Gray County Truck Accident Attorney: Fighting for Victims of 18-Wheeler and Commercial Vehicle Wrecks

The impact was catastrophic—80,000 pounds of steel slamming into your life on a Gray County highway without warning. One minute you were heading through Pampa on US-60 or traveling the busy I-40 corridor near McLean, and the next, your world was shattered. When an 18-wheeler, an oilfield water truck, or a corporate delivery van causes a wreck, you aren’t just dealing with a traffic ticket; you’re facing a legal emergency.

At Attorney911, we recognize that trucking companies don’t wait to protect their interests. They have rapid-response teams on-site before the ambulance even reaches the hospital. You need a team that moves just as fast. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has spent over 25 years holding negligent trucking companies accountable. With federal court admission and a track record of multi-million dollar recoveries, we have the resources to take on corporate giants like Walmart, Amazon, and major oilfield operators in the Anadarko Basin.

The truth is, trucking companies and their insurers are already building a defense to minimize your claim. They want to pay you as little as possible for the pain that keeps you awake at 3 AM. We don’t let them. Our firm includes associate attorney Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense lawyer who used to represent these very companies. He knows their playbook, he knows how they undervalue your suffering, and now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you.

If you’ve been hurt in Gray County, don’t wait. Evidence like black box data and driver logs can disappear in as little as 30 days. Call Attorney911 right now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us nothing unless we win your case. Hablamos Español. Llame al 1-888-288-9911.

Why Truck Accidents in Gray County Present Unique Dangers

Gray County sits at a critical junction of industry and transit. We see the convergence of heavy agricultural hauling, intense oil and gas activity in the Panhandle Field, and high-speed transcontinental freight on Interstate 40. This mix creates a high-risk environment for every family sharing the road.

The geography of the Texas Panhandle also plays a major role in local wrecks. High winds frequently sweep across the plains, making high-profile 18-wheelers susceptible to rollovers and lane departures on Highway 70 and Highway 152. During the winter, sudden ice storms turn I-40 into a gauntlet of jackknifed trailers. When you add the pressure of the oilfield—where water trucks and sand haulers run 24/7 to keep rigs operating—the risk of a fatigue-related crash skyrockets.

We understand the local landscape. We know that an accident involving a Halliburton truck on a lease road near Lefors requires a different investigative approach than a collision with a FedEx truck in downtown Pampa. Our team is familiar with the Gray County courts and the specific trucking corridors that define this region. Whether your accident happened at a busy intersection or on a remote FM road, we have the experience to prove exactly what went wrong.

Learn more in our video guide: “The Definitive Guide To Commercial Truck Accidents” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEEeZf-k8Ao.

The Attorney911 Advantage: 25+ Years of Proven Results

Since 1998, Ralph Manginello has been a voice for the injured. He has litigated against some of the largest corporations and insurance carriers in the world, including BP following the landmark Texas City refinery explosion. This level of experience is vital when you’re facing a defendant with unlimited legal resources. We’ve recovered over $50 million for Texas families because we treat every client like family—not a file number.

As client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” This personal attention, combined with our heavy-hitting litigation style, is why we have earned a 4.9-star rating from over 250 verified reviews. We don’t just settle for the first offer; we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial.

Our firm’s presence in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont allows us to serve victims across the state, bringing federal-court-level representation to Gray County. We have recovered $1.5 million to over $9.8 million for traumatic brain injury victims and similar multi-million dollar amounts for cases involving amputations and wrongful death. When the stakes are this high, your attorney’s experience is your greatest asset.

Lupe Peña: The Insider Perspective You Need

One of the most powerful tools in our arsenal is Lupe Peña’s background in insurance defense. Before joining Attorney911 to fight for victims, Lupe worked for the other side. He understands exactly how trucking insurers evaluate cases. He knows the software they use to lowball your settlement and the specific “red flags” they look for to deny claims.

In Gray County, where corporate defendants like Walmart and Amazon have a massive presence, this insider knowledge is indispensable. When their adjusters call you, they aren’t looking to help; they’re looking for comments they can use to blame you for the crash. We stop those tactics in their tracks. We’ve successfully litigated against Fortune 500 fleets because we understand their internal structure and their self-insurance models.

