Abilene 18-Wheeler & Commercial Truck Accident Attorneys

The impact of an 80,000-pound steel machine slamming into your car on I-20 in Abilene is a life-altering event. In a split second, the trajectory of your life—your health, your career, and your family’s security—is rerouted through a medical and legal emergency. When a commercial truck driver fails to obey federal safety laws or a trucking company prioritizes delivery speeds over human lives in Taylor County, the consequences are almost always catastrophic.

At Attorney911, we recognize that you aren’t just a case number or a file on a desk; you’re a neighbor in the Abilene community facing a daunting recovery against some of the most powerful corporations in the world. Since 1998, our founder Ralph Manginello has spent more than 25 years taking on the largest trucking fleets and insurance carriers in the country. We don’t just “handle” cases; we prepare every fight as if it’s going to a Taylor County jury. With over $50 million recovered for families across Texas, we provide the aggressive, federal-court-admitted representation required to navigate the complexities of 18-wheeler litigation.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a semi-truck, a delivery van, or an oilfield vehicle near Abilene, the clock is already ticking. Evidence at the scene is being cleared, and the trucking company’s rapid-response team is already building a defense to protect their profits. You need a team that moves just as fast.

Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for your free, no-obligation consultation. We are available 24/7 to begin protecting your future.

Why Truck Accidents in Abilene Are Geographically Unique

Abilene sits at a critical crossroads of American commerce. As the “Front Porch” to the Permian Basin and a primary hub for the Big Country, our city sees a volume of heavy truck traffic that dwarfs most cities of its size. The intersection of I-20, US-83, US-84, and US-277 creates a high-velocity environment where long-haul 18-wheelers, regional delivery fleets, and heavy oilfield transport vehicles converge.

The I-20 Fatigue Corridor

Interstate 20 through Abilene serves as a primary east-west artery for the entire Southern United States. For long-haul drivers traveling from DFW toward Midland or El Paso, the stretch of road through Taylor County often coincides with the limits of their federal Hours of Service. When a driver has been behind the wheel for 11 hours, their reaction time on the I-20 bypass or and the Winters Freeway is significantly impaired. We often find that “simple” rear-end accidents on I-20 are actually the result of drivers who were struggling to stay awake, violating 49 CFR Part 395 regulations.

The Permian Basin Influx

Because Abilene is a major service hub for the oil and gas industry, our local roads are shared with heavy equipment haulers, frac sand trucks, and produced water tankers moving to and from the Permian Basin. These vehicles often operate on narrow FM roads never designed for 80,000-pound loads. Whether it’s a water truck rollover near Tye or a hot shot driver speeding to a well-site on Highway 277, the convergence of oilfield pressure and rural road design often results in devastating T-bone and head-on collisions.

High Winds and West Texas Weather

West Texas is notorious for sudden high-wind events and dust storms that can reduce visibility to zero in seconds. A High-Profile Vehicle (HPV), like an empty 18-wheeler, becomes a massive sail in 40-mph Abilene gusts. When a driver fails to adjust their speed for adverse conditions—a direct violation of 49 CFR § 392.14—it frequently leads to jackknife accidents and rollovers that can paralyze Taylor County transit for hours.

The FIRM Advantage: Why Experience in Abilene Matters

Other law firms may have billboards in Abilene, but they don’t always have the background to win against the specialized defense tactics used by commercial insurers. At Attorney911, our strategy is built on “Insider Knowledge.”

Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, brings a perspective few personal injury lawyers can offer: he used to work for the insurance companies. Lupe spent years at a national defense firm, learning exactly how adjusters are trained to minimize injury claims, how they use “pre-existing condition” defenses to deny treatment, and which settlement formulas they use to lowball victims. Today, Lupe uses that playbook against them to maximize your recovery.

Furthermore, managing partner Ralph Manginello is admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, providing our firm the ability to litigate complex interstate trucking cases in federal court. Whether your accident involved a local Abilene-based carrier or a Fortune 500 company like Walmart or Amazon, we have the federal court experience to take the fight wherever it needs to go.

Experience you can trust. Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-ATTY-911.

48-Hour Evidence Preservation: The Black Box Warning

If you’ve been involved in an 18-wheeler accident in Abilene, the next 48 hours are the most critical period for your legal case. Most people assume that the police report is enough to win a case. The truth is, the most valuable evidence is electronic, and it belongs to the trucking company.

The Engine Control Module (ECM)

Every modern semi-truck is equipped with an ECM, essentially a “black box” similar to those found on commercial aircraft. This device records vital data in the moments leading up to an Abilene crash, including:

• Exact Speed: Was the driver exceeding the 75-mph limit on I-20?
• Braking Events: Did the driver hit the brakes, or did they slam into you without slowing down?
• Steering Input: Was the driver distracted, causing a sudden lane departure?
• Seatbelt Status: Was the driver properly following safety protocols?

