Houston's position as a major commercial hub and home to the Port of Houston—one of the busiest ports in the United States—has fueled significant growth in the trucking industry throughout the region. This expansion means thousands of additional commercial vehicles traveling on Interstate 10, Interstate 45, the Sam Houston Tollway, and local roadways daily, substantially increasing the risk of serious accidents for other motorists. Large commercial trucks, including 18-wheelers, tanker trucks, and delivery vehicles, pose unique dangers due to their size, weight, and extended stopping distances. Common contributing factors to truck accidents in the Houston area include driver fatigue from long-haul routes, inadequate vehicle maintenance, improper cargo loading, distracted driving, and violations of federal Hours of Service regulations. When collisions involving commercial trucks occur, victims often suffer catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and in the worst cases, wrongful death. These accidents can give rise to complex personal injury claims that may involve multiple parties including truck drivers, trucking companies, cargo loaders, maintenance providers, and vehicle manufacturers, making proper legal evaluation essential for protecting victims' rights to compensation.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Texas operates under a modified comparative negligence system (51% rule), meaning injury victims can recover damages if they are less than 51% responsible for the accident. Commercial trucking accidents fall under both state traffic laws and federal regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including mandatory insurance minimums of $750,000 to $5 million depending on cargo type. Texas law requires that personal injury claims be filed within two years from the accident date under the statute of limitations (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003), while wrongful death claims also have a two-year window. Accident victims may be entitled to various forms of compensation including medical expenses (past and future), lost wages and diminished earning capacity, property damage, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment, and in cases involving gross negligence, exemplary (punitive) damages. The commercial nature of these accidents often involves substantial insurance policies, but insurers typically employ aggressive defense strategies to minimize payouts.

Related Resources

Local Courts:

• Harris County Civil Courts at Law (113 Admin Building, 1001 Preston St, Houston, TX 77002)
• Harris County District Courts - Civil Division (201 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77002)
• Fort Bend County District Courts (401 Jackson St, Richmond, TX 77469)
• Montgomery County District Courts (301 N Main St, Conroe, TX 77301)

Support Services:

• Texas Department of Transportation - Houston District Office (7600 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007)
• Harris County Sheriff's Office Traffic Division for accident reports
• Texas Crime Victim Services (compensation assistance for victims)
• Houston Area Women's Center (crisis counseling)
• Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute (medical resources)

State Traffic Laws and Regulations:

• Texas Transportation Code: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.545.htm
• Texas Department of Insurance consumer resources: www.tdi.texas.gov
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations: www.fmcsa.dot.gov
• Texas Department of Public Safety crash records: www.txdot.gov/data-maps/crash-reports.html