Around 2:25 a.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026, the first calls came in. An 18-wheeler tanker truck hauling roughly 9,000 gallons of fuel had caught fire on I-45 southbound — right at Bay Area Boulevard, just outside Baybrook Mall. By 3 a.m., the tanker was fully engulfed. Cellphone footage from bystanders showed flames shooting several feet into the air. All southbound main lanes of the Gulf Freeway were shut down. Drivers were funneled into the mall parking lot. The morning commute was wrecked. The evening commute was wrecked. More than 12 hours later, crews were still sweeping lanes and inspecting pavement for heat damage.
The driver escaped. That’s the good news.
The bad news? This was the fifth major 18-wheeler incident in Houston in a single week. And it happened on I-45 — a highway that TxDOT data shows killed 105 people in 2023 alone. A highway that Budget Direct named the deadliest road in the United States.
If you were caught in this crash, stuck in the backup, rear-ended in the chaos, or exposed to fuel fumes and smoke — you may have a claim. And the clock is already ticking on your right to file one.
What Happened: The I-45 Gulf Freeway Tanker Fire, Minute by Minute
According to reporting from KHOU 11, ABC13, and Houston TranStar, here’s what we know:
2:25 a.m. — First reports of the incident came in to emergency dispatchers. An 18-wheeler tanker truck on I-45 southbound near Bay Area Boulevard was in distress.
~3:00 a.m. — The tanker caught fire. Houston Fire Department, Harris County law enforcement, and hazmat crews launched a large-scale emergency response. The tanker was carrying approximately 9,000 gallons of fuel — gasoline, diesel, or another flammable liquid. The type of fuel has not been officially confirmed.
3:00-5:00 a.m. — All southbound main lanes of the Gulf Freeway shut down. TranStar cameras showed at least eight police cruisers blocking the road. Traffic was forced off at the Bay Area exit and diverted through the Baybrook Mall area. The feeder road reopened just before 5:00 a.m., but major backups had already cascaded across Houston’s entire south side.
Morning and afternoon — The Texas Department of Transportation deployed crews and environmental cleanup teams. The fire had spread fuel and water across the roadway, all of which had to be removed before lanes could reopen. The tanker was eventually hauled off the freeway.
12+ hours later — TxDOT crews were still sweeping lanes and inspecting the pavement for structural damage caused by the extreme heat. One or two southbound lanes reopened. But the damage — to the roadway, to commute times, and potentially to the people caught in it — was done.
Cause of the fire? Not released. Officials have not stated whether it was mechanical failure, driver error, an equipment malfunction, a tire blowout, or something else. That investigation is ongoing — and the results matter enormously if you’re considering a legal claim.
Why 9,000 Gallons of Fuel on a Houston Freeway Is a Nightmare Scenario
Think about what a gallon of gasoline can do. Now multiply that by 9,000.
An average car holds about 14 gallons. This tanker was carrying the equivalent of 642 full gas tanks rolling down I-45 at freeway speeds in the middle of the night. When that load catches fire, you’re not dealing with a car fire. You’re dealing with a potential explosion that can reach temperatures exceeding 1,500°F — hot enough to melt aluminum, warp steel, and cause third-degree burns from hundreds of feet away.
This isn’t hypothetical. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has investigated dozens of fuel tanker fires. Their findings are consistent: these incidents produce catastrophic damage, extreme environmental contamination, and life-threatening injuries even for people who aren’t directly involved in the crash.
The Federal Government Knows These Trucks Are Rolling Bombs
That’s exactly why fuel tankers face the strictest insurance requirements in the trucking industry. Under federal law:
- Standard 18-wheelers must carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance
- Trucks hauling oil or hazardous equipment must carry $1,000,000
- Hazmat tankers (fuel, chemicals, explosives) must carry $5,000,000
The insurance minimum for this tanker is nearly seven times higher than a regular big rig. The federal government did that math for a reason. A fuel tanker fire doesn’t just damage the vehicles around it — it shuts down a major freeway for half a day, requires hazmat cleanup, can contaminate groundwater, and inflicts injuries that range from severe burns to toxic inhalation to long-term respiratory damage.
