18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers in Gladewater, Texas

When an 80,000-Pound Truck Changes Your Life Forever

One moment, you’re driving down Gladewater’s highways—maybe heading to work on US-271, running errands in town, or traveling through on I-20. The next, an 18-wheeler is jackknifing across three lanes. The impact is catastrophic. 80,000 pounds of steel against your sedan. In an instant, everything changes.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Gladewater 18-wheeler accident, you need more than just a lawyer. You need a legal emergency response team that understands the unique dangers of East Texas trucking corridors, the federal regulations that trucking companies violate, and how to hold negligent carriers accountable.

At Attorney911, we’ve been fighting for truck accident victims across Texas for over 25 years. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has federal court experience and has secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for families devastated by 18-wheeler crashes. We know Gladewater’s trucking routes, from the oil field traffic on Highway 155 to the distribution centers along I-20. This local knowledge, combined with our national trucking litigation expertise, gives us an advantage in building your case.

“They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”
— Glenda Walker, Attorney911 Client

Why Gladewater Trucking Accidents Are Different

Gladewater sits at the crossroads of major East Texas trucking corridors. Our location creates unique risks:

• I-20 Corridor: This major east-west interstate carries heavy truck traffic from Dallas to Shreveport, with Gladewater right in the middle. The stretch near Gladewater sees significant commercial traffic, including tankers, flatbeds, and dry vans.

• US-271 and Highway 155: These routes connect Gladewater to the oil fields of East Texas and Louisiana. Oil field trucking brings specialized hazards—overweight loads, hazardous materials, and fatigued drivers working long hours.

• Local Distribution: Gladewater’s position in Upshur County means trucks serving local businesses, warehouses, and distribution centers are always present on our roads.

• Rural Road Challenges: Many of Gladewater’s surrounding roads are rural two-lane highways with limited shoulders, poor lighting, and challenging terrain. Trucks traveling these roads at high speeds create significant risks.

• Weather Factors: East Texas weather—from summer thunderstorms to occasional winter ice—creates additional hazards for large trucks that require longer stopping distances and greater caution.

The trucking companies that operate in Gladewater know these risks. They know the challenges of our roads. Yet too often, they cut corners on safety to meet tight deadlines and boost profits. When that happens, Gladewater families pay the price.

The Devastating Reality of 18-Wheeler Accidents

Trucking accidents aren’t like car accidents. The physics are different. The injuries are different. The legal battles are different.

Size and Weight Disparity:

• A fully loaded 18-wheeler: Up to 80,000 pounds
• Your passenger car: 3,500-4,000 pounds
• The truck is 20-25 TIMES heavier than your vehicle

Impact Force:

• Force = Mass × Acceleration
• An 80,000-pound truck at 65 mph carries approximately 80 times the kinetic energy of a car
• This energy transfers to your vehicle in a crash, causing catastrophic damage

Stopping Distance:

• 18-wheeler at 65 mph: ~525 feet to stop (nearly two football fields)
• Car at 65 mph: ~300 feet to stop
• Trucks need 40% more distance to stop than cars

Common Catastrophic Injuries in Gladewater Trucking Accidents:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Even “mild” TBIs can cause permanent cognitive impairment, memory problems, and personality changes
• Spinal Cord Injuries: From partial paralysis to complete quadriplegia, these injuries change lives forever
• Amputations: Crushing forces often require surgical amputation of limbs
• Severe Burns: Fuel tank ruptures and hazmat spills cause life-threatening burns
• Internal Organ Damage: Liver lacerations, spleen ruptures, and internal bleeding
• Wrongful Death: Far too many Gladewater families lose loved ones in preventable trucking accidents

“You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”
— Chad Harris, Attorney911 Client

The Trucking Company’s Playbook – And How We Counter It

Within hours of your accident, the trucking company springs into action. Their rapid-response team has one goal: protect their interests, not yours. Here’s what they do—and how we fight back:

What They Do:

1. Send investigators to the scene to document everything from their perspective
2. Download black box data before it can be overwritten
3. Interview drivers to get their version of events
4. Contact you with a “friendly” insurance adjuster offering a quick settlement
5. Prepare their defense by gathering evidence that minimizes their liability

How We Fight Back:

1. We send spoliation letters immediately demanding preservation of ALL evidence
2. We deploy our own investigators to document the scene from YOUR perspective
3. We obtain black box data before it disappears
4. We handle ALL communications with insurance companies—you say nothing
5. We build your case with evidence that proves their negligence

Our Insider Advantage:
Our firm includes Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney who spent years working for a national defense firm. He knows exactly how insurance companies evaluate, minimize, and deny trucking accident claims. Now he uses that knowledge to fight for YOU.

