Howard County Truck Accident Lawyers: Fighting for Your Family After a Catastrophic Commercial Vehicle Wreck

When an 80,000-pound 18-wheeler slams into a passenger car on Interstate 20 or an oilfield water truck loses control on a narrow farm-to-market road in Howard County, the physics of the collision ensure one thing: the people inside the smaller vehicle will suffer life-altering consequences. In an instant, you go from planning your workday in Big Spring to fighting for your life in a hospital bed. The medical bills begin to pile up, your income vanishes because you can’t work, and the trucking company’s insurance adjusters are already calling, looking for ways to pay you as little as possible.

At Attorney911, we believe you shouldn’t have to face a multi-billion dollar trucking corporation alone. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has spent over 25 years in the courtroom holding negligent companies accountable. Since 1998, we’ve stood by Howard County families, bringing the fight to corporate giants like Walmart, Amazon, and the major oilfield operators that dominate the Permian Basin. We understand that in Howard County, trucks are the lifeblood of the economy, but that doesn’t give them a license to ignore safety regulations and put your family at risk.

Our team brings a unique advantage to every case in Howard County. Associate attorney Lupe Peña spent years working inside a national insurance defense firm. He knows the “playbook” the insurance companies use to minimize your suffering. He saw how they train adjusters to offer lowball settlements before the full extent of a brain injury or spinal damage is even known. Today, Lupe uses that insider knowledge to deconstruct their defenses and maximize recovery for our clients. Hablamos Español. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911 para hablar con nuestro equipo hoy.

The High Stakes of Howard County Trucking Corridors

Howard County occupies a critical position in the Texas freight network. Big Spring serves as a crossroads where Interstate 20, US Highway 87, and Highway 350 converge. This means Howard County residents share the road with thousands of commercial vehicles every day.

Interstate 20 is one of the most heavily traveled trucking corridors in the United States, connecting the manufacturing hubs of the East to the ports of the West. When a driver is hauling freight from Dallas to El Paso, Howard County is often where fatigue begins to set in. Under federal law, 49 CFR Part 395, drivers are strictly limited in how many hours they can stay behind the wheel. However, the pressure to meet delivery windows often leads to logbook falsification and exhausted drivers barreling through Big Spring at 75 miles per hour.

Furthermore, being part of the Midland Basin means our local roads are frequently crowded with oilfield-specific vehicles. From frac sand haulers and crude oil tankers to produced water trucks and oversized equipment movers, the industrial traffic on Howard County FM roads is relentless. These vehicles are often operated by third-party contractors for major oil companies like ExxonMobil or Chevron. When these trucks cause an accident, the legal web of liability can be incredibly complex. Ralph Manginello has federal court experience and a documented history of litigating against Fortune 500 companies, including our involvement in the landmark BP refinery explosion litigation. We know how to cut through the corporate layers to find the truth.

Why Immediate Action is Critical After a Howard County Truck Accident

The 48 hours following a truck wreck in Howard County are the most important for the future of your legal claim. While you are focused on medical treatment at a facility like Scenic Mountain Medical Center or being transported to a Level I trauma center in Lubbock or Midland, the trucking company has already activated its “Rapid Response Team.”

These teams often include private investigators and specialized lawyers who arrive at the scene before the wreckage is even cleared. Their goal is simple: control the narrative and preserve only the evidence that helps them. At Attorney911, we move just as fast. The moment you retain us, we send out a formal “Spoliation Letter.” This is a legal demand that the trucking company, the driver, and any corporate parent companies preserve all data related to the crash.

This is critical because 18-wheelers are equipped with sophisticated technology that can prove negligence. The Engine Control Module (ECM), often called the truck’s “black box,” records speed, braking, and throttle position in the seconds before impact. However, this data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days or during the next trip the truck takes. Similarly, the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data proves whether the driver was violating federal hours-of-service rules. If you wait too long to hire a Howard County truck accident lawyer, the proof you need to win your case could disappear forever.

As our client Chad Harris noted, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We treat your case with the urgency it deserves because we know exactly what is at stake.

Proving Negligence through FMCSA Federal Regulations

In a standard car accident, you only have to prove that the other driver was careless. In a Howard County truck accident involving an 18-wheeler or commercial fleet, we prove the defendants broke federal law. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established thousands of pages of regulations in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) that every carrier must follow.

