Fatal 18-Wheeler and Tractor-Trailer Crashes in Collin County: What Families Need to Know

You’re reading this because someone you love didn’t come home from a road that everyone in Collin County drives every day. Interstate 75, U.S. Highway 380, the President George Bush Turnpike, and the countless feeder roads connecting Plano, McKinney, Frisco, and Allen carry the freight that keeps North Texas running—but when an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer loses control, the physics of the crash leave no time for the driver of a passenger vehicle to react. A fatal collision at highway speeds isn’t just a tragedy; it’s a closing-speed event that changes everything for your family in an instant.

Texas law gives you exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful-death action under Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. That clock started ticking the moment the crash happened—whether or not anyone told you, whether or not the police report is finalized, whether or not the carrier’s insurance company is returning your calls. Under Section 71.004, you— as the surviving spouse, child, or parent—hold an independent statutory claim. So does your loved one’s estate, under Section 71.021, for the conscious pain and mental anguish they endured between injury and death. Three separate claims, one two-year window.

The carrier whose driver caused this has lawyers who started working the night of the crash. The longer you wait, the more evidence disappears— the electronic logging device (ELD) under 49 C.F.R. Part 395, the dashcam footage, the maintenance records under Part 396, the driver qualification file under Part 391, the prior preventability determinations, the post-accident drug and alcohol screen required by 49 C.F.R. § 382.303. We send the preservation letter that locks it all down within 24 hours. We pull the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Safety Measurement System profile on the carrier and the Pre-Employment Screening Program record on the driver before discovery formally opens. We know what the Texas Pattern Jury Charge will ask in the Collin County District Court where your case will be tried, and we build the evidence for those questions from the first investigator we send to the scene.

The Reality of Fatal Truck Crashes on Collin County’s Roads

Collin County’s commercial-vehicle fatality rate isn’t just a statistic—it’s the wreck that closed the President George Bush Turnpike last Tuesday, the ambulance your neighbor heard at 2 a.m., the flowers on the overpass at the intersection of U.S. 380 and Custer Road. In 2024, Texas recorded 4,150 traffic deaths—one every 2 hours and 7 minutes. Collin County alone saw 73 fatalities in 1,000+ commercial-vehicle-involved crashes, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS). On the freight-heavy corridors that pass through our county, the numbers aren’t abstract—they’re the daily reality of families just like yours.

Where Fatal Crashes Happen in Collin County

The most dangerous stretches for fatal truck crashes in Collin County mirror the region’s freight corridors:

• Interstate 75 (U.S. 75): The primary north-south artery through McKinney, Allen, and Plano carries long-haul freight between Dallas and the Red River, with fatality clusters concentrated in the morning and evening commutes where stop-and-go traffic meets high-speed truck traffic.
• President George Bush Turnpike (SH 190): The tollway’s interchange with U.S. 75 and the Dallas North Tollway is a documented high-crash zone, where merging tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles collide at speeds that leave little room for error.
• U.S. Highway 380: The east-west route through McKinney, Princeton, and Farmersville carries oilfield service vehicles, agricultural haulers, and regional freight, with fatal crashes frequently occurring at uncontrolled intersections and rural stretches where lighting is limited.
• Dallas North Tollway: While primarily a passenger corridor, the DNT sees significant commercial traffic serving the corporate campuses of Plano and Frisco, with fatal crashes often tied to lane-change violations and speed differentials between trucks and cars.
• Feeder roads and FM routes: Farm-to-market roads like FM 544, FM 428, and FM 2478 carry local freight, agricultural vehicles, and oilfield service trucks, where fatal crashes are 2.66 times more likely to occur than on urban interstates due to higher speeds, limited trauma access, and longer EMS response times.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s data shows that rural crashes in Collin County’s unincorporated areas are disproportionately fatal, not because of higher crash volume, but because of the conditions: higher speeds, longer distances to Level I trauma centers like Medical City Plano or Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Plano, and the absence of median barriers that would prevent head-on collisions. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer jackknifes on a two-lane FM road at night, the outcome is almost always catastrophic.

