Town of Frankston Truck Accident Lawyers: Fighting for Victims of 18-Wheeler and Commercial Vehicle Crashes
The impact was catastrophic. On US Highway 175 just outside the Town of Frankston, 80,000 pounds of steel slammed into a family’s SUV. In an instant, a routine trip through Anderson County became a life-altering emergency. One moment, you were driving through the “Gate to the Piney Woods”; the next, you were trapped in twisted metal, wondering if you would ever walk again. This isn’t just a car wreck. When a semi-truck or a commercial logging vehicle is involved, the physics are deadly, the injuries are permanent, and the legal battle is just beginning.
If you have been hurt in a truck accident in the Town of Frankston, you need more than a general practice lawyer. You need an advocate who understands the specific trucking corridors of East Texas, from the intersection of SH-155 and US-175 to the rural FM roads where timber haulers and oilfield trucks operate 24/7. Managing Partner Ralph Manginello has spent over 25 years in the courtroom holding massive corporations accountable. Since 1998, our firm has stood as a shield for the injured, recovering over $50 million for families whose lives were shattered by negligence.
Our team brings a unique advantage to your case: associate attorney Lupe Peña used to work for the insurance companies. He knows their playbook. He knows how they train adjusters to minimize your pain and how they use independent contractor loopholes to protect their bottom line. We use that inside knowledge to fight for you. Whether you were hit by a Walmart truck from the Palestine distribution center or an Amazon van on a local Frankston street, we are ready to hit back.
Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We are available 24/7 because a legal emergency doesn’t wait for business hours. Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-ATTY-911.
Why Truck Accidents in the Town of Frankston are a State of Emergency
Town of Frankston sits at a critical junction for Texas freight. US-175 serves as a primary artery for 18-wheelers moving between Dallas and Jacksonville, while SH-155 carries heavy industrial traffic from Tyler toward Palestine. This convergence creates a high-density environment where passenger cars are forced to share narrow lanes with massive commercial fleets.
The weight disparity is terrifying. A standard car in the Town of Frankston weighs about 4,000 pounds. A fully loaded 18-wheeler or a logging truck hauling Anderson County timber weighs up to 80,000 pounds. That is a 20-to-1 ratio. In a collision at highway speeds on SH-155, the passenger vehicle absorbs almost all the kinetic energy. This is why we see “nuclear” injuries—traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord severing, and amputations—in nearly every major truck crash we handle.
Trucking companies know the stakes. That is why they have rapid-response teams in the Town of Frankston within hours of a wreck. While you are still in the trauma bay, their adjusters are already at the scene on US-175, photographing evidence and looking for ways to blame you. You deserve a team that moves just as fast. Ralph Manginello has secured multi-million dollar settlements, including over $5 million for a victim of a logging company accident. We know the industry, we know the local roads, and we know how to win.
The Attorney911 Advantage: Proven Success Against Corporate Giants
When you hire us, you are getting a firm with a documented history of going toe-to-toe with the world’s largest corporations. We don’t just sue the driver; we go after the “deep pockets” who put profit over safety. Our litigation history includes cases against:
- Walmart Transportation: Operating one of the largest fleets in the world, Walmart trucks are a constant presence on Town of Frankston highways, especially with their nearby regional distribution center in Palestine. We know how to pierce their self-insured defenses.
- Amazon Logistics: We handle Amazon accident cases where the company tries to hide behind the “independent contractor” shield of their Delivery Service Partners (DSPs).
- Major Oil & Gas Companies: Our firm was involved in the landmark BP Texas City Refinery litigation. We have the resources and the federal court admission to take on multinational energy giants when their oilfield trucks cause harm in East Texas.
As client Chad Harris said about our approach: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We treat your family’s recovery as our own mission. We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit involving severe injury, demonstrating that we have the financial power to sustain high-stakes litigation against any defendant.
Don’t let a corporate legal team push you around. Call 888-ATTY-911 and put Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of experience on your side. Hablamos Español. Consulta gratis.
49 CFR: Using Federal Regulations to Prove Negligence in Frankston
A truck accident case in the Town of Frankston isn’t just about traffic laws; it is about the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). These are the life-saving rules codified in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that every trucking company must follow. When they break these rules to save time or money, they are liable for the damage they cause.
We deep-dive into the following violations to build your case:
Part 395: Hours of Service (HOS) – The War on Fatigue
In the vast stretches of East Texas, driver fatigue is a silent killer. 49 CFR Part 395.3 limits property-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour window. If a driver hauling a load toward Town of Frankston has been behind the wheel for 16 hours because the dispatcher pressured them to meet a deadline, the company has broken federal law. We subpoena the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data to prove the driver was too tired to be on US-175.
