Montague County Truck Accident Lawyers: Your First Responders After a Commercial Vehicle Crash

The impact was catastrophic. On a stretch of US-287 near Bowie, 80,000 pounds of steel slammed into your vehicle without warning. In an instant, your car was transformed into twisted metal, and your life was changed forever. Whether you were traveling through Montague County on your way to Amarillo or just heading home from work in Nocona, an encounter with a negligent 18-wheeler is never a fair fight. Your car weighs roughly 4,000 pounds; the truck that hit you weighs 20 times that.

At Attorney911, we know that after a truck accident in Montague County, you aren’t just dealing with a traffic ticket—you’re dealing with a legal emergency. Since 1998, our managing partner Ralph Manginello has been the advocate families turn to when disaster strikes. With over 25 years of experience in the courtroom and admission to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Ralph has seen exactly how trucking companies operate after a crash. They don’t wait to start building their defense, and neither should you.

Our firm brings a unique advantage to every case in Montague County. Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, provides our team with an insider’s perspective that most law firms simply cannot match. Before joining us to fight for victims, Lupe worked for a national insurance defense firm. He spent years inside the system, learning exactly how trucking insurance companies evaluate, delay, and lowball claims. He knows their playbook because he helped write it. Today, he uses that “unfair advantage” to expose the tactics they use against Montague County families and force them to pay every dime they owe.

If you’ve been hurt, don’t face the corporate giants alone. Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing upfront and nothing at all unless we win your case. We advance all investigation costs because we believe Montague County families deserve the highest level of representation regardless of their current financial situation.

The Clock is Ticking on Your Montague County Truck Accident Case

What most people don’t realize is that the moment an 18-wheeler or delivery van causes an accident on US-82 or SH-59, the trucking company activates a rapid-response team. While you are being rushed to a trauma center, their investigators are already at the scene. They are photographing the debris, interviewing witnesses before their memories fade, and—most importantly—looking for ways to blame you.

In Montague County, evidence is the lifeblood of your case, and it is at high risk of disappearing. The most critical piece of evidence is often the truck’s Engine Control Module (ECM), commonly known as the “black box.” This device records your impact speed, when the driver hit the brakes, and whether they were accelerating at the moment of the crash. However, this data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days or the next time the truck is put back on the road.

Beyond the black box, Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data is vital for proving hours-of-service violations. Federal law requires most drivers to track their hours electronically to prevent the kind of fatigue that causes head-on collisions on SH-101. But the trucking company only has to keep these logs for six months. Without an attorney to send a formal spoliation letter immediately, that digital evidence could be “lost” or deleted according to company policy.

We move faster than the trucking companies. When you retain the Manginello Law Firm, we often send preservation demands within 24 hours. We make sure that every byte of data, every maintenance record, and every piece of dashcam footage is locked down. As client Angel Walle said, we’ve “solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.” Speed is our strategy.

Proven Results Against Corporate Giants

When a Walmart truck or a FedEx delivery van causes an accident in Montague County, you aren’t fighting a small business. You are taking on a Fortune 500 corporation with virtually unlimited resources. These companies often use self-insured structures, meaning they pay for the first several million dollars of a claim out of their own pockets. Because every dollar we recover for you comes off their bottom line, they fight ten times harder to deny your claim.

We aren’t intimidated by their teams of corporate lawyers. We’ve gone toe-to-toe with the world’s largest companies, including litigating against BP following the Texas City refinery explosion. Our firm has recovered over $50 million for Texas families, including multi-million dollar settlements for traumatic brain injuries and amputations.

We have experience litigating against the biggest names on Montague County roads:

• Walmart: We understand how their internal risk management teams work to minimize payouts.
• Amazon: We know how to pierce the “independent contractor” shield they use for their Delivery Service Partners (DSPs).
• FedEx and UPS: We track the schedule pressure these drivers face, especially during holiday surges.
• Oilfield Operators: In the Barnett Shale region of Montague County, we hold oil companies accountable for the sand haulers and water trucks that crowd our rural roads.

