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

You’re reading this because someone you love didn’t make it home from a Duncanville road. Maybe it was the morning commute on I-20, the afternoon delivery surge through the Duncanville Business Park, or the late-night oilfield service truck rolling through on its way to the Permian Basin. The interstate and state highways that connect Duncanville to Dallas, Fort Worth, and the rest of Texas carry some of the highest commercial truck traffic in the state—and with it, some of the highest fatal crash rates.

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 started a clock the day of the crash. You have exactly two years from that date to file a wrongful death claim under Section 71.001. Not from the funeral. Not from when the autopsy report came back. Not from when the police report was finalized. The day the crash happened. That clock doesn’t stop for grief, for medical bills, or for the carrier’s insurance adjuster telling you they’re “handling everything.”

We’ve represented Duncanville families in these cases for over two decades. Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, has been fighting for Texas injury victims since 1998—long enough to know that the carrier’s lawyers started working the night of the crash. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, spent years on the other side, calculating claim valuations for insurance companies. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you.

Here’s what you need to understand right now: the evidence that could prove what really happened is disappearing every day. The electronic logging device (ELD) on the truck overwrites in 30–180 days. The dashcam footage cycles out in 7–14 days. The maintenance records the carrier controls? They can “lose” those too. We send preservation letters within 24 hours of taking a case to lock down what the carrier would rather disappear.

The Reality of Fatal Truck Crashes on Duncanville’s Roads

Duncanville sits at the crossroads of major Texas freight corridors. Interstate 20 runs east-west through the northern edge of the city, connecting Dallas to Fort Worth and beyond. US Highway 67 cuts through the heart of Duncanville, carrying local traffic and commercial vehicles alike. The President George Bush Turnpike (SH 161) and Interstate 35E are just minutes away, funneling trucks to and from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) recorded 12,352 crashes in Dallas County in 2024 alone—one every 42 minutes. Of those, 69 were fatal, claiming 80 lives. Commercial vehicles were involved in a disproportionate share of these fatal crashes. Nationally, large trucks account for just 4% of registered vehicles but are involved in 11% of all motor vehicle crash deaths (IIHS, 2023).

For Duncanville families, these aren’t just statistics. They’re the wreck that closed I-20 last Tuesday, the ambulance your neighbor heard at 2 a.m., the flowers on the overpass at the intersection of US-67 and Camp Wisdom Road.

The Most Dangerous Corridors Through Duncanville

1. Interstate 20 (I-20) – The stretch through Dallas County carries some of the highest truck traffic in Texas. In 2024, I-20 saw 1,243 commercial vehicle crashes in Dallas County alone, with 12 fatalities. The mix of long-haul freight, local delivery trucks, and passenger vehicles creates a high-risk environment for rear-end collisions, lane-change crashes, and rollovers—especially during rush hours (6–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.).

2. US Highway 67 – This north-south corridor through Duncanville is a major route for local and regional trucking. The intersection with Camp Wisdom Road has been flagged in TxDOT safety reports for years due to high crash rates. In 2024, US-67 in Dallas County saw 482 crashes, including 5 fatalities.

3. President George Bush Turnpike (SH 161) – While primarily a toll road, SH 161 carries significant commercial traffic, including Amazon delivery vans, Sysco foodservice trucks, and oilfield service vehicles heading to and from the Permian Basin. The interchange with I-20 is particularly hazardous, with 87 crashes reported in 2024, including 3 fatalities.

4. Interstate 35E (I-35E) – Just east of Duncanville, I-35E is a major freight corridor connecting Dallas to San Antonio and the Mexican border. In 2024, I-35E in Dallas County saw 1,102 commercial vehicle crashes, with 9 fatalities. The high volume of cross-border freight and oilfield service trucks increases the risk of fatigue-related crashes and cargo spills.

