18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers in LaCoste, Texas | Attorney911

When an 18-Wheeler Changes Your Life in an Instant

Every year, thousands of families across Texas experience life-altering moments when an 80,000-pound commercial truck collides with their vehicle. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an 18-wheeler accident in LaCoste, you’re facing a battle unlike any other. The physical pain is overwhelming. The medical bills are piling up. The trucking company’s insurance team is already working to protect their interests—not yours.

At Attorney911, we understand what you’re going through. Our LaCoste 18-wheeler accident attorneys have been fighting for trucking accident victims across Texas for over 25 years. We know the highways around LaCoste, the local courts, and exactly how to hold negligent trucking companies accountable.

Why LaCoste Trucking Accidents Are Different

LaCoste sits at a critical juncture in South Texas, where major freight corridors intersect. The area’s mix of rural highways, agricultural trucking, and proximity to major distribution centers creates unique risks:

• Highway 173 carries heavy commercial traffic between Devine and San Antonio
• FM 471 serves as a key route for agricultural and oilfield equipment
• Interstate 35 is just 30 minutes east—the busiest trucking corridor in America
• Local distribution centers and agricultural operations generate significant truck traffic
• Weight stations on I-35 create congestion points where trucks must slow and merge

These factors combine to create dangerous conditions where fatigued drivers, poorly maintained equipment, and improperly secured cargo can lead to catastrophic accidents.

The Devastating Reality of 18-Wheeler Accidents

When an 18-wheeler collides with a passenger vehicle, the physics are unforgiving:

• A fully loaded truck can weigh 20-25 times more than your car
• At highway speeds, an 80,000-pound truck needs 525 feet to stop—nearly two football fields
• The average car needs only 300 feet to stop at the same speed
• This 40% longer stopping distance means trucks can’t avoid obstacles as quickly as cars

These factors explain why trucking accidents so often result in catastrophic injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries that change personalities and end careers
• Spinal cord damage leading to paralysis and lifelong dependency
• Amputations requiring prosthetics and extensive rehabilitation
• Severe burns from fuel fires and hazardous cargo spills
• Internal organ damage that may not show symptoms immediately
• Wrongful death that leaves families shattered

Common Types of Trucking Accidents in LaCoste

Our attorneys have handled every type of trucking accident that occurs on LaCoste’s roads:

Jackknife Accidents

The trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab, often blocking multiple lanes. Common causes:

• Sudden braking on wet or icy roads
• Speeding around curves on FM 471
• Empty or lightly loaded trailers (more prone to swing)
• Worn brakes that don’t engage evenly
• Driver inexperience with emergency maneuvers

Underride Collisions

Your vehicle slides underneath the trailer, often with fatal consequences. Types:

• Rear underride: Striking the back of a trailer
• Side underride: Impacting the side during lane changes or turns
• Front underride: Less common but equally deadly

LaCoste’s mix of rural roads and highway traffic creates conditions where underride accidents are particularly dangerous. The trailer height often shears off the passenger compartment at windshield level.

Tire Blowouts

With 18 wheels on a typical rig, blowouts are a constant risk. Causes:

• Underinflated tires causing overheating
• Overloaded vehicles exceeding tire capacity
• Worn tires not replaced on schedule
• Road debris punctures
• Manufacturing defects
• Improper tire matching on dual wheels

Steer tire blowouts (front wheels) are especially dangerous as they can cause immediate loss of control.

Brake Failures

Brake problems are a factor in 29% of large truck crashes. Causes:

• Worn brake pads or shoes not replaced
• Improper brake adjustments (too loose)
• Air brake system leaks or failures
• Overheated brakes on long descents
• Contaminated brake fluid
• Deferred maintenance to save costs

Cargo Spills and Shifts

Improperly secured cargo creates multiple hazards:

• Cargo shift: Load moves during transit, destabilizing the truck
• Cargo spill: Load falls onto roadway, creating obstacles
• Hazmat spills: Hazardous materials leak, creating additional dangers

LaCoste’s agricultural trucking industry is particularly prone to cargo securement issues with hay, livestock, and equipment.