When we investigate a crash on Highway 87 or I-20, we look for violations in these key areas:

49 CFR Part 391: Driver Qualification

Trucking companies have a non-delegable duty to ensure their drivers are fit for the road. This means checking their driving history, verifying their CDL, and ensuring they have a current medical examiner’s certificate. In Howard County, we often see cases where companies hired drivers with a history of drug use or multiple moving violations because they were desperate to fill a seat. This is negligent hiring, and it makes the company directly liable for your injuries.

49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service (HOS)

Fatigue is a silent killer on Howard County highways. Drivers are generally limited to 11 hours of driving time after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. If an Amazon delivery van or a FedEx truck hits you, we subpoena the ELD records to see if that driver was pushed past their legal limit to meet a delivery quota. Falsifying logs is a serious violation that can lead to punitive damages meant to punish the company for its recklessness.

49 CFR Part 393 & 396: Parts, Accessories, and Maintenance

An 80,000-pound truck is only as safe as its smallest component. FMCSA requires systematic inspection and maintenance of all vehicle systems, particularly brakes and tires. In the extreme heat of a West Texas summer, Howard County truck tires are under immense stress. If a company uses retreaded tires on the steering axle or fails to replace worn brake pads to save money, they are responsible when those systems fail at highway speeds.

Specialized Knowledge in Permian Basin Oilfield Trucking Accidents

Howard County sits at the eastern edge of the Permian Basin, one of the most productive oil regions in the world. This brings wealth to Big Spring, but it also brings high-speed, heavy-weight industrial traffic to roads that were never engineered for it. If you were hit by a water truck or a sand hauler, your case is vastly different from a standard 18-wheeler crash.

Oilfield trucking often involves a “dual-jurisdiction” regulatory framework. On Howard County public roads, the FMCSA regulations apply. However, if the accident occurred while entering or exiting a wellsite, or on a private lease road, OSHA workplace safety standards (29 CFR 1910 and 1926) may also come into play.

We represent victims in Howard County who have been injured by:

• Frac Sand Haulers: These trucks often operate 24/7 during completion phases, leading to extreme driver fatigue.
• Produced Water Tankers: Dealing with the “slosh effect” of thousands of gallons of liquid makes these trucks incredibly prone to rollovers on the curves of Howard County FM roads.
• Crew Transport Vans: When an oilfield service company like Halliburton or Schlumberger packs 15 workers into a van for a 4 AM shift change, the risk of a mass-casualty rollover is high.
• Hot Shot Drivers: Small trucks hauling urgent parts are often paid per load, which incentivizes speeding and reckless driving through Big Spring and Coahoma.

Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911 have spent two decades navigating the complexities of oil and gas litigation. We understand the relationship between the operator (the oil company that owns the well), the trucking contractor, and the staffing agency. We fight to hold all of them accountable.

Understanding Liability: Who Is Responsible for Your Injuries?

Most law firms in Howard County might only sue the truck driver. At Attorney911, we know that to get you the compensation you truly deserve, we must look at the entire chain of command. A single truck wreck on I-20 can involve up to 16 different liable parties.

1. The Truck Driver: For direct negligence like speeding or distraction.
2. The Trucking Company (Carrier): Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, the company is responsible for the actions of its employees.
3. The Corporate Parent (Brand Owner): If an Amazon van or a Walmart truck hit you, the parent company may be liable for setting dangerous delivery quotas or failing to supervise their contractors.
4. The Oilfield Operator: In Howard County oilfield cases, we can often hold the oil company liable for failing to maintain safe lease roads or hiring a contractor with a known history of safety violations.
5. The Freight Broker: If a broker hired a “bottom-tier” carrier with a bad safety rating just to save a few dollars, they share the blame.
6. The Maintenance Company: If the brakes failed because a third-party mechanic in Big Spring performed a negligent repair, they are on the hook.
7. Cargo Loaders: Improperly secured cargo can shift, causing a rollover. The company that loaded the trailer is responsible for following cargo securement rules.
8. The Manufacturer: If a tire blowout was caused by a manufacturing defect, we file a product liability claim against the tire maker.

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 take on the hard cases because we have the resources to investigate every defendant.