5. Local Industrial Zones – Duncanville’s Business Park and surrounding industrial areas see heavy truck traffic from local distribution centers, construction sites, and service vehicles. These areas are particularly dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, with 14 pedestrian-involved crashes reported in Dallas County in 2024, resulting in 7 fatalities.

Who Is Responsible? The Defendant Universe in Duncanville Truck Crashes

When an 18-wheeler kills a Duncanville family member, the driver behind the wheel is just one defendant. The real exposure sits with the corporations that put that driver on the road. Here’s who we name in every case:

1. The Commercial Driver – The immediate actor, but rarely the most exposed defendant. Even if the driver was negligent, their personal insurance policy is usually insufficient to cover the full damages in a fatal crash.

2. The Motor Carrier Employer – The trucking company that hired, trained, supervised, and dispatched the driver. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are liable for their employees’ negligence committed within the course and scope of employment. This is the primary defendant in most cases.

3. The Freight Broker – Companies like C.H. Robinson, Uber Freight, and Amazon Relay arrange loads between shippers and carriers. Under recent case law (Miller v. C.H. Robinson, 9th Cir. 2020), brokers can be liable for negligent selection if they dispatch loads to carriers with documented safety violations.

4. The Shipper – The company that loaded the cargo and directed the haul. If the shipper specified an unsafe loading sequence, an unrealistic delivery schedule, or failed to properly secure the cargo, they share liability. This is especially relevant in hazmat and oversize load cases.

5. The Maintenance Contractor – Many carriers outsource vehicle maintenance to third-party providers. If a brake failure, tire blowout, or other mechanical issue caused the crash, the maintenance contractor is independently liable.

6. The Parts Manufacturer – If a defective part (tires, brakes, steering components, airbags) contributed to the crash, the manufacturer is strictly liable under Texas product liability law.

7. The Road Designer or Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) – If a roadway defect (missing guardrails, potholes, shoulder drop-offs, inadequate signage) contributed to the crash, TxDOT or the local municipality may be liable under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 101). This requires pre-suit notice within six months of the crash.

8. The Municipality – If municipal infrastructure (malfunctioning traffic signals, missing crosswalks, inadequate lighting) contributed to the crash, the city of Duncanville or Dallas County may be liable, also under the Texas Tort Claims Act.

9. The Insurer – The carrier’s primary and excess insurance policies are direct targets. Under the Stowers Doctrine (G.A. Stowers Furniture Co. v. American Indem. Co., 1929), if a plaintiff makes a settlement demand within policy limits and the insurer unreasonably refuses, the insurer becomes liable for the entire verdict—even amounts exceeding policy limits.

10. The Parent Corporation – Many trucking companies operate under a corporate umbrella. If the carrier is a subsidiary, the parent corporation may be liable under alter-ego or single-business-enterprise theories.

11. Cargo Loaders – If the cargo was improperly loaded, secured, or distributed, the loading crew at the terminal of origin shares liability.

In a fatal crash on I-20 in Duncanville, we’ve seen cases where all eleven defendant categories applied. The carrier counts on plaintiffs’ counsel who stop at the driver. We start at the corporate parent and work down.

The Legal Framework: What Texas Law Gives Duncanville Families

Texas law provides two primary avenues for recovery after a fatal truck crash: wrongful death claims and survival actions.

Wrongful Death Claims (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.001 et seq.)

Under Section 71.004, the following family members hold independent wrongful death claims:

• The surviving spouse
• The surviving children (including adult children)
• The surviving parents

Each claimant holds their own claim for:

• Pecuniary loss (financial support the deceased would have provided)
• Mental anguish (emotional pain and suffering)
• Loss of companionship and society (the emotional bond with the deceased)
• Loss of inheritance (what the deceased would have saved and passed on)

Survival Action (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.021)

The estate of the deceased holds a separate survival action for:

• The pain and suffering the deceased endured between injury and death
• Medical expenses incurred before death
• Funeral and burial expenses

The Two-Year Clock (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003)

You have exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file both the wrongful death claims and the survival action. Once that window closes, the case dies procedurally. The carrier’s insurer is under no obligation to negotiate, regardless of how clear the negligence is.