You need an attorney who can see through the corporate shield. While Amazon might claim its driver was an “independent contractor,” we know how to pierce that defense by showing the level of control Amazon exercises over their routes and schedules. Lupe Peña’s perspective ensures that no stone is left unturned and no insurance tactic goes unchallenged.

Understanding FMCSA Regulations: How We Prove Negligence

Every 18-wheeler operating in Gray County must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). These aren’t just suggestions; they are federal laws codified in 49 CFR Parts 390-399. When a trucking company violates these rules to save time or money, they are legally negligent.

Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395)

Fatigue is a leading killer on Texas roads. Part 395 limits drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. In Gray County, where truckers often drive long stretches of I-40 or pull triple shifts in the oilfield, violations are rampant. We subpoena Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data to prove when a driver has pushed past the legal limit, putting everyone at risk.

Driver Qualifications (49 CFR Part 391)

Trucking companies have a duty to hire safe drivers. They must maintain a Driver Qualification File for every operator, including their driving record, medical certificate, and road test results. If a company hired a driver with a history of DUIs or safety violations, they can be held liable for negligent hiring.

Maintenance and Inspections (49 CFR Part 396)

Brake failure accounts for a significant percentage of truck crashes. Part 396 requires systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance of all commercial vehicles. If we find that a company skipped required inspections or ignored “out of service” defects, that’s powerful evidence for your case.

Cargo Securement (49 CFR Part 393)

Improperly loaded trailers can lead to rollovers or cargo spills. On routes like US-60, unsecured loads are a constant hazard. We look for violations of Part 393 to hold loading companies and carriers responsible for shifting cargo that causes a loss of control.

We cite these regulations specifically in our demand letters and court filings. By showing the jury that the defendant broke federal safety laws, we build a foundation for maximum recovery. Learn more in our guide: “The Definitive Guide To MCS 90 Auto Endorsements” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auB5NWcwyag.

Common Types of Truck Accidents in Gray County

Jackknife Accidents

On the wide-open highways of the Texas Panhandle, a jackknife can sweep across four lanes of traffic in a heartbeat. Usually caused by improper braking or bald tires on a slick road, these wrecks often result in multi-vehicle pileups. We investigate the truck’s ECM (black box) data to see if the driver hit the brakes too late or too hard for the conditions.

Rollover Crashes

The high winds in Gray County are notorious for flipping empty trailers. However, rollovers also happen when a driver takes a curve on TX-70 too fast or when a sand hauler is top-heavy due to improper loading. Rollover injuries are often catastrophic, involving roof-crush scenarios and traumatic brain injuries.

Underride Collisions

These are among the most lethal types of accidents we handle. If a truck lacks proper reflective tape or functional ICC bumpers, a passenger car can slide underneath the trailer. These wrecks often result in decapitation or fatal head trauma. We hold trailer manufacturers and trucking companies accountable for failing to install or maintain necessary safety guards.

Rear-End Collisions

A fully loaded semi-truck at highway speeds needs nearly two football fields to stop. If a driver is distracted by their dispatch computer or a cell phone, they won’t react in time to traffic slowing for construction in Pampa. We subpoena cell phone records and telematics data to prove exactly what the driver was doing in the seconds before impact.

Oilfield Vehicle Wrecks

Gray County’s economy relies on the oil patch, but the roads aren’t always built for 80,000-pound water tankers. We specialize in cases involving oilfield vehicles on narrow FM roads or private lease roads. These situations often involve unique hazards like dust clouds reducing visibility or un-posted intersections.

Corporate Delivery Van Accidents

As Amazon and FedEx increase deliveries in our area, “last-mile” delivery vans have become a major hazard. These drivers are under intense pressure to meet quotas, leading to reckless driving in residential neighborhoods. We know how to navigate the complex contractor structures these companies use to shield themselves from liability.

For more information, watch: “The Victim’s Guide to 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEHIxZTbK8.