Part 391: Driver Qualification
A trucking company in the Town of Frankston has a non-delegable duty to ensure their drivers are fit for the road. Under 49 CFR § 391.11, a driver must be at least 21, have a valid CDL, and pass a rigorous medical exam. If a company hired a driver with a history of DUIs or untreated sleep apnea, that is “negligent hiring.” We obtain the Driver Qualification File (DQF) to expose these shortcuts.
Part 393: Parts and Accessories for Safe Operation
Every 18-wheeler passing through the Town of Frankston must have functional brakes, tires, and lights. Under 49 CFR § 393.45, brake systems must be maintained to specific standards. On the rolling hills of SH-155, a brake failure is a death sentence. We look at the “Out-of-Service” history of the carrier to see if they have a pattern of deferred maintenance.
Part 382: Drug and Alcohol Testing
Truck drivers are held to a higher standard. We investigate whether the carrier complied with 49 CFR Part 382, which requires pre-employment, random, and post-accident drug testing. If a driver who hit you in the Town of Frankston was under the influence of stimulants to stay awake or alcohol to cope with the stress, we will find the proof.
Our firm knows the CFRs better than the trucking companies do. Learn more in our video guide: “The Definitive Guide To Commercial Truck Accidents” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEEeZf-k8Ao.
The Specific Dangers of East Texas Logging and Oilfield Trucks
Town of Frankston is uniquely positioned in an area heavy with timber harvesting and proximity to energy production. These two sectors bring specialized, highly dangerous vehicles to our local roads.
Logging Truck Accidents on FM Roads
East Texas is the heart of the state’s timber industry. Logging trucks on FM 837 or SH-155 are often overloaded and top-heavy. If the logs are not secured according to 49 CFR § 393.116, a single turn can result in an uncontained “log spill”—a scenario that is almost always fatal for trailing motorists. We have recovered multi-million dollar settlements in logging injury cases because we know how to prove that the logs were improperly bunched or the trailer was over its GVWR limit.
Oilfield Vehicle Wrecks
While Frankston is a quiet town, it sits near the Haynesville Shale and major East Texas oilfields. Heavy equipment haulers, water trucks, and “hot shots” frequently use local highways as shortcuts. These drivers often work “24/7” on-call shifts, leading to extreme fatigue. If an oilfield truck caused your wreck near Town of Frankston, we investigate both the trucking company and the oil company (operator) who hired them. In the oilfield, safety is often sacrificed for production speed, and we hold those operators accountable under the theory of negligent contractor selection.
Was your accident caused by a specialized commercial truck in Anderson County? Call (888) 288-9911 for an attorney who understands the industrial landscape of East Texas.
Comprehensive Coverage: Every Accident Type We Handle in Frankston
Truck accidents in the Town of Frankston follow specific mechanical patterns. We represent victims in every type of commercial collision:
- Jackknife Accidents: Common on wet East Texas roads when the trailer slides faster than the cab, folding like a pocketknife and sweeping across every lane of SH-155.
- Rollover Crashes: Top-heavy logging trucks or concrete mixers taking a curve on SH-60 too fast often tip over, crushing passenger cars beneath them.
- Underride Collisions: One of the most horrifying outcomes. When a car on US-175 strikes the rear or side of a trailer and slides underneath, the trailer base can shear off the top of the vehicle.
- Wide Turn “Squeeze Play”: Trucks making a right turn from a Town of Frankston intersection often swing left first to clear the curb, trapping unsuspecting cars in the “squeeze.”
- Blind Spot (No-Zone) Accidents: Truckers have massive blind spots. If they merge without seeing you, they can pit-maneuver your car into a high-speed spin.
- Brake Failure: An 80,000-pound truck on a downgrade with faulty brakes is a missile. We prove the company ignored maintenance to keep the truck moving.
- Tire Blowouts: Retreaded tires and poor inflation lead to “road gators” and loss of control. Watch our video: “Truck Tire Blowouts and When You Need a Lawyer” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCTumr1looc.
Who is Really Responsible? we Find Every Liable Party
In a car accident, you usually sue the other driver. In a Town of Frankston trucking accident, the driver is often just the tip of the iceberg. To maximize your settlement, we investigate the following:
- The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): Liable for their driver’s actions and their own failure to maintain safety standards.
