Kaufman County Truck Accident Lawyers: Protecting Victims of 18-Wheeler and Commercial Vehicle Crashes

The impact was catastrophic. You were just traveling through Forney or heading toward Terrell on I-20 when 80,000 pounds of steel slammed into your life. In an instant, your world changed. The sounds of twisting metal and shattering glass in Kaufman County are something you never forget, but what comes next is often more overwhelming. As your medical bills mount and the physical pain becomes a constant companion, you aren’t just facing a recovery; you’re facing a legal emergency.

At Attorney911, we recognize that a truck accident in Kaufman County is never a simple “fender bender.” When a massive commercial vehicle is involved, the physics alone dictates that the consequences will be life-altering. You need an advocate who doesn’t just understand the law but knows how the other side thinks. With over 25 years of courtroom experience, Ralph Manginello has spent his career holding massive trucking companies accountable. Our firm brings together a unique legal force: a lead attorney with federal court experience and an associate attorney, Lupe Peña, who previously worked for national insurance defense firms. Lupe used to defend the very companies we now sue; he knows their playbook, their tactics, and exactly how they try to minimize your suffering in Kaufman County.

We are not a “billboard firm” that treats you like a file number. As our client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you are getting a dedicated team ready to fight for every dime you deserve. Whether you were hit by an 18-wheeler, a Walmart delivery truck, or an Amazon van, we are here to ensure justice is served in Kaufman County.

Why Kaufman County Trucking Corridors Are So Dangerous

Kaufman County sits at the crossroads of some of the most heavily trafficked freight routes in North America. The expansion of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has pushed massive distribution hubs and industrial growth directly into Forney, Terrell, and Kaufman. This growth brings progress, but it also brings a deadly volume of commercial truck traffic.

The I-20 Freight Corridor through Terrell and Forney

Interstate 20 is the backbone of East-West freight shipping. Thousands of 18-wheelers pass through Kaufman County daily, connecting the Port of Savannah and the Southeast directly to the Dallas logistics hubs. For many long-haul drivers, Kaufman County represents the final stretch of a grueling multi-day trip. Fatigue is endemic on this route. Under 49 CFR Part 395, federal law limits how long these drivers can be behind the wheel, yet we frequently find that drivers approaching Forney or Terrell are pushing past their legal limits to meet strict delivery windows. A fatigued driver on I-20 is a 40-ton missile with a pilot who is essentially sleep-walking.

US-80 and US-175: High-Speed Commuter Conflicts

Routes like US-80 and US-175 see a dangerous mix of local Kaufman County commuters and heavy commercial trucks. The high speeds and frequent merging near Forney and Crandall create high-energy collision zones. When a distracted truck driver fails to notice traffic slowing ahead on US-175, the resulting rear-end collision isn’t just a car crash—it’s an underride event waiting to happen.

The Terrell Distribution Hub Impact

With major facilities like the Walmart Distribution Center in Terrell and various Amazon-affiliated logistics operations nearby, Kaufman County roads are flooded with “last-mile” delivery vehicles and heavy tractors. These corporate fleets move according to algorithms that prioritize speed and efficiency over everything else. In Kaufman County, we see the results of this pressure: truck drivers taking risks, ignoring blind spots, and making wide turns that “squeeze” smaller vehicles against curbs.

Ralph Manginello: 25+ Years of Winning Against Global Corporations

When you go up against a company like Walmart, Amazon, or a major oil and gas entity, you aren’t fighting a person; you’re fighting a corporation with billions of dollars and an army of lawyers. You need a fighter with a proven track record.

Since 1998, Ralph Manginello has been taking on the world’s largest companies and winning. Our founder brings federal court experience—admission to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas—which is critical because many Kaufman County trucking cases are moved to federal court by the defendants. Ralph’s history includes litigating against massive corporations in the BP Texas City refinery explosion cases, which resulted in billions in total industry settlements. We have gone toe-to-toe with Walmart, FedEx, UPS, and Coca-Cola. We don’t blink when their legal teams arrive.

Our results speak for themselves. We have recovered multi-million dollar settlements for Kaufman County families, including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) settlements in the $1.5M to $9.8M range and wrongful death recoveries reaching as high as $9.5M. As client Donald Wilcox noted after another firm rejected his case, “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 take the tough cases that other firms fear because we have the resources and the tenacity to see them through in Kaufman County.

The Insider Advantage: We Know the Insurance Defense Playbook

One of the most powerful tools in our arsenal is associate attorney Lupe Peña. Before joining Attorney911 to fight for the people of Kaufman County, Lupe worked on the other side. He worked for a national insurance defense firm, representing the exact insurance companies and trucking corporations we now litigate against.

He knows:

• How adjusters are trained to “de-value” your pain and suffering.
• The software algorithms they use to generate lowball offers.
• The “red flags” they look for to deny a claim entirely.
• The tactical delays they use to try and wear you down until you accept less than you deserve.

