Richardson Truck Accident & Commercial Vehicle Injury Guide
The impact of an 80,000-pound steel machine slamming into your passenger car on US-75 or the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) isn’t just a traffic accident. It’s a life-altering event. In an instant, your plans for the future—your career in the Richardson Telecom Corridor, your family life in Canyon Creek, and your physical independence—are traded for hospital beds, mounting debt, and a relentless battle with corporate insurance adjusters.
Richardson sits at one of the most volatile freight crossroads in North Texas. With the “High Five” interchange just to the south and the constant flow of 18-wheelers, Amazon delivery vans, and heavy dump trucks serving Collin County’s explosive growth, the risk of a catastrophic collision is a daily reality. When these massive vehicles fail to stop, jackknife across lanes of traffic, or merge into blind spots, the smaller vehicle always loses.
At Attorney911, we believe you shouldn’t have to fight a multi-billion dollar trucking company alone while you’re still recovering from a traumatic brain injury or spinal damage. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has spent over 25 years in the trenches of personal injury litigation. Since 1998, he has gone toe-to-toe with the world’s largest corporations—including BP, Walmart, and Amazon—to secure the justice his clients deserve. We don’t just “handle” cases; we build them for trial.
Our team offers a unique advantage for Richardson victims: Associate Attorney Lupe Peña. Before joining us to fight for the injured, Lupe worked for a national insurance defense firm. He knows the playbook they use to minimize your suffering and delay your check. We use that insider knowledge to stay three steps ahead of the adjusters. If you’ve been hurt in Richardson, call 1-888-ATTY-911 right now. We’re available 24/7 because a legal emergency doesn’t wait for business hours.
Why Richardson Truck Accidents Are Different
A car-to-car collision in a Richardson neighborhood is straightforward. An 18-wheeler wreck on Central Expressway is a different beast entirely. The forces involved are exponentially higher, the regulations are federal, and the defendants have deeper pockets and more aggressive lawyers.
The Mass and Momentum Conflict
An average sedan weighs about 4,000 pounds. A fully loaded commercial truck can tip the scales at 80,000 pounds. When that truck is traveling at 65 mph on the PGBT, it carries enough kinetic energy to flatten a subcompact car. This weight disparity is why 76% of people killed in two-vehicle truck crashes are occupants of the smaller passenger vehicle. In Richardson, where traffic fluctuates between high-speed highway stretches and congested surface streets like Campbell Road or Belt Line, the risk of high-energy impact is constant.
Long Stopping Distances
Physics doesn’t care about a trucker’s delivery schedule. A loaded semi-truck needs approximately 525 feet to come to a complete stop from highway speeds—that’s nearly two football fields. When traffic hits a sudden bottleneck near the Richardson CityLine development, a truck driver who is distracted, fatigued, or following too closely has no way to avoid a rear-end collision.
The Rapid-Response Defense
The moment a serious accident occurs in Richardson, the trucking company kicks its own plan into gear. They often send investigators and adjusters to the scene before the Richardson Police Department has even finished the accident report. Their goal is simple: control the narrative, influence witnesses, and find any reason to blame you. You need a team that moves just as fast. We send formal spoliation letters within 24 to 48 hours to ensure that black box data and driver logs don’t “disappear.”
Call us today at (888) 288-9911 for a free evaluation of your case. You pay us nothing unless we recover money for you.
Understanding Common Richardson Truck Accident Types
Not every truck accident looks the same. The mechanics of the crash determine the severity of the injuries and the specific federal regulations that were likely violated. We investigate the physics of every collision to prove exactly how the driver or the company failed.
Amazon and Delivery Van Accidents in Richardson
Richardson is heart of the “last-mile” delivery surge. Branded blue Amazon vans, FedEx Ground trucks, and UPS vehicles are on every residential street in Buckingham and Yale Park. These drivers are under extreme pressure to meet delivery quotas, leading them to skip rest breaks, park illegally, and make dangerous U-turns.
Amazon uses a “Delivery Service Partner” (DSP) model to try and shield themselves from liability, claiming the drivers are independent contractors. We know how to pierce that shield. If an Amazon van hit you on Arapaho Road, we look at the level of control Amazon exerted over that driver—through their monitoring apps, route algorithms, and Netradyne AI cameras—to hold the parent company accountable.
Jackknife Accidents on US-75
A jackknife happens when a truck’s drive wheels lock up, causing the trailer to swing out perpendicular to the cab. On a high-traffic corridor like US-75, a jackknifed trailer can sweep across three or four lanes of traffic, trapping everyone in its path. These are often caused by improper braking on wet roads or unbalanced cargo. Under 49 CFR § 393.48, trucking companies must ensure their braking systems are fully functional. A jackknife is often a sign of mechanical failure or driver panic—both of which the company is responsible for.
Underride Collisions
Underride crashes are among the most lethal accidents we see in North Texas. This occurs when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the back or side of a trailer because the trailer sits higher than the car’s bumper. While federal law (49 CFR § 393.86) requires rear underride guards, many are poorly maintained or fail on impact. Side underride guards are not yet federally mandated, but an experienced Richardson attorney can still argue that the absence of this available safety technology constitutes negligence when a car is crushed beneath a trailer during a turn.
Wide Turn “Squeeze” Play
Trucks need significant space to navigate Richardson’s intersections. In a “squeeze play,” a truck swings left to make a sharp right turn, creating a gap that a passenger car might try to enter. When the truck completes the turn, the car is crushed between the trailer and the curb. We investigate whether the driver failed to signal or failed to check their blind spot mirrors as required by 49 CFR § 393.80.
Richardson Construction and Dump Truck Accidents
With constant infrastructure projects on the PGBT and new commercial developments along the Telecom Corridor, dump trucks and concrete mixers are everywhere. These vehicles often operate over their legal weight limits to maximize profit, making them harder to stop and more prone to rollovers. If a gravel truck or a cement mixer caused your injuries, we look at the construction company, the general contractor, and the driver to see who cut corners on safety.
If you’ve been hit by any commercial vehicle—from an 18-wheeler to a U-Haul rental truck—contact us at 1-888-ATTY-911. 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.”
Proving Negligence: The FMCSA Regulations
The trucking industry is governed by a strict set of federal laws known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). When a truck crash happens in Richardson, our first step is to determine which of these laws the company broke. These are not mere “suggestions”—they are requirements designed to keep the public safe.
49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service (The Fatigue Factor)
Driver fatigue is a silent killer on Texas highways. Federal law limits property-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving time after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They also cannot drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty and must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
Despite these rules, trucking companies often pressure drivers to “push through” to hit delivery windows at Richardson distribution hubs. We subpoena Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data to see if the driver was faking their rest periods. A fatigued driver has the same reaction time as someone who is legally intoxicated.
49 CFR Part 391: Driver Qualification
Trucking companies have a duty to ensure the people they put behind the wheel are fit to be there. This includes:
- Verifying a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
- Conducting an annual review of the driver’s motor vehicle record (MVR).
- Maintaining a current medical examiner’s certificate.
- Performing thorough background checks and drug testing.
If a company hired a driver with a history of DUIs or multiple speeding tickets to drive through Richardson, they can be held liable for negligent hiring. Our firm has recovered multi-million dollar settlements by proving that companies ignored red flags in a driver’s file.
49 CFR Part 396: Inspection and Maintenance
A 40-ton truck is only as safe as its maintenance schedule. Trucking companies must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all vehicles under their control. Pre-trip and post-trip inspections (DVIRs) are mandatory.
Brake failure is a factor in nearly 30% of all large truck crashes. If a truck slammed into you on Belt Line Road because its brakes were out of adjustment or its tires were worn down to the wires (violating 49 CFR § 393.75), we will find the records to prove the company chose profit over maintenance.