- The Cargo Owner/Loader: If an imbalanced load caused a rollover or a spill in the Town of Frankston, the company that loaded the truck is at fault.
- The Maintenance Provider: Many fleets outsource repairs. If a third-party mechanic in East Texas failed to fix a faulty steering link, they are on the hook.
- The Freight Broker: Brokers who hire “bottom-of-the-barrel” carriers with poor safety scores just to save a few dollars can be held liable for negligent selection.
- The Truck Manufacturer: If an airbag failed or a brake component was defective, we pursue a product liability claim.
- The Corporate Parent: Branded companies like Amazon directly control their delivery partners’ routes and speed. This control makes them liable when things go wrong.
Most lawyers stop at the driver. We keep digging until we find the millions in insurance required to pay for your lifetime of care. Call 888-ATTY-911.
The 48-Hour Evidence Preservation Protocol: Why Speed is Critical
In the Town of Frankston, evidence in a truck wreck disappears at lightning speed. Within 48 hours, the trucking company will move the vehicle. Within 30 days, the “Black Box” (ECM) data can be overwritten or deleted. Once that data is gone, proving that the trucker was speeding or failing to brake becomes ten times harder.
When you hire Attorney911, we send a formal Spoliation Letter immediately. This legal notice forbids the company from:
- Repairing or destroying the truck
- Deleting ELD or GPS records
- Clearing the driver’s phone data (which proves distraction)
- Destroying alcohol or drug test results
Trucking companies count on you being too hurt or too overwhelmed to take action in the first few days. They use that time to hide the truth. Since 1998, Ralph Manginello has stopped these companies in their tracks. We move faster than their insurance adjusters.
Evidence is disappearing right now. Protect your case by calling 1-888-ATTY-911. We are your first responders to a legal emergency.
Catastrophic Injuries: We Understand the True Cost of Your Loss
Whether you were hit by an 18-wheeler, a dump truck, or a delivery van in the Town of Frankston, the injuries are never “minor.” Our firm has recovered settlements ranging from $1.5 million for brain injuries to $9.5 million for wrongful death. We understand that these injuries destroy more than your health—they destroy your ability to provide for your family.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
The violent jar of a truck impact causes the brain to strike the skull. Many victims in the Town of Frankston don’t realize they have a TBI because they never “lost consciousness.” A small headache or personality change can be the sign of permanent frontal lobe damage. See our video: “The Ultimate Guide to Brain Injury Lawsuits” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBYAHi5aiEQ.
Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis
A truck collision on SH-155 can exert thousands of pounds of force on the vertebrae. Whether it is a herniated disc requiring surgery ($346K-$1.2M range) or a catastrophic spinal cord severing ($4.7M-$25M range), these injuries require a lifetime of expensive care. We ensure your settlement includes the cost of home modifications, wheelchairs, and 24/7 nursing if needed.
Amputations and Crush Injuries
Modern safety features can only protect you so much when a multi-ton truck invades your passenger cabin. Many victims face traumatic amputations or “degloving” injuries. We have successfully secured $3.8+ million settlements for clients facing life with a lost limb.
The Invisible Injury: PTSD
The trauma of being hit by a truck doesn’t stop when the physical wounds heal. Many our clients in Town of Frankston suffer from “vehophobia” or driving anxiety. If you have nightmares or can’t bear to get back on Highway 175, that is a legitimate injury. Learn more: “Can I Get a PTSD Payout After a Car Accident?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9803X_jnR4A.
Recovery and Damages: What Your Case is Truly Worth in Anderson County
Insurance companies will try to tell you that your case is just worth “medical bills plus a little pain and suffering.” They are lying. Under Texas law, Town of Frankston residents are entitled to full compensation for the total impact of the wreck. This includes:
- Economic Damages: Past and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity (if you can never return to your career in East Texas), and property damage.
- Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, and loss of consortium (the impact on your relationship with your spouse).
- Punitive Damages: In cases of egregious negligence, such as a company knowingly keeping a drug-addicted driver on the road, we fight to punish the corporation to prevent this from happening to another family in the Town of Frankston.
As client Donald Wilcox said: “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.” We don’t take the easy path; we take the path that leads to the maximum possible recovery for you.
Frequently Asked Questions for Frankston Victims
How long do I have to file a claim in the Town of Frankston?
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, in trucking cases, you shouldn’t wait more than two days. Evidence like dashcam footage and Black Box data is often gone within weeks.
Wait, what if I don’t have health insurance?
