Claude Truck Accident Attorneys

The impact was catastrophic. On US Highway 287 outside the City of Claude, 80,000 pounds of steel slammed into a family’s SUV. The truck driver had been behind the wheel for 16 hours—far beyond the legal limit—trying to make a delivery window in Amarillo. In an instant, a quiet drive through Armstrong County turned into a life-altering medical and legal emergency. If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident in the City of Claude, you aren’t just dealing with a “big car accident.” You are facing a corporate entity with an army of lawyers and a multi-million dollar insurance policy they are desperate to protect.

At Attorney911, we don’t just handle these cases; we dominate them. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has spent over 25 years taking on the world’s largest trucking companies and winning. Since 1998, we have recovered over $50 million for families across Texas. When the stakes are this high, you need more than a traditional lawyer—you need a team that includes an attorney like Lupe Peña, who used to defend insurance companies. He knows their internal formulas for denying claims, and now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for the people of the City of Claude.

If an 18-wheeler, a delivery van, or an oilfield truck has changed your life, call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911. We offer free consultations and we work on a contingency fee basis—you pay us zero upfront costs, and we only get paid if we win your case.

Why 18-Wheeler Accidents in the City of Claude Are Different

Trucking accidents on the high-speed corridors of Armstrong County involve forces of nature that most passenger vehicles simply aren’t built to survive. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average car in the City of Claude weighs only 4,000 pounds. That 20-to-1 weight disparity means that in any collision, the occupants of the smaller vehicle absorb the vast majority of the kinetic energy.

Our firm’s founder, Ralph Manginello, is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and has extensive experience in federal court—which is where many interstate trucking cases are litigated. Whether your accident happened on the windy plains of US-287 or at a busy intersection within the City of Claude, we understand the physics and the regulations that determine who is truly at fault.

As client Chad Harris said after we handled his case, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We bring that family-first mentality to every resident of the City of Claude, combined with the aggressive litigation style that has allowed us to take on corporate giants like BP, Walmart, and Amazon.

The 48-Hour Evidence Emergency in the City of Claude

The clock started ticking the moment that truck hit you. Within 48 hours, critical evidence in your City of Claude truck accident case can be overwritten. Modern commercial trucks are equipped with an Engine Control Module (ECM), often called a “black box.” This device records speed, braking, and steering inputs in the seconds before a crash. However, this data is often overwritten after 30 days of new driving, or sooner if the truck is put back in service.

The trucking company that hit you in the City of Claude already has a rapid-response team working. Their adjusters and investigators are often on the scene before the debris is even cleared from the road. Their goal isn’t to find the truth; it’s to find a way to pay you less.

We send formal spoliation letters within 24 hours of being retained. These letters legally demand that the carrier preserve:

• Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Data: This proves if the driver violated federal “Hours of Service” laws.
• Black Box Records: Objective proof of how fast the truck was going and when the driver hit the brakes.
• Driver Qualification Files: We look for red flags in the driver’s history that the company ignored.
• Maintenance Logs: To see if a mechanical failure, like worn brakes, caused the crash.

Don’t let the evidence disappear. If you’ve been involved in a wreck, call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately. Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña para una consulta gratis.

Identifying Liable Parties in City of Claude Truck Accidents

In a typical car crash in the City of Claude, you usually only sue the other driver. In a trucking accident, our investigation often reveals a web of responsible parties. Most firms only look at the driver, but we look deeper because more defendants mean more available insurance coverage to pay for your medical bills and lost wages.

We investigate the following potentially liable parties:

1. The Truck Driver: For direct negligence like speeding or distraction.
2. The Trucking Company (Carrier): They are responsible for their driver’s actions and for negligent hiring and training.
3. The Cargo Loading Company: If the load shifted and caused a rollover on a curve near the City of Claude.
4. The Vehicle Manufacturer: If a defective part, like a tire or brake system, failed.
5. The Maintenance Provider: If they performed the repairs that ultimately failed.
6. The Freight Broker: For hiring a carrier with a known bad safety record.
7. The Corporate Brand (Walmart, Amazon, FedEx): If the truck was hauling for a major retailer, they may share in the liability.

In the City of Claude, we see many trucks hauling livestock or agricultural equipment. These specialized loads require unique securement. If a trailer was overloaded, the shipper might be liable for making the truck impossible to stop in an emergency. Ralph Manginello has spent 25+ years untangling these complex liability webs to ensure his clients get “every dime they deserved,” as client Glenda Walker noted.