Who’s Behind the Wheel—and Who’s Really Responsible

The driver who crashed into your family is one defendant. But the motor carrier that hired them, the freight broker that arranged the load, the shipper that directed the haul, and the corporate parent that owns the operating authority are all part of the chain of responsibility. In Collin County, the commercial-vehicle mix includes:

• Long-haul interstate carriers: Werner Enterprises, J.B. Hunt, Schneider National, and Swift Transportation operate significant mileage through Collin County, with terminals and distribution centers in Dallas-Fort Worth that feed freight onto our corridors.
• Last-mile delivery networks: Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program, FedEx Ground’s independent contractor network, and UPS dominate the residential delivery routes in Plano, McKinney, Frisco, and Allen, where pedestrian strikes and rear-end collisions are rising.
• Oilfield service trucking: While Collin County isn’t in the Permian Basin, it sits at the crossroads of the Eagle Ford Shale and the Barnett Shale legacy region, with oilfield service vehicles from Halliburton, Schlumberger, and Patterson-UTI routinely transiting U.S. 380 and FM routes en route to well sites.
• Food and beverage distribution: Sysco’s Dallas distribution center and regional carriers like US Foods and Performance Food Group serve Collin County’s restaurants and grocery stores, with refrigerated trailers and box trucks operating daily.
• Construction and aggregate haulers: Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta, and regional dump-truck operators serve Collin County’s booming construction industry, with fatal crashes often tied to improperly secured loads or brake failures.
• Government and municipal fleets: The Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Plano Police Department, and regional transit authorities operate commercial vehicles that, when involved in crashes, trigger the Texas Tort Claims Act framework under Chapter 101 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

We don’t stop at the driver. We sue the trucking companies, the brokers, the shippers, and the corporate parents. The carrier’s defense lawyers know the math: a driver with a documented history of hours-of-service violations, a carrier with a pattern of ignored preventability determinations, and a corporate parent that prioritized delivery quotas over safety— that’s the case that produces nine-figure verdicts in Texas courtrooms.

The Legal Framework: What Texas Law Gives Your Family

Texas law isn’t just a set of rules—it’s the structure that lets you hold the people who caused this accountable. The framework is clear, but the clock is running.

Wrongful Death and Survival Actions: The Three Claims You Hold

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.001 et seq., the surviving spouse, children, and parents of a decedent each hold an independent wrongful-death claim. Under § 71.021, the estate holds a separate survival action for the pain and mental anguish the decedent endured between injury and death. Here’s how it breaks down:

Each claim is independent. Each has its own damages calculus. Each is subject to the two-year statute of limitations under § 16.003. Miss the deadline, and the case dies procedurally—no exceptions, no extensions.

Modified Comparative Negligence: The 51% Bar

Texas follows modified comparative negligence under § 33.001. You recover only if you’re 50% or less at fault. Recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. At 51% or more, recovery is zero.

This is the carrier’s first line of defense: “Your loved one was speeding.” “They changed lanes unsafely.” “They didn’t wear a seatbelt.” We anticipate this. We develop evidence that pushes fault back where it belongs—on the carrier’s driver, the carrier’s dispatch decisions, the carrier’s maintenance failures.

Punitive (Exemplary) Damages: The Felony Exception

Under Chapter 41, punitive damages are capped at the greater of $200,000 or (2× economic damages) + non-economic damages (capped at $750,000 on the non-economic portion). But there’s a critical exception: the cap does NOT apply when the underlying act is a felony. If the driver was charged with intoxication manslaughter (a felony under Texas Penal Code § 49.08), the punitive damages cap disappears. The jury decides with no statutory limit.

Punitive damages from a DWI-related fatality are also not dischargeable in bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6). The judgment survives even if the carrier files for bankruptcy.

Stowers Doctrine: The Nuclear Option

The Stowers doctrine (G.A. Stowers Furniture Co. v. American Indem. Co., 15 S.W.2d 544 (Tex. 1929)) is the most powerful tool in Texas personal injury law. If a plaintiff makes a settlement demand within policy limits and the insurer unreasonably refuses, the insurer becomes liable for the entire verdict—even amounts exceeding policy limits.