Modified Comparative Negligence (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001)

Texas follows a 51% bar rule. You recover only if the deceased was 50% or less at fault. If the jury finds the deceased 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. The carrier will fight hard to push fault above 50%. Lupe Peña made these arguments for years when he worked for insurance companies. Now he defeats them.

Punitive Damages (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 41.003)

If the carrier’s conduct rose to gross negligence—defined as an objective extreme risk of harm, subjective awareness of that risk, and proceeding anyway—exemplary (punitive) damages are available. The standard cap is the greater of:

• $200,000, or
• Two times economic damages plus non-economic damages (capped at $750,000 on the non-economic portion)

Exception: If the underlying act was a felony (e.g., Intoxication Manslaughter), there is no cap on punitive damages. A DWI-related fatal crash opens the door to uncapped punitive damages.

The Stowers Doctrine (G.A. Stowers Furniture Co. v. American Indem. Co., 1929)

If you make a settlement demand within the carrier’s policy limits and the insurer unreasonably refuses, the insurer becomes liable for the entire verdict—even amounts exceeding policy limits. This is the nuclear option for clear-liability cases.

Negligence Per Se

Violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) can establish negligence per se under Texas law. Common violations we see in Duncanville fatal crashes:

• Hours-of-Service (HOS) violations (49 C.F.R. Part 395) – Drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour duty window, after 10 consecutive hours off duty. ELD data frequently shows falsified logs.
• Driver Qualification violations (49 C.F.R. Part 391) – Carriers must verify a driver’s employment history, medical certification, and driving record. Many skip this step.
• Vehicle Maintenance violations (49 C.F.R. Part 396) – Pre-trip inspections, brake-system checks, and tire tread-depth minimums (4/32″) are required. Many carriers cut corners.
• Cargo Securement violations (49 C.F.R. Part 393) – Improperly secured cargo can shift, causing rollovers or spills.

The Texas Pattern Jury Charge

A Duncanville jury will decide your case based on the questions submitted under the Texas Pattern Jury Charge (PJC). Key submissions:

• PJC 27.1 – General negligence (was the defendant negligent?)
• PJC 27.2 – Negligence per se (did the defendant violate a statute or regulation?)
• PJC 5.1 – Gross negligence (did the defendant’s conduct rise to the level required for punitive damages?)
• PJC 4.1 – Proximate cause (was the defendant’s negligence a substantial factor in causing the harm?)

What Your Case Is Worth: Damages in Duncanville Wrongful Death Cases

Texas law recognizes multiple categories of damages in fatal truck crash cases. Each category is calculated separately and submitted to the jury under the Texas Pattern Jury Charge.

Economic Damages

1. Past Medical Expenses – Ambulance bills, ER treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and any other medical care the deceased received before death.
2. Future Medical Expenses – If the deceased survived for a period before dying, the cost of future medical care they would have needed is recoverable.
3. Funeral and Burial Expenses – Reasonable costs for funeral services, burial, or cremation.
4. Lost Earning Capacity – The income the deceased would have earned over their remaining work life, adjusted for inflation and benefits.
5. Loss of Household Services – The value of services the deceased provided to the household (childcare, home maintenance, etc.).

Non-Economic Damages

1. Mental Anguish – The emotional pain and suffering endured by surviving family members.
2. Loss of Companionship and Society – The emotional bond between the deceased and their spouse, children, or parents.
3. Loss of Inheritance – What the deceased would have saved and passed on to heirs.

Exemplary (Punitive) Damages

If the carrier’s conduct rose to gross negligence, punitive damages are available to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct. As noted earlier, there is no cap if the underlying act was a felony (e.g., Intoxication Manslaughter).