Understanding FMCSA Regulations and Your Case

Every commercial truck passing through the City of Claude must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. These are not mere suggestions—they are federal laws designed to keep our families safe.

Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395): This is the most common violation we see. Drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving after a 10-hour rest. They cannot drive past the 14th hour of being on duty. Trucking companies often pressure drivers to “push through” fatigue to keep profits up. A tired driver has the same reaction time as a drunk driver.

Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391): Trucking companies must verify that their drivers are medically fit and hold a valid CDL. If a company hired a driver with a history of DUIs or medical conditions that cause blackouts, and that driver hits you in the City of Claude, the company is guilty of negligent hiring.

Vehicle Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396): Every truck must undergo a pre-trip and post-trip inspection. If the driver “pencil-whipped” their forms and didn’t actually check the brakes, and those brakes failed on the highway near the City of Claude, we hold them accountable using their own paperwork against them.

Learn more in our video guide: “The Definitive Guide To Commercial Truck Accidents” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEEeZf-k8Ao.

Specific Accident Types on City of Claude Highways

Jackknife Accidents

On the flat, high-wind stretches of Armstrong County, a jackknife accident is a constant threat. This occurs when the drive wheels of the tractor lock up, causing the trailer to swing forward at an angle. A jackknifed truck can sweep across all lanes of US-287, leaving motorists in the City of Claude with nowhere to go. This often points to braking errors or improper load balancing.

Rollover Crashes

Trucks are top-heavy. If a driver takes a turn too fast or if their cargo shifts, the entire rig can tip. In the City of Claude, where agricultural loads are common, an improperly secured load of grain or equipment can easily cause a rollover. These accidents are frequently fatal for the driver and anyone in the truck’s path.

Underride Collisions

These are the most horrifying crashes we handle. An underride occurs when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the back or side of a trailer. Because the trailer bed is at head-height for most passenger car occupants, the results are often decapitation or severe traumatic brain injury. If the truck did not have proper reflectors or “Mansfield bars” (guards), they were in direct violation of 49 CFR 393.86.

Blind Spot “No-Zone” Accidents

Trucks have massive blind spots on all four sides. If a driver in the City of Claude is hit while legally passing a truck, the driver may claim they “didn’t see them.” However, FMCSA Part 392 requires drivers to signal and verify their path is clear. Modern trucks should be equipped with sensors and cameras to eliminate these No-Zones; failing to use them is negligence.

Corporate Fleet Accidents: Walmart, Amazon, and FedEx

The City of Claude sits on a vital transit route between DFW and the rest of the country. This means corporate fleet vehicles are a constant presence. These cases are different because companies like Walmart and Amazon are often self-insured for several million dollars, and they have an associate attorney who used to defend such entities, like our own Lupe Peña, gives us an “unfair advantage.”

Amazon delivery vans are everywhere in Armstrong County, often operated by “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs). Amazon will try to say the driver doesn’t work for them. We know better. Amazon controls the routes, the schedules, and the technology that monitors the driver. We use the Netradyne camera data often found in these vans to prove the driver was distracted or speeding to meet a quota.

When a corporate truck causes an accident, they aren’t just fighting you—they are protecting their stock price. You need a law firm that has litigated against Fortune 500 corporations and won. Since 1998, Ralph Manginello has gone head-to-head with the biggest names in the industry and made them pay.

Catastrophic Injuries and Your Recovery in the City of Claude

We understand that a truck accident doesn’t just result in a car repair—it results in a total reconstruction of your life. Trucking crashes in the City of Claude often cause:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): The force of an 80,000-pound truck causes the brain to strike the skull. We have secured settlements for TBI victims ranging from $1.5M to over $9.8M. For more info, see our guide: “The Ultimate Guide to Brain Injury Lawsuits” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBYAHi5aiEQ.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Paralysis changes every second of a person’s life. We work with life care planners to ensure your settlement covers medical care for the next 40 years.
• Amputations: Crush injuries or fires often lead to the loss of a limb. These cases require multi-million dollar settlements to cover modern prosthetics and physical therapy.
• Internal Organ Damage: Deceleration injuries from high-speed US-287 impacts can cause liver, spleen, or kidney failure that isn’t always apparent at the scene.

As client Donald Wilcox said, “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.” We take the difficult cases that other Claude attorneys might reject because we have the resources to win.