Requirements:

1. Claim within scope of coverage
2. Demand within policy limits
3. Terms an ordinarily prudent insurer would accept
4. Full release offered

For clear-liability cases (rear-ends, DUI, negligence per se), a Stowers demand forces the insurer to settle or risk paying the full judgment—potentially ten times the policy limits.

Independent Contractor Defense: How to Defeat It

Many carriers—Amazon DSP, FedEx Ground, oilfield service contractors—try to avoid liability by claiming the driver was an independent contractor, not an employee. Three tests defeat this defense:

1. ABC Test: The worker is presumed an employee unless all three prove true:

   • Free from company control
   • Performs work outside company’s usual course of business
   • Customarily engaged in independently established business

   Amazon DSP drivers fail prong (B)—delivering packages IS Amazon’s business.

2. Economic Reality Test: Examines degree of company control, worker’s opportunity for profit/loss, investment in equipment, special skill, permanency, and whether the service is integral to the company’s business.

3. Right-to-Control Test: Does the company retain the right to control HOW the work is done? Setting routes, schedules, delivery quotas, requiring uniforms, providing equipment, monitoring performance, authority to terminate—these are hallmarks of employment.

Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, worked for years at a national defense firm where he deployed these arguments on behalf of carriers. Now he defeats them.

The Federal Regulations: What the Carrier Was Supposed to Do

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) under 49 C.F.R. Parts 390 through 399 are the spine of every trucking case. A violation of any of these regulations supports negligence per se under Texas common law and Pattern Jury Charge 27.2.

Hours of Service (49 C.F.R. Part 395)

The hours-of-service (HOS) rules are the single most common—and most provable—form of carrier negligence. The rules cap a property-carrying commercial driver at:

• 11 driving hours within a 14-hour duty window
• After 10 consecutive hours off duty
• 60-hour cap over 7 consecutive days
• 70-hour cap over 8 consecutive days

The electronic logging device (ELD), mandated since December 2017 under 49 C.F.R. Part 395 Subpart B, records every minute the truck moves. When the ELD log shows a driver in “on-duty not driving” status at the moment of the crash but the dashcam shows them at highway speed, we have a falsified log. That’s no longer ordinary negligence—it’s the gross-negligence predicate under Chapter 41.

Driver Qualification (49 C.F.R. Part 391)

Before hiring a driver, the carrier must:

• Verify a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) (§ 391.23(a)(2))
• Obtain a motor vehicle record (MVR) from every state where the driver held a license in the past 3 years (§ 391.23(a)(1))
• Conduct a road test or accept a road test certificate from a prior employer (§ 391.31)
• Obtain a medical examiner’s certificate (§ 391.41)
• Review the driver’s employment history for the past 3 years (§ 391.23(a)(3))
• Check the FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (§ 391.23(a)(4))

If the carrier hired a driver with a suspended CDL, a history of DUI, or a pattern of preventable crashes, that’s negligent hiring—and it’s direct negligence against the carrier, not just respondeat superior.

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection (49 C.F.R. Part 396)

The carrier must:

• Inspect, repair, and maintain all vehicles under its control (§ 396.3)
• Ensure drivers conduct pre-trip inspections (§ 396.13)
• Keep records of inspections and repairs for 1 year (§ 396.3)

Brake-system failures, tire blowouts, and lighting malfunctions are all maintenance failures under Part 396. The carrier’s maintenance file is the documentary spine of these cases.

Drug and Alcohol Testing (49 C.F.R. Part 382)

The carrier must:

• Conduct pre-employment drug testing (§ 382.301)
• Conduct random drug and alcohol testing (§ 382.305)
• Conduct post-accident testing if the crash involved a fatality or if the driver received a citation (§ 382.303)
• Maintain records in the FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

A positive post-accident screen for alcohol or controlled substances is the clearest path to gross negligence under Chapter 41.

Insurance Minimums (49 C.F.R. § 387.7)

The federal minimum liability insurance for commercial vehicles depends on the vehicle type:

For fatal crashes, these minimums are often just the starting point. Excess and umbrella policies frequently layer on top.