I-45: The Deadliest Highway in America — And This Week Proved It
This tanker fire didn’t happen in a vacuum. I-45 has earned its reputation as the most dangerous highway in the United States, and the data is ugly.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT):
- 2023: 97 fatal crashes on I-45, 105 people killed
- 2022: 107 fatal crashes on I-45
- 2021: 97 fatal crashes on I-45
- In 2021, car insurance company Budget Direct named I-45 the deadliest road in the United States, with an average of 56.5 accidents per 100 miles
- The stretch of I-45 between E. Burress Street and E. Airtex Drive recorded 49 fatal crashes — ranking it the third deadliest highway stretch in all of Texas
- 30% of fatal crashes on I-45 involved drunk drivers — five percentage points above the state average of 25%
- More than 40% of ALL crashes in Texas happen in Harris County
And I-45 isn’t dangerous because of bad luck. It’s dangerous because it serves as one of the primary freight corridors connecting the Port of Houston — the busiest port in the United States by foreign waterborne tonnage — to distribution centers, refineries, and petrochemical facilities throughout the Gulf Coast region. The tanker that caught fire at Bay Area Boulevard was likely serving one of those facilities.
Five 18-Wheeler Crashes in Houston in One Week
The tanker fire wasn’t even the only 18-wheeler disaster in Houston that week. Between February 10 and February 14, 2026:
- February 10 — An 18-wheeler crashed on I-45 North Freeway at West Road, shutting down all southbound lanes
- February 12 — A rollover crash involving an 18-wheeler dragged a pickup truck on the Southwest Freeway near Chimney Rock
- February 12 — A truck was found smashed underneath an 18-wheeler on the Southwest Freeway — the second incident on the same road, the same day
- February 12 — The I-45 fuel tanker fire at Bay Area Boulevard (this incident)
- February 13-14 — A multi-vehicle crash involving an 18-wheeler on Highway 6 at Addicks Satsuma spilled diesel fuel and shut down northbound lanes
Five major 18-wheeler incidents in a single week. One metro area. And every one of them created potential victims — not just the people directly hit, but the drivers caught in sudden stops, the pedestrians forced to cross active freeways, and the commuters stuck breathing exhaust and chemical fumes for hours.
This is what happens when the nation’s most dangerous highway runs through a city where 39,393 commercial vehicle crashes occurred in a single year.
Texas Commercial Truck Crash Data: The Full Picture
Harris County doesn’t just lead the state in total crashes. It leads in commercial vehicle crashes by a wide margin.
According to TxDOT’s 2024 crash data:
- 39,393 commercial vehicle accidents occurred in Texas in 2024
- 608 people died in commercial vehicle crashes statewide
- 1,601 people suffered serious injuries from commercial vehicle collisions
- 16% of all Texas commercial vehicle accidents — roughly 6,300 — happened in Harris County alone
- A person was killed in a Texas traffic accident every 2 hours and 7 minutes
- A person was injured every 2 minutes
- A reportable crash happened every single minute in Texas
And those are just the numbers that get reported. Minor crashes, near-misses, and incidents where victims don’t seek immediate medical attention aren’t included.
Nationally, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports approximately 450,000 crashes involving large trucks annually, with 4,657 large trucks involved in fatal crashes. The majority of fatalities are occupants of the smaller vehicle — not the truck.
Ralph Manginello and the Attorney911 team have spent 25+ years handling cases born out of exactly these statistics. Every number above represents a family whose life was changed by a truck crash. We’ve recovered multi-million dollar settlements because we know how to turn this data into evidence — and evidence into accountability.
FMCSA Regulations That Apply to the I-45 Tanker Fire
Every fuel tanker operating on Texas highways is governed by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations under 49 CFR Parts 390 through 399 — plus additional hazmat requirements under Part 397. When a tanker catches fire at 3 a.m. on a major interstate, multiple regulatory violations typically come into play.