Catastrophic Injuries and the Path to Recovery

An 18-wheeler accident in Howard County doesn’t just result in “soreness.” It results in life-shattering trauma. Whether you were hit by a concrete mixer or a moving truck, the medical reality is often grim. We have successfully recovered multi-million dollar settlements for victims suffering from:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): The force of a truck impact causes the brain to slam against the skull. This results in cognitive deficits, personality changes, and permanent disability. Settlement ranges for these cases often fall between $1.5M and $9.8M+.
• Spinal Cord Damage: A crushed vertebra can lead to permanent paralysis, requiring a lifetime of 24/7 care, home modifications, and specialized medical equipment. We’ve seen these recoveries reach $4.7M to $25.8M+.
• Traumatic Amputations: Limb loss in a truck wreck involves not just the initial trauma but a lifetime of prosthetic replacements and phantom pain. Recoveries range from $1.9M to $8.6M.
• Internal Organ Damage: Deceleration forces on Howard County highways can cause the liver, spleen, or kidneys to rupture, leading to life-threatening internal bleeding that Howard County trauma teams must address instantly.

We also represent families in Howard County grieving a Wrongful Death. When a negligent trucker takes a life on I-20, no amount of money can bring them back. However, a recovery in the $1.9M to $9.5M range can provide the financial security your children need for their future, covering the lost income and companionship of a loved one.

The Insurance Company Battle: Why You Need an Insider

In Howard County, trucking companies carry massive insurance policies. Federal law requires a minimum of $750,000 for general freight, but that number jumps to $5,000,000 for hazardous materials (common in oilfield tankers). Large corporations like Walmart and Amazon are often “self-insured,” meaning they pay the first several million dollars of a claim out of their own pockets.

Because they are paying with their own money, they fight harder. This is where Lupe Peña’s background is your greatest asset. Having worked for the very firms that defend these trucking companies, he knows how they attempt to blame you for the accident. In Texas, we follow a modified comparative negligence rule (51% bar). If the insurance company can convince a jury you were 51% responsible for the crash on I-20, you recover nothing.

They will pull your medical records looking for “pre-existing conditions.” They will scour your social media for photos of you smiling to claim you aren’t “really” in pain. We know these tricks, and we shut them down. We’ve recovered over $50 million for Texas families because we don’t settle for “fair”—we demand every dime you are owed. As Glenda Walker shared, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”

Types of Howard County Truck Wrecks We Handle

Every commercial vehicle accident has a specific mechanical cause. By identifying the exact type of crash, we can pinpoint which federal regulations were violated.

• Jackknife Accidents on I-20: Usually caused by improper braking or bald tires, a jackknifing trailer can sweep across all lanes of Interstate 20, trapping dozens of cars in its path.
• Underride Collisions: When a car slides under the back or side of a trailer because of missing or defective “Mansfield bars.” These are frequently fatal at Howard County highway speeds.
• Blind Spot “No-Zone” Crashes: Many trucks in Big Spring lack modern blind-spot sensors. If a truck merged into you because the driver failed to check their mirrors, they are liable.
• Wide Turn “Squeeze” Play: At intersections in downtown Big Spring, trucks must swing wide to make a right turn. If the driver fails to signal or check their right side, they can crush a smaller vehicle between the trailer and the curb.
• Dump Truck & Construction Wrecks: With Howard County’s constant road work and industrial growth, dump trucks are everywhere. Overloading these trucks leads to brake failure and rollovers.

Whether you were hit by a garbage truck in a Big Spring neighborhood, a delivery van at a shopping center, or a 18-wheeler on the interstate, our Howard County truck accident attorneys have the experience you need.

What Damages Can You Recover in a Howard County Lawsuit?

In Texas, your damages are split into three main categories. Our job is to document every single loss you’ve suffered since the wreck in Howard County.

1. Economic Damages: These are the calculable bills. It includes every invoice from the trauma center, every day of missed work, the cost of future surgeries, and the loss of your retirement benefits if you can no longer work.

2. Non-Economic Damages: This is the human cost. It covers the physical pain you feel every day, the mental anguish of surviving a near-death experience, and the “loss of enjoyment of life”—the things you can no longer do, like playing with your kids or enjoying the Howard County outdoors.

3. Punitive Damages: These are rare but powerful. If we can prove the trucking company acted with “gross negligence”—like knowingly letting a driver with a suspended license operate a fuel tanker through Howard County—we can ask a jury to award additional damages to punish the company.

Remember, you pay us nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee, which means we only get paid if we win your case. We advance all the costs of hiring experts, accident reconstructionists, and investigators to build your case in Howard County.

Frequently Asked Questions for Howard County Residents

How long do I have to file a claim in Howard County?
In Texas, the statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, for cases involving government-owned trucks (like city buses or county dump trucks), the “notice” requirements can be as short as six months. You should call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately to ensure you don’t miss a critical Howard County deadline.