The Investigation: What We Do in the First 48 Hours

Evidence in commercial-vehicle cases has a half-life measured in days. Here’s what we do immediately:

1. Send the preservation letter to the carrier, the broker, the shipper, and any third-party telematics provider. The letter identifies:

   • The truck’s electronic control module (ECM)
   • The electronic logging device (ELD)
   • The dashcam footage (driver-facing and forward-facing)
   • The dispatch communications
   • The Qualcomm or PeopleNet telematics feed
   • The maintenance records
   • The driver qualification file
   • The prior preventability determinations
   • The post-accident drug and alcohol screen
   • Any Form MCS-90 endorsement on the policy

   We put the carrier on notice that spoliation will be argued—and an adverse inference charge sought—if any of this disappears.

2. Pull the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) record on the driver. The PSP report shows the driver’s crash and inspection history for the past 5 years.

3. Pull the carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile by USDOT number. The SMS tracks the carrier across seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs):

   • Unsafe Driving
   • Hours-of-Service Compliance
   • Driver Fitness
   • Controlled Substances/Alcohol
   • Vehicle Maintenance
   • Hazardous Materials Compliance
   • Crash Indicator

   A pattern in any BASIC is a documented history of the carrier ignoring its own safety problems.

4. Deploy an accident reconstruction expert to the scene if needed. We document:

   • Skid marks and gouges
   • Vehicle rest positions
   • Roadway geometry
   • Traffic control devices
   • Environmental conditions
   • Electronic control module (ECM) data
   • Event data recorder (EDR) data

5. Subpoena the ELD and ECM data downloads within 72 hours. ELD data shows:

   • Vehicle speed at impact
   • Braking events
   • Acceleration patterns
   • GPS location
   • Driver log status

   ECM data shows:

   • Engine RPM
   • Throttle position
   • Brake application
   • Clutch engagement
   • Cruise control status

6. Obtain the police crash report and interview responding officers. The report documents:

   • Roadway conditions
   • Weather
   • Lighting
   • Contributing factors
   • Citations issued

7. Photograph the vehicles before they’re repaired or scrapped. We document:

   • Damage patterns
   • Underride guard integrity
   • Brake-system condition
   • Tire tread depth
   • Lighting functionality

8. Pull surveillance footage from businesses near the scene. Most retail systems overwrite in 7–14 days. We act fast.

9. Identify all potentially liable parties for the preservation list. The driver is just the first.

The Defendants: Who We Sue Beyond the Driver

In a fatal tractor-trailer crash in Collin County, the universe of defendants extends far beyond the driver behind the wheel. Here’s who we pursue:

1. The motor carrier employer – Vicarious liability under respondeat superior, plus direct negligence for hiring, training, supervision, and dispatch decisions.
2. The freight broker – Negligent selection of an unsafe carrier under cases like Miller v. C.H. Robinson. If the broker dispatched a load to a carrier with a documented safety record, the broker shares liability.
3. The shipper – If the shipper directed unsafe loading, scheduling, or routing, they’re directly liable.
4. The maintenance contractor – If a third-party contractor was responsible for the truck’s maintenance, they’re directly liable for any failure.
5. The parts manufacturer – If a defective part (brakes, tires, steering, airbags) contributed to the crash, the manufacturer is strictly liable under product liability law.
6. The road designer or Texas Department of Transportation – If a roadway defect (missing guardrails, potholes, shoulder drop-offs) contributed, the designer or TxDOT is liable under the Texas Tort Claims Act.
7. The municipality – If municipal infrastructure (malfunctioning signals, missing signs) contributed, the municipality is liable under the Texas Tort Claims Act.
8. The insurer – Under direct-action principles, where applicable.
9. The parent corporation – Under alter-ego or single-business-enterprise theory.
10. The cargo loaders – If loading violated 49 C.F.R. Part 393 Subpart I (cargo securement).

A fatal crash in Collin County isn’t one case—it’s a coordinated set of claims against every party whose conduct contributed to the loss.

The Damages: What Your Family Can Recover

Texas damages categories in a fatal truck crash aren’t a single number on a settlement sheet. They’re a structured set of compensable harms that the Texas Pattern Jury Charge breaks out separately.