Hours of Service: Why a 3 a.m. Fire Raises Red Flags (49 CFR Part 395)
A fire at 3:00 a.m. immediately triggers questions about driver fatigue. Under federal hours-of-service rules:
- A driver can’t drive more than 11 consecutive hours after 10 hours off duty (49 CFR 395.3)
- A driver can’t drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty
- A 30-minute rest break is mandatory after 8 cumulative hours of driving (49 CFR 395.3(a)(3)(ii))
- A driver must have 10 consecutive hours off duty before driving again
- The 60/70-hour rule limits total on-duty time to 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days
Fatigue-related crashes spike between midnight and 6:00 a.m. — exactly the window when this fire occurred. The FMCSA’s own data shows that drivers who violate hours-of-service rules are significantly more likely to be involved in fatigue-related crashes. If this driver was near the end of a long shift, had falsified ELD logs, or was operating during a period when they should have been resting, that’s a violation that establishes negligence.
At Attorney911, we subpoena ELD records immediately. Electronic Logging Devices track every minute of a driver’s on-duty and driving time. But here’s what most people don’t know: there are documented cases of carriers manipulating ELD data after a serious crash. That’s why we send evidence preservation letters within hours — not days, not weeks. Hours.
Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396)
Every commercial vehicle must be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained. Drivers must complete pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports. Carriers must keep maintenance records for every vehicle in their fleet.
When a fuel tanker catches fire, the investigation focuses on:
- Brake condition — overheated brakes are a leading cause of truck fires
- Electrical system — wiring failures can ignite fuel vapors
- Tire condition — underinflated or worn tires generate friction heat that can ignite nearby components
- Fuel system integrity — corroded tanks, faulty valves, and damaged seals can allow fuel to leak onto hot surfaces
- DOT inspection history — when was this vehicle last inspected? Did it pass?
If the carrier cut corners on maintenance to save money — and the fire resulted from that negligence — that opens the door to punitive damages. And our firm’s associate attorney, Lupe Peña, spent years working for insurance defense firms. He sat in rooms where carriers and their insurers discussed maintenance shortcuts. He knows how these companies think, because he used to defend them. Now he fights against them.
Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Part 397)
Fuel tankers fall under hazmat regulations, which impose requirements above and beyond what standard 18-wheelers face:
- Route planning — hazmat carriers must follow designated routes and avoid certain areas
- Parking restrictions — hazmat vehicles can’t park in certain locations or for extended periods
- Driver training — hazmat drivers must hold a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) on their CDL and complete specialized training every three years
- Placarding — the vehicle must display proper hazmat placards identifying the cargo
- Emergency response — carriers must have a written emergency response plan
- Security plans — required for certain high-risk materials
If any of these requirements were violated, it strengthens your case dramatically. And these violations are surprisingly common. The FMCSA conducts roadside inspections that reveal hazmat violations far more often than most people realize.
Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391)
Was this driver qualified to haul 9,000 gallons of fuel down I-45? The FMCSA requires:
- A valid CDL with the appropriate endorsements, including a Tanker (N) endorsement and Hazardous Materials (H) endorsement — combined as an “X” endorsement
- Passing a DOT physical examination
- No disqualifying medical conditions
- Drug and alcohol testing under 49 CFR Part 382 — including mandatory post-accident testing
- A driver qualification file maintained by the carrier, including driving record, employment history, and road test certification
Our attorneys immediately request the driver’s complete qualification file. We’ve seen cases where drivers were operating without proper endorsements, had expired medical certificates, or had prior violations that should have disqualified them from hauling hazmat.
Who’s Liable? Tracing Every Dollar in a Tanker Fire Case
Trucking accident cases — especially hazmat incidents — involve layers of liability that most personal injury attorneys don’t know how to untangle. This isn’t a rear-end fender bender with two parties and two insurance companies. A fuel tanker fire on I-45 can involve six, eight, even ten liable defendants.
The Truck Driver
The most obvious defendant, but rarely the only one. We investigate:
- Fatigue: Was the driver in compliance with hours-of-service rules? The 3:00 a.m. timing is suspicious.