Because we have a former defense attorney on our team, we don’t wonder what the trucking company is planning—we already know. We anticipate their defenses before they even file them in a Kaufman County court. Hablamos Español. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911 for an advocate who knows the system from the inside out.

48-Hour Urgency: Why You Must Act NOW in Kaufman County

If you were hit by an 18-wheeler on a road like TX-34 or FM 148, the clock is not just ticking—it’s racing against you. Trucking companies employ “Rapid Response Teams.” Often, their lawyers and investigators are on the scene in Kaufman County before the ambulance even reaches the hospital. They are there to “manage” evidence, which is a polite way of saying they want to control the narrative.

The 30-Day Black Box Overwrite

Modern trucks are equipped with an Engine Control Module (ECM) and an Event Data Recorder (EDR)—effectively a “black box.” This device records speed, braking, throttle position, and steering input in the seconds before a crash. Here is the danger: this data is programmed to overwrite itself. In as little as 30 days—or even sooner if the truck is put back into service—the evidence that could prove the driver was speeding through Kaufman County disappears forever.

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Vulnerability

Under 49 CFR Part 395.8, most commercial drivers must use ELDs to track their hours. This data is the silver bullet for proving driver fatigue. However, if an attorney doesn’t send a formal “spoliation letter” immediately, this electronic data can “accidentally” be lost during routine server resets.

Our Immediate Response Protocol

The moment you retain us for your Kaufman County case, we take action:

1. Immediate Spoliation Letters: We send legal demands to the carrier, their insurer, and any third-party maintenance companies to lock down every piece of evidence.
2. Scene Investigation: We deploy our own accident reconstruction experts to Kaufman County to map tire marks, debris patterns, and line-of-sight issues before the elements or road crews wash them away.
3. Black Box Downloads: We move to secure and download the ECM data so we have objective proof of what the driver was doing.

Don’t wait until the trucking company has already buried the truth. Call (888) 288-9911 now.

Detailed Truck Accident Types We Handle in Kaufman County

Truck accidents are fundamentally different from passenger car crashes because of the unique mechanics of articulated vehicles and the immense weights involved. We investigate the specific physics of every crash to determine how the negligence occurred.

Jackknife Accidents on Wet Kaufman County Roads

A jackknife occurs when the trailer’s wheels lock up or lose traction, causing the trailer to swing out perpendicular to the cab. This often happens on I-20 or US-80 during North Texas rainstorms when the driver brakes too hard or improperly. A jackknifing truck can sweep across four lanes of traffic, leaving Kaufman County drivers with nowhere to go. We look for violations of 49 CFR § 393.48 regarding brake malfunctions or § 392.6 regarding excessive speed for conditions.

Underride Collisions: The Most Lethal Kaufman County Scenario

Underride crashes occur when a smaller vehicle slides under the rear or side of a truck trailer. The height mismatch often shears off the top of the passenger vehicle, resulting in decapitation or catastrophic head injuries. These crashes are often caused by inadequate lighting, missing reflectors, or the failure to maintain “Mansfield Bars” (Rear Impact Guards) as required by 49 CFR § 393.86. If a truck was double-parked or making a dangerous maneuver in a poorly lit area of Kaufman County, we hold them accountable for these horrific results.

Rollover Crashes and Top-Heavy Loads

Trucks have a much higher center of gravity than cars. If a driver takes a curve too fast on a Kaufman County highway ramp or if the cargo was improperly secured (a violation of 49 CFR § 393.100), the truck can roll. We examine the cargo manifest and loading records to see if a third-party loader is also liable for your injuries.

Wide Turn “Squeeze” Play

Many commercial trucks in Terrell or Kaufman must make wide turns to clear obstacles. When a driver fails to check their mirrors or signal properly, they can “squeeze” a car in the adjacent lane between the truck and the curb. Our investigation into these cases often reveals a lack of proper driver training or a failure to install blind-spot cameras and sensors.

Tire Blowouts and Maintenance Neglect

A tire blowout on an 18-wheeler is a massive explosion that can cause the driver to lose all control. While companies often claim these are “unavoidable accidents,” our review of maintenance logs often proves otherwise. Under 49 CFR Part 396, carriers must systematically inspect and repair vehicles. We look for evidence of retread tires being used on steer axles or tires that were clearly worn beyond the legal limit of 2/32 or 4/32 of an inch. Learn more in our video: “Truck Tire Blowouts and When You Need a Lawyer” (RCTumr1looc).

Corporate Fleets: When You Are Hit by a Branded Giant

If you were hit by a vehicle with a corporate logo on the side in Kaufman County, your case has a layer of complexity that other lawyers might miss.