Economic Damages

• Past medical care: Ambulance, ER, trauma bay, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation.
• Future medical care: Lifetime cost of follow-up care, attendant care, mobility equipment, medication, surgical revisions—calculated by a life-care planner and a medical economist.
• Past lost earnings: Income the decedent would have earned from the date of injury to the date of death.
• Future lost earning capacity: The entire career trajectory the decedent lost—calculated by a vocational expert and an economist.

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain: The conscious pain the decedent endured between injury and death.
• Mental anguish: The emotional suffering the decedent endured.
• Physical impairment: The loss of physical function the decedent experienced.
• Disfigurement: Permanent scars, burns, amputations.
• Loss of consortium (spouse): The loss of companionship, love, and intimacy.
• Loss of companionship and society (children/parents): The loss of guidance, support, and affection.
• Pecuniary loss (wrongful death): The financial support the decedent would have provided.
• Loss of inheritance: The amount the decedent would have saved and left to heirs.

Exemplary (Punitive) Damages

Where gross negligence is established by clear and convincing evidence, Chapter 41 exemplary damages enter on top. The felony exception applies if the driver was charged with intoxication manslaughter.

The Carrier’s Defense Playbook—and How We Counter It

The carrier’s defense lawyer has a script. We’ve heard every line of it before we walk into the courtroom. Here’s what they’ll say—and how we answer.

The Colossus Algorithm: How the Carrier Values Your Case

Most insurance companies use proprietary claim valuation software—Colossus, Liability Decision Manager, Claim IQ—to algorithmically value bodily injury claims. The software ingests:

• Medical codes and treatment duration
• Injury type
• Geographic and demographic modifiers

The geographic modifier values claims based on the historical jury verdict pattern in the venue. Conservative counties produce lower modifier values. Plaintiff-friendly counties—like Harris, Dallas, and Travis—produce higher modifier values.

Why Lupe matters here: Lupe Peña worked inside this system for years. He knows which medical codes the software weights most heavily, which treatment durations trigger value bumps, and which demographic markers reduce the modifier. He knows what evidence to develop to push the Colossus value up before negotiations begin.

What This Means for Your Family in Collin County

The carrier’s first offer is always a fraction of what your case is worth. They’re not negotiating against you—they’re negotiating against the software’s number. We don’t accept the algorithm’s first number. We develop evidence specifically calibrated to push the value past the modifier ceiling.

The Two-Year Clock Under Section 16.003

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 gives you exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful-death action. The clock runs whether or not the carrier’s insurer is returning calls. Once it runs, the case dies procedurally, and the carrier walks away from a viable claim.

We never approach a case assuming the clock can be extended. We act early to preserve every legal option.

The Evidence Is Disappearing Right Now

The 48-hour window is ticking. We send the preservation letter that locks it all down.

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Collin County Case

Ralph Manginello: 27+ Years of Texas Trucking Litigation

Ralph Manginello has been representing injury victims in Texas courtrooms since 1998. He grew up in Houston’s Memorial area, went to UT Austin, and has spent his career fighting for families in communities like Collin County. When your case is filed in Collin County District Court, Ralph’s 27+ years of experience and federal court admission mean he’s standing in a courtroom he knows—not one he’s visiting.

Ralph was one of the few attorneys in Texas involved in the BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation, where 15 workers were killed and 180+ injured. He understands the corporate-conduct patterns that produce nuclear verdicts.

Lupe Peña: The Insurance Defense Advantage

Lupe Peña worked for years at a national defense firm, where he learned firsthand how large insurance companies value claims. He calculated them himself. He knows which independent medical examiners they favor—he hired them. He knows how they take innocent activity out of context on surveillance video. He knows the Colossus algorithm inside and out.

Now he fights for you.

“I’ve reviewed hundreds of surveillance videos and social media posts as a defense attorney. Here’s the truth: insurance companies take innocent activity out of context. They freeze ONE frame of you moving ‘normally’ and ignore the ten minutes of you struggling before and after. They’re not documenting your life—they’re building ammunition against you.”
— Lupe Peña, Associate Attorney

Our Case Results: Multi-Million Dollar Recoveries

“Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.”

1. Logging Brain Injury — $5+ Million
   “Multi-million dollar settlement for client who suffered brain injury with vision loss when log dropped on him at logging company.”