- Impairment: Federal law requires mandatory drug and alcohol testing after a crash involving a hazmat release. Was it conducted? What were the results?
- Distraction: Cell phone records, dashcam footage, and in-cab monitoring data can reveal whether the driver was texting, on a call, or otherwise distracted.
- Qualification: Did the driver hold proper CDL endorsements for tanker and hazmat cargo?
- Training: Had the driver completed required hazmat training? Did they know emergency procedures?
The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)
Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, the carrier is liable for its driver’s negligence. But our investigation goes deeper:
- Negligent hiring: Did the company properly vet this driver’s background, driving record, and qualification file?
- Negligent training: Was the driver properly trained to handle a 9,000-gallon fuel load? Were they trained on emergency procedures for fires?
- Negligent supervision: Did the company monitor the driver’s hours-of-service compliance? Did they allow or encourage violations?
- Negligent maintenance: Was the tanker properly maintained? Were inspection schedules followed? Were known defects repaired?
- Safety record: We pull the carrier’s complete record from the FMCSA SAFER system. Their inspection history, crash history, out-of-service rates — it’s all public. A pattern of violations can establish that the company knew its operations were dangerous and failed to act.
Ralph Manginello has been taking on trucking companies for over 25 years. With federal court admission to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, our firm has the experience to pursue complex litigation against carriers and their corporate parents — including billion-dollar corporations.
The Tanker Owner or Lessor
In the trucking industry, the truck, the trailer, and the tanker are often owned by different entities. The cab might be owned by the driver (an owner-operator), the trailer leased from one company, and the tanker from another. Each entity that owns equipment has a duty to ensure it’s safe and properly maintained. If the tanker had a faulty valve, corroded structure, or defective safety system, the owner is liable — even if they weren’t the ones driving it.
The Maintenance Company
Many carriers outsource vehicle maintenance to third-party shops. If a mechanic missed a critical defect during an inspection — a brake issue, an electrical fault, a fuel system leak — the maintenance company shares liability. We subpoena maintenance records going back months to identify any missed or deferred repairs.
The Cargo Owner / Shipper
The company that hired the carrier to transport 9,000 gallons of fuel can be liable under the doctrine of negligent selection. If they chose a carrier with a poor safety record, a history of hazmat violations, or inadequate insurance, they share responsibility for what happened on I-45.
The Truck or Tanker Manufacturer
If a manufacturing defect caused or contributed to the fire — a faulty fuel valve, a defective braking system, a wiring flaw — the manufacturer is liable under product liability law. These claims don’t require proof of negligence. If the product was defective, the manufacturer is responsible.
Government Entities
Was the road properly maintained? Were highway design features — guardrails, drainage, lane markings — adequate? Was the Bay Area Boulevard interchange designed to safely handle hazmat traffic? Government entities can be liable for road design or maintenance failures, though sovereign immunity rules create additional procedural hurdles.
Evidence Preservation: The 48-Hour Clock Is Already Running
Right now — three days after the fire — evidence is already disappearing. Here’s what’s at stake:
Electronic Control Module (ECM / Black Box)
Every commercial truck has an ECM that records data before and during a crash: speed, braking, engine RPMs, throttle position, seatbelt status, and more. This data is critical evidence. But ECM data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days — and some systems overwrite much faster if the truck is put back into service.
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Records
ELDs track hours of service in real time. They show when the driver was on duty, driving, off duty, and in the sleeper berth. But ELD records can be edited, and unscrupulous carriers have been caught altering records after crashes. Federal law requires carriers to retain ELD records for six months, but the raw data is far more valuable than the summaries.
Dashcam and In-Cab Camera Footage
Many commercial trucks — and most tanker fleets — have forward-facing cameras and in-cab cameras that record driver behavior. This footage is stored on a loop. If nobody preserves it, it gets overwritten within days.
Cell Phone Records
Was the driver texting? On a call? Using an app? Cell phone records can prove distraction, but they require a timely subpoena. Carriers don’t typically hand these over voluntarily.