“Our firm includes Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney who watched adjusters minimize claims. He saw how they train their people to lowball victims. Now he exposes those tactics and uses his insider knowledge to fight for maximum compensation.”

The Critical Evidence That Wins Trucking Cases

In Gladewater 18-wheeler accident cases, evidence disappears fast. Here’s what we preserve and how it helps your case:

Electronic Control Module (ECM) / Black Box Data

This is the truck’s “black box” that records critical operational data:

• Speed before and during the crash – Proves speeding or excessive speed for conditions
• Brake application timing – Shows whether the driver hit the brakes in time
• Throttle position – Reveals if the driver was accelerating or coasting
• Following distance – Calculated from speed and deceleration data
• Hours of Service (HOS) compliance – Proves fatigue violations
• GPS location – Confirms route and timing
• Fault codes – May reveal known mechanical issues the driver ignored

Critical Timing: ECM data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days. We send preservation letters immediately to protect this evidence.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Records

Since December 2017, most commercial trucks must use ELDs that record:

• Driver hours of service – Proves HOS violations and fatigue
• Duty status – Shows when the driver was on duty, driving, or resting
• GPS location history – Confirms route and stops
• Driving time – Objective record of how long the driver was behind the wheel

ELD data has led to multi-million dollar verdicts when it proves drivers violated federal rest requirements.

Driver Qualification File

FMCSA requires trucking companies to maintain a file for every driver containing:

• Employment application – May reveal missing or false information
• Driving record check – Shows history of violations or accidents
• Previous employer verification – May reveal pattern of safety issues
• Medical certification – Shows whether the driver was physically qualified
• Drug and alcohol test results – Proves compliance with testing requirements
• Training documentation – Shows whether the driver received proper safety training

Missing or incomplete files prove negligent hiring—a powerful claim against the trucking company.

Maintenance and Inspection Records

Trucking companies must maintain systematic inspection and maintenance records:

• Pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports – Show whether drivers identified and reported defects
• Annual inspection records – Prove compliance with federal inspection requirements
• Maintenance work orders – Document repairs and parts replacements
• Brake adjustment records – Critical for proving brake system compliance
• Tire records – Show replacement history and tread depth

Poor maintenance records can prove negligence when equipment failures cause accidents.

Cell Phone Records

Distracted driving is a leading cause of trucking accidents. We subpoena:

• Call logs – Show whether the driver was on the phone
• Text message records – Prove texting while driving
• Data usage – May indicate use of dispatch apps or GPS
• Timing correlation – Links phone use to accident time

Cell phone records have won cases by proving drivers were distracted at the time of the crash.

Dashcam and Surveillance Footage

Video evidence can be powerful:

• Forward-facing dashcams – Show the accident from the truck’s perspective
• Driver-facing cameras – May show driver distraction or fatigue
• Business security cameras – Often capture accidents from multiple angles
• Traffic cameras – May provide additional footage

Critical Timing: Surveillance footage is often overwritten within 7-30 days. We act fast to preserve it.

Cargo and Loading Records

Improperly secured cargo causes rollovers and spills:

• Bills of lading – Document what was being transported
• Cargo manifest – Shows weight and distribution
• Loading instructions – Prove whether proper procedures were followed
• Securement documentation – Shows tiedowns used and inspection records

Cargo securement violations are among the most common FMCSA violations we find.

Witness Statements

Eyewitness accounts are critical:

• Independent witnesses – Provide unbiased accounts of what happened
• Other drivers – May have seen the truck’s behavior before the crash
• First responders – Document scene conditions and initial observations
• Passengers – Corroborate your version of events

Witness memories fade quickly. We interview witnesses immediately to preserve their accounts.

The FMCSA Regulations That Trucking Companies Violate

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates every aspect of commercial trucking. When trucking companies violate these rules, they create dangerous conditions that lead to catastrophic accidents. Here are the most common violations we find in Gladewater trucking accident cases:

Hours of Service (HOS) Violations – The Fatigue Factor

FMCSA regulations limit how long truck drivers can operate to prevent fatigue-related crashes:

Fatigue causes approximately 31% of fatal truck crashes. Drivers who violate HOS regulations are too tired to react safely.

How We Prove HOS Violations:

• ELD data showing driving beyond limits
• False log entries (when paper logs are used)
• Dispatch records showing schedule pressure
• GPS data showing continuous driving
• Witness statements about driver fatigue

Driver Qualification Violations – The Unqualified Driver Problem

FMCSA requires trucking companies to hire only qualified drivers:

Unqualified drivers are more likely to cause accidents. We’ve seen cases where trucking companies hired drivers with suspended licenses, medical conditions that should have disqualified them, and histories of reckless driving.

Vehicle Maintenance Violations – The Equipment Failure Factor

Trucking companies must maintain vehicles in safe operating condition: