limits the number of hours a truck driver can drive per day. However, truck drivers often disobey this law when pressured to meet delivery quotas that are unattainable with regular hours. This results in drivers falsifying logs to exceed their hours unnoticed, ultimately causing fatigue-related accidents.
Disregarding Traffic Signs & Signals
To meet delivery demands, truck drivers sometimes disregard traffic signs and signals that require them to yield, stop, or slow down, which in turn causes many accidents. They may disregard construction zone signs telling them to slow down, run red lights, bypass yield signs, ignore lane markings, and run stop signs. Failure to adhere to these signs can cause head-on, side-impact, rear-end, or sideswipe collisions.
Driving While Impaired
Many truck drivers drive while impaired with alcohol or powerful prescription drugs in their system. A report released by the FMCSA found that 4,600 truck drivers involved in deadly crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 or higher, and 2.5% of these drivers were legally intoxicated. Prescription drugs such as painkillers can also impair drivers’ senses, often making them drowsy.
Speeding
Statistics show that around 25% of all truck crashes are the result of excessive speeds. Truck drivers often disregard speed limits on highways, in slow traffic, and even in neighborhoods to meet their employer’s demands. Driver also may speed in hazardous conditions such as wet, icy, or uneven roads, around sharp curves, or in areas with dense fog. Speed limits are created to ensure the safety of other drivers, pedestrians, and the drivers themselves, but when this is ignored, accidents happen.
Driving While Distracted
Distracted truck drivers often take their hands off the wheel for a few seconds to engage with devices like their GPS, cell phone, or radio. Sometimes they eat and drink, smoke, or reach for objects inside the vehicle while driving as well, which can easily change the direction of the wheel and cause an accident. Drivers who lose focus due to distractions from people, objects outside the truck, or their own thoughts can also cause accidents.
Trucking Industry Laws & Liability in Texas
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforces regulations for truck drivers and trucking companies to follow, ensuring that trucks are safe for operation on the road. If individuals or companies fail to comply with these regulations, they may be liable for any accidents their actions or inactions cause.
These are the trucking industry laws in Texas:
Truck drivers in Texas are required to obtain a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate the vehicles legally.
Companies must regularly maintain and inspect their trucks and keep thorough records of these evaluations.
Drivers must adhere to hours-of-service regulations, limiting their driving hours per day and week to reduce fatigue-related crashes. They are also required to log their driving and resting periods.
Trucking companies must follow cargo weight restrictions, typically capped at 80,000 pounds, and ensure all weight is securely fastened.
Truck drivers and companies must have at least the minimum required liability insurance, and those crossing state lines must secure an MCS endorsement.
Trucking companies are held responsible for adequately training their truck drivers and can be held liable for accidents caused by undertrained employees.
Recent Serious Truck Wreck In Texas
What started as a minor crash between two cars turned deadly on January 25, 2025, as a tractor-trailer was unable to stop from hitting the people that had gathered on the bridge. The tragedy killed five people and was the deadliest to occur in Texas' recent winter storm. All too often, inexperienced lawyers analyze situations like this and inform the family that the truck driver might not be liable since the initial crash had already taken place. An experienced lawyer upon seeing facts like this sets out to prove that the truck driver was traveling at an unsafe speed, unable to see the gathered vehicles, failed to note incremental weather conditions, and will also make sure the rig’s black box is preserved for later examination.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire Trucking Accident Lawyer Niles Sneed?
Truck accident attorney Niles Sneed works on a contingency fee basis, only charging clients if their case is successful. Clients do not have to pay to receive legal representation and are not charged any other upfront fees at Sneed & Mitchell LLP. If your case is successful, our lawyers will take a certain percentage out of your settlement to account for our legal services.
Contingency fee arrangements ensure clients can access legal representation without upfront costs. Rather than paying out of pocket for legal services with no guarantee of success, the attorney’s payment comes from the compensation awarded after winning the case. This means clients don’t have to worry about legal fees if their case isn’t successful or stress over saving large sums for representation.
The Challenges Black People Face In Truck Accident Litigation
Texas is a melting pot of cultures and communities, which speaks to the diverse needs of our residents. With over 3.553 million African Americans living throughout Texas, the need for legal representation after a serious truck accident becomes paramount.
Whether explicit or implicit, studies have shown that ignorant stereotypes about African Americans often result in black clients receiving lower settlement and verdicts when compared to other races. In fact, statistics show that black people receive the lowest payouts from insurance companies. Attorney Niles Sneed fights to ensure that every client secures the highest level of compensation possible and that the race of his clients is not allowed to impact a their recovery.
As a black truck accident attorney, Mr. Sneed understands the reality of race bias and how it impacts insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, mediators, jurors, and even sometimes medical providers, all of which have an important role within the litigation process. Attorney Sneed and our team navigate any potential hurdles with trial process and strategize to highlight how your live has suffered devastating and undeniable impacts due to the actions of the at-fault.
The most disheartening moment for many innocent minority victims is the realization that their own attorney devalues their experience. An attorney with prejudices about the black race will sometimes act in ways that makes clients aware that they are not being handled within compassion, empathy, or the same considerations as others.
The importance of hiring a black truck accident attorney cannot be understated. You need an attorney that truly believes that you are entitled to justice and won't shy in the face of adversity. Sneed & Mitchell LLP have a team of black attorneys that are trustworthy, aggressive, and committed to ensuring that your rights are protected.
Types of Damages Sneed & Mitchell LLP Can Help You Secure
Our black truck accident attorneys can help you secure compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial damages you incurred after your accident.
Our Texas attorneys can help you secure compensation for damages such as:
Pain and Suffering: The emotional and physical pain you went through that affected your overall well-being and daily life.
Medical Expenses: The hospital costs, treatment expenses, and recovery costs that were incurred to assess and treat your injuries.
Emotional Distress: The psychological damages from the accident or your injuries that affected your mental health.
Disfigurement: This is the permanent scars and changes to the way certain parts of your body look after an accident or operation for an injury.
Physical Impairments: These are the permanent limitations or paralysis to a certain part of your body.
Lost Wages: This is the income you lost while you were unable to work. It is calculated by using tax returns and pay stubs.
Loss of Earning Capacity: This type of loss happens when your injuries prevent you from earning income in the future.
Punitive Damages: Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are awarded by the jury and means to serve as punished for the at-fault part's actions of gross negligence.
The amount and type of compensation available to you will depend on the severity of your injuries, your percentage of liability in the accident, and how much loss you suffered.
How Long Do I Have To File A Truck Accident Claim in Texas?
You have two years after the date of the truck accident to file a civil lawsuit against that at-fault party. This two-year Statute of Limitations is codified in Section 16.003(a) of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Claims involving wrongful death and survivorship are also subject to the same 2-year limitation period.
So don't wait to contact an attorney to review the truck wreck and aid in preserving the evidence neccessary to win you claim. Time is running out!
Who Can Be Held Accountable After a Trucking Accident In Texas?
Trucking accidents on Texas highways are often catastrophic, causing victims to suffer serious physical injuries, fatalities, and extensive property damage. Determining liability in tractor-trailer crashes involving big rigs can be complex, as more than one party can be responsible depending on how to wreck occurred. From the CDL driver to the trucking company, cargo loaders, construction companies, maintenance personnel, and even government entities, many factors contribute to commercial truck accidents. Below is a more detailed overview of the possible defendants that may be held liable in a trucking accident case.
1. Truck Driver Liability
Commercial drivers are charged with following the federal safely responsibilities for operating their vehicles safely while adhering to federal and state trucking regulations. A truck driver's liability is determined by whether the evidence shows they were negligent, reckless, or failed to follow proper procedure.
Common causes of truck driver negligence include:
Distracted driving, including texting, looking at a GPS, use of a cellular phone, eating, speeding,
Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces strict Hours of Service (HOS) regulations to prevent fatigued driving, yet some drivers violate these rules to meet delivery deadlines.
Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol, drugs, or even prescription medications that impair judgment can make truck drivers a danger on the road.
Speeding and Reckless Driving: Given the massive size of commercial trucks, speeding reduces reaction time and increases stopping distances, often leading to serious collisions.
Failure to Inspect and Maintain the Truck: Pre-trip and post-trip inspections are required under FMCSA regulations. If a driver fails to check brakes, tires, lights, or other critical components, they may be held liable for an accident.
While many truck drivers are employees of trucking companies, some operate as independent contractors or owner-operators, which may change who bears legal responsibility in the event of an accident.
Attorney Sneed reviews in-cabin footage and examines the trucks computerized systems to determine fault. Electronic control modules, electronic logging devices, and event data records provide information about the vehicle the moment a triggering, and important, event occurs. Indications of acceleration, decelerations, sudden braking, delayed breaking, and seatbelt activation tell a story that Attorney Sneed and his team use to prove your case.
