Fatal 18-Wheeler and Tractor-Trailer Crashes in Palo Pinto County, Texas

You’re reading this because someone you love didn’t come home from a road they’ve driven a thousand times. The stretch of Interstate 20 that runs through Palo Pinto County – where oilfield service trucks, long-haul semis, and local traffic mix in a daily dance of steel and diesel – took your father, your spouse, your child, your sibling. The Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System recorded 5,335 crashes in Palo Pinto County in 2024 alone, with commercial vehicles involved in a disproportionate share of the most severe incidents. On I-20 between Mineral Wells and Weatherford, where the speed limit jumps to 75 mph and the traffic thins between Fort Worth and the Permian Basin, the physics of an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer at highway speed leaves no margin for error.

We know what comes next because we’ve handled hundreds of these cases across Texas. The carrier whose driver caused the crash has lawyers who started working the moment the wreck happened. The electronic logging device that recorded the driver’s hours of service is overwriting itself right now. The dashcam footage from the cab is cycling to the next shift. The maintenance records that might show a brake system failure are being “reviewed” by the carrier’s safety director. The two-year clock under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 started the day of the crash – not when you felt ready to think about a lawyer, not when the funeral was over, not when the police report finally arrived. That clock runs whether or not anyone from the trucking company returns your calls.

This isn’t theoretical. It’s the documented reality of commercial vehicle crashes in Palo Pinto County. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Safety Measurement System tracks every carrier that runs I-20 through Palo Pinto County – the oilfield service companies moving water and sand between well sites, the long-haul fleets carrying freight between Fort Worth and Midland, the local haulers serving the county’s ranches and small businesses. When we pull the SMS profile on the carrier involved in your case, we’ll see the pattern in the Crash Indicator and Hours-of-Service Compliance BASIC categories. That pattern is what changes how the case gets handled – not by the carrier’s adjuster, but by us.

The Reality of Fatal Big-Rig Crashes on Palo Pinto County’s Roads

Palo Pinto County sits at the crossroads of two major Texas freight corridors. Interstate 20 carries long-haul traffic between Fort Worth and the Permian Basin oilfields, while U.S. Highway 180 and State Highway 16 connect the county to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the rural communities to the west. The county’s position along these routes means its roads see a mix of:

Oilfield service trucks – water haulers, sand haulers, and equipment movers serving the Barnett Shale and other nearby production areas
Long-haul semis – tractor-trailers moving freight between Fort Worth, Abilene, and Midland
Local commercial vehicles – delivery trucks, dump trucks, and other vehicles serving Palo Pinto County’s ranches, farms, and small businesses
Government and municipal vehicles – TxDOT maintenance trucks, county vehicles, and emergency response vehicles

This freight environment creates specific crash patterns that differ from urban areas. On rural highways like I-20 and SH-16, crashes involving commercial vehicles are 2.66 times more likely to be fatal than in urban areas, according to TxDOT data. The reasons are clear:

Higher speeds – 75 mph speed limits on I-20 mean less reaction time
Longer EMS response times – rural areas have fewer emergency responders and longer distances to trauma centers
Limited trauma care access – the nearest Level I trauma center is at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, nearly an hour away by ground transport
Fatigue and hours-of-service violations – oilfield service drivers often work extended shifts moving between well sites
Load securement issues – flatbeds carrying oilfield equipment, pipe, and other oversized loads create unique hazards

When a fatal crash occurs on these roads, the investigation must account for these Palo Pinto County-specific factors. We don’t approach these cases with a generic Texas trucking accident template. We approach them knowing the carrier mix, the corridor risks, and the county’s unique industrial profile.

What Texas Law Provides for Surviving Families

Texas law gives surviving family members specific legal rights after a fatal commercial vehicle crash. These rights are structured through two main legal actions:

Wrongful Death Claims Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.001 et seq.

