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

You are reading this because someone you love did not come home from a road that everyone in Pecos County drives every day. A fully loaded 18-wheeler—80,000 pounds of steel and cargo moving at highway speed—changed everything for your family in an instant. The crash happened on U.S. Highway 67, Interstate 10, or Farm-to-Market Road 1901, the corridors that carry the Permian Basin’s oilfield traffic, the cross-border freight from Mexico, and the long-haul trucks transiting through West Texas. The carrier whose driver was behind the wheel has lawyers who started working the night of the wreck. The clock under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 started the moment the crash happened—not when the funeral was held, not when the autopsy report came back, not when you felt ready to think about legal action. You have two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful-death claim, and every day that passes is a day the carrier controls evidence that could disappear.

We know the roads of Pecos County. U.S. 67 between Fort Stockton and Alpine is a known high-risk corridor for commercial-vehicle crashes, where oilfield service trucks, water haulers, and sand transporters share the road with passenger vehicles at all hours. Interstate 10 through Pecos and Balmorhea carries the long-haul freight between El Paso and San Antonio, with fatigue crashes peaking in the overnight hours when drivers push past federal hours-of-service limits. FM 1901 and FM 1776 serve the local oil and gas operations, where overweight loads and improperly secured equipment create hazards that the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) has documented at elevated rates. The trauma care your loved one received likely came from Medical Center Hospital in Odessa or Midland Memorial Hospital—Level III trauma centers that stabilize patients before transfer to University Medical Center in Lubbock or El Paso, the nearest Level I facilities. The case will be filed in Pecos County District Court, where the jury pool reflects the community’s deep ties to the oilfield economy and its expectation that corporations follow the rules.

This is not a generic guide. This is what happens next for families in Pecos County after a fatal 18-wheeler crash.

The Legal Framework: What Texas Law Provides for Surviving Families

Texas law gives surviving families a structured path to hold the carrier accountable—but the framework is not intuitive, and the carrier’s insurer will use every procedural delay to run the clock. Here is what you need to know:

1. The Two-Year Statute of Limitations Under § 16.003

You have exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful-death lawsuit in Pecos County District Court. The clock does not stop for grief, for funeral arrangements, or for the carrier’s adjuster to return your calls. If the case is not filed within two years, it dies procedurally. The carrier’s strategy is built on counting on families to miss this deadline.

For families in Pecos County, this means:

• If the crash happened on U.S. 67 near Fort Stockton, the two-year window is ticking.
• If the crash happened on I-10 near Balmorhea, the two-year window is ticking.
• If the carrier’s adjuster is calling with a lowball offer, the two-year window is still ticking.

We file lawsuits early to force discovery and preserve evidence. The carrier counts on families to wait. We do not let them.

2. Wrongful Death and Survival Claims Under §§ 71.001–71.021

Texas law separates the claims that arise from a fatal commercial-vehicle crash into two tracks:

• Wrongful-death claims (Section 71.004): Held by the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the decedent. Each holds an independent claim for pecuniary loss, mental anguish, loss of companionship and society, and loss of inheritance.
• Survival action (Section 71.021): Held by the decedent’s estate for the pain and mental anguish the decedent endured between injury and death.

This means:

• If your spouse was killed, you hold a wrongful-death claim.
• If your child was killed, you and your spouse each hold a wrongful-death claim.
• If your parent was killed, you and your siblings each hold a claim.
• The estate holds a separate claim for the conscious pain your loved one suffered before death.

A multi-fatality crash in Pecos County is not one case. It is a coordinated set of statutory claims that must be filed within the two-year window or they die.

3. The 51% Comparative Negligence Bar Under Chapter 33

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You recover only if the decedent was 50% or less at fault. If the carrier’s adjuster argues that your loved one was “partially to blame” for the crash—speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, changing lanes—they are trying to push fault above 50% to bar recovery entirely.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash happened at night on U.S. 67 and the carrier claims your loved one’s headlights were off, we investigate whether the truck’s lighting system was properly maintained under 49 C.F.R. § 393.9.
• If the crash happened in a work zone on I-10, we investigate whether the carrier violated 49 C.F.R. § 392.14 for hazardous conditions.
• If the carrier claims your loved one “cut in front” of the truck, we analyze the black-box data to determine whether the driver was maintaining a safe following distance under 49 C.F.R. § 392.2.

Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years working for insurance defense firms. He knows how adjusters manipulate fault percentages. Now he defeats those arguments.

4. Punitive Damages and the Felony Exception Under Chapter 41

If the carrier’s conduct rose to gross negligence—reckless disregard for safety, intentional violations of federal regulations, or a pattern of ignoring prior preventability determinations—Texas law allows exemplary (punitive) damages to punish the carrier and deter future misconduct.

The standard cap on punitive damages in Texas is the greater of:

• $200,000, or
• Twice the amount of economic damages plus up to $750,000 in non-economic damages.

But there is a critical exception:
If the underlying conduct was a felony—such as Intoxication Manslaughter (Texas Penal Code § 49.08) or Intoxication Assault (Texas Penal Code § 49.07)—the cap does not apply. The jury can award punitive damages with no statutory limit.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the driver tested positive for alcohol or drugs on the post-accident screening required under 49 C.F.R. § 382.303, the case stops being ordinary negligence and becomes gross negligence.
• If the driver had prior hours-of-service violations that the carrier ignored, that is the pattern of conduct Texas juries punish with nine-figure verdicts.
• If the driver was running under a falsified logbook, that is the kind of corporate misconduct that opens the door to punitive damages.

We build the case from the first investigator at the scene to prove gross negligence by clear and convincing evidence—the standard Texas law requires.

The Federal Regulations the Carrier Was Supposed to Follow

Every commercial truck operating in Pecos County is subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) under 49 C.F.R. Parts 390–399. These are not suggestions. They are the law. When a carrier violates them, Texas courts treat the violation as negligence per se under Pattern Jury Charge 27.2—meaning the jury does not decide whether the carrier was negligent. The law presumes it.

Here are the regulations that matter most in Pecos County fatal crashes:

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

A property-carrying commercial driver is limited to:

• 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 14-hour duty window (including non-driving tasks like loading and unloading).
• 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
• 60/70-hour cap over 7/8 consecutive days.

The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate under 49 C.F.R. Part 395 Subpart B requires carriers to use tamper-resistant devices to track every minute of driving time. But drivers and carriers find ways to manipulate the system—logging “off-duty” time while the truck is moving, splitting shifts between drivers, or dispatching drivers on back-to-back loads without required rest.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash happened at 2 a.m. on I-10, we subpoena the ELD data to see if the driver was running past the 11-hour limit.
• If the driver was hauling frac sand from Kermit to Pecos, we cross-reference the ELD with dispatch records to see if the carrier was pressuring drivers to skip breaks.
• If the ELD shows compliance but the dashcam shows the driver nodding off, we have a falsified log—which is not just negligence, but gross negligence under Texas law.

Lupe Peña knows how carriers manipulate ELDs because he did it for years as a defense attorney. Now he audits them for families.

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

Before hiring a driver, carriers must:

• Verify a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) with the proper endorsements (e.g., hazmat, tanker).
• Pull the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report from the FMCSA, which shows the driver’s crash and inspection history.
• Conduct road tests and medical examinations.
• Check prior employer references under 49 C.F.R. § 391.23.

If a carrier hires a driver with a history of preventable crashes, hours-of-service violations, or failed drug tests, and that driver kills someone in Pecos County, the carrier is directly liable for negligent hiring—not just vicariously liable for the driver’s actions.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the driver had a prior DUI, we subpoena the carrier’s hiring file to see if they checked the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
• If the driver had multiple preventable crashes at a prior job, we argue that the carrier knew or should have known about the risk.
• If the driver was medically unqualified (e.g., untreated sleep apnea), we sue the medical examiner who cleared them.

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

Carriers must:

• Conduct pre-trip inspections under 49 C.F.R. § 396.13.
• Maintain brake systems, tires, lighting, and coupling devices under 49 C.F.R. § 393.
• Keep records of all inspections and repairs under 49 C.F.R. § 396.3.