2. Car Accident Amputation — $3.8+ Million
   “In a recent case, our client’s leg was injured in a car accident. Staff infections during treatment led to a partial amputation. This case settled in the millions.”

3. Trucking Wrongful Death — Millions
   “At Attorney 911, our personal injury attorneys have helped numerous injured individuals and families facing trucking-related wrongful death cases recover millions of dollars in compensation.”

4. Maritime Jones Act Back Injury — $2+ Million
   “In a recent case, our client injured his back while lifting cargo on a ship. Our investigation revealed that he should have been assisted in this duty, and we were able to reach a significant cash settlement.”

5. BP Texas City Explosion Litigation
   “Our firm is one of the few firms in Texas to be involved in BP explosion litigation.”

What Our Clients Say

“Melanie was excellent. She kept me informed and when she said she would call me back, she did. I got to speak with Ralph Manginello once and knew quickly the way his Firm was ran.”
— Brian Butchee

“When I felt I had no hope or direction, Leonor reached out to me…She took all the weight of my worries off my shoulders.”
— Stephanie Hernandez

“Special thank you to my attorney, Mr. Pena, for your kindness and patience with my repeated questions.”
— Chelsea Martinez

“Consistent communication and not one time did i call and not get a clear answer…Ralph reached out personally.”
— Dame Haskett

“One of Houston’s Great Men Trae Tha Truth has recommended this law firm. So if he is vouching for them then I know they do good work.”
— Jacqueline Johnson

Three Office Locations Serving Texas

• Houston (Primary): 1177 West Loop S, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027
• Houston (Secondary): 1635 Dunlavy Street, Houston, TX 77006-1007
• Austin: 316 West 12th Street, Suite 311, Austin, TX 78701-1844
• Beaumont: Available for client meetings throughout the Golden Triangle

Contingency Fee: No Fee Unless We Recover

We work on a contingency fee basis:

• 33.33% pre-trial
• 40% if trial

You pay zero upfront. We only get paid when we win for you. You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

24/7 Live Staff: Call 1-888-ATTY-911

You’re not calling an answering service. You’re calling a team that’s ready to act now.

What to Do Next: The 48-Hour Evidence Preservation Protocol

1. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) for a free case evaluation. In 15 minutes, we’ll tell you exactly what your case may be worth—with no obligation.
2. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company. Anything you say can and will be used against you.
3. Do not sign anything without talking to us first. The carrier’s first offer is designed to close the file for the lowest number the law lets them pay.
4. Preserve evidence immediately. We’ll send the preservation letter that locks down the ELD, the dashcam, the maintenance records, and the driver qualification file before the carrier can delete them.
5. Pull the FMCSA records. We’ll open the carrier’s Safety Measurement System profile and the driver’s Pre-Employment Screening Program record before discovery formally opens.

For Spanish-Speaking Families in Collin County

Si su familia perdió a un ser querido en un accidente con un camión de carga en el Condado de Collin, el reloj legal ya está corriendo. La ley de Texas otorga dos años desde la fecha de la lesión fatal para presentar una demanda por homicidio culposo. Atendemos a las familias en español, desde la primera llamada hasta la última audiencia en el tribunal del condado donde se presente el caso. Lo que el transportista quiere es que usted espere.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will my case take?

Most trucking cases settle within 6 to 12 months. We push for resolution as fast as possible without sacrificing value. Cases that go to trial may take 18–24 months.

What if the truck driver was also killed?

If the commercial driver was killed, their estate may hold a separate claim. Workers’ compensation may also apply, but third-party liability claims against the carrier, broker, and other defendants remain viable.

Can I sue if my loved one was partially at fault?

Texas allows recovery even if your loved one was 50% at fault. Recovery is reduced by the percentage of fault. At 51% or more, recovery is zero.

What if the trucking company is based out of state?

We sue out-of-state carriers in Texas courts when the crash occurred in Texas. The carrier’s Texas operations and Texas insurance coverage determine jurisdiction.

What if the truck was a government vehicle?

Government vehicles—police cars, fire trucks, TxDOT maintenance vehicles—are subject to the Texas Tort Claims Act. You must file a pre-suit notice within 6 months, and damages are capped.

What if the driver was under the influence?