What if the insurance carrier offers me a quick check?
NEVER accept the first offer. Insurance companies move fast to settle for pennies on the dollar before you know if you need surgery or have a permanent brain injury. As soon as you sign that check, your case is closed forever. Let us evaluate the offer first.

Can I sue the oil company if a “contractor” truck hit me?
Yes. In many Howard County oilfield accidents, we use the “control test” to prove the oil company was actually the employer, or use “negligent selection” theories. Oil companies have the deep pockets necessary to cover catastrophic injuries, and we know how to reach them.

Are truck accidents in Howard County different than car accidents?
Completely. The weight of the vehicles, the federal regulations involved, and the layers of commercial insurance make these cases a “legal emergency.” You need a specialist, not a generalist. Ralph Manginello is a member of the Trial Lawyers Achievement Association Million Dollar Members and has the 25+ years of experience required for these high-stakes battles.

Contact a Howard County Truck Accident Attorney Today

If you or someone you love is suffering after a collision with a commercial vehicle in Howard County, do not wait. The trucking company’s legal team is already miles ahead of you. You need a fighter who treats you like family but treats the defendants like the adversaries they are.

Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911 (The Manginello Law Firm) are ready to go to work for you. We serve all of Howard County, from Big Spring and Forsan to Coahoma. We are available 24/7 because we know that legal emergencies don’t just happen during business hours.

Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Hablamos Español. Llame ahora para proteger su futuro. We’ve recovered over $50 million for Texans, and we are ready to fight for you in Howard County.

Detailed Support Data for Howard County Legal Context

Federal Motor Carrier Safety (FMCSA) Presence

The trucking routes through Howard County are subject to intense scrutiny by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and commercial vehicle enforcement. Violations found in post-accident inspections are the bedrock of our cases. If a truck was pulled over on I-20 recently for an out-of-service violation, we will find those records and use them to prove a pattern of negligence.

Local Medical Resources

Whether you were treated at Scenic Mountain Medical Center in Big Spring or airlifted to a regional trauma center, your medical records are the most important part of your damages claim. We work with vocational experts and life-care planners to translate those thousands of pages of medical data into a dollar amount that covers your ENTIRE lifetime of needs.

Why Experience Matters in West Texas

Howard County juries are hardworking and fair, but they need to see clear evidence of corporate wrongdoing. Our trial-ready approach means we prepare every case as if it will be decided by 12 residents of Howard County. This reputation for trial readiness is what forces insurance companies to offer higher settlements. As Kiimarii Yup said, “I lost everything… 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.” We aim for a full recovery for every client.

The “Deep Pockets” Strategy

When we sue a corporate fleet in Howard County, we aren’t just looking at the primary policy. We look for “excess” and “umbrella” layers that can reach $25 million to $100 million. For families facing a lifetime of paralysis or the loss of a primary breadwinner, these deep pockets are the only way to ensure your family is truly taken care of.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today. Your fight is our fight.

Complete Guide to Commercial Vehicle Types and Howard County Hazards

To ensure your case is handled correctly, it is vital to categorize the specific commercial vehicle that caused the injury. Howard County presents a unique mix of long-haul, industrial, and local fleet traffic.

Residential and Municipal Hazards in Big Spring

Not every truck accident happens at high speeds on the interstate. Many occur on the streets of our neighborhoods.

• Garbage Truck Accidents: These vehicles weigh up to 64,000 pounds and have massive blind spots. In Big Spring residential areas, backing accidents involving pedestrians or children are tragically common. We hold private waste companies and municipal contractors to the highest safety standards.
• Big Spring Transit & School Buses: If a government-operated bus injured you or your child, you are dealing with Sovereign Immunity. This means different rules, shorter deadlines, and damage caps. Our team understands how to navigate the Texas Tort Claims Act to pursue these difficult cases.

Professional Delivery and Retail Fleets

Howard County is a major stop for distribution vehicles.

• Box Truck and Straight Truck Wrecks: Used by local businesses and furniture delivery services, these drivers often lack a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) because the truck is just under the 26,001-pound limit. This lack of professional training leads to devastating “squeeze” accidents in Howard County parking lots and narrow streets.
• Amazon Prime and Last-Mile Vans: These blue vans are everywhere in Howard County. Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner (DSP) model is designed to shield Amazon from liability. We specialize in piercing that shield to prove Amazon’s control over those drivers.
• Flatbed and Tow Truck Accidents: Improperly secured loads—like steel pipes or vehicles—falling onto Howard County roads create secondary crashes that are often fatal. The loader of that cargo is just as liable as the driver.

