Hit by an 18-Wheeler in City of Harker Heights? We Fight the Trucking Companies for You.

The impact was catastrophic. One moment you were driving home on the Central Texas Expressway or moving along US 190 in City of Harker Heights; the next, 80,000 pounds of steel slammed into your vehicle. In an instant, your car was unrecognizable, and your life was changed forever. An 80,000-pound truck doesn’t give you time to react, and it certainly doesn’t play fair in a collision.

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident in City of Harker Heights, you need to know that the clock is already ticking. Before the ambulance even leaves the scene, the trucking company has likely already deployed its own rapid-response team. They have investigators, adjusters, and an army of lawyers working to protect their profits by minimizing your or your family’s suffering. You need a team that fights back just as hard.

At Attorney911, led by our managing partner Ralph Manginello, we have been holding trucking companies accountable for over 25 years. Since 1998, Ralph Manginello has gone toe-to-toe with some of the largest corporations and insurance carriers in the world, recovering multi-million dollar settlements for families in City of Harker Heights and across Texas. We understand that after a truck wreck, you aren’t just a case number—you are family.

As our client Chad Harris once said, “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We take that responsibility seriously. Whether you were hit by a Walmart 18-wheeler, an Amazon delivery van near the local fulfillment tracks, or a dump truck in a Bell County construction zone, we provide the aggressive, professional representation you need to win.

Our team brings a unique advantage to your City of Harker Heights case. Associate attorney Lupe Peña used to work for the insurance companies—he knows their playbook, he knows how they value claims, and he knows exactly how they try to lowball victims. We use that insider knowledge to stay three steps ahead of the defense.

Don’t wait while evidence disappears. Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Learn more about your rights in our definitive guide to commercial truck accidents.

Why City of Harker Heights Trucking Accidents are Unique

City of Harker Heights sits at a critical junction in Central Texas. Between the heavy throughput on I-14 and the proximity to Fort Cavazos, our local roads are shared by thousands of commercial vehicles every day. This isn’t just standard freight traffic; it’s a mix of military logistics, massive retail distribution, and heavy construction vehicles serving the growing Bell County area.

When an 18-wheeler accident occurs in City of Harker Heights, the logistics of the case are often more complex than a standard car crash. We might be dealing with a driver who has been behind the wheel for 14 hours straight, pushing past federal limits to meet a delivery window at a distribution hub. We might be dealing with an improperly loaded trailer that jackknifed near the Knightsway Drive exit, or a specialized equipment hauler that failed to secure its load while passing through our city.

Our founder, Ralph Manginello, brings federal court experience that is vital for these cases. Many trucking companies are based out of state, and their cases often move to federal jurisdictions like the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Having an attorney admitted to federal practice means we don’t have to refer your case out—we fight for you from start to finish.

Whether you were struck on the frontage roads or a high-speed highway, our City of Harker Heights trucking accident lawyers move immediately to secure the scene. We know the local corridors, the dangerous interchanges, and the tactics trucking companies use in Central Texas to dodge liability.

The Physical Reality: 80,000 Pounds vs. Your Family Car

In City of Harker Heights, we see a wide range of commercial vehicles. But regardless of whether it’s a semi-truck, a concrete mixer, or a garbage truck, the physics are the same: force equals mass times acceleration. A fully loaded commercial truck is roughly 20 to 25 times heavier than the average passenger car. When that mass collides with your sedan or SUV, the passenger vehicle absorbs nearly all the energy of the impact.

An 18-wheeler traveling at 65 mph on the highway outside City of Harker Heights needs the length of nearly two football fields just to come to a stop. If a driver is distracted by a dispatch device or fatigued because they skipped their mandatory rest break, they cannot stop in time. The results are almost always catastrophic.

We’ve seen the results of these collisions firsthand. Attorney911 has recovered multi-million dollar settlements for traumatic brain injury victims, with recovery ranges between $1.5M and $9.8M. We have secured settlements for amputations ranging from $1.9M to $8.6M and wrongful death cases from $1.9M to over $9.5M. We know what is at stake for your family in City of Harker Heights.

If you are suffering, we are here to help. As Glenda Walker said about our firm, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” We are ready to do the same for you. Call (888) 288-9911 today.

Proving Negligence: FMCSA Regulations and the Law in City of Harker Heights

Establishing liability in a City of Harker Heights truck accident requires a deep understanding of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). These are found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and they are the “holy grail” of proving a trucking company was negligent.

Most City of Harker Heights general practice lawyers may not know to look for these specific violations. We do.