Walmart Truck Accidents in Kaufman County

Walmart Transportation is one of the largest private fleets in the world. Because Walmart is a “Self-Insured” defendant, they don’t answer to an insurance company—they play by their own rules. They have an internal claims department whose only goal is to protect Walmart’s bottom line. Ralph Manginello has the experience to pierce this corporate shield. We know how to obtain their internal “Smith System” training records and DriveCam footage to show that Walmart put an unsafe driver on Kaufman County roads.

The Amazon “Independent Contractor” Defense

Amazon uses a complex web of “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs) to deliver packages in Kaufman County. When an Amazon van causes a crash, Amazon’s lawyers will immediately tell you, “The driver doesn’t work for us; we aren’t responsible.” We don’t accept that excuse. We look at the level of control Amazon exercises: the routes, the timing, the Netradyne AI cameras monitoring the cab, and the strict delivery quotas. We use the “Right-to-Control” test to bring the parent corporation into the lawsuit, ensuring you have access to the billions in resources Amazon has at its disposal.

FedEx and UPS: Parcel Delivery Pressure

FedEx Ground and UPS drivers are under immense pressure to meet delivery windows, especially during peak seasons in Kaufman County. This pressure leads to shortcuts—drivers jumping out of trucks without engaging the parking brake, double-parking in blind curves, or speeding through residential Forney neighborhoods. We investigate whether the corporate parent’s policies made these shortcuts inevitable.

Food and Beverage Fleets

Kaufman County is a major destination for food service distribution. Trucks from Sysco, US Foods, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola are everywhere. These refrigerated trucks (reefers) are exceptionally heavy and difficult to stop. If a Sysco truck hit you while making a delivery at a Kaufman restaurant, we investigate the driver’s qualifications and the company’s dispatch logs to prove negligence.

Oilfield and Energy Sector Trucking in North Texas

While Kaufman County isn’t in the heart of the Permian Basin, the expanding energy infrastructure in North Texas still brings heavy oilfield vehicles through the area.

Water Trucks and Frac Sand Haulers

When pipeline construction or well-pad operations occur near Kaufman County, water trucks and sand haulers become a daily sight. These vehicles are notorious for being overweight and top-heavy. Driving these loads requires specialized endorsements and training that many small contractors ignore. We look for violations of both FMCSA and OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910) when energy companies are involved.

Hot Shot Trucks and Speeding

“Hot shot” drivers—typically driving flatbed heavy-duty pickups—are often paid by the load, creating a financial incentive to speed through Kaufman County to get to the next job site. When these drivers push too hard, they cause high-speed collisions that are every bit as deadly as 18-wheeler crashes.

Who is Really Liable? Casting a Wide Net for Justice

Most lawyers in Kaufman County only sue the driver. We know that to get you the maximum compensation, we must investigate the entire chain of command. More defendants means more insurance policies (“stacking”), which is often the only way to cover the costs of a catastrophic injury.

1. The Driver: For speeding, distraction, or HOS violations.
2. The Trucking Company: For negligent hiring or poor maintenance.
3. The Corporate Parent (Walmart/Amazon/FedEx): For unsafe delivery quotas or direct oversight.
4. The Logistical Broker: For hiring a carrier with a “conditional” or “unsatisfactory” safety rating.
5. The Loading Company: If shifted cargo caused a rollover or jackknife.
6. The Maintenance Provider: If a third party failed to properly adjust the brakes.
7. The Manufacturer: If a defective part (like a steer tire or steering box) failed.
8. The Cargo Owner: If hazardous materials weren’t properly disclosed or contained.
9. Rental Companies (U-Haul/Penske): If they rented a large truck to an obviously unqualified driver.
10. Government Agencies: If a TXDOT road defect contributed to the crash.

As Glenda Walker said about her experience with us, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” We leave no stone unturned in Kaufman County.

Proving Negligence Through FMCSA Violations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the rules for every commercial truck on a Kaufman County road. When a driver or company breaks these rules, it isn’t just a mistake—it is evidence of negligence.

• 49 CFR Part 391 (Driver Qualifications): Did the company hire a driver with a history of DWIs or serious traffic violations? Did they verify the driver’s medical certificate?
• 49 CFR Part 392 (Driving Rules): Was the driver using a mobile phone? Were they speeding? Were they operating while ill or fatigued?
• 49 CFR Part 393 (Parts and Safety Equipment): Did the truck have working lights? Were the brakes properly adjusted? Were the tires in safe condition?
• 49 CFR Part 395 (Hours of Service): Did the driver exceed the 11-hour driving limit? Did they violate the 14-hour duty window? Did they skip their mandatory 30-minute break?
• 49 CFR Part 396 (Inspection and Maintenance): Did the driver perform their pre-trip inspection? Is there a paper trail of deferred maintenance that led to the crash?

