18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serving Dallas County, Arkansas
When an 80,000-pound semi-truck hurtles down Interstate 30 toward Fordyce or navigates the winding farm roads near Sparkman, the margin for error vanishes in an instant. In Dallas County, Arkansas—nestled in the heart of the state’s agricultural belt—trucking accidents don’t just cause fender benders. They cause devastation.
For over 25 years, Ralph Manginello has fought for families across Arkansas who’ve had their lives shattered by commercial trucking negligence. Our firm, Attorney911, has recovered more than $50 million for injury victims, including multi-million dollar settlements for traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and wrongful death claims. We’ve gone toe-to-toe with Fortune 500 corporations like BP in the Texas City refinery explosion litigation, and we currently represent a University of Houston hazing victim in active $10 million litigation. But more importantly, we understand the unique dangers facing Dallas County residents on rural highways like U.S. Route 67 and Arkansas Highway 8.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a trucking accident anywhere in Dallas County—from the county seat of Fordyce to the timberlands of Sparkman—we’re here to help you fight back. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 anytime, day or night. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win.
Why 18-Wheeler Accidents in Dallas County Are Different
Dallas County, Arkansas sits at the crossroads of major freight corridors. Interstate 30 cuts through the southern portion of the county, carrying massive volumes of commercial traffic between Little Rock and Texarkana. U.S. Highway 67 and Arkansas Highway 8 serve as vital arteries for the region’s timber, poultry, and agricultural industries. When big rigs encounter the mix of high-speed interstate traffic and rural two-lane highways that characterize our county, the results are often catastrophic.
The physics are brutal. A fully loaded 18-wheeler weighs up to 80,000 pounds—twenty times the weight of a typical passenger vehicle. At 65 miles per hour, a truck needs nearly two football fields to come to a complete stop. On Dallas County’s rural roads, where black ice forms quickly in winter and farm equipment shares the pavement during harvest season, that stopping distance becomes a death sentence.
Unlike standard car accidents, trucking cases involve complex federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and evidence that disappears fast. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) governs every aspect of commercial trucking, from driver qualifications under 49 CFR Part 391 to hours of service limits under 49 CFR Part 395. When trucking companies operating in Dallas County violate these federal safety standards, they put everyone at risk—and they can be held accountable.
Our Battle-Tested Experience
When you hire Attorney911, you’re not getting a general practice lawyer. You’re getting a team led by Ralph Manginello, a personal injury attorney with 25+ years of active litigation experience since 1998. Ralph is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, giving us federal court capability for complex interstate trucking cases. Our firm has secured settlements ranging from $1.5 million to $9.8 million for traumatic brain injury victims, $1.9 million to $8.6 million for amputation cases, and $1.9 million to $9.5 million in wrongful death claims.
Most critically for your case, our associate attorney Lupe Peña brings a unique weapon to your arsenal: he formerly worked as an insurance defense attorney. Before joining Attorney911, Lupe sat on the other side of the table, learning exactly how trucking insurers evaluate claims, minimize payouts, and deny valid cases. As one of our clients, Chad Harris, put it: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”
That insider knowledge matters when you’re fighting a Dallas County trucking accident case. We know the playbook because we used to write it. Now Lupe uses that expertise exclusively for injury victims. And because Dallas County’s diverse agricultural workforce includes many Spanish-speaking residents, Lupe provides fluent Spanish representation without interpreters—hablamos español directamente.
Our firm maintains offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas, but our federal court admission and commitment to Arkansas victims means we’re fully equipped to handle cases throughout Dallas County and all of Arkansas. We do not charge any upfront fees—our standard contingency fee is 33.33% pre-trial and 40% if trial becomes necessary.
Arkansas Law: What Dallas County Victims Need to Know
If you’ve been injured in a Dallas County trucking accident, Arkansas state law provides specific protections and deadlines that differ from neighboring states.
Statute of Limitations: In Arkansas, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is significantly longer than the two-year window in Texas, but waiting is never advisable. Critical black box data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days, and trucking maintenance records have specific retention limits. Evidence grows cold quickly on rural Arkansas roads where camera coverage is sparse and witness memories fade.