Drug and Alcohol Test Results
Federal law requires post-accident drug and alcohol testing after hazmat crashes. But the testing must happen within specific timeframes — 8 hours for alcohol, 32 hours for drugs. If testing was delayed or skipped, that’s both a violation and potentially favorable evidence.
Maintenance and Inspection Records
The carrier’s maintenance logs, the driver’s pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports, and the tanker’s inspection history are all discoverable. But records can “go missing” if you don’t move fast.
Environmental and Fire Investigation Reports
TxDOT, HFD, and potentially the NTSB will produce investigation reports. These take time, but they often contain findings about the cause of the fire that are critical to your case.
This is why Attorney911 sends evidence preservation letters within hours. Not requests — demands, with legal consequences if evidence is destroyed. We send them to the carrier, the driver, the tanker owner, the maintenance company, the fuel shipper, and any other party who might possess relevant evidence. Trucking companies have rapid-response teams that deploy to crash scenes specifically to manage their liability. If they’re moving fast, we move faster. Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911.
Injuries From Fuel Tanker Fires: What Victims Need to Know
Fuel tanker fires cause injuries that other types of truck crashes don’t. The combination of extreme heat, toxic fumes, flying debris, and secondary explosions creates a unique injury profile.
Burn Injuries
Burns from fuel fires can range from superficial (first-degree) to life-threatening (third and fourth-degree). Third-degree burns destroy the full thickness of the skin and require extensive surgery, skin grafts, and months of rehabilitation. Fourth-degree burns penetrate muscle, tendon, and bone. The Houston area has world-class burn treatment facilities — the UTMB Burn Center in Galveston and Memorial Hermann’s burn program — but treatment is prolonged, painful, and expensive.
Smoke and Chemical Inhalation
When 9,000 gallons of fuel burns on a highway, it produces massive quantities of toxic smoke. Bystanders, nearby drivers, and first responders can inhale carbon monoxide, benzene, particulate matter, and other carcinogenic compounds. Inhalation injuries may not manifest symptoms immediately — some victims don’t develop respiratory problems until days or weeks later.
If you were stuck in traffic near this fire and experienced coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, or eye irritation — get medical attention now and document your symptoms. These exposure claims are real, and they’re compensable.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Explosions produce concussive force that can cause traumatic brain injuries even without direct contact. Blast-related TBI — well-documented in military medicine — can result from the pressure wave of a fuel explosion. Symptoms include headaches, confusion, memory problems, mood changes, and sensitivity to light or sound. Watch our video guide on brain injuries: The Ultimate Guide to Brain Injury Lawsuits.
Psychological Trauma and PTSD
Witnessing a massive fire on a highway — especially at night, with flames shooting into the air and emergency vehicles everywhere — is traumatic. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a recognized injury in personal injury law, and victims can recover compensation for therapy, medication, and the impact on their quality of life. Learn more: Can I Get a PTSD Payout After a Car Accident?
Secondary Crash Injuries
When a tanker fire shuts down a major freeway, the sudden traffic backup creates secondary crashes. Drivers who slam on their brakes, get rear-ended, or swerve to avoid stopped traffic can suffer whiplash, spinal injuries, broken bones, and more. If your injuries were caused by the chain reaction from this tanker fire — even if you were a mile behind it — you may have a claim against the parties responsible for the original incident.
What to Do Right Now If You Were Affected
Whether you were directly involved in the crash, stuck in traffic for hours breathing fuel smoke, or rear-ended in the backup, here’s your action plan:
Step 1: Get Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine
Adrenaline masks pain. Inhalation injuries take time to develop. Soft tissue injuries may not hurt until the next day. Go to a doctor. Get examined. Get everything documented. This creates a medical record that links your injuries to this specific incident.