49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service (The Fatigue Rule)

Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of truck wrecks in Bell County. Federal law is clear: a property-carrying driver can drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They cannot drive past the 14th hour after coming on duty, and they must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.

When a driver hits you on I-14 in City of Harker Heights, we immediately subpoena their Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data. If that data shows they were over their hours, the trucking company has broken the law.

49 CFR Part 391: Driver Qualifications

Trucking companies have a duty to ensure their drivers are qualified. This means they must conduct a thorough background check, verify the driver’s CDL, ensure they have a valid medical certificate, and review their driving record annually. If a company hired a driver with a history of DUIs or multiple safety violations to drive through City of Harker Heights, that company is liable for negligent hiring.

49 CFR Part 396: Inspection and Maintenance

Every commercial vehicle on City of Harker Heights roads must be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained. If a truck’s brakes fail because the company deferred maintenance to save a few dollars, that isn’t an accident—it’s negligence. Under 49 CFR § 396.11, drivers must even complete a post-trip inspection report daily. If these reports were ignored, we hold them accountable.

49 CFR Part 393: Parts and Accessories (Brakes, Tires, and Cargo)

Improperly secured cargo is a major hazard in City of Harker Heights, especially with the high volume of flatbeds and equipment haulers. Under Part 393, cargo must be contained or secured to prevent it from leaking, spilling, or falling from the vehicle. If a piece of equipment fell off a truck and caused your crash, we look at the tiedown requirements and load limits that were ignored.

Learn more about what to do first after an accident in our video guide.

Common Types of Truck Accidents in City of Harker Heights

Because of the unique road designs around City of Harker Heights, we see specific types of truck crashes more frequently than in other areas.

Rear-End Collisions on I-14

Stop-and-go traffic is common in City of Harker Heights, especially during morning and evening commutes near the military base. When an 18-wheeler follows too closely—violating 49 CFR § 392.11—they cannot stop when traffic slows down. A rear-end collision with a truck is often an “override,” where the truck drives over the trunk and into the passenger cabin of the car ahead.

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife occurs when a truck’s wheels lock up and the trailer swings out to the side, creating a 90-degree angle with the cab. This often happen during sudden braking on wet central Texas roads. A jackknifed truck can block all lanes of a highway in City of Harker Heights, causing a multi-vehicle pileup.

Wide Turn “Squeeze” Accidents

Many of the intersections in City of Harker Heights weren’t built for modern 53-foot trailers. When a driver swings wide to make a right turn but fails to check their mirrors or signal properly, they can “squeeze” a passenger car between the truck and the curb. This is often a result of a driver ignoring their “No-Zone” blind spots.

Rollovers on Exchange Ramps

The high center of gravity of an 18-wheeler makes it incredibly prone to tipping. If a driver takes one of the ramps connecting City of Harker Heights to US 190 too fast, or if the cargo inside was improperly loaded and shifts, the entire rig can roll over onto adjacent vehicles.

Underride Wrecks

These are among the most lethal accidents we handle. This is when a smaller vehicle slides under the back or side of a trailer. Despite federal requirements for “Mansfield bars” or underride guards, many older trailers have weak or missing guards that fail on impact, leading to decapitation or catastrophic head trauma.

Whether you were involved in a tire blowout accident or a blind spot collision, our firm has the resources to investigate the mechanics of the crash. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for help now.

Commercial Vehicles Beyond the 18-Wheeler

While most people think of big rigs, there are many other types of commercial vehicles that cause devastation on City of Harker Heights roads. Attorney911 handles cases involving:

• Dump Trucks and Gravel Haulers: Common in Bell County construction zones. These vehicles often travel overweight and have drivers who are paid by the load, creating a dangerous incentive to speed.
• Garbage Trucks: Top-heavy and plagued by massive blind spots, waste management trucks are frequently involved in residential area accidents.
• Delivery Vans (Amazon, FedEx, UPS): The pressure of “one-day delivery” has put thousands of vans on City of Harker Heights streets. These drivers are often overworked and distracted by handheld navigation devices.
• Concrete Mixers: With rotating drums full of heavy liquid, these trucks are notoriously unstable and prone to rollovers in City of Harker Heights intersections.
• Rental Trucks (U-Haul, Penske): Driven by civilians who often have zero training in handling large vehicles, these “moving trucks” are responsible for thousands of accidents during the peak military PCS seasons.
• Transit and School Buses: Accidents involving buses require special legal knowledge, especially if government entities are involved, which brings sovereign immunity issues into play.