CRITICAL WARNING: ECM data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days, or even sooner if the truck is put back into service. Trucking companies often rush repairs to erase this digital thumbprint of their negligence.

The Electronic Logging Device (ELD)

Per federal law (49 CFR § 395.8), drivers must use ELDs to track their hours. Before this mandate, “paper logs” were often called “comic books” because they were so easy to falsify. While ELDs are harder to cheat, drivers still find ways to violate rest requirements to meet delivery quotas in Abilene. We subpoena these logs immediately to prove the driver was operating while fatigued.

Our Immediate Response

When you hire Attorney911, we send a formal Spoliation Letter within 24–48 hours to the trucking company and their insurer. This legal notice forces them to preserve:

• The physical truck and trailer for inspection.
• Driver Qualification (DQ) files (49 CFR § 391.51).
• In-cab dashcam and Netradyne AI video footage.
• GPS and telematics data showing the truck’s route through Abilene.
• Maintenance and brake inspection records (49 CFR Part 396).

As client Angel Walle said, “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.” That speed starts with preserving evidence on day one.

Comprehensive Coverage of Truck Accident Types in Abilene

No two crashes in Taylor County are identical. The physics of a jackknife on an icy overpass differ significantly from a blind-spot sideswipe in heavy traffic near Dyess Air Force Base. Our firm investigates the specific mechanics of your accident to pinpoint exactly where federal regulations were violated.

1. Rear-End Collisions and Stopping Distance

A fully loaded semi-truck traveling at highway speeds on I-20 through Abilene needs the length of nearly two football fields to come to a complete stop. When a truck driver is distracted by a dispatch device or follows your car too closely, they violate 49 CFR § 392.11. The resulting impact is devastating, often causing traumatic brain injuries and permanent spinal damage.

2. Jackknife Accidents on West Texas Roads

A jackknife occurs when the trailer tires lose traction and the trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab. In Abilene, this is frequently seen during heavy rain or on the windy stretches of US-83. These accidents often result in multi-vehicle pileups, trapping drivers in a web of steel. We investigate whether the driver was speeding for conditions or if faulty brake adjustment (a violation of 49 CFR § 393.48) caused the trailer to swing.

3. Underride Collisions: The Deadly Height Mismatch

An underride collision is one of the most fatal events on Taylor County roads. This happens when a passenger vehicle slides under the rear or side of a trailer. Because the trailer bed is at head-height for a car driver, these accidents often lead to decapitation or catastrophic TBI. We look at whether the truck was equipped with required rear impact guards (49 CFR § 393.86) and why the driver failed to make the truck visible in night-time Abilene traffic.

4. Wide Turn “Squeeze Play”

Abilene’s downtown streets and industrial zones near the rail lines often require trucks to make wide right turns. If a driver fails to check their mirrors or signal properly, they can “squeeze” a car between the trailer and the curb. These low-speed accidents cause surprisingly severe crush injuries and amputations.

5. Tire Blowouts and Maintenance Neglect

West Texas heat can push asphalt temperatures in Abilene above 140 degrees. Underinflated tires or “retreads” on an 18-wheeler can disintegrate under these conditions. Under 49 CFR § 396.13, drivers are required to perform pre-trip inspections. If a blowout caused your accident, we find out if that inspection ever actually happened.

Oilfield and Specialized Commercial Vehicle Accidents

In Abilene, “truck accident” means more than just a standard 18-wheeler. Our proximity to the energy sector means we must address the specific vehicles that serve our economy.

Frac Sand and Water Truck Rollovers

The roads surrounding Abilene, such as Hwy 277 and FM 1750, are frequently used by sand haulers and water trucks. These vehicles are often top-heavy and operate under extreme time pressure from oilfield operators. A “slosh effect” in a half-full water tanker can cause a rollover on a simple curve. We hold the oilfield operators and the trucking contractors accountable for these preventable wrecks.

Delivery Fleet Accidents (Amazon, Walmart, FedEx, UPS)

With a major Walmart Distribution Center and numerous fulfillment hubs serving the Abilene area, delivery vans are on every residential street. Amazon often uses “Independent Service Providers” to shield themselves from liability. We have litigated against these corporate giants and know how to pierce those contractor shields. We look at their Netradyne camera data and delivery quotas to prove that the company’s “need for speed” caused your injury.

Dump Trucks and Concrete Mixers

Construction projects in growing parts of Abilene involve dump trucks and mixers that weigh over 60,000 pounds. These drivers often lack the specialized training of long-haul truckers. We investigate whether the construction company was negligent in their hiring or if the truck was dangerously overloaded.