The wrongful death statute allows certain family members to bring claims for the losses they’ve suffered due to their loved one’s death. Under § 71.004, the following individuals can bring wrongful death claims:

Surviving spouse
Children (including adult children and those born out of wedlock)
Parents (including adoptive parents)

Each of these individuals holds an independent claim. This means that in a Palo Pinto County wrongful death case, there may be multiple claims filed – one for the surviving spouse, one for each child, and one for each parent. These are not combined into a single claim; they are separate legal actions that must each be pursued within the two-year statute of limitations.

The damages available in a wrongful death claim include:

Pecuniary losses – the financial support the deceased would have provided
Loss of companionship and society – the emotional loss of the relationship
Mental anguish – the emotional pain and suffering caused by the loss
Loss of inheritance – what the deceased would have saved and left to their heirs

Survival Actions Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.021

The survival statute preserves the claim that the deceased person would have had if they had survived. This claim belongs to the estate and covers:

Pain and suffering the deceased experienced between the injury and death
Medical expenses incurred before death
Funeral and burial expenses

The survival action is separate from the wrongful death claims and has its own two-year statute of limitations running from the date of death.

The Two-Year Statute of Limitations Under § 16.003

Both wrongful death claims and survival actions are subject to a strict two-year statute of limitations. This means you have exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a lawsuit. The clock starts running whether or not:

The police report has been finalized
The autopsy report is complete
The carrier’s insurer is returning calls
You feel emotionally ready to pursue the case

Once the two years pass, the case is barred forever. There are very limited exceptions to this rule, and they are difficult to prove. The carrier’s strategy often involves delaying the case past this deadline, counting on families to focus on grieving rather than legal deadlines.

The Federal Regulations That Govern Commercial Trucking in Texas

Commercial trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) establish comprehensive rules that carriers and drivers must follow. When these regulations are violated, they can provide powerful evidence of negligence in a Palo Pinto County trucking accident case.

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

The hours-of-service rules are designed to prevent driver fatigue, which is a leading cause of commercial vehicle crashes. These rules include:

11-hour driving limit – A driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
14-hour duty limit – A driver may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty
30-minute break requirement – Drivers must take a 30-minute break when they have driven for 8 cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption
60/70-hour limit – Drivers may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days
Sleeper berth provision – Drivers using a sleeper berth must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two

The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate, which took full effect in December 2017, requires most commercial drivers to use ELDs to record their hours of service. These devices create an electronic record that can be used to prove violations. However, carriers and drivers have developed ways to manipulate ELD data, which is why we always cross-reference the ELD logs with other records like fuel receipts, toll records, and GPS data.

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

The driver qualification rules establish minimum standards for commercial drivers. These include:

Commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements – Drivers must have the appropriate class of CDL for the vehicle they operate
Medical certification – Drivers must pass a medical examination and carry a valid medical certificate
Driving record checks – Carriers must review a driver’s motor vehicle record from every state where the driver has held a license in the past three years
Background checks – Carriers must investigate a driver’s employment history for the past three years
Road test – Drivers must pass a road test or equivalent
Drug and alcohol testing – Drivers are subject to pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion testing

The Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) provides carriers with a driver’s crash and inspection history from the past five years. We pull this record in every Palo Pinto County trucking case to see if the driver had a pattern of preventable crashes or safety violations at previous employers.

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

The vehicle maintenance rules require carriers to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all commercial motor vehicles under their control. Key requirements include:

Pre-trip inspections – Drivers must inspect their vehicles before each trip
Post-trip inspections – Drivers must submit a written report of any defects or deficiencies
Periodic inspections – Vehicles must undergo a comprehensive inspection at least once every 12 months
Brake system requirements – Specific standards for brake performance and adjustment
Tire requirements – Minimum tread depth and prohibition on recapped tires on the front wheels of certain vehicles

Maintenance records can provide powerful evidence of negligence. In one recent case, we discovered that a carrier had repeatedly cited a truck for brake violations during inspections but continued to dispatch the vehicle without making the necessary repairs. When the truck’s brakes failed on I-20 near Mineral Wells, causing a fatal crash, the maintenance records became key evidence of gross negligence.