A positive post-accident drug or alcohol screen opens the door to punitive damages under Chapter 41. The felony exception removes the cap, and the judgment is not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

What if the trucking company declares bankruptcy?

Most commercial carriers carry liability insurance that remains in force even if the company files for bankruptcy. We pursue the insurer directly.

What if I already have a lawyer but I’m not happy?

You can switch lawyers at any time. If your current attorney isn’t returning calls, isn’t updating you, or is pushing you to settle too low, call us.

What if I don’t speak English?

Hablamos Español. Lupe Peña maneja su caso personalmente. Su estatus migratorio no importa—usted tiene derechos.

What if I can’t afford a lawyer?

We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid when we win for you. You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

Collin County’s Freight Reality: Why This Happens Here

Collin County isn’t just another Texas suburb—it’s a critical node in the North Texas freight network. The corridors that carry our economy also carry the risk that took your loved one.

The Corridors That Define Collin County’s Risk

• Interstate 75 (U.S. 75): The primary north-south artery through McKinney, Allen, and Plano carries long-haul freight between Dallas and the Red River, with fatality clusters concentrated in the morning and evening commutes.
• President George Bush Turnpike (SH 190): The tollway’s interchange with U.S. 75 and the Dallas North Tollway is a documented high-crash zone, where merging tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles collide at speeds that leave little room for error.
• U.S. Highway 380: The east-west route through McKinney, Princeton, and Farmersville carries oilfield service vehicles, agricultural haulers, and regional freight, with fatal crashes frequently occurring at uncontrolled intersections.
• Dallas North Tollway: While primarily a passenger corridor, the DNT sees significant commercial traffic serving the corporate campuses of Plano and Frisco, with fatal crashes often tied to lane-change violations.
• Feeder roads and FM routes: Farm-to-market roads like FM 544, FM 428, and FM 2478 carry local freight, agricultural vehicles, and oilfield service trucks, where fatal crashes are 2.66 times more likely to occur than on urban interstates.

The Industries That Drive Collin County’s Freight

• Corporate headquarters: Plano is home to major corporations like Toyota, Frito-Lay, and J.C. Penney, with significant last-mile delivery traffic serving their campuses.
• E-commerce distribution: Amazon, FedEx, and UPS operate major distribution centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, with last-mile delivery vans running daily routes through Collin County’s neighborhoods.
• Oil and gas: While not in the Permian Basin, Collin County sits at the crossroads of the Eagle Ford Shale and the Barnett Shale legacy region, with oilfield service vehicles transiting U.S. 380 and FM routes.
• Construction: Collin County’s booming construction industry relies on dump trucks, cement mixers, and flatbeds carrying steel and lumber.
• Food and beverage: Sysco’s Dallas distribution center serves Collin County’s restaurants and grocery stores, with refrigerated trailers and box trucks operating daily.

The Carriers That Operate Here

• Long-haul interstate: Werner Enterprises, J.B. Hunt, Schneider National, Swift Transportation
• Last-mile delivery: Amazon DSP, FedEx Ground, UPS
• Oilfield service: Halliburton, Schlumberger, Patterson-UTI
• Food and beverage: Sysco, US Foods, Performance Food Group
• Construction and aggregates: Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta
• Government and municipal: Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Plano Police Department, regional transit authorities

The Bottom Line: What Your Family Faces—and How We Help

The carrier that killed your loved one has a team working against you 24/7. They have lawyers, adjusters, investigators, and a playbook designed to close your file for the lowest number the law lets them pay. They’re counting on you to wait, to sign the first offer, to let the evidence disappear.

We don’t let that happen.

We send the preservation letter that locks down the evidence. We pull the FMCSA records before discovery formally opens. We name every defendant whose conduct contributed to the crash. We build the case for the full value of your claim—past and future medical care, lost earning capacity, physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and where the conduct rises to gross negligence, exemplary damages.

We don’t stop at the driver. We sue the trucking companies, the brokers, the shippers, and the corporate parents. We file in the county the carrier wishes you wouldn’t file in. We make them carry the cost of delay.

And we do it all on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid when we win for you.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) now. The clock is running. The evidence is disappearing. Your family deserves justice. We’ll fight for it.