We use these regulations as the foundation of your Kaufman County lawsuit. When we prove the company broke federal safety laws, their defense often collapses.

The Human Cost: Catastrophic Injuries in Kaufman County

We handle the most serious injury cases Kaufman County sees. An 80,000-pound impact doesn’t leave victims with minor bruises; it leaves them with life-altering trauma.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

TBI can occur even without a direct blow to the head—the sheer violent shaking of a truck crash can shear brain fibers. We help victims navigate the path from concussion to severe cognitive impairment. Our firm has recovered settlements ranging from $1.5M to $9.8M for TBI victims. Learn more in our video: “The Ultimate Guide to Brain Injury Lawsuits” (GBYAHi5aiEQ).

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

A crushed vertebra in a Kaufman County truck crash can mean a lifetime in a wheelchair. These cases require “Life Care Plans” that project costs for the next 40 or 50 years. We work with medical experts to ensure $4.7M to $25.8M+ settlements that cover every future need.

Amputations and Crush Injuries

Whether a limb is lost at the scene or must be removed surgically due to infection, the impact is devastating. We have secured settlements in the $1.9M to $8.6M range for amputation victims, ensuring they can afford the best prosthetics and rehabilitation.

Wrongful Death: Justice for Your Grieving Family

We are deeply sorry for your loss. When a truck driver’s recklessness kills a loved one in Kaufman County, no amount of money can bring them back. However, a wrongful death claim (settlements ranging from $1.9M to $9.5M) can provide for the children left behind and hold the company accountable. Texas law gives you two years to file, but in a wrongful death case, evidence is even more fragile. Call us today.

Beyond the Visible: “Hidden” Damages You Deserve

Many Kaufman County victims don’t realize that they can recover far more than just their hospital bills. We pursue:

• Loss of Earning Capacity: If you can never return to your original career.
• Household Services: The value of the work you used to do around the house (cooking, lawn care, childcare).
• Lost Benefits: The value of the health insurance and 401(k) matching you lost.
• Hedonic Damages: The “loss of enjoyment of life”—the fact that you can no longer hike in Kaufman County or play with your kids.
• Loss of Consortium: The damage to your marriage and relationship with your spouse.
• Mental Anguish and PTSD: The psychological terror of the crash. Learn more in our video: “Can I Get a PTSD Payout After a Car Accident?” (9803X_jnR4A).

Kaufman County Truck Accident FAQ

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Kaufman County?
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. However, if the truck was owned by a government entity (like a city dump truck), the notice deadlines can be as short as six months. Regardless of the legal limit, the “evidence limit” is much shorter. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 now.

The insurance company offered me a settlement today. Should I take it?
NO. Insurance companies offer early settlements in Kaufman County for one reason: to get you to sign away your rights before you realize how serious your injuries are. Once you sign, you can NEVER go back and ask for more money for that second surgery or the physical therapy you’ll need next year. Let us evaluate the offer for free.

What if I was partially at fault for the crash?
Texas follows a “Modified Comparative Fault” rule (51% bar). As long as you are not 51% or more responsible for the accident, you can still recover damages. Your recovery is simply reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 10% responsible for an accident on US-175, you still get 90% of your award.

How much does a Kaufman County truck accident lawyer cost?
At Attorney911, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay ZERO upfront costs. We advance all the money for experts, depositions, and Kaufman County court filings. We only get paid if we win your case. If we don’t recover money for you, you don’t owe us a dime for our time.

Can I sue the company whose logo was on the truck?
Yes. Under doctrines like “Respondeat Superior” and “Ostensible Agency,” the company that benefits from the truck’s work is generally responsible for the damage it causes. This is true even if the company tries to hide behind an “independent contractor” agreement. We know how to pierce these shells and get to the real money.

Our Commitment: You Are Not a pest, You Are Family

We know that right now, you are scared. You are in pain. You are wondering how you will pay your rent this month. When you hire Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911, we take that weight off your shoulders. As client Kiimarii Yup said after their case, “I lost everything… 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.”

We aren’t just your lawyers; we are your first responders in a legal emergency. We handle the investigators, the adjusters, the medical liens, and the corporate lawyers so you can focus on one thing: getting better.

Your Fight for Justice in Kaufman County Starts with One Call

The trucking company has already started their defense. They have lawyers working right now to figure out how to blame YOU for the accident. Don’t go into this fight alone. You deserve a team with 25+ years of experience, federal court authority, and insider knowledge of how insurance companies operate.

Whether you were hit on I-20, US-80, US-175, or a rural road in Kaufman County, justice is just one phone call away. We answer 24/7. We offer free consultations. We don’t stop until we win.

Call Attorney911: 1-888-ATTY-911
Direct: (713) 528-9070
Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-ATTY-911.
Online: https://attorney911.com

Attorney911. Powerful. Proven. And we protect Kaufman County.