2. Trucking Company Liability
Trucking companies, whether United Parcel Service (UPS), FedEx, J.B. Hunt, Schneider, Knight-Swift, or any other, have the legal responsibility, to work to ensure their drivers and fleet of tractor-trailers meet safety standards. Under the law of vicarious liability laws, the companies are deemed responsible for the actions of their employees, drivers, and agents that caused the accident within the scope of their employment.
However, the employer can also be directly negligent in the following ways:
Negligent Hiring Practices
When companies fails to conduct proper background checks and hire drivers with a history of reckless driving, DUIs, or other violations, the company is then responsible for negligent hiring if the crash was the fault of the commercial driver. As an example, in one of the wrongful death cases handled by Attorney Sneed, the defendant hired an employee was often cities speeding and was charged with a hit and run accident. The case resulted in one of Texas largest truck accident settlements in 2024.
Inadequate Training
Truck drivers should be trained to handle large commercial vehicles, especially in hazardous conditions. Training must include safe operating practices, such as how to detect whether cargo has been loaded properly. Drivers should also be trained in areas of how to conduct pre-trip inspections, properly keep logbooks, detect missing DOT bars, and how to recognize and avoid other possibly dangerous situations. Drivers should also be taught how to protect themselves, which includes practices like the 3-point touch rule when exiting the cab. Truck drivers injured while on the clock may have legal options against their employee, especially in cases where the company does not subscribe to worker's compensation. When fleet operators don't have comprehensive training practices to help enforce regulatory compliance, it jeopardizes both he lives of their employees and the community at large.
Encouraging Regulation Violations
From our experience, trucking companies often pressure their drivers to ignore safety regulations in an effort to tight meet company deadlines and make the company more money. Depositions and discovery requests often reveal that drivers were told to ignore rest breaks, cut corners of vehicle maintenance, and even ignore cargo weight restrictions.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
The FMCSA requires trucking companies to regularly inspect and maintain their fleets. This is a clear employer responsibility. Sill however, companies are sometimes caught doing all they can to keep truck with known mechanical defects on the road. The result of this unsafe practice is accidents and fatal crashes involving faulty brakes, balding tires, or defective steering components.
3. Tractor-Trailer Manufacturer or Parts Manufacturer Liability
When mechanical defects or faulty tractor-trailer component are found to be the cause of the truck wreck, the product manufacturer can be held responsible under product liability laws.
Some of the more common defective products include; anti-lock brake systems, tires, steering or suspension issues, or malfunctions
Tire Blowouts: Faulty or defective tires can cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle, leading to rollovers or jackknife accidents.
Steering and Suspension Issues: A malfunctioning steering system can make a truck uncontrollable, increasing the risk of a collision.
Defective Safety Systems: Malfunctions in anti-lock brakes, collision avoidance technology, or lane departure warning systems can make an accident unavoidable.
To hold a manufacturer accountable, victims must prove that a defective truck or component was inherently dangerous due to a design flaw, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn about potential hazards.
4. Cargo Loading Company or Shipper Liability
Cargo that is improperly loaded or unsecured to the bed often cause deadly consequences. In these situations, liability can fall on multiple parties, such as the company charged with hiring workers, shippers, and third party freight handles. These entities are charged with following the cargo securement standards, which helps avoids the following dangerous predicaments:
Overloaded Trucks: Exceeding the legal weight limit can place excessive strain on a truck’s braking system and makes it harder to control for the driver.
Unbalanced or Shifted Loads: If all of the cargo is not evenly distributed in shape and weight, it can cause the truck to tip over, especially during turns, sudden stop, or windy conditions.
Improperly Secured Cargo: Loose cargo can fall off a truck, causing hazardous road conditions and multi-vehicle collisions on the road or highway.
The company hired to load commercial vehicles must train their workers on how to property tight down materials and boxes with ropes, netting and straps. Large objects should be tied directly to the base of the trailer and an excessive amounts of cargo should be left behind.
5. Fleet Maintenance Providers
Some of the largest fleet maintenance companies operating in Texas include, Penske Truck Leasing, Ryder, and OTR Fleet Service. Trucking companies rely on third-party maintenance providers like these to inspect and repair their vehicles whenever needed. Similar to a passenger vehicle mechanic, when truck maintenance company fails to properly service a rig and an accident occurs due to negligent repairs or overlooked mechanical issues, they can be held responsible.
