What should I do immediately after an 18-wheeler hits my car?

Call 911, seek medical attention even if you feel fine, photograph the truck's DOT number and all damage, collect witness contact info, and call a truck accident attorney before speaking with any insurance company.

How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Texas?

Texas law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, critical evidence like the truck's black box data can be lost within days, so contacting an attorney immediately is essential.

Should I accept a settlement offer from the trucking company's insurance?

Almost never. Early settlement offers are designed to close your claim cheaply before you understand the full extent of your injuries. An attorney can evaluate the true value of your case, which is often significantly higher than the initial offer.

Why do I need a lawyer specifically for a truck accident and not just any car accident attorney?

Truck accident cases involve federal FMCSA regulations, multiple liable parties (driver, carrier, cargo loader, manufacturer), commercial insurance policies worth millions, and specialized evidence like electronic logging devices and black box data that require specific legal expertise to obtain and interpret.

After an 18-Wheeler Accident in Texas

If You Were Just Hit by an 18-Wheeler, Read This First

An 18-wheeler collision is not like a normal car accident. These trucks weigh up to 80,000 pounds — roughly 20 times the weight of a passenger vehicle. The injuries are more severe, the medical bills escalate faster, and the trucking company’s insurance team is already working against you before you leave the hospital.

If you or a loved one was involved in a commercial truck accident in Frisco, Dallas, Plano, or anywhere in North Texas, the steps you take in the first few hours and days will directly affect the value of your case and whether you recover fair compensation.

Step 1: Call 911 and Get a Police Report

Always call 911 after a truck accident, even if your injuries seem minor at first. Adrenaline masks pain, and many serious injuries — traumatic brain injuries, herniated discs, internal bleeding — do not present symptoms immediately.

The police report creates an official record of the crash scene, identifies the trucking company and driver, documents witness statements, and may include the responding officer’s determination of fault. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.026, officers must file a crash report when the accident involves injury, death, or vehicle damage exceeding $1,000.

Step 2: Seek Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine

Visit the emergency room or an urgent care facility the same day as the accident. Delayed treatment creates gaps that insurance adjusters will exploit to argue your injuries were not caused by the crash. Common delayed-onset injuries from truck accidents include concussions and traumatic brain injuries, whiplash and cervical spine damage, internal organ bruising or bleeding, and soft tissue tears that worsen over days.

Your medical records from that first visit become the foundation of your injury claim.

Step 3: Document Everything at the Scene

If you are physically able, use your phone to photograph the truck’s license plate and DOT number displayed on the cab, damage to all vehicles involved, skid marks, debris, and road conditions, the truck driver’s name, employer, and insurance information, and any visible injuries you sustained.

Collect contact information from witnesses. Their independent accounts can be critical evidence if the trucking company disputes liability.

Step 4: Do Not Give a Recorded Statement to the Trucking Company’s Insurer

Within hours of a serious truck accident, the carrier’s insurance company will contact you — sometimes even at the hospital. They will sound sympathetic. They may offer a quick settlement. Do not accept it, and do not give a recorded statement.

These early offers are designed to close your claim before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Recorded statements are used to twist your words and minimize what they owe you. You are under no legal obligation to speak with the other party’s insurer without your attorney present.

Step 5: Contact a Truck Accident Attorney Immediately

Time is your enemy in a truck accident case. Critical evidence begins disappearing within days. The truck’s electronic control module (ECM), also known as the “black box,” may be overwritten. The trucking company may repair or destroy the vehicle. Driver logs, dispatch records, and maintenance files can vanish.

An experienced truck accident attorney will send a spoliation letter to the trucking company demanding they preserve all evidence, obtain the police report and begin an independent investigation, identify all liable parties — the driver, the carrier, the cargo loader, and the truck manufacturer, and handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf.

At Ford Law, we begin investigating your case on day one. We serve Frisco, Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Prosper, and all of North Texas. Call (214) 227-9972 for a free consultation — there is no fee unless we win your case.

What Not to Do After a Truck Accident

Avoid posting about the accident on social media. Insurance adjusters monitor Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms looking for posts they can use against you. Do not apologize or admit fault at the scene — even a casual “I’m sorry” can be used against you in Texas courts. Do not sign any documents from the trucking company or their insurer without attorney review. Do not wait to see a doctor hoping your pain will go away on its own.

Texas Has a Two-Year Deadline

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If someone died in the crash, the wrongful death deadline is also two years. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim, no matter how strong the evidence.

However, the real deadline is much shorter. Evidence degrades. Witnesses forget. Trucking companies cycle through drivers. The sooner you contact an attorney, the stronger your case will be.

Injured in an 18-Wheeler Accident? Ford Law Is Here to Help.

Ford Law represents truck accident victims throughout North Texas, including Frisco, Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Allen, and Prosper. Attorney Matthew Ford understands the complexity of commercial trucking cases — from FMCSA regulations to multi-party liability. We fight to get you the maximum compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Get your free case review now or call (214) 227-9972. Available 24/7. No fee unless we win.

If you or a loved one was injured in a trucking accident, contact our North Texas trucking accident lawyers for a free consultation. Attorney Matthew Ford has the insider knowledge to fight for the compensation you deserve.