A tire blowout on U.S. 67, a brake failure on I-10, or a lost load on FM 1901 is not an “unforeseeable accident.” It is a maintenance failure that the carrier was supposed to prevent.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash involved a tire failure, we subpoena the carrier’s tire inspection records to see if they met the 4/32″ tread-depth minimum.
• If the crash involved a brake failure, we inspect the truck’s air-brake system for violations of 49 C.F.R. § 393.48.
• If the crash involved a lost load, we investigate whether the cargo was improperly secured under 49 C.F.R. § 393.100–136.

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

Carriers must secure cargo to withstand:

• 80 mph forward force (full braking).
• 50 mph rearward force (acceleration).
• 50 mph sideways force (lane changes).
• Rollovers (cargo must not shift in a rollover).

In Pecos County, where oilfield equipment, pipe, and frac sand are common cargo, improper securement is a leading cause of catastrophic crashes.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash involved a rollover on I-10, we inspect the cargo securement to see if it met federal standards.
• If the crash involved a lost load on FM 1776, we sue the loader, the shipper, and the carrier for failing to secure the cargo properly.

The Investigation We Begin Within 48 Hours

Evidence in commercial-vehicle crashes has a half-life measured in days. The carrier controls most of it, and their first instinct is to make it disappear. Here is what we do in the first 48 hours for families in Pecos County:

1. Send the Preservation Letter

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

• The motor carrier.
• The broker (if one arranged the load).
• The shipper (if they directed loading or routing).
• Any third-party telematics provider (e.g., Qualcomm, PeopleNet).

The letter identifies:

• The electronic control module (ECM) and black-box data.
• The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) logs under 49 C.F.R. Part 395 Subpart B.
• The dashcam footage (driver-facing and forward-facing).
• The dispatch communications and routing records.
• The Qualcomm or PeopleNet telematics feed.
• The maintenance records under 49 C.F.R. Part 396.
• The driver qualification file under 49 C.F.R. § 391.51.
• The prior preventability determinations.
• The post-accident drug and alcohol screen under 49 C.F.R. § 382.303.
• Any Form MCS-90 endorsement on the policy.

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

2. Pull the FMCSA Records

Before discovery formally opens, we pull:

• The Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile by USDOT number, which shows the carrier’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores in seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs):

  1. Unsafe Driving (speeding, reckless driving).
  2. Hours-of-Service Compliance (fatigue violations).
  3. Driver Fitness (unqualified drivers).
  4. Controlled Substances/Alcohol (DUI violations).
  5. Vehicle Maintenance (brake, tire, lighting failures).
  6. Hazardous Materials Compliance (for tankers and hazmat loads).
  7. Crash Indicator (preventable crash history).

  A carrier with high BASIC scores in the categories relevant to your crash is a carrier with a pattern of negligence.

• The Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report on the driver, which shows:

  • Prior crashes (preventable and non-preventable).
  • Prior inspections (out-of-service violations).
  • Prior employers (for reference checks under 49 C.F.R. § 391.23).

• The FMCSA SAFER profile, which shows:

  • The carrier’s USDOT number and operating authority.
  • The carrier’s insurance coverage (minimum $750,000 for non-hazmat interstate carriers, $1,000,000 for passenger vehicles, $5,000,000 for Class A hazmat).
  • The carrier’s safety rating (Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory).

3. Deploy the Accident Reconstruction Expert

We work with accident reconstruction specialists who:

• Download the black-box data to determine speed, braking, and steering inputs at the moment of impact.
• Analyze the skid marks, debris field, and vehicle damage to reconstruct the crash sequence.
• Use Haddon Matrix analysis to identify the human, vehicle, and environmental factors that contributed to the crash.
• Prepare animations and diagrams for mediation and trial.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash happened on U.S. 67 in a dust storm, we analyze whether the driver was too fast for conditions under 49 C.F.R. § 392.14.
• If the crash happened on I-10 in a rollover, we determine whether the cargo shifted due to improper securement.
• If the crash happened at a railroad crossing, we work with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) investigators to determine whether the warning devices were functioning.

