Truck Accident Lawyer Austin

If you were hurt in a crash with a commercial truck, 18-wheeler, or delivery fleet vehicle in Austin, you need a truck accident lawyer in Austin who understands multi-party liability and early evidence — not a volume mill that treats every wreck the same. I handle these claims as a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer from River Place.

Who This Page Is For

This page is for drivers, passengers, and families hurt in crashes involving commercial trucks, semis / 18-wheelers, or commercial delivery vehicles on Austin-area corridors such as I-35, US 183, US 290, and freight approaches along RR 620. It is a practice page, not a geo wrapper. Start with my Austin car accident lawyer page if the other vehicle was a private passenger car.

Why Truck Cases Differ

Commercial truck crashes often involve heavier vehicles, commercial insurance policies, and more than one potential defendant — the driver, the motor carrier, and sometimes other entities tied to maintenance or dispatch. That does not mean every case is a federal regulatory treatise. It does mean early investigation matters, and the company's first story is not the last word. I explain more in why 18-wheeler cases work differently from car wrecks.

Delivery vans and box trucks can still produce serious injury claims even when they are not full 18-wheelers. The common thread is commercial operation plus the need to identify who controlled the vehicle and the insurance that responds. Burned in a fire or explosion after a crash? See my Austin burn injury lawyer page. Hurt in a crash with an Amazon delivery van or Flex driver? See my Amazon delivery accident lawyer page. If a defective tire, brake, or other part caused the crash, see my Texas product liability lawyer page. If a loved one was hurt or killed in a plane or helicopter crash, see my aviation accident page.

Evidence That Matters Early

Preserve the police report, scene photos, witness information, and prompt medical care. Trucking-related electronic and maintenance records can become harder to obtain as time passes. The practical point is simple: talk to counsel sooner rather than later so evidence requests are not an afterthought.

Useful early details include the trucking company name on the door or trailer, USDOT or unit numbers if visible, the driver's statements at the scene, and any dash-cam or nearby business camera that may have captured the impact. You do not need a perfect evidence kit before you call. You do need to avoid discarding what you already have.

Austin freight corridors see everything from long-haul semis to local delivery fleets. The injury analysis starts with how the crash happened and who controlled the commercial vehicle — not with marketing language about "big truck" cases. See how federal trucking regulations can make or break your case.

Damages, Fault, and Insurance Complexity

Texas generally allows recovery for economic losses (medical bills paid or incurred, lost wages, property damage, future care) and non-economic losses. Under modified comparative negligence, recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred if you are more than 50% responsible. For how medical bills are counted, see why your medical bills are not what your case is worth.

Insurance may involve commercial liability coverage that looks different from a personal auto policy, plus possible UM/UIM on your own policy when the at-fault limits are inadequate. If a carrier has denied or stalled, see can insurance deny my claim in Texas.

What I Need From You After a Truck Crash

Save photos of vehicle positions, skid marks, cargo spill if any, and the commercial markings on the truck or trailer. Keep medical records and work-absence notes. If a company representative already called, write down what they asked and what you said. Early clarity beats reconstructing the week from memory later. If the crash caused a head injury or concussion, see my Austin traumatic brain injury lawyer page. If it caused a spinal cord injury or paralysis, see my Austin spinal cord injury lawyer page. If a worker was hurt on a job site, see my Austin construction accident lawyer page.

Board Certified Trial Lawyer, River Place Office

I am Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I have litigated injury cases across 12 Texas counties, on both the plaintiff and defense side. Most cases settle, but settlements move when the carrier believes you will try the case if the number is unfair. You work with me directly from River Place, Austin, Texas 78730. Free consultation. No fee unless we recover for you. Call (512) 872-2264.

Fatal truck crashes may also involve wrongful death claims. Deadline questions: Texas personal injury statute of limitations.

Austin Truck Accident FAQ

Who can be liable in a truck crash?

Often the driver and the motor carrier — and sometimes other commercial parties depending on the facts. Identifying the right defendants and policies is part of the early workup. Sometimes a broker, a company that loaded the cargo, or a maintenance company is part of the picture too. I explain how that works in who can you sue after a Texas truck crash.

What if the trucking company denies fault?

Denial is common and not the end of the case. Preserve evidence, avoid rushed recorded statements, and get the denial in writing. See also my claim-denial guide linked above.

How long do I have to file?

Most Texas personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury. Some situations change that window. Confirm early: Texas statute of limitations.

Should I talk to their adjuster?

