Clark County 18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys: Fighting for Maximum Compensation After Devastating Truck Crashes

The impact was catastrophic. One moment you’re driving along Interstate 30 through Clark County, Arkansas—maybe heading toward Arkadelphia or passing through on your way to Little Rock—and the next, 80,000 pounds of steel is jackknifing across your path. In the blink of an eye, everything changes. Your vehicle is crushed. Your body is broken. And while you’re trapped in the wreckage waiting for emergency crews from Clark County Memorial Hospital to arrive, the trucking company has already dispatched their rapid-response team to the scene.

This isn’t a fair fight. But you don’t have to face it alone.

We are Attorney911, The Manginello Law Firm—and we’ve spent over 25 years fighting for trucking accident victims just like you. Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, has been standing up to the largest trucking companies in America since 1998. With federal court admission to the Southern District of Texas and a track record of multi-million dollar verdicts, Ralph knows exactly what it takes to hold these companies accountable when they destroy lives on Clark County highways. Our team includes Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney who spent years inside the system watching adjusters minimize claims—now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you. And with offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, we bring powerful legal resources to Clark County families who need aggressive representation.

When you’re staring at mounting medical bills, weeks of lost wages, and a future that looks nothing like your past, you need more than sympathy. You need a fighter. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 right now. The conversation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

Why Clark County, Arkansas Is Particularly Vulnerable to 18-Wheeler Disasters

Clark County sits at a critical junction in Arkansas’s transportation network. Interstate 30 cuts directly through the county, serving as a primary commercial artery connecting Little Rock to Texarkana and beyond. Every day, thousands of 18-wheelers thunder down I-30 carrying everything from agricultural equipment and timber products to hazardous chemicals and consumer goods. The mix of high-speed interstate traffic with local agricultural routes creates a perfect storm for catastrophic accidents.

The physics are unforgiving. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh 80,000 pounds—twenty times the weight of an average passenger vehicle traveling the same roads around Arkadelphia or Gurdon. When these massive machines collide with family cars at highway speeds, the results are almost always devastating. The force of impact doesn’t just cause injuries; it shatters lives, destroys families, and leaves victims facing years of medical treatment and rehabilitation.

But here’s what makes trucking accidents in Clark County different from a typical fender-bender: these cases involve federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and evidence that disappears faster than morning fog on the Ouachita River. The trucking industry is governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its extensive regulations found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations—specifically Parts 390 through 399. When drivers or companies violate these rules, they don’t just risk a ticket; they gamble with human lives.

The Most Common 18-Wheeler Accident Types We See in Clark County

Jackknife Accidents: When Physics Turns Deadly

A jackknife occurs when the trailer portion of an 18-wheeler swings out perpendicular to the cab, creating a deadly V-shape that can sweep across multiple lanes of I-30. We’ve seen these accidents near the Arkadelphia exits and along the rural stretches of highway where truckers fail to adjust their speed for weather conditions or follow too closely to traffic.

Jackknifes typically happen when a driver brakes improperly—either slamming on the brakes causing the trailer to swing, or failing to brake at all due to distraction or fatigue. Under 49 CFR § 392.6, truck drivers must operate at speeds safe for conditions, and under § 392.11, they must maintain safe following distances. When they violate these rules on Clark County roads, the results are catastrophic.

The injuries from jackknife accidents are severe: traumatic brain injuries from side-impact collisions, spinal cord damage from being pinned between the trailer and guardrails, and crushing injuries when vehicles are trapped beneath the swinging trailer. Our firm has recovered millions for victims of these horrific crashes, including a $5 million settlement for a traumatic brain injury victim crushed by a negligent trucker’s jackknife maneuver.

Rollover Crashes: Top-Heavy Danger on Arkansas Highways

Rural highways in Clark County—with their curves, grades, and occasional sharp turns near the Ouachita Mountains foothills—are prime locations for rollover accidents. These occur when a truck’s center of gravity shifts, causing the vehicle to tip onto its side or roof. Improperly secured cargo is often the culprit, violating 49 CFR §§ 393.100-136 regarding cargo securement.

When a truck rolls over on I-30 near Caddo Valley or along Highway 7, the trailer often slides into oncoming traffic or spills its contents across the roadway, creating secondary accidents. We’ve handled cases where lumber trucks rolled, sending massive logs cascading into passenger vehicles; where tanker trucks overturned, creating fire hazards; and where simple freight rollovers caused multi-car pileups.

Rollover accidents frequently result in amputations—limbs crushed beyond repair beneath tons of freight—and severe burns when fuel tanks rupture. Our $3.8 million amputation settlement involved a client who lost a limb after a truck’s cargo shifted on a curve, causing a rollover that crushed her vehicle.