Holding All Liable Parties Accountable
One of the biggest mistakes an unrepresented victim makes is only looking at the truck driver. In Richardson trucking cases, the driver is rarely the only one responsible. To maximize your recovery, we cast a wide net to find every insurance policy available.
- The Trucking Company (Carrier): They are responsible for their employees’ actions and their own systemic failures.
- The Corporate Parent (Amazon/Walmart/Sysco): We look for “ostensible agency” or direct control to pull in the massive resources of Fortune 500 defendants.
- Freight Brokers: Companies that arrange the shipment might be liable for “negligent selection” if they hired a carrier with a “conditional” or “unsatisfactory” safety rating.
- Cargo Loaders: If a shift in the trailer caused a rollover near the High Five, the company that improperly balanced the load is on the hook.
- Vehicle Manufacturers: If a tire blowout was caused by a manufacturing defect or the brakes failed due to a design flaw, a product liability claim may be necessary.
- Maintenance Contractors: Many fleets outsource their repairs. If a third-party shop in Richardson did a subpar job on the steering or brakes, they share the blame.
- Government Entities: If a poorly designed highway exit or a massive un-marked pothole on a Richardson road contributed to the crash, we navigate the complex rules of suing the city or state.
By identifying multiple liable parties, we can “stack” insurance policies. While a small carrier might only have the federal minimum of $750,000, adding the freight broker and the corporate shipper can open up millions in additional coverage. Our associate attorney Lupe Peña knows exactly how these layers are structured—because he used to defend them. Now, he uses that knowledge for you.
“They make you feel like family,” said our client Glenda Walker. “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” Let us do the same for you in Richardson. Call (888) 288-9911 today.
Preservation of Evidence: 48 Hours to Act
The Richardson trucking accident you just survived has already created a massive trail of digital evidence. But that evidence is fragile. The trucking company owns the data, and they have every incentive to let it be “overwritten.”
The Black Box (ECM)
Modern trucks contain an Engine Control Module. It records speed, RPMs, brake usage, and throttle position in the seconds leading up to a crash. Most ECMs only save data if a “critical event” occurs, and that data can be overwritten by the next trip the truck takes. We move immediately to secure the truck for an independent inspection.
Dashcam and In-Cab Video
Cameras like Netradyne (used by Amazon) or DriveCam (used by Walmart) record both the road and the driver. This video can prove the driver was on their phone, nodding off, or looking at a tablet when they hit you. However, some companies only retain this footage for 72 hours unless a formal preservation demand is made.
The Driver’s Qualification File
We look for the “why” behind the accident. Does the driver have a history of untreated sleep apnea? Did they fail a drug test six months ago that was covered up? Was their CDL suspended? We subpoena the full file to see what the company knew about their driver before they sent them through Richardson.
If you don’t have an attorney who understands the urgency of these timelines, you are essentially letting the defendant hold all the cards. We send spoliation letters the same day we are hired. Hablamos Español. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.
Catastrophic Injuries and Life Impact
A collision with a commercial vehicle rarely results in minor bruises. The victims we represent in Richardson are often facing a “new normal” that is unrecognizable. We have secured multi-million dollar results for clients dealing with:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Even a “mild” concussion can have permanent effects on your cognitive function, memory, and personality. In high-energy truck crashes, the brain can strike the inside of the skull with massive force, causing axonal shearing. Our settlements for TBI victims often range from $1.5M to $9.8M+ because we account for the cost of a lifetime of specialized care and lost earning capacity.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
A fractured vertebra in your neck or back can mean life in a wheelchair. The lifetime medical costs for a quadriplegic can exceed $5 million just for direct care, not including the loss of a career. We work with life care planners to ensure your settlement covers home modifications, specialized vehicles, and 24/7 nursing care if needed. Our firm has seen spinal injury settlements between $4.7M and $25.8M+.
Traumatic Amputations
Crush injuries during a Richardson truck accident often lead to the loss of a limb. Beyond the initial trauma, these victims face prosthetic replacements every few years and the intense psychological toll of disfigurement. We have recovered $1.9M to $8.6M for amputation victims to ensure they have access to the best prosthetic technology available.