If a commercial vehicle of any kind has injured you in City of Harker Heights, we know who to sue. From the driver to the carrier to the manufacturer, we cast a wide net to ensure every source of insurance is available to your family.

Who is Really Responsible? Identifying Liable Parties

One of the biggest mistakes a City of Harker Heights victim can make is assuming only the truck driver is at fault. Our firm looks deeper. We investigate the entire chain of command. More defendants mean more insurance policies, which means we can secure the maximum compensation you need for life-changing injuries.

We hold the following parties accountable in City of Harker Heights cases:

1. The Truck Driver: For speeding, fatigue, distraction, or impairment.
2. The Trucking Company (Carrier): Under the doctrine of vicarious liability or for negligent hiring and training.
3. The Truck Owner: If they leased a dangerous or unmaintained vehicle to the carrier.
4. The Cargo Shipper or Loader: If the cargo was improperly secured or intentionally overloaded.
5. The Maintenance Provider: Many companies outsource their repairs. If a third-party mechanic in Bell County failed to fix a known brake issue, they are liable.
6. The Truck Manufacturer: If a design defect (like a faulty steering component) caused the crash.
7. The Freight Broker: Brokers have a duty to hire safe carriers. If they brokered a load to a “chameleon carrier” with a history of safety violations, the broker is on the hook.
8. The Corporate Parent: If you were hit by an Amazon van or a Walmart truck, we often look to the parent corporation’s policies.
9. Government Entities: If a road defect or poor signage in City of Harker Heights contributed to the accident.
10. Rental Agencies: If U-Haul or Penske rented a truck to an obviously unqualified or impaired driver.

Piercing the “Independent Contractor” Shield

Companies like Amazon and FedEx often try to hide behind a “contractor” structure. They’ll say the driver who hit you in City of Harker Heights doesn’t work for them, but for a small local LLC. We don’t buy it. Our team, including Lupe Peña, knows how to use the “right-to-control” test to prove these drivers are essentially employees, opening up the deep pockets of the parent corporation.

Learn more about suing for being hit by a semi-truck in our video library.

The 48-Hour Evidence Crisis: Why You Must Act Now

In a City of Harker Heights truck accident, evidence can vanish in the blink of an eye. Trucking companies are only required to keep certain records for a few months. Even worse, the “Black Box” (ECM data) on a truck is usually set to overwrite itself every 30 days—or even sooner if the truck is put back on the road.

If you don’t have an attorney to send a spoliation letter immediately, the trucking company can legally destroy or overwrite the very evidence we need to prove they were speeding or over their hours.

When you hire we/us, we move within 24 to 48 hours to preserve:

• Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Logs: Proving the driver was fatigued.
• Engine Control Module (ECM) Data: Revealing speed, braking, and throttle levels.
• Dashcam and In-Cab Video: Showing exactly what the driver was doing at the time of impact.
• Maintenance Files: Proving they knew the truck was unsafe.
• Post-Accident Drug and Alcohol Tests: Which must be performed within strict windows.

Trucking companies in City of Harker Heights have investigators working for them right now. You deserve the same. As 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 cases other firms think are too hard because we know how to secure the evidence. Call 888-ATTY-911 now.

Catastrophic Injuries and Your Future in City of Harker Heights

A truck crash rarely leaves victims with minor scratches. Because of the sheer force, we are usually dealing with life-altering trauma. We work with leading medical experts to ensure the full extent of your injuries is documented so the insurance company can’t claim you’re “fine.”

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Modern science shows that even a “mild concussion” can have permanent consequences. TBI victims in City of Harker Heights often suffer from memory loss, personality changes, and inability to concentrate. Our firm has recovered settlements up to $9.8M for TBI victims because we understand the lifetime of cognitive therapy and support required.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

A fractured vertebra can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. These injuries require home modifications, around-the-clock care, and specialized medical equipment for the rest of your life. We fight for settlements that cover these millions of dollars in future expenses.

Amputations and Crush Injuries

Whether a limb was lost at the scene or must be surgically removed due to severe damage or infection, an amputation is a permanent disability. We ensure your recovery includes the cost of high-tech prosthetics and occupational therapy.

Wrongful Death

If you lost a loved one on a City of Harker Heights road, we are deeply sorry. No amount of money can bring them back, but we can help secure your family’s financial future by holding the responsible parties accountable for lost income, loss of companionship, and mental anguish.

Watch our guide to brain injury lawsuits for more information.