Underride Collisions: The Most Terrifying Truck Accidents

Perhaps the most horrifying 18-wheeler accidents are underride collisions, where a passenger vehicle slides underneath the trailer. The bottom edge of a trailer sits at roughly windshield height for most cars. When a car strikes the rear or side of a trailer and slides underneath, the roof is often sheared off, causing decapitation or catastrophic head injuries.

Federal regulations under 49 CFR § 393.86 mandate rear impact guards on trailers manufactured after January 26, 1998, designed to prevent underride at impacts up to 30 mph. However, many trucks lack adequate side underride guards—creating deadly gaps. We’ve investigated underride crashes on Clark County roads where simple reflective tape failures or inadequate lighting under § 393.11 contributed to nighttime collisions that took fathers from their children and wives from their husbands.

These cases are almost always fatal or result in permanent disability. When we represent underride victims or their families, we pursue every available dollar of insurance coverage—often $1 million or more under federal minimum requirements for commercial carriers.

Rear-End Collisions: Physics Doesn’t Forgive

An 18-wheeler traveling at 65 mph requires approximately 525 feet to stop—nearly the length of two football fields. When a distracted or fatigued truck driver fails to notice stopped traffic on I-30 near the Degray Lake exits or follows too closely through the construction zones near Arkadelphia, rear-end collisions result.

Under 49 CFR § 392.11, truck drivers must maintain distances that allow them to stop safely. When they violate this rule—often due to cell phone use (prohibited under § 392.82) or hours-of-service violations (§ 395)—they become weapons on wheels. The force of an 80,000-pound truck striking a 4,000-pound sedan from behind often drives the smaller vehicle into the vehicle ahead, causing chain-reaction pileups.

Victims of rear-end truck accidents frequently suffer whiplash, herniated discs, and traumatic brain injuries from the violent acceleration-deceleration forces. Unlike minor fender-benders, these injuries often require surgery and months of rehabilitation.

Wide Turn “Squeeze Play” Accidents

18-wheelers require enormous turning radiuses—often swinging wide left before making a right turn. In downtown Arkadelphia or at rural intersections along Highway 26, truckers who fail to check their mirrors or signal properly can crush vehicles that pull into the gap created by the swing. These “squeeze play” accidents often result in crushing injuries and amputations when vehicles are trapped between the truck and a curb or building.

Every Liable Party We Pursue in Your Clark County Trucking Case

Most law firms look at the accident report and sue the driver. That’s it. They leave money on the table because they don’t understand the complex web of liability that surrounds commercial trucking. We don’t make that mistake.

In a typical Clark County 18-wheeler case, we investigate and pursue claims against up to ten different parties:

The Truck Driver may be personally liable for negligent operation, speeding, distraction, or hours-of-service violations. We subpoena their driving records, cell phone logs, and drug test results to prove misconduct.

The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier) carries the deepest pockets and highest insurance limits. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, they’re vicariously liable for their employee’s negligence. But we often find direct negligence—failure to maintain the vehicle under 49 CFR § 396, negligent hiring of drivers with bad records, inadequate training, or pressure to violate hours-of-service rules. We examine their CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) scores and Driver Qualification Files to prove systemic safety failures.

The Cargo Owner/Shipper may have improperly loaded hazardous materials or failed to disclose weight distributions that made the truck unsafe.

The Loading Company often bears responsibility for cargo shift accidents when they failed to secure loads properly under federal regulations.

The Truck and Trailer Manufacturer may have produced defective brakes, steering systems, or underride guards that failed to protect you.

The Parts Manufacturer—separate from the vehicle maker—may have produced defective tires that blew out or brake components that failed.

The Maintenance Company, if different from the carrier, may have performed negligent repairs or returned unsafe vehicles to service.

Freight Brokers who arranged the shipment may be liable for negligent selection of unsafe carriers.

The Truck Owner, if an owner-operator arrangement, may have failed to maintain the vehicle or negligently entrusted it to an unqualified driver.

Government Entities may share liability if dangerous road design, inadequate signage, or poor maintenance contributed to the crash—though Arkansas sovereign immunity rules create special procedural hurdles that require immediate attention.

Every additional defendant adds another insurance policy to the recovery pool. While private autos might carry $30,000 in coverage, commercial trucks must carry $750,000 minimum for general freight, $1 million for oil and large equipment, and $5 million for hazardous materials. By identifying all liable parties, we maximize your recovery potential.