Cargo Securement Requirements (49 C.F.R. Part 393, Subpart I)

The cargo securement rules establish minimum standards for how cargo must be secured to prevent shifting or falling from commercial vehicles. These rules apply to:

General freight – Box trailers and other enclosed vehicles
Specialized cargo – Heavy machinery, pipe, lumber, steel coils
Hazardous materials – Additional requirements for flammable, toxic, or corrosive materials

When cargo shifts or falls from a commercial vehicle, it can cause catastrophic crashes. In oilfield service areas like those near Palo Pinto County, flatbeds carrying pipe, drilling equipment, and other heavy loads create unique securement challenges. We investigate whether the carrier followed the specific securement requirements for the type of cargo involved in the crash.

The Investigation We Begin Within 48 Hours

When we take a fatal trucking accident case in Palo Pinto County, we begin an intensive investigation immediately. Evidence in these cases has a short half-life, and every hour counts. Here’s what we do in the first 48 hours:

Send Preservation Letters

Within hours of taking the case, we send preservation letters to:

The motor carrier
The freight broker (if applicable)
The shipper (if applicable)
Any third-party telematics provider

The preservation letter identifies all evidence that must be preserved, including:

Electronic control module (ECM) data
Electronic logging device (ELD) data
Dashcam footage (forward-facing and driver-facing)
Dispatch records
Qualcomm or PeopleNet telematics data
Maintenance records
Driver qualification file
Prior preventability determinations
Post-accident drug and alcohol test results
Any Form MCS-90 endorsement on the policy

We put the carrier on notice that spoliation – the intentional or negligent destruction of evidence – will be argued, and an adverse inference charge will be sought if any of this evidence disappears.

Pull FMCSA Records

We immediately pull the following records from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile – Shows the carrier’s performance in seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs)
Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) record – Shows the driver’s crash and inspection history for the past five years
SAFER profile – Provides basic information about the carrier, including its USDOT number, operating status, and insurance coverage

These records give us a comprehensive picture of the carrier’s safety history and the driver’s background before we even file the lawsuit.

Deploy Accident Reconstruction Expert

If necessary, we deploy an accident reconstruction expert to the scene. This expert will:

Document the scene with photographs and measurements
Download data from the vehicles’ electronic control modules
Analyze skid marks, vehicle damage, and other physical evidence
Create a reconstruction of how the crash occurred

In fatal crashes, accident reconstruction is often critical to proving liability, especially in disputed liability cases.

Obtain Police Crash Report

We obtain the police crash report as soon as it becomes available. In Palo Pinto County, crash reports are typically handled by:

Texas Department of Public Safety (for crashes on state highways and interstates)
Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office (for crashes on county roads)
Local police departments (for crashes within city limits)

The crash report provides important information about the crash, including the officer’s initial assessment of fault, witness statements, and any citations issued.

Photograph Injuries and Vehicles

We photograph:

The client’s injuries (with medical documentation)
All vehicles involved (before they are repaired or scrapped)
The crash scene (if it hasn’t been cleared)

These photographs provide visual evidence of the severity of the crash and the injuries sustained.

The Defendants Beyond the Driver

In most fatal trucking accident cases, the driver is just one of several potentially liable parties. We pursue every party whose negligence contributed to the crash. These may include:

The Motor Carrier

The carrier that employed the driver is typically the primary defendant. We pursue the carrier under several legal theories:

Respondeat superior – The carrier is vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence committed within the course and scope of employment
Negligent hiring – The carrier failed to properly screen the driver before hiring
Negligent training – The carrier failed to properly train the driver
Negligent supervision – The carrier failed to properly monitor the driver’s performance
Negligent retention – The carrier knew or should have known about the driver’s unsafe behavior but continued to employ them
Negligent maintenance – The carrier failed to properly maintain the vehicle

The Freight Broker

If a freight broker arranged the load, they may be liable for negligent selection of the carrier. Under cases like Miller v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., brokers have a duty to vet carriers and ensure they have adequate safety records. If the broker dispatched the load to a carrier with a poor safety history, they may share liability.