Identifying All Liable Parties: Who Really Pays?

Most lawyers only sue the driver. At Attorney911, we know that in an 18-wheeler accident in Abilene, the driver is rarely the only one at fault. To ensure you receive full compensation, we cast a wide net to identify every corporate entity that contributed to the crash.

1. The Truck Driver: For direct negligence like speeding, fatigue, or impairment.
2. The Trucking Carrier: For vicarious liability and negligent supervision of their fleet.
3. The Cargo Shipper: If an improperly secured or unbalanced load (49 CFR § 393.100) caused the truck to roll over.
4. The Maintenance Provider: If a third-party mechanic failed to adjust the brakes or replace worn steering components.
5. The Loading Company: For forcing a driver to take an overweight load to increase profits.
6. The Manufacturer: If a defective tire or brake part failed at high speed on I-20.
7. The Freight Broker: For hiring a carrier with a known history of safety violations and high out-of-service rates.
8. The Oilfield Operator: In many Big Country cases, the E&P company sets a schedule that makes safe driving impossible for their sand and water haulers.

More defendants means more insurance coverage. Our firm has recovered settlements ranging from $1.5 million to nearly $10 million for catastrophic injuries.

Catastrophic Injuries and the Human Cost

A collision with a commercial vehicle isn’t a “fender bender.” The medical bills for a Taylor County truck accident can exceed $100,000 in the first week alone. We understand the physical and emotional toll these injuries take on the entire family.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The violent jarring of a truck impact causes the brain to strike the skull. Many TBI victims in Abilene don’t realize they are injured until days later when memory loss, mood swings, or chronic headaches set in. We work with neurologists to document the full extent of brain damage, as these cases often result in settlements between $1.5M and $9.8M.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

When the force of an 80,000-pound truck crushes a passenger car, the spine is often the first to fail. Whether it’s a herniated disc requiring surgery or permanent paralysis, the lifetime cost of care is staggering. We retain life-care planners to ensure your settlement covers a lifetime of medical needs and home modifications.

Amputations and Crush Injuries

In “squeeze play” wide-turn accidents or underride collisions, limbs are often lost. Beyond the prosthetic costs, we fight for compensation for the “phantom limb pain” and the loss of identity that comes with a permanent disability.

Wrongful Death

If you have lost a family member in an Abilene truck accident, our hearts go out to you. Under Texas law, you may be entitled to recover for funeral expenses, the loss of the decedent’s income, and the loss of companionship. Our firm has recovered multi-million dollar wrongful death settlements to provide financial security for families left behind.

Understanding Commercial Insurance in Texas

If you’re hit by a car in Abilene, the other driver might only have the Texas minimum of $30,000 in coverage. That won’t even cover the helicopter transport to a trauma center. However, commercial trucks are required by the FMCSA (49 CFR Part 387) to carry significantly higher limits:

• Non-Hazmat Freight: $750,000 Minimum
• Oil and Large Equipment: $1,000,000 Minimum
• Hazardous Materials: $5,000,000 Minimum

These millions are there for a reason: because trucking accidents are devastating. But the insurance company won’t just write you a check. They will use specialized adjusters to record your words and twist them against you. As Ralph Manginello often warns, “If you wouldn’t let a surgeon operate on your own body, don’t let an insurance adjuster operate on your own legal case.”

Don’t talk to them. Talk to us. Call 1-888-ATTY-911.

Abilene Truck Accident FAQ

How much is my 18-wheeler case worth?

There is no “average” case, but trucking settlements in Taylor County are typically much higher than car accidents due to the severity of injuries and higher insurance limits. The value is determined by your medical bills, lost wages, future care needs, and the degree of the trucking company’s negligence. Our firm has achieved settlements as high as $9.8 million for our clients.

Can I still recover if I was partially at fault?

Yes. Texas follows a “Modified Comparative Negligence” rule. In Abilene, as long as you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover damages, though your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If the trucking company’s driver was mostly to blame, you have a case.

What if I was hit by a truck while I was on a motorcycle or walking?

These are some of the most tragic cases we handle in Abilene. Pedestrians and motorcyclists have zero protection against a semi-truck. Under the law, truck drivers have a heightened duty of care to watch for vulnerable road users. We have specific experience in “right hook” cyclist accidents and motorcycle blind-spot crashes.

What is a “Nuclear Verdict”?

A nuclear verdict is a jury award that exceeds $10 million. Juries in Texas and across the country are tired of trucking companies cutting corners on safety to save time. When we prove a company knowingly put a dangerous driver on Abilene roads, we may pursue punitive damages to punish the corporation and prevent future tragedies.