Modified Comparative Fault: Arkansas follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 50% bar. This means you can recover damages as long as you are less than 50% at fault for the accident. However, any percentage of fault assigned to you reduces your recovery proportionally. If a Dallas County jury finds you 20% responsible for an accident on Highway 8, your recovery is reduced by 20%. If you’re found 50% or more at fault, you recover nothing. This makes aggressive evidence gathering and liability analysis critical—from the first hours after the crash.
Punitive Damages: Unlike some states, Arkansas imposes no artificial cap on punitive damages in personal injury cases. The state’s Supreme Court has struck down such caps as unconstitutional. When a trucking company’s conduct is reckless—such as knowingly putting a fatigued driver on I-30 or ignoring brake failures—Dallas County juries have the authority to punish that behavior with substantial awards above and beyond compensatory damages.
Federal FMCSA Violations That Prove Negligence
Every commercial trucking company operating on Dallas County highways must comply with strict federal regulations codified in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. When they break these rules, they break the law—and they are liable for the consequences.
49 CFR Part 391: Driver Qualification
Federal law mandates that every commercial driver must possess a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL), pass regular medical examinations, maintain a clean driving record, and undergo proper training. Trucking companies must maintain a Driver Qualification File for every operator containing background checks, motor vehicle records, and drug testing history. When a Dallas County accident involves an unqualified driver—one who lacks a proper CDL, has a history of safety violations, or suffers from untreated medical conditions—the trucking company can be held liable for negligent hiring.
49 CFR Part 393: Vehicle Safety and Cargo Securement
This section mandates proper equipment maintenance, including functioning brakes, tires, lights, and underride guards. It also governs cargo securement—critical in Dallas County’s agricultural economy where trucks haul timber, poultry, and heavy equipment. Cargo must be secured with adequate tiedowns to withstand 0.8g deceleration forces. When improperly secured loads shift on I-30 or spill onto Highway 167, causing rollovers or jackknife accidents, the violation of § 393.100 becomes direct evidence of negligence.
49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service
Driver fatigue causes approximately 31% of fatal truck crashes nationwide. Federal hours-of-service regulations limit property-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving time after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers cannot exceed 14 hours on duty without a break or drive after accumulating 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 days without a 34-hour restart.
Since December 18, 2017, most commercial trucks must use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) that automatically record driving time, location, and duty status. This data provides objective proof of hours-of-service violations—violations that frequently cause accidents on long hauls through Dallas County’s remote stretches where drivers push to reach Dallas County (Arkansas) from Texas or Oklahoma.
49 CFR Part 396: Inspection and Maintenance
Trucking companies must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles. Drivers must conduct pre-trip inspections before every drive and file post-trip Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) documenting any defects. Annual inspections are mandatory, and companies must retain maintenance records for specific periods. When brake failures cause rear-end collisions on I-30 or worn tires blow out on summer highways, these maintenance records reveal whether the company ignored known safety issues.
The 10 Liable Parties We Can Pursue
Unlike standard car accidents where only one driver may be at fault, 18-wheeler accidents often involve multiple liable parties—each with separate insurance policies. We investigate and pursue claims against every potentially responsible entity:
1. The Truck Driver: Direct negligence for speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, impairment, or traffic violations on Dallas County roads.
2. The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): Vicarious liability under respondeat superior for their employee’s actions, plus direct liability for negligent hiring (failing to check the driver’s record), negligent training (inadequate safety instruction), negligent supervision (ignoring HOS violations), or negligent maintenance (deferring repairs to save money).
3. The Truck Owner: If different from the carrier (common in owner-operator arrangements), liability for negligent entrustment of the vehicle.
4. The Cargo Owner/Shipper: Liability for improper loading or overweight cargo that makes the truck unstable—particularly relevant to Dallas County’s timber and poultry industries.
5. The Loading Company: Third-party liability when professional loaders secure freight incorrectly, violating 49 CFR § 393.100.
6. The Truck/Trailer Manufacturer: Product liability claims for design defects in braking systems, steering mechanisms, or fuel tank placement.