The Shipper

The shipper that arranged the load may be liable if they:

Directed the driver to violate hours-of-service regulations
Loaded the cargo improperly
Failed to disclose hazardous materials
Directed the driver to take an unsafe route

The Maintenance Contractor

If a third-party contractor performed maintenance on the vehicle, they may be liable for any maintenance failures that contributed to the crash.

The Parts Manufacturer

If a defective part – such as a brake component, tire, or steering mechanism – contributed to the crash, the manufacturer may be liable under product liability law.

The Road Designer or Government Entity

If road design, signage, or maintenance contributed to the crash, the government entity responsible for the road may be liable. In Texas, these claims are governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act, which has specific notice requirements and damages caps.

The Corporate Parent

If the carrier is a subsidiary of a larger corporation, we may be able to “pierce the corporate veil” and hold the parent corporation liable under alter-ego or single-business-enterprise theories.

How Texas Pattern Jury Charges Submit Damages to a Jury

In a Palo Pinto County trucking accident case, the jury will decide the case based on the questions submitted in the Texas Pattern Jury Charges. These charges break down the legal elements that must be proven and the damages that may be awarded. Here are the key charges that apply in fatal trucking cases:

PJC 27.1 – General Negligence

This charge asks the jury to determine:

Whether the defendant was negligent
Whether the defendant’s negligence was a proximate cause of the occurrence in question
The percentage of responsibility attributed to each party

PJC 27.2 – Negligence Per Se

When a federal regulation is violated, we can ask for a negligence per se instruction. This charge asks the jury to determine:

Whether the defendant violated the specified regulation
Whether the violation was a proximate cause of the occurrence

PJC 5.1 – Gross Negligence

If we can prove gross negligence by clear and convincing evidence, we can seek exemplary damages. This charge defines gross negligence as:

An act or omission that, when viewed objectively from the standpoint of the actor at the time of its occurrence, involved an extreme degree of risk, considering the probability and magnitude of the potential harm to others
The actor’s subjective awareness of the risk and proceeding with conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others

PJC 71.1 – Wrongful Death Damages

For wrongful death claims, the jury is asked to award damages for:

Pecuniary loss (financial support the deceased would have provided)
Loss of companionship and society
Mental anguish

PJC 71.2 – Survival Damages

For the survival action, the jury is asked to award damages for:

Pain and mental anguish suffered by the deceased before death
Medical expenses incurred before death
Funeral and burial expenses

PJC 71.3 – Loss of Inheritance

This charge asks the jury to award damages for the present value of the inheritance the plaintiff would have received if the deceased had lived a normal life expectancy.

PJC 71.4 – Exemplary Damages

If gross negligence is proven, the jury may award exemplary damages to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future.

The Defense Playbook in Palo Pinto County Trucking Cases – and Our Answer

Insurance companies and trucking companies follow predictable defense playbooks in fatal trucking accident cases. Here’s what they’ll do and how we counter each tactic:

Quick Lowball Settlement Offer

What they do: The adjuster calls within days of the crash with a small settlement offer, hoping you’ll accept before talking to a lawyer.

Our counter: First offers are always a fraction of case value. We never advise a client to sign a release in the first 96 hours. We calculate full damages – including future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and the full value of the wrongful death and survival claims – before responding to any offer.

Recorded Statement Trap

What they do: “We just need a quick recorded statement for our files.” The questions are designed to make you minimize injuries or admit fault.

Our counter: That statement will be used against you later. Never give a recorded statement without your attorney present.

Comparative Negligence

What they do: “You were partially at fault – you were speeding/not wearing a seatbelt/changing lanes.”

Our counter: Texas follows modified comparative negligence under Chapter 33. Even at 50% fault, you recover. We anticipate this attack and develop evidence that pushes fault back where it belongs.

Pre-Existing Condition

What they do: “Your loved one had back problems before this accident.”

Our counter: The eggshell skull doctrine: the defendant takes the plaintiff as they find them. If a pre-existing condition was worsened by the crash, the defendant is liable for the aggravation.