The 48-Hour Evidence Preservation Window

In a Gray County trucking case, the clock is your enemy. Trucking companies are legally permitted to destroy or overwrite certain types of evidence if an attorney doesn’t demand its preservation.

Black Box Data: The Engine Control Module (ECM) records speed, braking, and steering inputs. This data is often overwritten in 30 days unless a formal legal hold is placed on the vehicle.
ELD Logs: Electronic logs prove how long the driver has been behind the wheel. These records are critical for proving fatigue.
Dashcam Footage: Many modern fleets like Amazon and Walmart have DriveCam or Netradyne systems that record the driver’s face and the road. This footage is typically kept for a very short window—sometimes as little as 48 hours for non-triggered events.
Maintenance Records: The paper trail of skipped oil changes or brake repairs is the smoking gun of carrier negligence.

We send spoliation letters within 24 to 48 hours of being hired. This formal notice makes it a crime to destroy evidence. If the company ignores our letter, we can request “adverse inference” instructions, where the judge tells the jury to assume the destroyed evidence would have proven the company was at fault.

Mapping the 16 Potentially Liable Parties

Most people think you only sue the driver. In a commercial wreck, that’s just the beginning. To get you the compensation you truly deserve, we look at the entire liability chain. Each of these parties has its own insurance policy, and we work to “stack” that coverage for you.

1. The Truck Driver: For speeding, distraction, or impairment.
2. The Trucking Company (Carrier): Under respondeat superior or for negligent hiring.
3. The Cargo Owner: If they forced the driver to haul an unsafe load.
4. The Loading Company: For improperly secured cargo that caused a shift.
5. The Truck Manufacturer: If a design defect like a “deadly door” or fuel tank placement caused injury.
6. Parts Manufacturers: For defective tires (blowouts) or failed brakes.
7. The Maintenance Company: If a third-party mechanic failed to fix a known safety issue.
8. The Freight Broker: For hiring a “bottom-tier” carrier with a history of safety violations.
9. The Truck Owner: In some lease-purchase agreements.
10. Government Entities: If road design or uncorrected potholes on state highways contributed.
11. Corporate Parent Company: Holding a brand like Coca-Cola or Amazon responsible for their delivery network.
12. Oilfield Operator: If the oil company controlled the worksite where the crash happened.
13. Staffing Agencies: For providing unqualified drivers to fleets.
14. Rental Truck Companies: Like U-Haul or Penske, for negligent maintenance of their rental fleet.
15. Transit Agencies/School Districts: For bus-related accidents.
16. The Federal Government: If a USPS or military vehicle was involved, requiring a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) filing.

By identifying every responsible party, we maximize the financial recovery available for your mounting medical bills and lost future earnings.

Catastrophic Injuries and Life-Altering Losses

A wreck with an 18-wheeler isn’t a fender bender. It involves forces that the human body isn’t designed to survive. We see the toll these accidents take every day.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Even with a “mild” concussion, you may suffer from memory loss, personality changes, and inability to focus at work. Severe TBI requires a lifetime of cognitive therapy.
Spinal Cord Injury: Paralysis from a lumbar or cervical injury changes everything—how you live, how you move, and how you provide for your family.
Traumatic Amputation: Losing a limb in a crash or requiring a surgical amputation due to crushing force necessitates expensive prosthetics and long-term rehabilitation.
Severe Burns: Fuel fires or chemical spills can cause disfiguring burns that require multiple skin grafts and lead to chronic pain.
Internal Organ Damage: Deceleration forces can rupture the spleen, lacerate the liver, or cause internal bleeding that doesn’t show up until hours after the crash.
Wrongful Death: If you lost a loved one, we fight to recover for their lost future income and the loss of companionship that your family is suffering.

We understand that money doesn’t fix a permanent injury. But it does provide the resources you need for the best possible care. Our firm has achieved settlements ranging from $1.5M for brain injuries to over $9M for the most severe cases of negligence.

Learn more in our video: “The Ultimate Guide to Brain Injury Lawsuits” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBYAHi5aiEQ.