This is a major concern for many in Town of Frankston. We help our clients get medical care on a “Letter of Protection.” This means vetted, high-quality doctors will treat you now, and they wait to get paid until your settlement comes in. Your health cannot wait for the insurance company to decide to “be nice.”
Amazon says their driver was a contractor. Can I still sue Amazon?
YES. We have litigated against Amazon and FedEx Ground on exactly this issue. If Amazon controls the delivery routes and monitors the driver in the Town of Frankston, they are the “de facto” employer. We know how to pierce that corporate shield.
Is it okay that I talked to the insurance adjuster?
It isn’t ideal, but we can fix it. Insurance adjusters are trained to lead you into saying things like “I feel okay today,” which they then use to deny your TBI claim later. Stop talking to them immediately. Let a former insurance defense insider like Lupe Peña handle them instead.
How much does this cost?
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay zero upfront costs. We advance all the money for accident reconstruction experts, medical testimony, and court filings. We only get paid if we win. As client Chad Harris noted, you aren’t just a client—you are family. We take all the financial risk so you can focus on healing.
Every Commercial Vehicle: We Represent All Victims in Frankston
Our expertise extends beyond the 18-wheeler. Every large commercial vehicle in the Town of Frankston is a potential threat:
- Dump Trucks and Construction Vehicles: Often operated by small companies with minimal safety training. If a gravel truck from a local site hit you, we investigate the construction general contractor.
- Garbage Trucks: Massive blind spots and frequent stops make these dangerous in Town of Frankston neighborhoods. Backing accidents are a major hazard.
- Rental/U-Haul Trucks: Driven by untrained “civilians” who don’t understand braking distances. If the rental company gave a 26-foot truck to an unqualified driver, they are liable for “negligent entrustment.”
- Transit and Charter Buses: These involve multiple insurance policies and often complex government liability if it’s a municipal bus.
- Vulnerable Road Users: If you were hit by a truck while walking, cycling, or riding a motorcycle in Town of Frankston, you have zero protection. These cases frequently result in multi-million dollar wrongful death or catastrophic injury settlements.
Town of Frankston Trucking Accident FAQ: Local Expertise for East Texas
What makes a Frankston truck accident different from a car wreck?
The complexity and the money. A car accident usually involves a $30,000 policy. A truck hitting you on SH-155 likely involves a $1 million to $5 million policy. But the companies fighting you are also much bigger. You are going up against “solvent defendants” like Walmart or Halliburton. They have more to lose, so they fight harder.
What if the accident happened on a private oilfield lease road?
Don’t be fooled by the company saying “it happened on private property so the rules don’t apply.” OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910/1926) and general negligence laws still protect you. Whether it was a crew van rollover or a water truck accident, we know how to hold the lease operator accountable.
Can I recover money if I was partially at fault?
Texas is a “modified comparative negligence” state. As long as you were not more than 50% at fault for the accident in the Town of Frankston, you can still recover. Your settlement is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. Don’t take the officer’s report as the final word—we do our own investigation to prove the truck was the primary danger.
Should I sign the medical authorization the insurance company sent me?
NO. They use broad authorizations to dig into your medical history from 20 years ago, looking for any “pre-existing” injury they can blame for your current pain. We provide them with the records they are legally entitled to and nothing more.
How do I get the police report for my Frankston accident?
The Town of Frankston police or the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office will file the report. We handle obtaining the report (CR-3) through the TxDOT Crash Records Information System (CRIS) as part of our immediate investigation.
Put a Proven Fighter in Your Corner Today
When a 40-ton truck destroys your car, your health, and your peace of mind, you don’t need a lawyer who wants to “settle fast.” You need a firm that is ready to go to war. Ralph Manginello has spent over two decades making trucking companies pay for the harm they cause in the Town of Frankston and throughout Texas.
From our admission to federal court in the Southern District of Texas to our associate attorney’s former insurance defense background, every part of our firm is designed to maximize your recovery. We have seen what these accidents do to families. We have seen the medical bills that exceed $1 million and the grief that follows a wrongful death. We don’t just see a case number; we see a family that needs a path forward.
As client Angel Walle said, “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.” We are efficient, we are aggressive, and we are proven. Do not wait for the evidence on Highway 175 to disappear. Do not let the insurance company trick you into a lowball offer. Take the first step toward justice.
Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911 right now. Our Town of Frankston truck accident attorneys offer free consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win. powerful. Proven. Relentless. Hablamos Español.
Attorney Advertising. The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC. 1177 West Loop S, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027. Multi-million dollar results and past successes do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact us for a specific evaluation of your Town of Frankston case.