The Financial Weight of Your Claim: Damages and Insurance

In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. However, in the City of Claude, you should never wait that long. The trucking company carries insurance policies far larger than a standard car. By federal law, most 18-wheelers must carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance, but many of the trucks passing through Armstrong County carry $5 million or more to cover hazardous materials or corporate assets.

We fight for:

1. Economic Damages: All your hospital bills, future surgeries, lost wages, and your loss of future earning capacity.
2. Non-Economic Damages: This includes pain and suffering, mental anguish, and your “loss of enjoyment of life.” As client Glenda Walker told us, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”
3. Punitive Damages: If we can prove the trucking company acted with gross negligence—like allowing a driver to stay on the road for 20 hours—we seek to punish the company to ensure it never happens again in the City of Claude.

Frequently Asked Questions for City of Claude Residents

What if the truck accident was partially my fault?
Texas follows a “51% Bar Rule.” This means as long as you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover compensation. Your total settlement will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 20% at fault, you still receive 80% of your damages. Never admit fault at the scene—let the data from the truck’s black box do the talking.

How much does a truck accident lawyer in the City of Claude cost?
At Attorney911, we work on a contingency basis. This means we charge 33.33% if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed, and 40% if it goes to trial. Most importantly, you pay nothing until we win. If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing for our time or the investigation costs we advanced.

Can I sue if the driver didn’t have a valid CDL?
Yes. In fact, this makes your case against the trucking company even stronger. Under 49 CFR Part 391, the company has a federal duty to ensure their drivers are qualified. Hiring an uncertified driver is “negligent hiring” and often leads to higher settlements.

How do I get the police report for my accident in the City of Claude?
The City of Claude is served by the Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). We handle the process of ordering the official CR-3 crash report, the 911 recordings, and the dashcam footage from the responding cruisers as part of our initial investigation.

What if I was a passenger in the truck?
You have the same rights as any other victim. Unless you are an employee of the trucking company (which would trigger workers’ comp), you can file a personal injury claim against the driver and the carrier’s insurance.

Agricultural and Special Commercial Vehicle Wrecks

The City of Claude is the heart of farming country, and that means we share our roads with dump trucks, grain haulers, and concrete mixers. These vehicles are often poorly maintained compared to interstate 18-wheelers.

Dump Truck Wrecks: A dump truck carrying gravel or dirt can weigh 60,000 pounds. If they are overloaded, their stopping distance and rollover risk increase exponentially. We look at the quarry or construction site loading logs to prove they sent an unsafe vehicle onto Claude roads.

Utility and Bucket Trucks: Accidents involving local power or cable company trucks often happen because they are improperly parked on the shoulder of the road without adequate warning lights or cones. This creates a “stationary hazard” that causes high-speed rear-end collisions.

Rental Moving Trucks (U-Haul/Penske): These are particularly dangerous because the drivers often have NO special training. These companies rent 26-foot trucks to people who have never driven anything bigger than a pickup. If the rental company failed to maintain the brakes or tires, they share in the liability for your City of Claude accident.

Your Fight Starts With One Call to Attorney911

When an 80,000-pound truck changes your life, you aren’t just fighting a driver—you’re fighting a multi-billion dollar logistics industry. They have teams of lawyers whose only job is to protect the company’s bottom line. Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911 have a different job: protecting your future.

With over 25 years of experience and more than 290 educational videos helping victims understand their rights, we are the authority in trucking litigation. Our associate attorney Lupe Peña brings the insurance defense perspective that forces adjusters to take your claim seriously from day one.

You are more than a case number to us. As Chad Harris said, “You are FAMILY to them.” We know the roads of the City of Claude, we know the laws of Texas, and we know how to make trucking companies pay.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911 right now. We are available 24/7 to answer your call, send an investigator to the scene, and start the fight for the justice you deserve.

Attorney911. Powerful. Proven. Ready for the City of Claude.

Hablamos Español. Consulta gratis. Sin cargo si no ganamos. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.

Resources for City of Claude Residents:

• Watch: “Truck Tire Blowouts and When You Need a Lawyer” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCTumr1looc
• Watch: “What Should You Not Say to an Insurance Adjuster?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UKRbFprB0E
• Watch: “Can I Get a PTSD Payout After a Car Accident?” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9803X_jnR4A
• FMCSA Safety Data Lookup: safer.fmcsa.dot.gov