Texas Insurance Laws and Your Recovery

In Gray County, we operate under Texas’s modified comparative negligence rule, also known as the 51% bar. This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident, provided your percentage of fault is 50% or less. However, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.

Federal law requires interstate trucking companies to carry significant insurance limits:

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

Large corporate fleets like Walmart and Amazon often carry excess policies in the tens of millions. They fight so hard because the stakes are so high. We aren’t intimidated by their size. Having litigated against multinational giants like BP, we have the stamina and the financial backing to stay in the fight as long as it takes.

If the insurance company denies your claim, we know what to do. Watch our guide: “What to Do if Your Car Insurance Claim Is Denied” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsdXq0WOH8M.

Gray County Truck Accident FAQ

How much does it cost to hire an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Gray County?
At Attorney911, it costs you nothing out of pocket. We work on a contingency fee. We pay for the investigators, the medical experts, and the accident reconstructionists. We only get paid a percentage of the settlement we recover for you. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us a dime.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Gray County?
In Texas, the general statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of the wreck. However, if the accident involved a government vehicle—like a city maintenance truck in Pampa—you may have a much shorter deadline (as little as 6 months) to file a formal notice of claim. Don’t wait; call 888-ATTY-911 today.

What if I was an employee of the oilfield company when the truck hit me?
You may be limited to workers’ compensation from your employer, but you can still file a “third-party claim” against the trucking contractor, the driver, or the manufacturer of the vehicle. Third-party claims are where the real recovery happens because workers’ comp doesn’t pay for pain and suffering.

Should I sign the medical authorization the insurance company sent me?
NO. These “blanket” authorizations allow the trucking company’s insurer to dig through your entire medical history, including records from ten years ago. They want to find a way to claim your current back pain was a “pre-existing condition.” We provide limited authorizations that only cover the treatment for this specific accident.

What if the truck didn’t have a black box?
While most modern trucks have electronic recording, even older trucks leave evidence. We hire accident reconstruction experts who use skid mark length, crush patterns, and debris fields to prove speed and braking. We also subpoena the driver’s fuel receipts and cell phone tower pings to reconstruct their timeline.

What damages are recoverable in a Gray County truck wreck?
You are entitled to “economic damages” (real costs like hospital bills and lost wages) and “non-economic damages” (intangible losses like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of quality of life). In rare cases of extreme recklessness, we also pursue punitive damages to punish the company for its behavior.

The trucking company is blaming the weather. Are they right?
No. FMCSA regulation 49 CFR § 392.14 requires commercial drivers to exercise extreme caution in hazardous conditions like snow, ice, or fog. If the road is too dangerous, the law requires them to stop. An 80,000-pound truck on a sheet of ice is a conscious choice by the driver and the carrier, not an “act of God.”

How much is my case worth?
No ethical lawyer can give you an exact number before investigating. However, trucking cases involve much higher insurance policies than car wrecks. A case involving surgery, permanent scarring, or months of missed work is often worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. As Glenda Walker said, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”

Fighting for Your Future in Gray County

When you are hit by a commercial truck, you are outnumbered. The trucking company, their insurance adjuster, and their defense attorneys are all working toward one goal: paying you nothing. They’ll use your words against you, they’ll blame the road, and they’ll minimize your injuries.

You deserve a fighter who knows the “other side’s” secrets. Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of experience and Lupe Peña’s background in insurance defense give you an unfair advantage. We don’t just handle cases; we solve problems. As client Angel Walle put it, “They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”

Whether you were hit by a Walmart 18-wheeler on I-40, a Halliburton pump truck in the oil patch, or an Amazon van in your own neighborhood, we are ready to help. Your family, your future, and your fight for justice are our priority. We are the first responders to your legal emergency.

Call Attorney911 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for your free consultation. Remember, we don’t get paid unless we recover for you. Let us take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on healing.

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
Powerful. Proven. Prepared to Win.
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now.

Disclaimer: Case results mentioned are illustrative of firm experience and do not guarantee a specific outcome for your case. All cases are subject to their own unique facts and legal circumstances. These verdicts and settlements are public record examples of the industry and not all were secured by Attorney911.