Heavy Industrial and Specialized Hauling

The oilfield and manufacturing economy of Howard County brings massive equipment to our public roads.

• Cement Mixer and Concrete Truck Rollovers: Fully loaded, a concrete mixer in Howard County weighs 70,000+ pounds. The rotating liquid load creates an unstable center of gravity. If the driver takes a turn on US-87 too fast, the truck WILL roll over.
• Dump Truck and Aggregate Haulers: Howard County is home to multiple gravel and sand operations. Overloaded dump trucks have compromised braking systems. We subpoena the weigh station and scale house records to prove the truck was overweight, which is a per-se violation of safety standards.
• Car Carriers and Auto Transport: Carrying 7-10 vehicles makes these trucks exceptionally tall and top-heavy. Bridge strikes and loading failures on Howard County overpasses are preventable through proper route planning and securement.

Moving and Rental Truck Dangers

• U-Haul, Penske, and Budget Accidents: These companies put people with ZERO experience behind the wheel of a 26-foot truck. If the rental company rented to an obviously unqualified or impaired driver in Howard County, or failed to maintain the truck’s brakes, we hold them accountable for negligent entrustment.

No matter the size of the truck or the name on the door, if you were hurt in Howard County, Attorney911 is your first call. We bring the resources of a major firm with the personal attention of a family operation.

Wait for no one. 1-888-ATTY-911 is available now. We send teams to Howard County routinely to investigate scenes and meet with clients. Your recovery starts with one phone call.

The Anatomy of an 18-Wheeler Case Investigation in Howard County

When you call us after a wreck on I-20, our investigation moves through these critical phases:

Phase 1: The Scene and Physics (0-72 Hours)
We don’t rely on the police report alone. Howard County law enforcement does their best, but they aren’t accident reconstruction engineers. We hire specialists who use laser-mapping technology to preserve the skid marks, the gouge marks in the pavement, and the final resting positions of the vehicles. This physical evidence allows us to prove the truck’s speed even if the ELD data was “accidentally” lost.

Phase 2: The Digital Paper Trail
We subpoena the “Driver Qualification File.” We want to see the driver’s employment application, their road test results, and their previous drug test history. If a company hired a driver who had just been fired from another carrier for safety violations, that is the foundation for a multi-million dollar negligent hiring claim.

Phase 3: The Maintenance History
Was the truck that hit you in Howard County safe to be on the road? We demand the last 12 months of inspection reports (49 CFR 396.11). If the driver noted a “soft brake pedal” three days before the wreck and the company told them to “just finish the route,” we’ve proven conscious indifference—the key to punitive damages.

Phase 4: The Corporate Deposition
Ralph Manginello personally deposes the company’s “Safety Director.” We ask the hard questions: How much did you spend on safety training last year versus advertising? Why did you ignore the GPS alerts that this driver was speeding through Howard County? These depositions are where cases are won, and 25+ years of experience makes the difference.

You deserve a team that loves the fight more than the settlement. As client Ernest Cano said, “Mr. Manginello and his firm are first class. Will fight tooth and nail for you.”

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. There is no risk to you and everything to gain. We handle everything so you can focus on getting your life back. Howard County families shouldn’t have to pay for a corporation’s mistakes. Let us balance the scales of justice for you.

Final Closing and Action Plan for Howard County Victims

If you are reading this while sitting in a hospital room at Scenic Mountain or at home in Howard County in pain, know that you have rights. The law in Texas is designed to protect victims of truck accidents, but only if you take the steps to exercise those rights.

1. Stop talking to the insurance company. They are recording you.
2. Save everything. Every medical bill, every receipt for a prescription, every photo of the crash.
3. Call Attorney911. We provide a free, 100% confidential case evaluation.

We’ve gone head-to-head with Walmart. We’ve forced Amazon adjusters to pay. We’ve litigated against the world’s largest oil companies. Their size doesn’t scare us—it motivates us. Howard County is a community of hardworking people, and we are proud to be the law firm that works just as hard for you.

Hablamos Español. Llame al (888) 288-9911. Our team is ready to listen to your story, explain your options, and start the process of getting you the compensation you deserve. Your future depends on what you do next. Make the call to 1-888-ATTY-911 today.

Attorney Advertising. Attorney911 (The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC) provides representation for trucking and commercial vehicle accidents across Howard County and the state of Texas. No fee unless we win.