4. Subpoena the Cell Phone Records

Distracted driving is a leading cause of commercial-vehicle crashes. Under 49 C.F.R. § 392.80, commercial drivers are prohibited from texting while driving, and under 49 C.F.R. § 392.82, they are prohibited from using handheld phones.

We subpoena:

• The driver’s cell phone records to see if they were texting or talking at the time of the crash.
• The carrier’s communications policy to see if they allowed or encouraged phone use while driving.
• The ELD timestamps to see if the driver was logged as “on-duty” while using the phone.

5. Preserve Surveillance Footage

In Pecos County, surveillance footage comes from:

• Gas stations and convenience stores along U.S. 67 and I-10 (most systems auto-delete in 7–14 days).
• Ring doorbells and residential cameras in Fort Stockton, Pecos, and Balmorhea (cloud storage varies; some delete in 30 days).
• TxDOT traffic cameras (retention varies by district; some delete in 30 days).
• Toll-tag records (HCTRA, TxTag, EZ Tag) that can prove the truck’s speed and location.

We send preservation letters to every business within a 1-mile radius of the crash to lock down footage before it disappears.

The Defendants Beyond the Driver

The driver who crashed into your family is one defendant. The carrier that hired them, the broker that arranged the load, the shipper that directed the haul, and the parent corporation that owns the operating authority are others. We do not stop at the driver.

1. The Motor Carrier (Employer)

The carrier is liable for the driver’s negligence under respondeat superior—but that is just the starting point. We also pursue direct negligence claims against the carrier for:

• Negligent hiring (hiring an unqualified or dangerous driver).
• Negligent training (failing to train the driver on federal regulations).
• Negligent supervision (ignoring prior preventability determinations).
• Negligent retention (keeping a driver after documented safety violations).
• Negligent maintenance (failing to inspect and repair the truck).

Under Texas House Bill 19 (Chapter 72 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code), the carrier will move to bifurcate the trial—separating the driver’s negligence from the carrier’s direct negligence. We build the case so the second phase becomes inevitable.

2. The Freight Broker

If a broker arranged the load, they may be liable for negligent selection of the carrier. Under Miller v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and its progeny, brokers have a duty to vet carriers before dispatching loads. If the broker dispatched a load to a carrier with a documented safety record, they share liability.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the broker is Amazon Relay, Uber Freight, or a regional broker, we investigate whether they checked the carrier’s CSA scores before dispatching the load.
• If the broker is a small, unknown entity, we investigate whether they were properly licensed under 49 C.F.R. Part 371.

3. The Shipper

If the shipper directed unsafe loading or scheduling, they may be liable for the crash. Under 49 C.F.R. § 392.9, the shipper shares responsibility for cargo securement.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash involved a tanker hauling oilfield chemicals, we investigate whether the shipper overloaded the tank or failed to properly placard it under 49 C.F.R. Part 172.
• If the crash involved a flatbed hauling pipe, we investigate whether the shipper failed to secure the load under 49 C.F.R. § 393.100–136.

4. The Maintenance Contractor

If a third-party contractor was responsible for inspecting or repairing the truck, they may be liable for negligent maintenance.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash involved a brake failure, we investigate whether the maintenance contractor failed to adjust the brakes under 49 C.F.R. § 393.48.
• If the crash involved a tire blowout, we investigate whether the maintenance contractor failed to inspect the tires under 49 C.F.R. § 396.13.

5. The Parts Manufacturer

If a defective part contributed to the crash, the manufacturer may be liable under Texas product liability law.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash involved a brake failure, we investigate whether the brake pads or rotors were defective.
• If the crash involved a tire blowout, we investigate whether the tire was defectively designed.
• If the crash involved a rollover, we investigate whether the stability control system failed.

6. The Government Entity (Texas Tort Claims Act)

If a government commercial vehicle was involved (e.g., a TxDOT maintenance truck, a school bus contractor, or a municipal garbage truck), or if road design, signage, or maintenance contributed to the crash, the government entity may be liable under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Chapter 101 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code).

This means:

• Pre-suit notice must be filed within 6 months under § 101.101.
• Damages are capped at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for municipalities under § 101.023.
• Sovereign immunity applies unless the claim falls within the waiver scope under § 101.021.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If the crash happened at a railroad crossing, we investigate whether the warning devices were malfunctioning.
• If the crash happened in a work zone, we investigate whether TxDOT failed to post proper signage.
• If the crash happened on a poorly maintained road, we investigate whether the county failed to repair potholes or shoulder drop-offs.

How Texas Pattern Jury Charges Submit Damages to a Jury

A Pecos County jury does not decide the case in the abstract. They answer specific questions under the Texas Pattern Jury Charges (PJC). Every fact we develop, every document we pull, and every deposition we take is built around the questions the jury will actually answer.

Here are the key PJC submissions in a fatal 18-wheeler crash:

1. PJC 27.1 – General Negligence

The jury must find that:

1. The defendant (carrier, driver, broker, shipper, etc.) was negligent.
2. The negligence was a proximate cause of the crash.
3. The plaintiff (surviving family) suffered damages as a result.

2. PJC 27.2 – Negligence Per Se

If the carrier violated a federal regulation (e.g., hours-of-service, driver qualification, vehicle maintenance), the jury can find negligence per se—meaning the violation is automatically negligence.

3. PJC 5.1 – Gross Negligence (for Exemplary Damages)

To award punitive damages, the jury must find by clear and convincing evidence that the carrier’s conduct involved:

1. An objective risk of serious harm.
2. The carrier was subjectively aware of the risk.
3. The carrier proceeded anyway.

This is where falsified logbooks, ignored preventability determinations, and DUI violations become critical.

4. PJC 71.1 – Wrongful Death Damages

The jury awards damages for:

• Pecuniary loss (financial support the decedent would have provided).
• Mental anguish (emotional pain of the surviving family).
• Loss of companionship and society (the relationship between the decedent and the surviving family).
• Loss of inheritance (what the decedent would have saved and left to heirs).

5. PJC 71.2 – Survival Action Damages

The jury awards damages for:

• Conscious pain and suffering the decedent endured before death.
• Medical expenses incurred before death.
• Funeral and burial expenses.

6. PJC 4.1 – Proximate Cause

The jury must find that the carrier’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing the crash. This is where Werner Enterprises Inc. v. Blake (Tex. 2024) becomes critical—Texas courts have tightened the causation standard in catastrophic trucking cases.

The Carrier’s Defense Playbook in Pecos County—and Our Answer

The carrier’s defense lawyer has a script. We have heard every line before we walk into the courtroom. Here is what they will argue—and how we rebut it:

What Your Case Is Worth in Pecos County

Texas law allows compensation for:

1. Economic Damages

• Past and future medical care (ambulance, ER, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, home care, medication, medical equipment).
• Past and future lost earnings (wages the decedent would have earned).
• Loss of earning capacity (the decedent’s future career trajectory).
• Funeral and burial expenses.

2. Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering (the decedent’s pain before death).
• Mental anguish (the emotional pain of the surviving family).
• Physical impairment (if the decedent survived for a period before death).
• Disfigurement (burns, amputations, scarring).
• Loss of consortium (for the surviving spouse).
• Loss of companionship and society (for surviving children and parents).

3. Exemplary (Punitive) Damages

If the carrier’s conduct was grossly negligent, the jury can award punitive damages to punish the carrier and deter future misconduct. As discussed earlier, the cap does not apply if the conduct was a felony (e.g., Intoxication Manslaughter).

How We Calculate Damages

We work with:

• Medical experts to establish the full extent of injuries 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 a detailed care plan for catastrophic injuries.

For Pecos County families, this means:

• If your loved one was a 30-year-old oilfield worker earning $80,000 per year, we project lost earnings over their expected 35-year career span.
• If your loved one was a 50-year-old parent who provided childcare, we calculate the value of those services.
• If your loved one was a student, we project their future earning potential based on their career path.

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Pecos County Case?