Case Results: What Duncanville Families Have Recovered

Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

1. Logging Brain Injury – $5+ Million – Multi-million dollar settlement for a client who suffered a brain injury with vision loss when a log dropped on him at a logging company.
2. Car Accident Amputation – $3.8+ Million – 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.
3. Trucking Wrongful Death – 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.
4. Maritime Jones Act Back Injury – $2+ Million – 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.
5. BP Texas City Explosion Litigation – Our firm is one of the few firms in Texas to be involved in BP explosion litigation.

These results reflect the depth of investigation and legal strategy we bring to every Duncanville case. We don’t just settle for the first offer. We build the case so the carrier’s insurer knows they’re facing a jury in Dallas County District Court—one of the most plaintiff-friendly venues in Texas for commercial vehicle litigation.

The Carrier’s Playbook—and How We Counter It

Insurance companies follow a predictable script after fatal crashes. Lupe Peña ran this playbook for years on the defense side. Here’s what they’ll do—and how we counter it:

Tactic 1: Quick Lowball Settlement

What they do: The adjuster calls within days of the crash with a small offer, hoping you’ll accept before you talk to a lawyer.
How we counter: First offers are always a fraction of case value. We never advise a client to sign a release in the first 96 hours. We calculate full damages—including future medical needs you haven’t thought of yet—before responding.

Tactic 2: Recorded Statement Trap

What they do: “We just need a quick recorded statement for our files.” The questions are designed to make you minimize injuries or admit fault.
How we counter: That statement is used against you later. Never give a recorded statement without your attorney present.

Tactic 3: Comparative Negligence

What they do: “Your loved one was partially at fault—they were speeding / not wearing a seatbelt / changed lanes.”
How we counter: Texas follows modified comparative negligence. Even at 50% fault, you recover. We anticipate this attack and develop evidence that pushes fault back where it belongs.

Tactic 4: Pre-Existing Condition

What they do: “Your loved one had back problems before this accident.”
How we counter: The eggshell plaintiff doctrine: the defendant takes the plaintiff as they find them. If a pre-existing condition was worsened by the crash, the defendant is liable for the aggravation.

Tactic 5: Delayed Treatment Defense

What they do: “You didn’t see a doctor for three weeks—so you must not be seriously hurt.”
How we counter: Adrenaline masks pain. TBI symptoms can take days or weeks to appear. Delayed treatment doesn’t mean no injury—and we have the medical evidence to prove it.

Tactic 6: Spoliation (Evidence Destruction)

What they do: ELD data, dashcam footage, dispatch records “disappear” before discovery.
How we counter: We file spoliation preservation letters within 24 hours of taking the case. Every black-box record, ELD log, and maintenance file is locked down before they can “accidentally” delete them.

Tactic 7: IME Doctor Selection

What they do: “Independent” medical examiners are chosen for their pattern of finding plaintiffs not as injured as they claim.
How we counter: Lupe hired these doctors when he worked for insurance defense firms. He knows the panel. We counter with the victim’s treating physicians and independent experts the carrier can’t impeach.

Tactic 8: Surveillance

What they do: Investigators photograph you doing anything that looks “normal.”
Lupe’s insider quote: “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.”

Tactic 9: Delay Tactics

What they do: Drag the case past the statute of limitations, exhaust your resources, force a low settlement out of financial desperation.
How we counter: We file lawsuit early to force discovery. We set depositions. We make the carrier carry the cost of delay.

Tactic 10: Drowning You in Paperwork

What they do: Massive discovery requests designed to overwhelm an underfunded plaintiff’s counsel.
How we counter: We staff the case appropriately and use motion practice to limit overbroad discovery while preserving every record we need.

The Colossus Algorithm: How Insurance Companies Value Your Case

Most insurance companies use proprietary software—typically Colossus, Liability Decision Manager, or Claim IQ—to algorithmically value bodily injury claims. The software ingests:

• Medical codes and treatment duration
• Injury type
• Geographic and demographic modifiers (based on historical jury verdicts in the venue)
• The carrier’s internal claims-handling guidelines

The output is a settlement range the adjuster works within. The adjuster doesn’t negotiate against your case—they negotiate against the software’s number.

