Yorktown Truck Accident Attorney

The impact was catastrophic. On US-183 heading into the City of Yorktown, 80,000 pounds of steel slammed into a family’s SUV. In an instant, a quiet drive through DeWitt County turned into a life-altering disaster. The truck driver, pushing to meet a deadline for an oilfield delivery in the Eagle Ford Shale, had been behind the wheel for 14 hours straight. That is not just a tragedy—it is a violation of federal law.

If you have been hurt in a commercial vehicle crash, you are not just dealing with a “car wreck.” You are facing a legal emergency. At Attorney911, we treat our clients like family, not just another case number. As our client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” When an 80,000-pound truck changes your life in the City of Yorktown, you need a fighter who understands the local roads and the massive corporations that operate on them.

With over 25 years of experience, our managing partner Ralph Manginello has spent his career holding trucking companies accountable for the devastation they cause. Since 1998, we have gone head-to-head with some of the largest corporations in the world, including BP and major oilfield operators. We bring federal court experience to every case we handle in the City of Yorktown, ensuring that no matter how big the defendant is, they cannot hide from justice.

The insurance company for the trucking firm is already working. They have rapid-response investigators on the ground in DeWitt County before the ambulance even leaves the scene. Their only goal is to pay you as little as possible. Our goal is to maximize your recovery. We include a former insurance defense attorney, Lupe Peña, on our team. He used to defend insurance companies; he knows their playbook, and now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you.

If you’ve been injured on TX-72, US-183, or any road in the City of Yorktown, call 1-888-ATTY-911 right now. We are available 24/7 to begin your investigation.

Why Yorktown Truck Accidents Are Different

Trucking in the City of Yorktown is unique because we sit at the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale. Our local roads were built for farm-to-market traffic, not for the constant convoy of 80,000-pound water trucks, sand haulers, and crude oil tankers. This massive weight disparity means that when a collision happens in the City of Yorktown, the physics are never in your favor.

A fully loaded semi-truck is 20 to 25 times heavier than the average car. When that truck is traveling at highway speeds on US-183, it requires the length of nearly two football fields to come to a stop. When a driver is fatigued, distracted, or operating a poorly maintained vehicle, they are essentially piloting a 40-ton missile through the City of Yorktown.

Our firm understands these dynamics. We’ve recovered multi-million dollar settlements for families devastated by these crashes, including traumatic brain injury settlements ranging from $1.5 million to over $9.8 million. We know that in the City of Yorktown, a “minor” truck accident doesn’t exist.

Call Attorney911 at 888-ATTY-911. We offer free consultations, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Federal Trucking Regulations: Proving Negligence in the City of Yorktown

Every commercial truck operating in the City of Yorktown must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. These laws are codified in 49 CFR Parts 300-399. When a trucking company or driver breaks these rules, they are negligent. Our job is to prove it.

Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395)

Driver fatigue is the leading cause of truck accidents in the City of Yorktown oilfield. Under 49 CFR § 395.3, property-carrying drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.

In the City of Yorktown, we frequently see “fudged” logs where drivers are pressured by companies like EOG Resources or ConocoPhillips contractors to keep moving sand or water regardless of how tired they are. We use Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data to prove these violations.

Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391)

Not everyone is fit to drive an 18-wheeler. 49 CFR § 391.11 requires drivers to be at least 21 years old, speak English well enough to communicate, and be physically qualified. If a company hired a driver with a history of DUIs or medical issues that caused a crash in the City of Yorktown, they are liable for negligent hiring.

Parts and Accessories (49 CFR Part 393)

Commercial vehicles in the City of Yorktown must be properly equipped. This includes functioning brakes (Part 393.40) and proper lighting (Part 393.11). More importantly for our area, 49 CFR § 393.100 dictates strict cargo securement rules. An improperly secured load of pipe or equipment on US-183 can become a lethal projectile.

Inspection and Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396)

Trucking companies must systematically inspect and maintain their vehicles. A driver in the City of Yorktown is required to perform a pre-trip inspection under 49 CFR § 396.13. If a tire blowout or brake failure caused your accident because the company deferred maintenance to save money, we will find those records.

The trucking company has already consulted their lawyers. You need your own fighter. Call (888) 288-9911 today.

Oilfield Vehicle Accidents in the City of Yorktown and the Eagle Ford Shale

The City of Yorktown is a crossroads for the oil and gas industry. This brings a specific type of danger to our community that other parts of Texas don’t see. Oilfield truck accidents aren’t just traffic events; they are industrial disasters.

Frac Sand and Produced Water Haulers

During a single frac job near the City of Yorktown, hundreds of pneumatic sand trailers and water tankers make round-trip deliveries twenty-four hours a day. These drivers are often paid per load, which creates a deadly incentive to speed on narrow two-lane roads like TX-72. These trucks have a high center of gravity, making them prone to rollovers on the soft shoulders of DeWitt County roads.