Internal Organ Damage and Complex Fractures
The force of a seatbelt during a high-speed stop can rupture a spleen or lacerate a liver. Shattered femurs or pelvic fractures often require multiple surgeries and hardware installation. We don’t just look at the bills you have now; we look at the arthritis and future surgeries you’ll face ten years from now.
Wrongful Death in Richardson
If you lost a loved one on US-75 or any Richardson road, there is no amount of money that can replace them. However, a wrongful death claim can provide the financial security your family needs to survive without their income and companionship. We have recovered $1.9M to $9.5M for grieving families, helping them hold the negligent parties accountable for their loss.
Understanding Your Compensation
In Texas, you are entitled to several types of damages. Our job is to ensure the insurance company doesn’t leave anything off the table.
Economic Damages
These are the objective, out-of-pocket costs. They include:
- Past and future medical bills (surgery, therapy, meds).
- Lost wages from time missed at work.
- Loss of earning capacity (if you can no longer work in your field).
- Property damage to your vehicle.
Non-Economic Damages
These are more difficult to calculate but often the most important. They include:
- Physical pain and emotional suffering.
- Mental anguish and PTSD.
- Loss of enjoyment of life (no longer being able to enjoy hobbies or play with your kids).
- Disfigurement and physical impairment.
Punitive Damages
In cases of “gross negligence”—such as a trucking company knowingly putting a meth-impaired driver on the road or a driver with no brakes—a Richardson jury may award punitive damages. These are meant to punish the company and prevent them from doing it again.
“You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client,” said our client Chad Harris. “You are FAMILY to them.” We fight for the maximum because your future depends on it. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
Richardson Truck Accident FAQ
How long do I have to file a claim in Richardson?
Under Texas law, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, if the truck was owned by a government entity (like a Richardson city vehicle or a school bus), you must file a formal notice of claim much sooner—often within months. Never wait. Evidence begins disappearing within 30 days.
Can I still recover money if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Texas follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule (51% bar). As long as you were not more than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages. Your total award will simply be reduced by your percentage of fault. If a jury awards $1M but finds you 20% liable for speeding, you receive $800,000. We are experts at minimizing the “victim-blaming” tactics insurance companies use.
What is the minimum insurance for an 18-wheeler?
For general freight crossing state lines, the FMCSA minimum is $750,000. For oil and gas equipment, it’s $1,000,000, and for hazardous materials, it’s $5,000,000. Most large carriers active in Richardson carry much larger policies, ranging from $5M to $50M+ in layered coverage.
How long does a trucking case take?
Simple cases with clear liability might settle in 6 to 12 months. However, complex litigation involving multiple defendants or catastrophic injuries can take 18 to 36 months. We work efficiently but we never settle early for a lowball offer. As client Angel Walle said, “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”
What if the driver was an independent contractor for Amazon or FedEx?
This is a standard defense. We fight it by using the “Right-to-Control” test. If the parent company controlled the driver’s route, timing, and behavior through GPS and AI, we argue they are an employee in everything but name. We have successfully litigated against these specific contractor structures.
Do I have to pay you if we lose?
No. We work on a strictly contingency fee basis. If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing. We take all the financial risk of building the case.
What is “black box” data and how do you get it?
The Engine Control Module records your speed, RPMs, and braking. We get it by sending an immediate “litigation hold” or spoliation letter and then using a court order if the company refuses access. This data is the “silent witness” that often wins the case.
Should I accept the first settlement offer?
No. The first offer is almost always a “nuisance value” offer. It is designed to make you go away for 10 cents on the dollar before you realize your back injury requires surgery. Never sign a release without an attorney’s review.
The Manginello Advantage: Why Attorney911?
You have dozens of choices for an injury lawyer in North Texas. Why choose us for your Richardson truck accident case?
- 25+ Years of Front-Line Experience: Ralph Manginello isn’t just a name on a billboard. He is a veteran trial lawyer admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He’s seen every trick the trucking industry has to offer.
