Get a truck accident lawyer in Houston to protect your rights
We fight to prove the trucker and trucking company were at fault
If you were injured or a loved one died in a Texas crash involving an 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, semi or another type of big commercial vehicle, our Houston truck accident attorneys can take on the trucking company and fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Smith & Hassler has over 30 years of experience getting real results for clients in Houston, and our attorneys have a reputation for being aggressive advocates for the injured.
Getting into an accident with a commercial vehicle can be disastrous and bring your life to a complete standstill. That’s because a fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds – a dramatic difference in size compared to the average passenger vehicle, which typically only weighs around 5,000 pounds.
To make matters worse, claims involving 18-wheeler/big rig accidents are often complex because many times there are multiple parties that can be held liable for your damages. Trucking companies also carry high-limit insurance policies and have teams of attorneys ready to protect their best interests – meaning you’re at huge disadvantage if you try to face them on your own. Luckily, our dedicated legal team knows how to level the playing field.
"I was very happy with Smith and Hassler. My husband contacted them after we had what we felt was a horrible traffic accident. Right away, they took care of us with patience and understanding, giving us peace of mind as we dealt with the pain, confusion, and questions that any accident would bring. Smith and Hassler made sure we received the proper medical help that was needed to get us back on track. They also did what was needed to get us what we deserved from the insurance, both the other party as well as ours. I highly recommend Smith and Hassler." — Florence F.
4.8/5 stars, 493 reviews
FAQs about truck accidents in Houston, TX
- Who is liable in a truck accident?
- What are the different types of truck accidents?
- What are the most common causes of truck accidents?
Who is liable in a truck accident?
If you sustained a serious injury or a loved one died in a truck accident due to negligence, there may be multiple parties liable for your damages, including:
The Truck Driver- A Trucking Company
- A Shipping Company
- A Broker
- The Truck Manufacturer
- A Third Party (e.g., another driver involved in the crash)
Claims involving tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, semis, big rigs, and other large commercial vehicles are rarely straightforward and often complex. If you want to maximize the value of your claim, you should strongly consider hiring an experienced attorney.
What are the different types of truck accidents?
Due to their large size and high center of gravity, there are many ways for a tractor-trailer to get into an accident. Some of the most common truck accidents are:
- Rear-End – When a heavy truck crashes into the back of a smaller passenger vehicle.
- Underride – When a smaller car gets crushed and lodged underneath the trailer of the truck.
- Rollover – When a tractor-trailer tips completely over onto its side.
- Jackknife – When the cab of the tractor-trailer and the trailer fold in on each other to form a 90-degree angle, resembling a folding pocketknife.
- Blind Spot – When a truck merges, turns or switches lanes into another vehicle and causes a collision.
- Head-On – When a large commercial truck collides with the front end of a smaller passenger car.
Fatal truck crashes are also common and result in thousands of deaths every year. As illustrated in this truck accident infographic, most fatal truck accidents involve other passenger vehicles.
Maybe you got rear-ended by a dump truck. It could be that you were involved in a terrifying underride accident with a big rig. You might have been hurt in a rollover accident with a tanker truck or had a loved one die in a fatal head-on crash with a tractor-trailer.
Whatever kind of collision you’re dealing with, call our law firm in Houston right away. Our experienced attorneys can review the details of your case and discuss your legal options.
What are the most common causes of truck accidents?
Truck drivers and trucking companies who act recklessly are often responsible for causing accidents. Some of the most common forms of trucker and trucking company negligence include:
Speeding- Failure to Yield
- Drunk Driving
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
- Drowsy Driving/Driving While Fatigued
- Distracted Driving (e.g., texting, talking on a phone, eating)
- Overweight Trucks/Improper Cargo Load
- Inadequate Truck Maintenance
- Mechanical Defects (e.g., brake failure, engine failure)
- Hiring Unqualified or Inexperienced Truck Drivers
Truck drivers are paid professional drivers who have a duty to drive safely and responsibly. If you were injured in a truck crash due to the negligent actions of a trucker and/or a trucking company, our Houston law firm can help you demand justice.
Let a Houston truck accident lawyer handle every aspect of your claim
Big trucks often have big insurance policies. That means there’s a lot of money at stake, and you can bet that the trucking company will do everything in its power to reduce its liability and protect its bottom line – even if they know they’re responsible for your damages.
Don’t lose out on the compensation you deserve. Our Houston attorneys have the knowledge and experience to launch a full investigation into your crash and build a strong legal case on your behalf that gets real results. Whether it’s through a negotiated cash settlement or a jury verdict, we will fight to get you every dollar you’re entitled to.
Best of all, we represent our clients on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no upfront costs and you do not pay unless we win. Learn what our experienced Houston attorneys can do for you. Be sure to visit our truck accident FAQ page to get answers to some of the most common questions people have and then contact us right away for a free consultation.
"When my car was totalled by a dump truck on the Beltway last year, I thought that it would be relatively easy to get both my property and personal injury claims paid out by the at-fault party's insurance. Property, while semi-difficult, paid out pretty quickly. The insurance company, however, repeatedly ignored my calls about the personal injury side of the claim. I had a back injury related to the accident and I needed relief. I decided at that time that if they didn't want to be responsive, I needed to hire a lawyer. I consulted with some attorney friends in other cities and they told me what to look for in a personal injury attorney. That is how I ended up trying Smith & Hassler. When Daragh Carter contacted me, I checked out his bio and found that he exceeded what I was looking for in a personal injury lawyer. He fought both the at-fault party's insurance and my own medical insurance for a ridiculous lien they placed on the award. Although my pay-out was reduced because of a silly error by my own medical insurance in over-paying a procedure I had, I still came out of this whole ordeal with more cash in my pocket that I would have if I went it alone. I very likely would have ended up with nothing if I had not hired Smith & Hassler. They did a great job and I would definitely use them again if I ever find myself needing the services of a personal injury attorney." - Reed