Blind Spot Accidents (“No-Zone”)

Trucks have four major blind spots:

1. Front No-Zone: 20 feet directly in front of the cab
2. Rear No-Zone: 30 feet behind the trailer
3. Left Side No-Zone: From cab door backward (smaller than right)
4. Right Side No-Zone: From cab door backward (much larger than left)

The right-side blind spot is particularly dangerous and accounts for many accidents during lane changes on Highway 173.

Wide Turn Accidents (“Squeeze Play”)

Trucks need significant space to complete turns, especially right turns. The trailer tracks inside the cab’s path, requiring drivers to swing wide. This creates a gap that other vehicles may enter, only to be crushed when the truck completes its turn.

Why You Need a LaCoste 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney Immediately

After a trucking accident, evidence disappears fast. Trucking companies have rapid-response teams that begin protecting their interests within hours. Critical evidence that can be lost includes:

• Black box data (can be overwritten in 30 days)
• ELD records (may be retained only 6 months)
• Dashcam footage (often deleted within 7-14 days)
• Surveillance video (business cameras typically overwrite in 7-30 days)
• Physical evidence (vehicle may be repaired, sold, or scrapped)
• Witness memory (fades significantly within weeks)

At Attorney911, we act immediately to preserve this evidence. Within 24-48 hours of being retained, we send spoliation letters to the trucking company, their insurer, and all potentially liable parties demanding preservation of all evidence.

The Trucking Company’s Playbook—and How We Counter It

Trucking companies and their insurers use proven tactics to minimize your claim:

Our secret weapon: Our team includes Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney who knows exactly how trucking insurers evaluate, minimize, and deny claims. He spent years on the other side—now he fights for you.

All the Parties We Hold Accountable in LaCoste Trucking Cases

In car accidents, usually only one driver is at fault. In trucking accidents, multiple parties can share responsibility:

1. The Truck Driver – For direct negligence: speeding, fatigue, distraction, impairment
2. The Trucking Company – For vicarious liability, negligent hiring, training, supervision
3. The Cargo Owner/Shipper – For improper loading instructions or hazmat disclosure failures
4. The Loading Company – For improper cargo securement (49 CFR 393 violations)
5. Truck/Trailer Manufacturer – For design or manufacturing defects (product liability)
6. Parts Manufacturer – For defective components (brakes, tires, steering)
7. Maintenance Company – For negligent repairs or failure to identify critical issues
8. Freight Broker – For negligent selection of unsafe carriers
9. Truck Owner – For negligent entrustment (if different from carrier)
10. Government Entity – For dangerous road design or failure to maintain roads

Our investigation process identifies every potentially liable party to maximize your recovery.

The Evidence We Gather to Build Your Case

Our LaCoste trucking accident attorneys use a comprehensive approach to build your case:

Phase 1: Immediate Response (0-72 Hours)

• Send preservation letters to all parties
• Deploy accident reconstruction expert to scene if needed
• Obtain police crash report
• Photograph your injuries with medical documentation
• Photograph all vehicles before they’re repaired or scrapped
• Identify all potentially liable parties

Phase 2: Evidence Gathering (Days 1-30)

• Subpoena ECM/black box data downloads
• Request driver’s paper log books (backup documentation)
• Obtain complete Driver Qualification File
• Request all truck maintenance and inspection records
• Obtain carrier’s CSA safety scores and inspection history
• Order driver’s complete Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)
• Subpoena driver’s cell phone records
• Obtain dispatch records and delivery schedules

Phase 3: Expert Analysis

• Accident reconstruction specialist creates crash analysis
• Medical experts establish causation and future care needs
• Vocational experts calculate lost earning capacity
• Economic experts determine present value of all damages
• Life care planners develop comprehensive care plans
• FMCSA regulation experts identify all violations

Phase 4: Litigation Strategy

• File lawsuit before statute of limitations expires (2 years in Texas)
• Pursue aggressive discovery against all potentially liable parties
• Depose truck driver, dispatcher, safety manager, maintenance personnel
• Build case for trial while negotiating settlement from position of strength
• Prepare every case as if going to trial (this creates leverage in negotiations)

Understanding FMCSA Regulations—Your Key to Justice

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates every aspect of commercial trucking. When trucking companies violate these regulations, they create dangerous conditions that lead to accidents. We use these violations to prove negligence:

Hours of Service Violations (49 CFR Part 395)

• 11-Hour Driving Limit: Maximum 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• 14-Hour Duty Window: Cannot drive beyond 14th consecutive hour on duty
• 30-Minute Break: Mandatory break after 8 cumulative hours of driving
• 60/70-Hour Weekly Limit: 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days
• 34-Hour Restart: Can reset weekly clock with 34 consecutive hours off

Fatigued driving causes 31% of fatal truck crashes. Hours of service violations are among the most common—and most dangerous—violations we find.