1. We Know the Roads of Pecos County

• U.S. 67, I-10, FM 1901, FM 1776—we know the corridors where oilfield trucks, cross-border freight, and long-haul semis create the highest crash risks.
• Fort Stockton, Pecos, Balmorhea, Saragosa—we know the communities where families live and work.
• Medical Center Hospital (Odessa), Midland Memorial Hospital—we know the trauma centers that stabilize patients before transfer to University Medical Center (Lubbock or El Paso).

2. We Know the Carriers Operating in Pecos County

The trucks running through Pecos County are operated by:

• Long-haul interstate carriers: Werner Enterprises, J.B. Hunt, Schneider National, Knight-Swift, CRST, Heartland Express.
• Oilfield service companies: Halliburton, Schlumberger, Liberty Energy, Patterson-UTI, ProPetro.
• Water and sand haulers: Basic Energy Services, C&J Energy Services, Calfrac Well Services.
• Cross-border freight carriers: Mexican-domiciled carriers operating under U.S. authority, U.S. carriers staging at the Presidio–Ojinaga International Bridge.
• Last-mile delivery: Amazon DSP contractors, FedEx Ground independent contractors, UPS.

We know their safety records, their CSA scores, and their prior preventability determinations before we file the case.

3. We Know the Defense Playbook Because Lupe Wrote It

Lupe Peña spent years working for national insurance defense firms, where he:

• Calculated claim valuations for adjusters.
• Hired independent medical examiners (IMEs) to minimize injuries.
• Deployed the defense playbook that carriers use to lowball families.

Now he fights for you. His insider knowledge is your unfair advantage.

“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 at Attorney 911

4. We Have Recovered Multi-Million Dollar Settlements for Families Like Yours

Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. But here is what we have achieved for clients in cases like yours:

• “Multi-million dollar settlement for client who suffered brain injury with vision loss when log dropped on him at logging company.”
• “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.”
• “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.”
• “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.”
• “Our firm is one of the few firms in Texas to be involved in BP explosion litigation.”

5. We Are One of the Few Firms in Texas That Sues Trucking Companies—Not Just Drivers

Most personal injury firms stop at the driver. We sue:

• The motor carrier.
• The broker.
• The shipper.
• The maintenance contractor.
• The parts manufacturer.
• The parent corporation.
• The government entity (under the Texas Tort Claims Act).

We do not let corporate defendants hide behind the driver.

6. We Have a 4.9-Star Google Rating from 251+ Reviews

Here is 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

“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

7. Hablamos Español

For Spanish-speaking families in Pecos County, we provide bilingual representation from the first call to the final court appearance.

“Para las familias hispanohablantes de Pecos County, sabemos que enfrentar el sistema legal después de un accidente catastrófico con un camión de carga puede ser abrumador, especialmente cuando la compañía transportista y su aseguradora se comunican en inglés y con un equipo de abogados que conoce cada táctica de demora. Nuestro despacho atiende a las familias en español, desde la primera llamada hasta la última audiencia en el tribunal del condado donde se presente el caso.”
— Attorney 911

The Two-Year Clock Is Ticking—What Happens Next?

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 gives you two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful-death lawsuit. The clock does not stop for grief, for funeral arrangements, or for the carrier’s adjuster to return your calls.

Here is what we do next for families in Pecos County:

1. Send the Preservation Letter (Day 1)

We send a preservation letter to the carrier, the broker, the shipper, and any third-party telematics provider, identifying:

• The electronic control module (ECM) and black-box data.
• The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) logs.
• The dashcam footage.
• The dispatch records.
• 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 of evidence will be argued—and an adverse inference charge will be sought—if any of this disappears.

2. Pull the FMCSA Records (Day 1–2)

We pull:

• The Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile by USDOT number.
• The Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report on the driver.
• The FMCSA SAFER profile on the carrier.

This tells us:

• The carrier’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores.
• The driver’s prior crash and inspection history.
• The carrier’s insurance coverage and safety rating.

3. Deploy the Accident Reconstruction Expert (Day 1–3)

We work with accident reconstruction specialists who:

• Download the black-box data to determine speed, braking, and steering inputs.
• Analyze the skid marks, debris field, and vehicle damage.
• Prepare animations and diagrams for mediation and trial.