- The Insurance Insider Advantage: Having Lupe Peña on our team is like having the opponent’s playbook. We know how they value claims, how they hide insurance layers, and what evidence actually makes them open their checkbooks.
- A History of Fearless Litigation: We aren’t a “settlement mill.” We’ve litigated against Fortune 500 giants like ExxonMobil, BP, Walmart, and Coca-Cola. They know that if they don’t play fair, we will take them to a jury.
- Boutique Service, Big Results: We don’t take thousands of cases. We take the serious ones and give them the attention they deserve. As client Chad Harris said, “You are family to them.”
- Proven Results: We have recovered over $50 million for Texas families. From $5M brain injury settlements to $3.8M amputation recoveries, our track record speaks for itself.
Contact Attorney911 Now: Your Richardson 18-Wheeler Experts
If you are reading this from a hospital bed or your home in Richardson, the clock is already ticking. The trucking company’s lawyers have already started their defense. Their adjusters are already looking for ways to use your words against you. Stop the cycle now.
Your recovery—physical, emotional, and financial—starts with a single call. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to victims throughout Richardson, Plano, Garland, and all of Collin County. We can meet you at your home, at the hospital, or virtually.
Don’t let a negligent trucking company dictate the rest of your life. Fight back with a team that has the power, the experience, and the insider knowledge to win.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) or email ralph@atty911.com right now.
Attorney911: The Firm Insurers Fear. Powerful & Proven.
Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña hoy.
Additional Breakdown of Richardson Commercial Trucking Hazards
The US-75 and PGBT Interchange: A Danger Zone
The interchange of US-75 (the Central Expressway) and the President George Bush Turnpike is one of the most complex and high-volume interchanges in the Metroplex. For the drivers of heavy 18-wheelers, these long, sweeping flyover ramps pose high rollover risks, especially when hauling liquid loads or top-heavy containers. If a driver takes these ramps too fast or if their brakes fail during a descent, the results are catastrophic for everyone on the road below.
Truck Accidents in the Telecom Corridor
Richardson’s business districts see a high concentration of commercial box trucks and delivery vans. Unlike the open highway, these urban environments require constant alertness. Blind spot accidents and wide-turn collisions are common around the busy corridors of Collins Blvd and Galatyn Parkway. We hold companies like UPS and local freight operators accountable when they fail to train their drivers for the specific challenges of city driving.
Negotiating with Self-Insured Giants
If you were hit by a Walmart truck, you aren’t dealing with a traditional insurance company. Walmart is “self-insured,” meaning they pay the first several million dollars of a claim out of their own corporate treasury. This makes them much more aggressive in fighting your claim. They use their own internal adjusters who are specifically trained to discourage you. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has gone head-to-head with Walmart many times. He knows how to cut through their corporate bureaucracy to get you the money you deserve.
The Reality of “Independent Contractor” Shields
Amazon and FedEx Ground make millions of deliveries in Richardson every year while trying to avoid responsibility for the accidents their drivers cause. They use layers of LLCs and contractor agreements to distance themselves from the people driving their branded trucks. We utilize the “right to control” test to show that Amazon—not the small DSP—is the true master of the delivery route. If they control the timing, the GPS, and the monitoring, they are the employer. We have the resources to litigate these complex agency issues and reach the deeper insurance pockets of the parent corporation.
For every case, our methodology is the same:
- Immediate Investigation: Secure the ECM data and the dashcam footage before they are overwritten.
- Medical Advocacy: Ensure you are seeing the right specialists—neurologists for TBIs, orthopedic surgeons for spinal injuries—to document your damage fully.
- Liability Saturation: We don’t just sue the driver. We look at the carrier, the broker, the loader, and the corporate brand owner.
- Expert Stacking: We use accident reconstructionists, vocational experts, and life care planners to build a rock-solid case for trial.
“They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years,” said client Angel Walle. If you want results, you need Attorney911.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