Houston-area trauma resources:
– Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center — Level I Trauma Center
– Ben Taub Hospital — Level I Trauma Center
– UTMB Galveston — Level I Trauma Center with specialized burn unit
– Memorial Hermann Life Flight — air ambulance for critical cases
Step 2: Preserve Every Piece of Evidence You Have
- Photos and video from the scene, your vehicle damage, your injuries, the traffic backup
- Dashcam footage from your vehicle — save it immediately before it loops
- Screenshots of news coverage, social media posts, traffic alerts
- Written notes — what you saw, heard, felt, smelled. Write it down while it’s fresh. Memory fades; notes don’t.
- Medical records — every visit, every prescription, every test
Step 3: Do NOT Talk to the Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster
They’ll call. They always call. They’ll sound friendly. They’ll say they want to “get your side of the story.” What they actually want is to get you to say something they can use against you later.
Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, used to sit in those rooms. He spent years at a national insurance defense firm watching adjusters strategize how to minimize payouts and deny claims. He’s seen the playbook from the inside. Now he uses that knowledge to fight for victims instead of against them.
Common adjuster tactics to watch for:
– Asking you to give a recorded statement (you’re not legally required to do this)
– Offering a quick, lowball settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries
– Suggesting you don’t need an attorney
– Implying the crash was partially your fault
– Requesting you sign a medical records release (this gives them access to your entire medical history, which they’ll use to argue your injuries are pre-existing)
Step 4: Call an Attorney Who Handles Trucking Cases
This is not a regular car accident. Fuel tanker fires involve federal regulations, hazmat protocols, multiple defendants, millions in insurance, evidence that can disappear in days, and injuries that may not manifest for weeks. You need an attorney who’s handled these cases before.
Ralph Manginello has been fighting for trucking accident victims for over 25 years. Our firm has taken on billion-dollar corporations, recovered multi-million dollar settlements, and held negligent carriers accountable in both state and federal court. We’re admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas.
We answer 24/7. We have live staff. We speak English and Spanish — nuestro abogado asociado Lupe Peña habla español con fluidez. And we work on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win.
Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
Your Legal Rights Under Texas Law
Statute of Limitations
Texas gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). For the I-45 tanker fire, that deadline is February 12, 2028. Miss it, and you lose your right to compensation entirely — no matter how strong your case is.
Two years sounds like a lot of time. It’s not. Complex trucking cases involving hazmat, multiple defendants, and federal regulations require months of investigation, evidence gathering, and expert consultation before a suit can be filed effectively. Starting early is the difference between a strong case and a scramble.
Modified Comparative Negligence
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001). You can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the accident. But — and this is critical — the trucking company’s insurance adjuster will try to shift blame onto you. “You were following too closely.” “You should have taken an alternate route.” “You weren’t paying attention.”
That’s their playbook. Every percentage point of fault they can assign to you reduces what they have to pay. Having an attorney who knows how to counter those arguments is the difference between a lowball offer and the compensation you actually deserve.
What Your Case Could Be Worth
Damages in a fuel tanker fire case can include:
Economic Damages:
– Emergency medical treatment, surgery, hospitalization
– Burn treatment and skin grafts
– Respiratory treatment for inhalation injuries
– Physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy
– Future medical expenses (burn victims often need years of follow-up care)
– Lost wages — time off work during recovery
– Reduced earning capacity — if your injuries permanently affect your ability to work
– Property damage — vehicle replacement, personal items destroyed
Non-Economic Damages:
– Physical pain and suffering
– Mental anguish and emotional distress
– PTSD, anxiety, and depression
– Disfigurement and scarring (especially from burn injuries)
– Loss of enjoyment of life
– Loss of consortium (impact on your spouse and family)
Punitive Damages:
If the carrier’s conduct was grossly negligent — ignoring maintenance requirements, allowing fatigued drivers to haul hazmat, falsifying safety records — the court can award punitive damages. These are designed to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct. In Texas, punitive damages are capped at the greater of $200,000 or two times economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages up to $750,000 (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.008).
For more on how settlements work, watch our detailed guide: The Ultimate Guide to Car Accident Settlements.
Why Attorney911 Handles These Cases Differently
Most personal injury firms will take a straightforward car accident case. But when you’re talking about a 9,000-gallon fuel tanker fire on I-45 involving federal hazmat regulations, FMCSA violations, multiple defendants, environmental contamination, and catastrophic injuries — most firms are out of their depth.