4. File the Lawsuit (Before the Two-Year Deadline)

We file the lawsuit in Pecos County District Court to:

• Force discovery (depositions, document requests, interrogatories).
• Preserve evidence before it disappears.
• Send a message to the carrier that we are prepared to go to trial.

5. Pursue Every Liable Party

We sue:

• The driver.
• The motor carrier.
• The broker.
• The shipper.
• The maintenance contractor.
• The parts manufacturer.
• The parent corporation.
• The government entity (if applicable).

6. Prepare for Trial—While Negotiating from Strength

We prepare every case as if it is going to trial. This creates negotiating strength and forces the carrier to take your claim seriously.

Frequently Asked Questions for Pecos County Families

1. How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911?

We work on a contingency fee basis:

• 33.33% of the recovery if the case settles before trial.
• 40% of the recovery if the case goes to trial.

You pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

2. How long will my case take?

Most cases settle within 6–12 months, but some take longer if the carrier refuses to negotiate fairly. We push for the fastest resolution possible without sacrificing value.

3. What if the truck driver was also killed?

If the driver was killed, we investigate:

• Whether the driver was fatigued (hours-of-service violations).
• Whether the driver was under the influence (post-accident drug/alcohol screen).
• Whether the driver was unqualified (CDL violations, medical disqualifications).
• Whether the carrier failed to maintain the truck (brake, tire, or lighting failures).

The carrier is still liable for the driver’s negligence.

4. What if the crash happened in another county?

If the crash happened in Reeves County, Ward County, or another adjacent jurisdiction, we file the case in the county where the crash occurred. If the crash happened in another state, we work with local counsel to pursue the claim under that state’s laws.

5. What if I am undocumented?

Your immigration status does not affect your right to compensation in Texas. We represent undocumented families and keep their information confidential.

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

You can switch lawyers at any time. If your current attorney is not returning calls, not updating you, or pushing you to settle too low, you have options.

7. What if the insurance company already made me an offer?

First offers are always low. We evaluate every offer against the full value of your claim, including:

• Future medical care.
• Future lost earnings.
• Pain and suffering.
• Punitive damages (if applicable).

We never advise a client to accept an offer without a full damages analysis.

8. What if I don’t want to sue anyone?

Most cases settle without going to court. Filing a claim is not about being litigious—it’s about making sure you are not the one paying for someone else’s negligence.

9. What if I don’t know if my case is worth anything?

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free case evaluation. In 15 minutes, we will tell you exactly what your case may be worth—with no obligation.

Pecos County’s Freight Reality: Why This Happens Here

Pecos County sits at the crossroads of West Texas freight:

• U.S. 67 carries oilfield service trucks, water haulers, and sand transporters between Fort Stockton and Alpine.
• Interstate 10 carries long-haul freight between El Paso and San Antonio, with fatigue crashes peaking overnight.
• FM 1901 and FM 1776 serve the local oil and gas operations, where overweight loads and improperly secured equipment create hazards.
• The Presidio–Ojinaga International Bridge moves cross-border freight, where Mexican-domiciled carriers transition to U.S. infrastructure.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) documents elevated commercial-vehicle crash rates in Pecos County, with fatalities concentrated on U.S. 67 and I-10. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) tracks the carriers operating in Pecos County, and the Safety Measurement System (SMS) scores them on seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs). When we open a case in Pecos County, we pull the SMS profile before we file—the pattern is usually visible before the deposition.

The Next Step for Pecos County Families

The carrier’s adjuster has already started working on your case. The evidence is disappearing every day. The two-year clock under § 16.003 is ticking.

Here is what happens when you call 1-888-ATTY-911:

1. We send the preservation letter to lock down evidence.
2. We pull the FMCSA records on the carrier and the driver.
3. We deploy the accident reconstruction expert to the scene.
4. We file the lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires.
5. We pursue every liable party—not just the driver.
6. We prepare for trial while negotiating from strength.

You do not have to do this alone. We handle everything so you can focus on your family.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now for a free consultation. The clock is ticking.