Examples of subpar maintained practices include:
Failure to detect issues when examining a rig
Failure to replace worn brake pads or rotors
Inadequate documentation that results in rigs not being repaired
Overlooking tire defects or tread wear
Using subpar standards when installing or replacing parts
Ignoring transmission or engine issues that impact performance
Not using parts quality parts or repair techniques when addressing issues
Sneed & Mitchell LLP proves liability in these cases by examining the inspection and service records of the applicable repair company. Case experts, such as forensic mechanics are also hired to review the logs and determine of the accident was caused by a preventable mechanical failure.
6. Freight Brokers
Freight brokers are as middle men between shippers and motor carriers and are to make sure cargo is transported by a qualified trucking company. If a broker fails to thoroughly vet a carrier's safety record, licensing, or compliance history, they may be held liable for negligent hiring if an unsafe trucking company causes an accident here in Texas.
7. Other Drivers
Sometimes, the driver operating the passenger car is liable for causing the collision with the truck. When drivers are reckless or negligent, their liability insurance policy is triggered. Trucking companies don't often purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits for their drivers, so the injured truckers are often limited to the policy limits of the at-fault, which often does not exceed $30,000 in Texas.
8. Government Entities or Road Maintenance Authorities
Whenever poor road conditions or non-working traffic signals cause trucking accidents, liability may fall on the government agency responsible for road maintenance. Examples of road hazards that often lead to an accident include the following:
Large potholes or uneven pavement
Missing or obstructed traffic signs
Poorly designed roadways or unsafe intersections
Bringing a case against the government is a tricky and complex recovery path of a those needing a significant recovery to restore their life. The Texas Tort Claims Act (TTCA) is a state law her that provides immunity to government municipalities in many situations, while also limiting the damages victims can recover to 250,000 per person. These cases also have shorter statutes of limitations and stricter procedural requirements embedded within the litigation process.
The Importance of African American Legal Representation in Texas
Minority groups are significantly underrepresented in the legal field compared to their proportion in the U.S. population. According to the American Bar Association, Black lawyers only make up 5% of all attorneys in the U.S., increasing the value of African American representation in Texas. African American representation is important because it allows minorities to receive assistance with unique challenges such as:
Systemic Bias & Discrimination
African American lawyers can defend their clients against systemic bias and discrimination that often arise in the courtroom and during negotiations. African Americans often face harsher penalties and less favorable outcomes in verdicts than other groups, even in cases where they present legally relevant evidence.
Biases within jury panels can negatively affect the outcome of a minority’s case. It is not uncommon for insurance companies or defendants to assume that minorities are unaware of their legal rights and attempt to undermine their claims or even delay their payouts. African American lawyers fight against unfair treatment by holding these kinds of individuals accountable to the law while simultaneously protecting their client’s rights.
Socioeconomic Barriers
African American lawyers can help minorities overcome socioeconomic barriers, offering guidance with a deep understanding of the obstacles they face. Many members of the African American community face economic and social challenges that can affect their ability to obtain proper and fair legal representation.
Marginalized communities are often not provided with adequate legal resources, making it challenging for them to find a reliable and affordable lawyer. This lack of resources makes it even harder for minorities to navigate the legal system and achieve a favorable outcome, especially if their access is limited to lawyers who do not fully advocate for their best interests.
The Best Black Truck Accident Attorney Serving Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Statewide
When you’re searching for the best black truck accident lawyers in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, or anywhere else in Texas, it’s crucial to find someone who knows the ins and outs of these complex cases. You want an attorney who understands the high stakes involved and will aggressively fight for you and your family.
Attorney Niles Sneed is a black Texas truck accident lawyer and has secured some of the largest truck accident settlements in Texas history. With millions won and the #1 largest truck accident settlement in Texas in 2024, Niles Sneed has proven that we secure award-winning results for our clients.
If you or your loved one was injured or tragically killed in a commercial truck wreck anywhere across Texas, call our accident attorneys by calling 866-434-0014, or use the 24-hour chat feature on this page or send us a message and one of our attorneys will call you immediately.
Attorney Niles Sneed is a well-respected trial attorney and has offices in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. We also offer free consultations and charge no legal fees unless we recover compensation. Although there are many African American lawyers handling truck wrecks in Texas, we strongly believe that we are the best option for you and your family.