How long do I have to file a claim in Abilene?

In Texas, the statute of limitations is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, for cases involving government vehicles (like an Abilene city bus), the notice deadlines can be as short as six months. Waiting even a few weeks can be fatal to your case because physical evidence at the scene disappears.

The Attorney911 Commitment: You Are Family

When you walk through our doors, you’re not just a client. As Chad Harris said in his review, “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We take that responsibility seriously. We know the stress of the mounting medical bills from Abilene hospitals and the fear of an uncertain recovery.

Our managing partner Ralph Manginello has built this firm on a foundation of aggressive advocacy and personal attention. We take a limited number of cases so that every client has direct access to their legal team. We don’t settle for the easy offer; we fight for every dime you deserve—a standard of excellence that client Glenda Walker highlighted: “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”

Zero Upfront Costs

We work on a contingency fee basis. This means we advance all the costs of the investigation, the accident reconstruction experts, and the court filings. You pay nothing out of pocket. We only get paid if we win your case. If there is no recovery, you owe us nothing.

The trucking company has their lawyers. It’s time you had yours.

Contact an Abilene Truck Accident Lawyer Today

The road to recovery after a catastrophic 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle accident is long, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Whether you were hit on I-20, US-83, or a rural road in Taylor County, Attorney911 is ready to fight for your justice.

Don’t let the evidence disappear. Don’t let the insurance carrier lowball your family. Put 25 years of winning experience on your side.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) now.
Hablamos Español.
Available 24/7 for Legal Emergencies.

Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911 (The Manginello Law Firm) serve injury victims throughout Abilene, Taylor County, and the Big Country.

Detailed Breakdown of FMCSA Violations We Investigate

To win a trucking case in Abilene, we must prove the company “breached their duty of care.” This usually means identifying specific violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR).

49 CFR Part 391: Driver Qualification

Did the company hire a driver with a history of DUIs? Did the driver have a valid medical certificate? Many “fly-by-night” carriers operating in the West Texas oilfields skip these checks. We subpoena the Driver Qualification file for every Abilene crash.

49 CFR Part 392: Driving of Commercial Vehicles

This regulation covers everything from speeding to “ill or fatigued operators.” If a driver was rushing a load of cattle or equipment to Abilene while sick or exhausted, the company is in direct violation.

49 CFR Part 393: Parts and Accessories

Are the brakes working? Are the lights visible? On the dark rural highways surrounding Abilene, a truck with non-functioning tail-lights is a stationary hazard that often leads to underride deaths.

49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service

This is the most common violation we find. Drivers can only drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off. However, the pressure of Abilene-area oilfield production or Amazon delivery quotas often pushes drivers to work 14, 16, or 20 hours straight. This is illegal, and it is negligent.

49 CFR Part 396: Inspection and Maintenance

Trucking companies must “systematically inspect” their vehicles. If an Abilene 18-wheeler wreck was caused by a steering failure or a rotted tire, we look for the maintenance log. If it’s blank, the trucking company is liable.

Common Abilene Commercial Vehicle Defendants

We have a proven track record against some of the world’s largest corporate defendants. If you were hit by one of these fleets in Abilene, we know how to handle them:

• Walmart Transportation: Operating from regional distribution centers, these trucks are constant on Abilene highways.
• Amazon Logistics: We pierce the “independent contractor” defenses used by Amazon DSPs in Taylor County.
• Oilfield Service Companies: Like Halliburton, Schlumberger, and ProPetro, operating in the Permian hub.
• Beverage Distributors: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo trucks making frequent urban stops in Abilene neighborhoods.
• LTL Carriers: Including FedEx, UPS, Old Dominion, and XPO Logistics.
• Waste Management: Large garbage trucks operating in Abilene residential zones.

At Attorney911, we aren’t intimidated by their deep pockets or their teams of lawyers. We’ve fought them before, and we’ve made them pay.

Final Steps to Protect Your Abilene Claim

1. Seek Medical Care: Go to an Abilene ER or trauma center immediately.
2. Take Pictures: Of the vehicles, the driver’s ID, and the insurance card.
3. Identify Witnesses: Get names and numbers.
4. DO NOT Sign Anything: From an insurance adjuster.
5. Call Attorney911: Let us handle the legal battle so you can focus on healing.

Your future is worth the fight. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.

Client Testimonials

“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.”
— Donald Wilcox

“They make you feel like family and even though the process may take some time, they make it feel like a breeze. They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”
— Glenda Walker

“Mr. Manginello and his firm are first class. Will fight tooth and nail for you.”
— Ernest Cano

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
Abilene Office Appointments Available
1-888-ATTY-911
https://attorney911.com