Delayed Treatment Defense

What they do: “You didn’t see a doctor for three weeks – so you must not be seriously hurt.”

Our counter: Adrenaline masks pain. Traumatic brain injury symptoms can take days or weeks to appear. Delayed treatment doesn’t mean no injury – and we have the medical evidence to prove it.

Spoliation (Evidence Destruction)

What they do: They don’t announce this – they just do it. ELD data, dashcam footage, dispatch records “disappear” before discovery.

Our counter: We file spoliation preservation letters within 24 hours of taking the case. Every black box record, every ELD log, every maintenance file – locked down before they can “accidentally” delete them.

IME Doctor Selection

What they do: “Independent” medical examiners chosen for their pattern of finding plaintiffs not as injured as they claim.

Our counter: Lupe Peña hired these doctors when he worked for insurance defense firms. He knows the panel. We counter with the victim’s treating physicians and independent experts the carrier can’t impeach.

Surveillance

What they do: Investigators photographing the victim doing anything that looks “normal.”

Our counter: Lupe’s insider quote applies here: “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.” We expose this in deposition.

Delay Tactics

What they do: Drag the case past the statute of limitations, exhaust your resources, force a low settlement out of financial desperation.

Our counter: We file the lawsuit early to force discovery. We set depositions. We make the carrier carry the cost of delay.

Drowning the Plaintiff in Paperwork

What they do: Massive discovery requests designed to overwhelm an underfunded plaintiff’s counsel.

Our counter: We staff the case appropriately and use motion practice to limit overbroad discovery while preserving every record we need.

The Colossus Algorithmic Claim Valuation System

Most insurance companies use proprietary claim valuation software – commonly Colossus – to algorithmically value bodily injury claims. The software ingests medical codes, treatment duration, injury type, and geographic and demographic modifiers, and outputs a settlement range that the adjuster works within.

How Colossus Works

Medical codes – The software looks at the specific ICD-10 codes for injuries and CPT codes for treatments
Treatment duration – How long the treatment lasted and how many visits occurred
Injury type – The software has specific values for different types of injuries
Geographic modifier – The software adjusts values based on the historical jury verdict pattern in the venue
Demographic modifier – The software considers the plaintiff’s age, occupation, and other factors

Why Lupe Peña Matters

Lupe Peña worked inside this system when he was an insurance defense attorney. He understands:

Which medical codes the software weights most heavily
Which treatment durations trigger value bumps
Which demographic markers reduce the modifier
How to develop evidence to push the Colossus value up before negotiations begin

What This Means for Palo Pinto County Cases

Palo Pinto County’s jury verdict history sets the geographic modifier for every Colossus valuation of a Palo Pinto County claim. 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 imposes a strict two-year statute of limitations on personal injury and wrongful death claims. This means you have exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a lawsuit.

When the Clock Starts

The two-year clock starts running on the date of the fatal injury – not on:

The date of the funeral
The date the autopsy report is released
The date the police report is finalized
The day you feel ready to think about a lawyer

What Happens When the Clock Runs Out

The Two-Year Clock on Each Claim

In a fatal trucking accident case, there are typically multiple claims:

Wrongful death claims for the surviving spouse, children, and parents
The survival action for the estate
Any personal injury claims for survivors who were injured but not killed

Each of these claims has its own two-year statute of limitations running from the date of the injury or death.

How Attorney 911 Approaches Your Palo Pinto County Case

We’ve been handling fatal trucking accident cases in Texas since 1998. Ralph Manginello has represented trucking accident victims and their families in courts across the state, including in Palo Pinto County and the surrounding counties. Here’s how we approach your case:

Immediate Evidence Preservation

Within 48 hours of taking your case, we:

Send preservation letters to the carrier, broker, shipper, and any third-party telematics provider
Pull the FMCSA Safety Measurement System profile on the carrier
Pull the Pre-Employment Screening Program record on the driver
Deploy an accident reconstruction expert to the scene if necessary
Obtain the police crash report
Photograph injuries and vehicles