Why Lupe’s Background Matters

Lupe worked inside this system. He knows:

• Which medical codes Colossus weights most heavily
• Which treatment durations trigger value bumps
• Which demographic markers reduce the modifier
• How to push the algorithm’s value up before negotiations begin

Dallas County’s historical jury verdict pattern sets the geographic modifier for every Colossus valuation of a Duncanville claim. We don’t accept the algorithm’s first number. We develop evidence specifically calibrated to push past the modifier ceiling.

Evidence Preservation: What Disappears in the First 48 Hours

Evidence in fatal truck crashes has a half-life measured in days. Here’s what’s at risk—and what we lock down immediately:

Our 48-Hour Evidence Preservation Protocol

1. Send the preservation letter to the motor carrier, broker, shipper, and any third-party telematics provider. The letter identifies:

   • The truck’s electronic control module (ECM)
   • The electronic logging device (ELD)
   • The dashcam footage
   • The dispatch communications
   • The Qualcomm/PeopleNet telematics feed
   • The maintenance records
   • The driver qualification file
   • The prior preventability determinations
   • The post-accident drug/alcohol screens
   • Any Form MCS-90 endorsement on the policy

2. Put the carrier on notice that spoliation will be argued—and an adverse inference charge will be sought—if any of that disappears.

3. Pull the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program record on the driver.

4. Pull the carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile by USDOT number.

5. Open the FMCSA SAFER profile to check the carrier’s compliance history.

6. Identify all potentially liable parties for the preservation list.

What Happens Next: The Four-Phase Investigation

Phase 1: Immediate Response (0–72 Hours)

• Accept the case and send preservation letters same day
• Deploy accident reconstruction expert to the scene if needed
• Obtain the police crash report
• Photograph client injuries with medical documentation
• Photograph all vehicles before they’re repaired or scrapped
• Identify all potentially liable parties

Phase 2: Evidence Gathering (Days 1–30)

• Subpoena ELD and black-box data downloads
• Request the driver’s paper log books (backup documentation)
• Obtain the complete Driver Qualification File from the carrier
• Request all truck maintenance and inspection records
• Obtain the carrier’s CSA safety scores and inspection history
• Order the driver’s complete Motor Vehicle Record
• Subpoena the driver’s cell phone records
• Obtain dispatch records and delivery schedules
• Pull surveillance footage from businesses near the scene before auto-deletion

Phase 3: Expert Analysis

• Accident reconstruction specialist creates crash analysis
• Medical experts establish causation and future-care needs
• Vocational experts calculate lost earning capacity
• Economic experts determine present value of all damages
• Life-care planners develop detailed care plans for catastrophic injuries
• FMCSA regulation experts identify all violations

Phase 4: Litigation Strategy

• File lawsuit before the two-year statute of limitations expires
• Pursue full discovery against all potentially liable parties
• Depose the truck driver, dispatcher, safety manager, and maintenance personnel
• Build the case for trial while negotiating settlement from a position of strength
• Prepare every case as if going to trial—that creates negotiating strength

Why Duncanville Families Choose Attorney 911

1. We Know Duncanville’s Roads

We’ve handled cases arising from crashes on:

• Interstate 20 (I-20) – The high-speed freight corridor where rear-end collisions and lane-change crashes are daily events
• US Highway 67 – The north-south route through Duncanville, where afternoon congestion and delivery truck traffic create hazardous conditions
• President George Bush Turnpike (SH 161) – The toll road carrying Amazon vans, Sysco trucks, and oilfield service vehicles
• Local industrial zones – Where pedestrian strikes and loading-dock collisions are tragically common

We know the dangerous intersections (US-67 and Camp Wisdom Road), the high-crash corridors, and the trauma centers serving Duncanville (Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Parkland Memorial Hospital).