What is Your City of Harker Heights Case Worth?

This is the question every victim asks. While we can’t give you an exact number without a full investigation, we can tell you that trucking cases are high-value because the insurance requirements are high.

Federal law (49 CFR Part 387) requires these minimums:

• $750,000 for general freight.
• $1,000,000 for oil or large equipment.
• $5,000,000 for hazardous materials.

Large corporate fleets like Walmart or Amazon often carry umbrella policies that go into the tens of millions. We pursue Economic Damages (medical bills, lost wages, future care) and Non-Economic Damages (pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish). In cases of gross negligence—like a driver being high or a company intentionally falsifying logs—we may also pursue Punitive Damages to punish the wrongdoer and prevent it from happening again.

Learn how insurance companies calculate pain and suffering here.

Dealing with Insurance Tactics: The Insider Advantage

The trucking company’s insurance adjuster might call you a day after the accident in City of Harker Heights. They’ll sound concerned. They might even offer you a check for $50,000 or $100,000. Do not sign it.

That “quick settlement” is a trap. They want you to sign away your rights before you know the true cost of your medical treatment or if you can ever return to work. At Attorney911, our associate attorney Lupe Peña used to represent the insurance companies. He knows that their goal is to pay you $0 if possible, or as little as you’ll take.

We recognize their tricks:

• They’ll try to get you to give a recorded statement and twist your words.
• They’ll dig through your medical history to claim your injuries are “pre-existing.”
• They’ll delay the case for years, hoping you’ll get desperate and take a low offer.

We don’t let them. We prepare every City of Harker Heights case for trial. When insurance companies see we are ready to take them to a jury, they suddenly find the money to settle fairly. As Angel Walle said, “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”

City of Harker Heights Truck Accident FAQ

How long do I have to file a claim in City of Harker Heights?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, evidence begins to disappear in 48 hours. Don’t wait. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately.

What if the accident was partially my fault?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule (51% bar). As long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash, you can still recover damages—though your check will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If the trucking company is claiming it was your fault, call us. We use black box data to prove what actually happened.

I was hit by an Amazon van in City of Harker Heights. Can I sue Amazon?
Yes. Amazon often claims their drivers are independent contractors to avoid liability. We specialize in piercing that corporate shield and holding the entity that actually controlled the driver accountable.

How much does a lawyer cost?
With us, it costs nothing out of pocket. We work on a contingency fee (typically 33.33% pre-trial). If we don’t win, you don’t owe us a dime. We take the financial risk so you don’t have to.

Can I get a settlement for emotional distress?
Absolutely. PTSD, anxiety, and the trauma of a catastrophic crash are real injuries. As client Stephanie Hernandez said, “She took all the weight of my worries off my shoulders.” We ensure your non-economic damages are part of your recovery.

What should I not say to an insurance adjuster?
Never admit fault, never say you feel “fine,” and never agree to a recorded statement. Ideally, you should tell them to talk to your lawyer. Watch our video on what not to say to an insurance adjuster for more tips.

Hablamos Español: Justicia para Todos en City of Harker Heights

En Attorney911, entendemos que muchos miembros de nuestra comunidad en City of Harker Heights prefieren comunicarse en su idioma natal. Nuestro abogado asociado Lupe Peña habla español fluido y puede representarlo directamente sin necesidad de intérpretes. Si usted o un ser querido ha sido herido en un accidente de 18 ruedas, estamos listos para pelear por su justicia. Como dice nuestra cliente Celia Dominguez, “Especialmente la señorita Zulema, quien siempre es muy amable y siempre traduce.” Llámenos al 1-888-ATTY-911.

Contact Attorney911 Today—Your First Responder to a Legal Emergency™

You didn’t ask for this accident, but you have to deal with the aftermath. The medical bills are mounting, the pain is constant, and the trucking company is hoping you’ll just go away.

Don’t let them win. You need a powerhouse in your corner. Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911 have been winning these battles for 25+ years. We have offices in Houston and Austin, and we are proud to serve the families of City of Harker Heights every day.

Whether you were hit on the highway or in your neighborhood, we are ready to fight “tooth and nail” for you, as Ernest Cano noted in his review. Your recovery is our priority.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911 right now for your free consultation. We are available 24/7 to answer your call.

Your fight starts with one call. We answer. We fight. We win.

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
Powerful & Proven.
1-888-ATTY-911
https://attorney911.com

For more information on legal rights after an accident, visit our YouTube Channel or listen to the Attorney 911 Podcast for expert insights into your case.