Comprehensive Investigation

We conduct a thorough investigation that includes:

Subpoenaing ELD and black box data downloads
Requesting the driver’s paper log books (backup documentation)
Obtaining the complete Driver Qualification File from the carrier
Requesting all truck maintenance and inspection records
Ordering the driver’s complete Motor Vehicle Record
Subpoenaing the driver’s cell phone records
Obtaining dispatch records and delivery schedules
Pulling surveillance footage from businesses near the scene

Expert Analysis

We work with a team of experts to build your case:

Accident reconstruction specialists to analyze how the crash occurred
Medical experts to establish causation and future care needs
Vocational experts to calculate lost earning capacity
Economic experts to determine the present value of all damages
Life care planners to develop detailed care plans for catastrophic injuries
FMCSA regulation experts to identify all violations

Aggressive Litigation Strategy

We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial:

Filing the lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires
Pursuing full discovery against all potentially liable parties
Deposing the truck driver, dispatcher, safety manager, and maintenance personnel
Building the case for trial while negotiating settlement from a position of strength

Compassionate Client Service

We understand that this is a difficult time for your family. We provide:

Regular updates on your case
Clear explanations of the legal process
Compassionate support throughout the journey
Bilingual services if needed (hablamos español)

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Palo Pinto County Trucking Accident Case

When you’re facing the aftermath of a fatal trucking accident, you need a law firm with the experience, resources, and commitment to fight for you. Here’s what sets Attorney 911 apart:

27+ Years of Experience

Ralph Manginello has been representing injury victims in Texas since 1998. He’s handled hundreds of trucking accident cases, including some of the most complex and high-profile cases in the state. With admission to federal court and 27 years of trial experience, Ralph brings a depth of knowledge that few attorneys can match.

Insurance Defense Advantage

Lupe Peña worked for years at a national defense firm, learning firsthand how large insurance companies value claims. He understands:

How adjusters calculate settlement offers
Which medical codes Colossus weights most heavily
How to develop evidence to push the value up
The tactics defense attorneys use to minimize claims

As Lupe says, “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.”

Multi-Million Dollar Results

We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients in trucking accident cases. While every case is unique and past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, our track record demonstrates our ability to achieve significant recoveries:

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
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
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
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

Federal Court Experience

Ralph Manginello is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, which covers Palo Pinto County and the surrounding area. This means we can handle cases that involve federal regulations or that may need to be filed in federal court.

BP Texas City Refinery Litigation Experience

Our firm is one of the few firms in Texas to be involved in BP explosion litigation. The 2005 explosion at the BP Texas City Refinery killed 15 workers and injured 180 others. This experience gives us unique insight into handling complex cases involving large corporations and catastrophic injuries.

Active Major Litigation

We’re currently handling a $10 million hazing lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. This case demonstrates our commitment to holding institutions accountable for their negligence.

4.9-Star Google Rating

We have a 4.9-star rating from 251+ Google reviews. Here’s what our clients say about us:

“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

“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

We have offices in:

Houston – 1177 West Loop S, Suite 1600
Austin – 316 West 12th Street, Suite 311
Beaumont – Available for client meetings throughout the Golden Triangle

While our primary office is in Houston, we handle cases throughout Texas, including in Palo Pinto County.

Contingency Fee Structure

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means:

You pay no upfront fees
We only get paid if we recover compensation for you
Our fee is a percentage of the recovery (33.33% pre-trial, 40% if trial)
You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses

What to Do Next

If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal trucking accident in Palo Pinto County, here’s what you should do:

Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 – We’re available 24/7 to take your call
Don’t speak to the insurance company – Anything you say can be used against you
Don’t sign anything – The first offer is always too low
Preserve evidence – Take photos, keep records, save all documents related to the crash
Focus on your family – We’ll handle the legal details

The two-year clock is running. Every day that passes makes it harder to preserve evidence and build your case. Call us today for a free consultation.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact Attorney 911 for a free consultation about your specific situation. You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.