7. The Parts Manufacturer: Defective tires, brake components, or safety systems that fail and cause accidents.
8. The Maintenance Company: Third-party mechanics who negligently repair or inspect commercial vehicles.
9. The Freight Broker: Negligent selection liability for brokers who arrange shipping with unsafe carriers to cut costs.
10. Government Entities: When dangerous road design, inadequate signage, or poor maintenance on Arkansas state highways contributes to the crash.
Each of these parties may carry insurance ranging from the $750,000 federal minimum for general freight to $5 million for hazardous materials. By identifying all liable parties, we access multiple insurance pools to maximize your recovery.
Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents We Handle in Dallas County
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife occurs when the truck’s trailer swings perpendicular to the cab, often blocking multiple lanes of I-30. These accidents frequently result from sudden braking on wet pavement or inadequate brake maintenance violating 49 CFR § 393.48. On Dallas County’s rural highways, where drainage can be poor and sudden stops occur around slow-moving farm equipment, jackknifes pose existential dangers to oncoming traffic.
Rollover Accidents
Rollovers are among the deadliest trucking accidents, often occurring when drivers take curves too fast on Highway 8 or when improperly secured cargo shifts during transit (violating 49 CFR § 393.100-136). The high center of gravity on fully loaded timber trucks makes them particularly susceptible to rollovers on the winding roads near the Ouachita National Forest.
Underride Collisions
When a passenger vehicle slides underneath a trailer, the results are often fatal or cause catastrophic head trauma. Federal law under 49 CFR § 393.86 mandates rear impact guards on trailers manufactured after January 26, 1998, but many older trailers still travel Arkansas roads. Side underride guards remain unmandated by federal law, leaving Dallas County drivers vulnerable during lane changes on I-30.
Rear-End Collisions
An 18-wheeler traveling at 65 mph needs 525 feet to stop—40% more distance than a passenger car. When truck drivers follow too closely under 49 CFR § 392.11, or when brake failures occur due to deferred maintenance under 49 CFR § 396.3, catastrophic rear-end collisions happen. These are common in Dallas County when sudden traffic slowdowns occur near the Fordyce exits.
Tire Blowouts
“Road gators”—shredded tire remnants—cause thousands of accidents annually. When blowouts occur due to underinflation, overloading, or inadequate tread depth (violating 49 CFR § 393.75), trucks often lose control and jackknife or rollover. Arkansas’s extreme summer heat and the demands of agricultural hauling on Dallas County’s farm-to-market roads create conditions where tire failures occur frequently.
Wide Turn Accidents (“Squeeze Play”)
Trucks making right turns onto narrow Dallas County roads must swing wide left before cutting right. Passenger vehicles entering the gap during this maneuver get crushed between the truck and the curb. These accidents often involve failure to signal or inadequate mirror checks, violating safe operation standards under 49 CFR Part 392.
Blind Spot Accidents
Commercial trucks have massive “no-zones” where drivers cannot see other vehicles. The right-side blind spot is particularly dangerous—extending from the cab door backward and covering multiple lanes. When truckers change lanes on I-30 without checking mirrors or signaling in accordance with 49 CFR § 392.58, they collide with vehicles they never saw.
Head-On Collisions
When fatigue, distraction, or impairment causes a driver to drift across the centerline on Highway 167 into oncoming traffic, the results are almost always fatal for the occupants of the smaller vehicle. These cases frequently involve hours-of-service violations under 49 CFR Part 395 or impairment under § 392.3.
Catastrophic Injuries and Recovery Potential
The 20-to-1 weight disparity between an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle means injuries in Dallas County trucking accidents are rarely minor.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Ranging from concussions to severe cognitive impairment, TBIs can result in permanent personality changes, memory loss, and disability requiring lifelong care. Our firm has recovered between $1,548,000 and $9,838,000 for TBI victims, recognizing that these injuries affect not just the victim but their entire family.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis: Damage to the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. These cases often involve verdicts between $4.77 million and $25.88 million, accounting for lifetime medical care, home modifications, and lost earning capacity.