Crude Oil Tankers

Crude tankers are a constant presence in the City of Yorktown. Carrying hazardous materials means these trucks must carry a minimum of $5 million in liability insurance under 49 CFR § 387.9. A rollover of a crude tanker on US-183 doesn’t just cause impact injuries; it creates a hazmat fire and explosion risk for everyone nearby.

Crew Transport and Hot Shots

We also see significant accidents involving crew transport vans and “hot shot” flatbeds. These vehicles often travel in the pre-dawn hours between City of Yorktown hotels and remote wellsites. Fatigued drivers and 15-passenger vans are a dangerous combination, often resulting in multi-victim catastrophic crashes.

When an oilfield truck hits you, there is a dual jurisdiction. FMCSA rules apply on the road, but OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910) may also apply if the accident happened near a wellsite or loading area. Attorney Ralph Manginello understands both legal frameworks and how to use them to hold the oil company accountable.

Accidente de camión en la City of Yorktown? Hablamos su idioma. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-ATTY-911.

Corporate Fleet Accidents: Amazon, Walmart, and Beyond

Not every truck in the City of Yorktown is an oilfield vehicle. We are also seeing a massive increase in accidents involving corporate delivery fleets.

• Walmart Truck Accidents: Walmart operates one of the largest private fleets in the world. Because they are a direct employer, they are liable for their drivers’ actions. Walmart is a “solvent defendant” with deep pockets, but they also self-insure, meaning they use their own money to fight claims aggressively.
• Amazon Delivery Van Accidents: Amazon tries to shield itself from liability by using “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs). They will tell you the driver who hit you in the City of Yorktown doesn’t work for Amazon. We know how to pierce that shield. Amazon controls the routes, the packages, and even monitors the drivers with in-cab Netradyne cameras. If they control the driver, they are responsible for the crash.
• FedEx and UPS: Whether it is a FedEx Ground contractor or a unionized UPS driver, these companies are under intense time pressure. This pressure leads to distracted driving and speeding on the streets of the City of Yorktown.

Attorney911 founder Ralph Manginello has over 25 years of experience litigating against Fortune 500 giants. We don’t care how big their legal team is. We have made them pay millions of times over.

Common Truck Accident Types in the City of Yorktown

The mechanics of an 18-wheeler crash are vastly different from a passenger car accident. We investigate the physics of the collision to prove what the driver did wrong.

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife happens when the trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab. On the wet or slick roads of the City of Yorktown, a sudden brake application can trigger this. A jackknifing truck can sweep across all lanes of US-183, trapping dozens of cars in a pileup. This is often a violation of 49 CFR § 393.48 regarding brake system malfunctions.

Underride Collisions

This is the most lethal accident type we see in DeWitt County. Because of the height disparity, a smaller car can slide underneath the rear or side of a trailer, often resulting in decapitation or fatal head trauma. Under 49 CFR § 393.86, trucks must have rear impact guards. If those guards were missing or poorly maintained in the City of Yorktown, the trucking company is fully liable.

Wide Turn “Squeeze” Play

Trucks need space to turn. In the tighter intersections of the City of Yorktown, drivers often swing left before turning right. This creates a gap that cars enter, only to be crushed as the truck completes the turn. This “squeeze play” is a classic example of driver failure to check mirrors and clear blind spots.

Blind Spot (No-Zone) Crashes

Trucks have massive blind spots on all four sides. If a truck in the City of Yorktown merges into you because the driver failed to check their “No-Zone,” they are negligent. Modern trucks can be equipped with blind-spot sensors and cameras; if the company chose not to install them, they prioritized profit over your safety.

Every day you wait, your case gets harder to prove. Call today: 1-888-ATTY-911.

Who Is Liable for Your Injuries in the City of Yorktown?

Most firms only sue the truck driver. We dig deeper. To get you the maximum compensation, we investigate the entire chain of command. In a City of Yorktown truck accident, the following 16 parties could be liable:

1. The Truck Driver: For speeding, fatigue, or impairment.
2. The Trucking Company (Carrier): For demanding illegal schedules or failing to maintain the fleet.
3. The Oilfield Operator: Companies like Pioneer or EOG who hired an unsafe contractor.
4. The Cargo Owner: If the load was hazardous or improperly disclosed.
5. The Loading Company: For failing to secure cargo according to 49 CFR § 393.100.
6. Truck Manufacturer: If a design defect like a failed weld caused the crash.
7. Parts Manufacturer: If a defective tire or brake pad failed at highway speed.
8. Maintenance Company: If they returned an unsafe truck to City of Yorktown roads.
9. Freight Broker: For brokering a load to a “bottom-feeder” carrier with bad safety scores.
10. The Truck Owner: If they leased a dangerous vehicle to a driver.
11. Corporate Parent Company: Holding giants like Amazon or Walmart accountable for their systems.
12. Staffing Agency: If they provided an unqualified driver without a valid CDL.
13. Rental Truck Company: If U-Haul or Penske rented a massive truck to an untrained driver.
14. Government Entity: If a road design defect in the City of Yorktown contributed to the crash.
15. Transit Agency: If a school or city bus was involved.
16. The Federal Government: If a USPS mail truck caused the accident in the City of Yorktown.