Federal Regulations That Prove Negligence in Your Case

The FMCSA regulations are the rulebook for trucking safety. When companies break these rules, they’re not just administrative violators—they’re negligent. Here are the specific regulations we use to prove liability in Clark County cases:

Driver Qualifications (49 CFR Part 391)

Trucking companies cannot hire just anyone to drive 80,000-pound missiles. Under § 391.11, drivers must:

• Be at least 21 years old for interstate commerce
• Speak and read English sufficiently
• Possess a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
• Pass a physical examination every two years (§ 391.41)
• Complete entry-level driver training

We demand the Driver Qualification File under § 391.51, which must contain employment applications, driving records, road test certificates, medical certifications, and drug test results. If the file is incomplete—or if the driver should never have been hired—we prove negligent hiring.

Safe Operation Rules (49 CFR Part 392)

These are the “rules of the road” for professional drivers:

• § 392.3: No driver shall operate while ability is impaired by fatigue, illness, or any cause
• § 392.4/392.5: No drugs or alcohol within 4 hours of duty
• § 392.6: No speeding—carriers cannot schedule routes requiring speeds beyond legal limits
• § 392.11: Safe following distances mandatory
• § 392.82: No hand-held mobile phone use while driving

Violations of these rules create automatic liability.

Vehicle Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396)

Trucking companies must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles. Drivers must complete pre-trip inspections (§ 396.13) noting defects in brakes, steering, lighting, and tires. Annual inspections (§ 396.17) are mandatory. When brake failures (§ 393.40) or tire blowouts (§ 393.75) cause accidents, maintenance records reveal deferred repairs and cost-cutting that puts profits over safety.

Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395)

Fatigue kills. The Hours of Service regulations limit driving to:

• 11 hours maximum after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• 14-hour on-duty window from start to finish
• 30-minute break required after 8 cumulative hours of driving
• 60/70 hour weekly limits requiring 34-hour restarts

Since December 18, 2017, most trucks must use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) that automatically record driving time, making it harder to falsify logs. This ELD data is critical evidence—we subpoena it immediately to prove HOS violations.

Cargo Securement (49 CFR Part 393)

Cargo must be secured to withstand 0.8g deceleration forces—simulating emergency braking. Tie-downs must meet working load limits. Improper securement causes rollovers, jackknifes, and cargo spills that create secondary accidents.

The Catastrophic Injuries That Change Everything

18-wheeler accidents don’t cause simple whiplash. They cause life-altering trauma. We’ve represented Clark County families whose lives were irrevocably changed by:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) ranging from concussions to permanent vegetative states. Cognitive impairment, personality changes, and loss of independence require lifelong care. Our TBI cases have settled for $1.5 million to $9.8 million depending on severity.

Spinal Cord Injuries causing paraplegia or quadriplegia. The lifetime care costs for spinal cord injury exceed $4.7 million to $25.8 million. These clients need specialized housing, wheelchairs, home health aides, and ongoing medical supervision.

Amputations—both traumatic (at the scene) and surgical (due to crushing injuries). Phantom limb pain, prosthetics, and loss of earning capacity devastate families. Our amputation cases have recovered $1.9 million to $8.6 million.

Severe Burns from fuel fires or chemical spills, requiring skin grafts, multiple surgeries, and permanent disfigurement.

Wrongful Death—when a loved one is taken from you. Arkansas allows recovery for lost income, loss of consortium, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. Our wrongful death trucking cases have recovered $1.9 million to $9.5 million.

As client Glenda Walker told us after we resolved her case: “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” That’s our commitment to you.

Why Evidence Disappears in 48 Hours—And Why You Must Act Now

Here’s the urgent truth that trucking companies don’t want you to know: critical evidence starts disappearing immediately after a crash, and if you wait, it may be gone forever.

Engine Control Module (ECM) data—often called the “black box”—records speed, braking, throttle position, and fault codes. This data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days or with new driving events.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data proving hours-of-service violations must be preserved but can be lost if not downloaded promptly.

Dashcam footage—both forward-facing and cab-facing—is often recorded over within days.

Driver cell phone records showing distraction must be preserved before carriers delete them.

Maintenance records showing deferred brake repairs or tire replacements can be altered or “misplaced.”

The physical truck itself may be repaired, sold, or scrapped, destroying physical evidence of defective brakes or worn tires.

That’s why we send spoliation letters within 24 hours of being retained—legal notices demanding preservation of all evidence. We deploy accident reconstruction experts to Clark County scenes immediately. We subpoena records before they can be destroyed.

As Donald Wilcox, another client, told us: “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 don’t give up, and we don’t delay.

Arkansas Law: What You Need to Know About Your Rights

If you were injured in a Clark County trucking accident, Arkansas law gives you three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105). This is longer than many states—but don’t wait. Evidence fades, witnesses move away, and the trucking company builds its defense while you heal.

Arkansas follows modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-64-122). This means:

• If you are less than 50% at fault, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault
• If you are 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing

Insurance adjusters will try to pin blame on you. They’ll claim you were speeding, distracted, or failed to yield. We fight back with ECM data, witness statements, and accident reconstruction to prove the truck driver was primarily responsible.