Amputations: Whether traumatic (occurring at the scene) or surgical (required due to crushing damage), limb loss requires prosthetics, rehabilitation, and often prevents return to previous employment. Settlements typically range from $1,945,000 to $8,630,000.
Severe Burns: Fuel tank ruptures and hazmat spills on remote Dallas County highways can cause third or fourth-degree burns requiring skin grafts and reconstructive surgery. These cases often involve non-economic damages for disfigurement that dramatically impact quality of life.
Wrongful Death: When trucking accidents take loved ones from families in Fordyce, Sparkman, or rural Dallas County, Arkansas law allows recovery for lost income, loss of consortium, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. Verdicts in fatal trucking cases typically range from $1,910,000 to $9,520,000, with the potential for punitive damages when gross negligence is proven.
Critical Evidence and the 48-Hour Rule
Evidence in Dallas County trucking accidents disappears faster than you might think. Black box data from the truck’s Electronic Control Module (ECM) can be overwritten in as little as 30 days. ELD logs showing hours-of-service violations may only be retained for 6 months under FMCSA regulations. Dashcam footage is often deleted within weeks. Witness memories fade quickly on rural roads where few people stop to investigate.
That’s why we act immediately. Within 24 hours of being retained, we send spoliation letters to the trucking company, their insurer, and all potentially liable parties, legally demanding preservation of:
- ECM/EDR data and ELD logs
- Driver Qualification Files and drug test results
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Dispatch communications and GPS tracking
- Cell phone records for distracted driving analysis
- Dashcam and surveillance footage from nearby Dallas County businesses
As client Glenda Walker told us: “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” That level of advocacy requires preserving evidence before it disappears.
Frequently Asked Questions for Dallas County Victims
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after an 18-wheeler accident in Arkansas?
You have three years from the date of the accident. However, waiting is dangerous—evidence disappears and the trucking company is already building their defense. Call us immediately at 1-888-288-9911.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident on Highway 8?
Arkansas uses modified comparative fault with a 50% bar. If you are less than 50% at fault, you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault. We investigate aggressively to minimize any fault attributed to you.
How much is my Dallas County trucking accident case worth?
Values depend on injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, and insurance coverage. Trucking companies carry minimum $750,000 policies (up to $5 million for hazmat). We’ve recovered millions for clients with catastrophic injuries.
Will my case go to trial?
Most cases settle, but we prepare every case for trial. Insurance companies know which attorneys are willing to go to court—willingness to try cases leads to better settlement offers.
Do I need to pay anything upfront?
No. We work on contingency—you pay nothing unless we win. We advance all investigation costs.
¿Se habla español?
Sí. Attorney Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish and provides direct representation without interpreters. Call 888-ATTY-911 to speak with Lupe directly.
The Attorney911 Difference in Dallas County
When you hire Attorney911 for your Dallas County trucking accident case, you get more than legal representation—you get a team that treats you like family while fighting like warriors.
Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of experience includes admission to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, battle-tested litigation against Fortune 500 companies like BP, and a track record of multi-million dollar verdicts that few rural Arkansas firms can match. Our 4.9-star Google rating from 251+ reviews reflects our commitment to communication and results.
Most importantly, you get the insurance defense advantage. Lupe Peña spent years working for insurance companies—now he works against them. He knows exactly how adjusters evaluate claims, what arguments they use to reduce payouts, and how to counter their tactics. As another 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 handle cases throughout Dallas County, whether your accident occurred on the interstate near Fordyce, a farm road near Sparkman, or the state highways connecting our communities to Little Rock and Texarkana.
Call Now—Evidence Is Disappearing
The trucking company that hit you has already called their attorneys. Their insurance adjuster is already looking for ways to pay you less. The black box data that could prove their driver was speeding, fatigued, or distracted is counting down to deletion.
You don’t have to fight alone.
Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911 today for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 because accidents don’t keep business hours. We advance all costs, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Hablamos Español. Call Lupe Peña at 1-888-ATTY-911.
When disaster strikes on Dallas County roads, make the call that levels the playing field. Make the call that protects your family. Make the call that gets results.
Call Attorney911 today.