Driver Qualification Violations (49 CFR Part 391)

• Driver Qualification File: Must contain employment application, driving record, medical certification, training records
• Medical Certification: Drivers must be physically qualified under § 391.41
• Background Checks: Must verify previous employment and driving history
• Drug/Alcohol Testing: Pre-employment and random testing required

Missing or incomplete files prove negligent hiring—a powerful claim against trucking companies.

Vehicle Maintenance Violations (49 CFR Part 396)

• Systematic Inspection: Required for all vehicles under carrier’s control
• Driver Inspections: Pre-trip and post-trip inspections required
• Annual Inspections: Comprehensive inspection required annually
• Repair Records: Must document all repairs and maintenance

Brake failures cause 29% of truck accidents. Maintenance violations create strong liability cases.

Cargo Securement Violations (49 CFR Part 393)

• Working Load Limits: Tiedowns must withstand specific forces
• Minimum Tiedowns: At least one for cargo 5 feet or less, two for longer cargo
• Performance Criteria: Must withstand 0.8g forward, 0.5g rearward/lateral
• Special Requirements: Specific rules for logs, metal coils, machinery, etc.

Cargo securement violations are among the top 10 most common FMCSA violations.

The Catastrophic Injuries We See in LaCoste Trucking Accidents

The size and weight disparity between trucks and passenger vehicles means trucking accidents often result in catastrophic injuries:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Mild (Concussion): Headaches, confusion, brief loss of consciousness
• Moderate: Extended unconsciousness, memory problems, cognitive deficits
• Severe: Extended coma, permanent cognitive impairment
• Lifetime Care Costs: $85,000 to $3,000,000+

Spinal Cord Injury

• Paraplegia: Loss of function below the waist
• Quadriplegia: Loss of function in all four limbs
• Incomplete Injury: Some nerve function remains
• Complete Injury: Total loss of sensation and movement below injury
• Lifetime Care Costs: $1,100,000 to $5,000,000+

Amputation

• Traumatic Amputation: Limb severed at the scene
• Surgical Amputation: Limb so severely damaged it must be removed
• Ongoing Needs: Prosthetics ($5,000-$50,000 each), rehabilitation, psychological counseling
• Lifetime Care Costs: $1,900,000 to $8,600,000

Severe Burns

• First Degree: Epidermis only (minor)
• Second Degree: Epidermis and dermis (may scar)
• Third Degree: Full thickness (requires skin grafts)
• Fourth Degree: Through skin to muscle/bone (may require amputation)
• Treatment: Multiple reconstructive surgeries, skin grafts, chronic pain management

Internal Organ Damage

• Liver laceration or rupture
• Spleen damage requiring removal
• Kidney damage
• Lung contusion or collapse
• Internal bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Bowel and intestinal damage

Wrongful Death

When a trucking accident kills a loved one, Texas law allows surviving family members to recover:

• Lost future income and benefits
• Loss of consortium (companionship, care, guidance)
• Mental anguish and emotional suffering
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical expenses incurred before death
• Pain and suffering experienced by the decedent
• Punitive damages (if gross negligence)

The Compensation You Deserve After a LaCoste Trucking Accident

Our LaCoste 18-wheeler accident attorneys fight for every category of damages you’re entitled to:

Economic Damages (Calculable Losses)

• Medical Expenses: Past, present, and future medical costs
• Lost Wages: Income lost due to injury and recovery
• Lost Earning Capacity: Reduction in future earning ability
• Property Damage: Vehicle repair or replacement
• Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Transportation to medical appointments, home modifications
• Life Care Costs: Ongoing care for catastrophic injuries

Non-Economic Damages (Quality of Life)

• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain from injuries
• Mental Anguish: Psychological trauma, anxiety, depression
• Loss of Enjoyment: Inability to participate in activities
• Disfigurement: Scarring, visible injuries
• Loss of Consortium: Impact on marriage/family relationships
• Physical Impairment: Reduced physical capabilities

Punitive Damages (Punishment for Gross Negligence)

Available when the trucking company or driver acted with:

• Gross negligence
• Willful misconduct
• Conscious indifference to safety
• Fraud (falsifying logs, destroying evidence)

Recent Trucking Verdicts Show What’s Possible

While every case is unique, recent verdicts demonstrate what juries award when trucking companies are held accountable:

These verdicts show that when trucking companies prioritize profit over safety, juries respond with massive awards to hold them accountable.