25+ Years of Results
Ralph Manginello has been practicing personal injury law since 1998. He founded Attorney911 in 2001. In that time, our firm has:
- Recovered multi-million dollar settlements for victims of 18-wheeler accidents, workplace injuries, and catastrophic crashes
- Handled BP explosion litigation against one of the world’s largest corporations
- Won a significant cash settlement for a maritime back injury case where our investigation proved the client should have been assisted with cargo lifting
- Secured a multi-million dollar settlement for a car accident victim whose injuries led to staph infections and amputation
- Achieved multi-million dollar results for a client with brain injuries from a logging accident
As one of our clients, Chad Harris, put it: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”
The Insurance Defense Advantage
Here’s what makes us different from every other firm on this list. Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, used to work for the other side. He spent years at a national insurance defense firm. He sat in strategy sessions where adjusters planned how to minimize payouts. He watched carriers hide evidence. He knows the internal valuation models they use to calculate what they think your case is “worth.”
Now he uses that insider knowledge for you. When a trucking company’s adjuster calls with a lowball offer, Lupe knows exactly what formula they used to arrive at that number — and exactly how to dismantle it.
As client Jamin Marroquin said: “Mr. Manginello guided me through the whole process with great expertise… tenacious, accessible, and determined throughout the 19 months.”
Federal Court Experience
Not every personal injury attorney can handle a case in federal court. Ralph Manginello is admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, and the Federal Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas. He holds active bar licenses in both Texas and New York. When a case involves federal regulations, interstate commerce, or corporate defendants in multiple jurisdictions, you need an attorney who can operate at that level.
No Fee Unless We Win
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. You pay nothing out of pocket. We get paid only when you get paid. That’s not a gimmick — it’s how we’ve operated since day one. If we don’t believe in your case, we won’t take it. If we take it, we fight until the end.
Frequently Asked Questions: I-45 Tanker Fire
Can I file a claim if I wasn’t directly hit by the tanker but was affected by the fire?
Yes. If you were rear-ended in the traffic backup, exposed to toxic smoke, forced into an evasive maneuver that caused injury, or suffered any other harm as a result of the tanker fire, you may have a claim. The liable parties are responsible for all foreseeable consequences of the incident.
What if I didn’t go to the doctor right away?
You should go as soon as possible. Delayed medical treatment can be used by the defense to argue that your injuries aren’t serious or weren’t caused by this incident. But it doesn’t automatically disqualify your claim. Call us and we’ll advise you on next steps.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
Two years from the date of the incident — February 12, 2028. But don’t wait. Evidence disappears, memories fade, and the trucking company is building their defense right now.
Will this cost me anything upfront?
No. We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win.
I think I inhaled smoke from the fire. Is that a real claim?
Yes. Toxic exposure from fuel fires can cause respiratory damage, and those claims are compensable. Get medical documentation of your symptoms as soon as possible.
The trucking company’s insurance adjuster already called me. What should I do?
Don’t give a recorded statement. Don’t accept any offer. Don’t sign anything. Call us first: 1-888-ATTY-911.
The Trucking Company Isn’t Waiting. Neither Should You.
Right now, the carrier behind this tanker fire has a team of attorneys and investigators working to limit their exposure. They’re preserving the evidence that helps them and — if history is any guide — letting the evidence that helps you disappear.
You need someone who fights just as hard. Someone who’s been doing this for 25 years. Someone who knows FMCSA regulations, hazmat law, and the insurance defense playbook inside and out.
That’s Attorney911.
📞 Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
🌐 Visit: Attorney911.com
🕐 24/7 Live Staff — English and Spanish
💰 No Fee Unless We Win
Hablamos Español. Llame ahora: 1-888-ATTY-911.
Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
1177 West Loop S, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027
Houston • Austin • Beaumont — Serving All of Texas
Ralph Manginello, Managing Partner | Lupe Peña, Associate Attorney