Be careful. Commercial adjusters gather statements to protect the company. Talk to a lawyer before a recorded interview or any release.

Is a delivery van crash still a truck case?

It can be. Commercial delivery vehicles often involve employer / fleet liability issues even when the vehicle is smaller than an 18-wheeler. The facts decide the framing.

I was hit by a FedEx or UPS truck in Austin. Who is responsible?

It depends on who was driving and for whom. Some delivery drivers work directly for the company, while others work for contractors that deliver under the company’s name. That affects which company and which insurance policy may be responsible, so finding out early who employed the driver and who owned the truck is one of the first things I do. See who can be sued after a Texas truck crash.

Is a FedEx or UPS crash different from a regular car wreck?

Often, yes. Commercial delivery vehicles can involve company insurance, driver records, vehicle tracking and maintenance data, and sometimes federal safety rules for larger trucks. Those records can show what happened, but the company controls them, so ask a lawyer to request that they be preserved quickly. See evidence that disappears fast after a truck wreck.

What if I was hit by an Amazon delivery van?

Amazon vans and Flex drivers raise their own questions about who employed the driver and what coverage applies. See my Austin Amazon delivery accident lawyer page.

What should I do after a crash with a delivery truck?

Get medical care, photograph the truck (company name, truck number, and plate), get witness names, and report it to your insurer. Do not give a recorded statement to the company’s insurer before you talk to a lawyer. Call (512) 872-2264.

What if a tow truck caused my crash?

A tow truck driver on a service call still has to drive carefully. Responding to a breakdown doesn’t excuse speeding, unsafe lane changes, pulling into traffic without looking, or a vehicle that wasn’t secured on the bed. If the driver works for a towing company, the company and its insurance may also be responsible, so I find out early who employed the driver, who owned the truck, and whether the company was towing under a contract with a city or agency.

I crashed near a tow truck stopped on the highway. Who is at fault?

It depends on the whole sequence, not just who was closest. Where the wrecker was parked, whether its warning lights were on, how the disabled car was positioned, and what every driver did, including how fast they approached, can all matter. Fault can be shared among several people. Under Texas law, your recovery can be reduced by your share of fault and barred if you’re found more than 50% responsible, so don’t accept the insurer’s first version of events.

What should I do after a crash involving a tow truck?

Get medical care, photograph the tow truck (company name, truck number, and plate) and where it was positioned, note whether its lights were flashing, and get witness names. Ask a lawyer about preserving dash-camera video and the company’s dispatch records quickly. Don’t give a recorded statement to the towing company’s insurer before you talk to a lawyer. Call (512) 872-2264.

Can I make a claim if a driverless semi-truck hit me?

Yes, you may be able to. A truck doesn’t get a pass because a computer was driving. The questions are the same ones I ask in any truck crash: what the truck did, why, and who’s responsible for it. With a self-driving truck, that can include the company running the truck, the company behind the driving technology, anyone monitoring the truck, another driver, or a mix, depending on the facts. Texas law also says a driverless truck can’t run with the system engaged unless it carries liability insurance or self-insurance at least equal to what state or federal law requires for that type of vehicle. That’s a requirement to operate, not a promise your claim gets paid, but it means there should be coverage to look for. KVUE has reported that Einride has announced plans to begin testing self-driving semi-trucks on State Highway 130 between Austin and Seguin. Call (512) 872-2264 and I’ll tell you where you stand.

Who is responsible when no one was driving the truck?

It depends on what caused the crash. Under Texas Transportation Code §545.454, the self-driving system is the truck’s operator when it’s engaged, and the truck’s owner, or the company that holds the state’s authorization to run it, is the one cited for traffic violations. So the company behind the truck can’t point to an empty driver’s seat. That rule is about traffic laws and tickets; who pays for your injuries still depends on the facts. If the driving system made a mistake, the company operating it, and possibly the maker of the system or vehicle, may be responsible. If a defect was involved, it may also be a product case. Other drivers can share fault too. Texas law also requires a driverless truck to have a recording device installed by the manufacturer of the truck or its self-driving system before it can run with the system engaged. These trucks record a lot of data, including camera, sensor, and driving logs, and that data can show what happened, but the company controls it. Ask a lawyer about having it preserved quickly.

Is a driverless truck crash the same as a robotaxi crash?

They have a lot in common: no human driver, vehicle data that matters, and several companies that may share responsibility. A semi-truck adds the weight and the commercial trucking side, like company insurance and maintenance records. If you were hit by a driverless car or robotaxi instead, see my Waymo and robotaxi accident page.