Unlike some states, Arkansas has no caps on punitive damages (the Arkansas Supreme Court struck down damage caps in 2015). If we can prove the trucking company acted with reckless disregard for safety—falsifying logs, hiring known dangerous drivers, or ignoring maintenance—we can pursue unlimited punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer.

For wrongful death claims in Clark County, the personal representative of the deceased’s estate brings the lawsuit. Damages can include funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of services, and mental anguish suffered by surviving family members.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clark County Trucking Accidents

How much is my Clark County 18-wheeler accident case worth?

Every case is unique. Value depends on injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, available insurance coverage, and the degree of negligence involved. Trucking cases typically involve higher insurance limits than car accidents—often $750,000 to $5 million or more. We’ve recovered over $50 million total for our clients across all practice areas, including multi-million dollar trucking settlements.

Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?

Never. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize your claim. They record statements and use your words against you. As client Chad Harris explains: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” Let us handle the insurance companies while you focus on healing.

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Under Arkansas’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can recover damages as long as you were less than 50% at fault. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. Don’t assume you have no case—let us investigate the true cause.

How long will my case take?

Simple cases may resolve in 6-12 months. Complex cases involving catastrophic injuries, multiple defendants, or litigation may take 18-36 months. We push for resolution as quickly as possible while maximizing your recovery. As Angel Walle told us: “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”

Do I need money to hire Attorney911?

No. We work on contingency—you pay nothing upfront. We advance all costs of investigation and litigation. Our fee is a percentage of your recovery: 33.33% pre-trial or 40% if the case goes to trial. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

Can undocumented immigrants file personal injury claims in Arkansas?

Yes. Immigration status does not affect your right to compensation after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Hablamos Español—Lupe Peña provides fluent Spanish representation without interpreters.

What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?

Both the driver and the trucking company may still be liable. We investigate lease agreements, insurance coverage, and the level of control the company exercised over the driver to determine all liable parties.

How do I prove the driver was fatigued?

We subpoense ELD data, driver logs, dispatch records, and cell phone records to prove hours-of-service violations. We also examine the driver’s schedule to show impossible delivery times that required driving while fatigued.

What happens if the trucking company goes bankrupt?

Even if the carrier files bankruptcy, insurance coverage remains available. Additionally, we pursue other liable parties—cargo owners, maintenance companies, manufacturers—who may have separate insurance coverage.

Will my case go to trial?

Most cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to court. Insurance companies know which lawyers are willing to go to trial—and they offer better settlements to those who are. With Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of federal court experience and membership in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, they know we mean business.

The Attorney911 Advantage: Why Trucking Companies Fear Us

When you hire Attorney911, you’re not getting a settlement mill that processes cases like fast food. You’re getting a litigation team that includes a former insurance defense attorney who knows every trick the trucking companies will try to play.

Ralph Manginello brings 25+ years of experience since 1998. He’s admitted to the Southern District of Texas Federal Court, allowing him to handle complex interstate trucking cases. He’s gone toe-to-toe with Fortune 500 companies like BP in the Texas City refinery explosion litigation that killed 15 workers and injured 170 more—a case that resulted in over $2.1 billion in total industry settlements.

Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, worked for a national insurance defense firm before joining our team. He knows exactly how adjusters evaluate claims, what software they use to minimize payouts (like Colossus), and when they’re bluffing about low offers. Now he uses that knowledge against them.

We’re currently litigating a $10 million hazing lawsuit against the University of Houston—proving we have the resources and courage to take on major institutions. We’ve recovered $5 million for a traumatic brain injury victim struck by a falling log, $3.8 million for a car accident victim who suffered amputation due to medical complications, $2.5 million for a truck crash victim, and $2 million for a maritime worker with a back injury.

But statistics don’t tell the whole story. Our clients matter to us. As Mongo Slade said after his rear-end collision case: “I also got a very nice settlement.” And Kiimarii Yup, who lost everything in a crash: “I lost everything… my car was at a total loss, and because of Attorney Manginello and my case worker Leonor, 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.”

We treat you like family because you are family to us.

Call Attorney911 Today—Before Evidence Disappears

If you or a loved one has been injured in an 18-wheeler accident anywhere in Clark County—from Arkadelphia to Gurdon, from the I-30 corridor to the rural highways—we are here to help. The trucking company has lawyers working right now to minimize your claim. You need someone fighting just as hard for you.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) right now. We answer 24/7 because trucking accidents don’t happen on a schedule. The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we win. And Hablamos Español—ask for Lupe Peña.

Don’t let the trucking company get away with it. Your fight starts with one phone call. 1-888-ATTY-911.