Why Choose Attorney911 for Your LaCoste Trucking Accident Case

1. We’re LaCoste Trucking Accident Specialists

With offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we’re never far from LaCoste. Our attorneys have handled trucking cases on every major highway in the region, from I-35 to FM 471. We know the local courts, judges, and trucking corridors that affect your case.

2. Our Team Includes a Former Insurance Defense Attorney

Lupe Peña spent years working for a national insurance defense firm. He knows exactly how insurance companies evaluate, minimize, and deny trucking accident claims. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you.

3. We Have Federal Court Experience

Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, is admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas. This federal court access is critical for interstate trucking cases, which often involve federal regulations and can be filed in federal court.

4. We’ve Recovered Millions for Trucking Accident Victims

Our track record includes:

• $5+ Million – Logging Brain Injury Settlement
• $3.8+ Million – Car Accident Amputation Settlement
• $2.5+ Million – Truck Crash Recovery
• $2+ Million – Maritime Back Injury Settlement
• Millions recovered for families in trucking-related wrongful death cases

5. We Offer Fluent Spanish Services

Many trucking accident victims in LaCoste speak Spanish as their primary language. Our associate attorney Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish and provides direct representation without interpreters. Hablamos Español.

6. We Work on Contingency – You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

We advance all costs of investigation and litigation. You pay nothing upfront. Our fee comes from the recovery, not your pocket. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing.

7. We Have 251+ 5-Star Reviews from Clients

Our clients consistently praise our:

• Family treatment: “They treated me like FAMILY, not just another case number” – Chad Harris
• Fast resolution: “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years” – Angel Walle
• Maximum recovery: “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved” – Glenda Walker
• Personal attention: “Ralph reached out personally” – Dame Haskett

What to Do After an 18-Wheeler Accident in LaCoste

If you’ve been hurt in a trucking accident anywhere in LaCoste, take these steps immediately:

1. Call 911 – Report the accident and request medical assistance
2. Seek medical attention – Even if injuries seem minor, get checked out
3. Document the scene – Take photos of all vehicles, damage, road conditions, and your injuries
4. Get the trucking company information – Name, DOT number, driver’s name and license
5. Collect witness information – Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the accident
6. Do NOT give recorded statements – Insurance adjusters work for the trucking company, not you
7. Call Attorney911 immediately – 1-888-ATTY-911

The LaCoste Trucking Accident Lawyers You Can Trust

When an 18-wheeler changes your life in an instant, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a fighter who understands the trucking industry’s tactics and knows how to counter them.

At Attorney911, we’ve been fighting for trucking accident victims across Texas for over 25 years. Our LaCoste 18-wheeler accident attorneys offer:

✅ Free consultations – We’ll evaluate your case at no cost
✅ No upfront fees – You pay nothing unless we win
✅ 24/7 availability – We answer trucking accident calls immediately
✅ Spanish services – Hablamos Español
✅ Insider knowledge – Our team includes a former insurance defense attorney
✅ Federal court access – Critical for interstate trucking cases
✅ Multi-million dollar results – We’ve recovered millions for trucking accident victims

Don’t Wait—Evidence Disappears Fast

Every hour you wait, evidence in your LaCoste trucking accident case is disappearing. Black box data can be overwritten. Dashcam footage gets deleted. Witnesses forget what they saw. Trucking companies hire rapid-response teams to protect their interests.

You need a LaCoste 18-wheeler accident attorney who moves just as fast.

Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for your free consultation. Our LaCoste trucking accident lawyers are ready to fight for you.

“They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”
— Glenda Walker, Attorney911 Client

“You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”
— Chad Harris, Attorney911 Client

“They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”
— Angel Walle, Attorney911 Client