Identifying all liable parties allows us to “stack” insurance policies. More defendants mean more insurance pools, which is the only way to cover the costs of a multi-million dollar catastrophic injury claim.

The 48-Hour Evidence Emergency

In a City of Yorktown truck accident, the clock is not on your side. Evidence is disappearing right now.

• Black Box Data (ECM): These devices record speed and braking. They can be overwritten in 30 days. We demand an immediate download.
• ELD Logs: Electronic logs prove the driver was fatigued. These files are at risk of being “lost” if not secured immediately.
• The Scene: In the intense South Texas heat of the City of Yorktown, skid marks on asphalt can fade within days.
• Video: Dashboard cameras and business surveillance footage in the City of Yorktown are often on a 7-day deletion loop.

Our firm sends formal spoliation letters within 24–48 hours of being hired. This puts the trucking company on legal notice to preserve all evidence. If they destroy it after receiving our letter, the court can instruct the jury to assume the evidence was bad for the company.

Don’t wait. Evidence disappears fast. Call now: 1-888-ATTY-911.

Catastrophic Injuries and Life-Altering Results

We understand the human cost of these crashes. We’ve recovered millions for families in cases involving:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A TBI changes how you think and who you are. Our firm has recovered settlements up to $9.8 million for TBI victims.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Paralysis requires a lifetime of care. A life care plan for a City of Yorktown victim can easily exceed $5 million.
• Amputations: We secured $3.8 million for a client who lost a limb after a crash. We ensure you have the funds for the best prosthetics for life.
• Severe Burns: Fuel fires in crude tanker accidents cause permanent disfigurement and trauma.
• Wrongful Death: If you lost a loved one, we fight to secure your family’s financial future. Our historical results for wrongful death range up to $9.5 million.

We work with vocational experts, economists, and life care planners to calculate your TRUE losses. We don’t just look at today’s bills; we look at the next 40 years of your life. As client Glenda Walker said, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”

Understanding Insurance Limits and “Nuclear Verdicts”

In a regular car accident in Texas, the other driver might only have $30,000 in coverage. That won’t even cover the first night in the ICU at a regional trauma center after a truck crash.

Commercial trucks are required to have high limits:

• $750,000 for general freight.
• $1,000,000 for oilfield equipment.
• $5,000,000 for hazardous materials like crude oil.

But even these aren’t always enough. That is why we look for the “nuclear verdict” potential. Juries across Texas are tired of trucking companies cutting corners. In 2021, a Texas jury awarded $730 million in a trucking case. These verdicts happen because attorneys like Ralph Manginello know how to show a jury that the company chose profit over the safety of the people in the City of Yorktown.

City of Yorktown Truck Accident FAQ

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in the City of Yorktown?
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident. However, if the vehicle was a government-owned truck, you may have as little as six months to file a formal notice. Never wait. Evidence in the City of Yorktown oilfield disappears in days.

What if I was partially at fault for the truck accident?
Under Texas’s modified comparative negligence law, you can still recover compensation as long as you are 50% or less at fault. Your final settlement will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Don’t let the trucking company’s insurance adjuster convince you that you have no case—they are trained to blame the victim.

Does a City of Yorktown truck accident lawyer cost anything upfront?
No. We work on a contingency fee basis. We pay for all the investigators, the expert witnesses, and the court filings. You pay absolutely nothing unless we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the final recovery. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us a dime.

What if my accident involved an “independent contractor” truck?
That’s the most common defense used by Amazon and oilfield companies. They will try to walk away. We use the “Right to Control” test to prove that because the company set the schedule and monitored the driver, they are the employer in the eyes of the law.

I have a herniated disc from a truck accident—is that a big case?
Insurance companies will call it “just a back injury” and try to blame it on your age. But when a truck slams into you, it causes traumatic aggravation of your spine. If you need injections or a spinal fusion surgery, your case could be worth six or seven figures. We work with neurologists to prove the crash was the cause.

What if the truck’s black box was destroyed?
If we sent a spoliation letter and they destroyed it anyway, they are in serious trouble. We can ask the judge for sanctions or an “adverse inference” instruction. This means the jury is told to assume the missing data proved the company was guilty.

Your Fight for Justice Starts with One Call

You were just driving to work in the City of Yorktown. Now, your car is totaled, the medical bills are thousands of dollars, and you can’t even stand up without pain. The trucking company isn’t going to “do the right thing” out of the goodness of their heart. They only pay when they are cornered.

Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has over 25 years of experience cornering these companies and making them pay for the damage they do. With offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we serve families across the Eagle Ford Shale. We are powerful, proven, and ready to fight for you.

As client Kiimarii Yup said, “I lost everything… 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.” We can’t undo the accident, but we can secure your future.

Don’t let them push you around. Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 today. Available 24/7. Free consultation. Hablamos Español.