2. We Know the Carriers Operating in Duncanville

Duncanville sees freight from every major trucking category:

• Long-haul interstate carriers (Werner, J.B. Hunt, Schneider, Swift)
• Last-mile delivery (Amazon DSP contractors, FedEx Ground, UPS)
• Foodservice distribution (Sysco, US Foods, HEB)
• Oilfield service (Halliburton, Schlumberger, Patterson-UTI)
• Refuse and construction (Waste Management, Republic Services)
• School bus contractors (Durham, First Student, National Express)

Each category carries a different regulatory profile under the FMCSR. Each requires a different discovery posture. We approach every Duncanville case knowing which carriers operate here—and what their safety records show.

3. We Know the Defense Playbook Because We Wrote It

Lupe Peña spent years working for a national insurance defense firm, calculating claim valuations and deploying the tactics you just read about. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you.

Lupe’s insider perspective:
“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.”

4. We Don’t Stop at the Driver

We sue the trucking companies behind them. The driver in the cab 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.

In a recent Duncanville case, we named:

• The motor carrier employer (for negligent hiring and supervision)
• The freight broker (for negligent selection of an unsafe carrier)
• The shipper (for directing an unsafe loading sequence)
• The maintenance contractor (for failing to inspect the brakes properly)
• The parts manufacturer (for a defective wheel-end component)

The carrier counted on us stopping at the driver. We didn’t.

5. We Know Dallas County Courtrooms

The case will likely be filed in Dallas County District Court—one of the most plaintiff-friendly venues in Texas for commercial vehicle litigation. We’ve tried cases here for over 20 years. We know the judges, the jury pools, and how to present evidence so a Dallas County jury understands what really happened.

6. We Speak Your Language

Para las familias hispanohablantes de Duncanville, 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. El Código de Práctica Civil y Remedios de Texas, Sección 16.003, otorga dos años desde la fecha de la lesión fatal para presentar una demanda por homicidio culposo — el reloj no se detiene mientras la familia está de luto.

7. We’re Here 24/7

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 any time. You’ll speak to a live staff member—not an answering service. We can meet you at the hospital, at your home, or at our office in Houston, Austin, or Beaumont.

What Duncanville Families Say About Us

Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Brian Butchee: “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.”

Stephanie Hernandez: “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.”

Chelsea Martinez: “Special thank you to my attorney, Mr. Pena, for your kindness and patience with my repeated questions.”

Dame Haskett: “Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer…Ralph reached out personally.”

Ambur Hamilton: “I never felt like ‘just another case’ they were working on.”

Chad Harris: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client…You are FAMILY to them.”

Diane Smith: “They went above and beyond! Special thank you to Ralph and Leanor.”

Donald Wilcox: “One company said they would not except my case. Then I got a call from Manginello…I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.”

Tymesha Galloway: “Leonor is the best!!! She was able to assist me with my case within 6 months.”

Hannah Garcia: “Mariela and Zulema have done such a fantastic job…gone above and beyond to get my case settled quickly!”

Jacqueline Johnson: “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.”

Erica Perales: “You know if TraeAbn tells you it’s the right way to go best attorney out here you can’t go wrong.”

The Two-Year Clock Is Running

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 gives you exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful death action. The clock runs whether or not:

• The carrier’s insurer is returning your calls
• You’ve finished grieving
• The police report is finalized
• You feel ready to think about a lawyer

Once that window closes, the case dies procedurally. The carrier’s insurer is under no obligation to negotiate, regardless of how clear the negligence is.

We open the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program file on the driver and the Safety Measurement System profile on the carrier within 48 hours. We send the preservation letter that locks down the evidence before it disappears. We know what the Texas Pattern Jury Charge will ask in Dallas County, and we build the case for those questions from the first investigator we send to the scene.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now. The evidence is disappearing every day. The clock is running. We’re here to carry the weight from here.