As client Chad Harris noted, at Attorney911, “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We treat your case with the individual attention it deserves while bringing the firepower needed to make global corporations take responsibility.

Call us today at 888-ATTY-911. Whether you speak English or Spanish, we are here to help. Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-288-9911 para una consulta gratuita y sin compromiso.

The Dangerous Reality of Trucking in Montague County

Montague County sits at a unique crossroads for Texas trucking. We are a gateway between the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the Oklahoma border, with heavy industrial and agricultural traffic defining our highways. The risk for a catastrophic commercial vehicle accident is present every hour of the day.

Rear-End Collisions on US-287

US-287 is one of the busiest long-haul corridors in North Texas. It is a straight, seemingly easy road that lures drivers into a false sense of security. This lead to “highway hypnosis” and extreme driver fatigue. When an 18-wheeler driver has been on the road for 14 hours—violating 49 CFR § 395.3—they may not notice traffic slowing down near the Bowie truck stops until it’s too late. At 65 mph, a loaded semi-truck needs 525 feet to stop. If they are distracted by a dispatch screen or simply too tired to react, they become an unstoppable force slamming into your rear bumper. These impacts frequently result in whiplash, herniated discs, and concussions that can plague you for the rest of your life.

Oilfield Truck Accidents in the Barnett Shale

While the activity in the Barnett Shale fluctuates, oilfield truck traffic remains a constant hazard in rural Montague County. Heavy water trucks and frac sand haulers frequently travel on narrow FM roads and two-lane county highways that were never engineered for 80,000-pound loads. These trucks have a high center of gravity, making them incredibly prone to rollovers on the sharp turns and soft shoulders of our rural roads. Furthermore, many oilfield drivers work brutal 12-to-16-hour shifts. When a fatigued driver in a crude oil tanker loses control near Saint Jo, the results aren’t just a crash—they can be a hazmat emergency with the potential for severe chemical burns and explosions.

Wide Turn and Blind Spot Wrecks in Bowie and Nocona

In our tighter town centers, 18-wheelers often struggle to maneuver. The “squeeze play” occurs when a truck swings wide to the left to make a sharp right turn onto a street like SH-59. Motorists who don’t realize the truck is turning can be crushed between the trailer and the curb. Similarly, the “No-Zone” or blind spot along the right side of a trailer is massive. Trucking companies are required under 49 CFR § 393.80 to have properly adjusted mirrors, and many modern fleets use side-view cameras. If a driver merges into you because they failed to check their blind spot or their company didn’t equip the vehicle with available safety tech, they are negligent.

Construction and Dump Truck Hazards

With ongoing road work throughout Montague County, dump trucks carrying gravel and asphalt are a daily sight. These vehicles are often operated by subcontractors with poor maintenance records. We’ve seen cases where unsecured tailgates allow gravel to spill onto SH-101, causing following drivers to lose control. Even more dangerous are brake failures on these heavy vehicles. If a dump truck’s brakes haven’t been inspected according to 49 CFR Part 396, it becomes a 60,000-pound missile heading toward an intersection.

Rental and Moving Truck Accidents on US-82

US-82 sees significant traffic from families moving between Wichita Falls and Sherman. Companies like U-Haul and Penske rent 26-foot trucks to people with absolutely zero commercial driving experience. These “civilian” drivers often don’t understand the wind-resistance of a box truck or the massive stopping distance required when fully loaded. While Federal law (the Graves Amendment) generally protects rental companies from being sued for the driver’s mistakes, we can still hold them liable for negligent maintenance or for renting a massive vehicle to someone who was visibly unfit to drive.

No matter what type of commercial vehicle hit you, the rules of the road are the same. When companies cut corners on safety to increase their profits, they must be held accountable. Call Attorney911 at (888) 288-9911. We know the roads of Montague County, and we know local juries won’t tolerate trucking negligence that puts our community at risk.

Federal Regulations: The Key to Proving Negligence

In a car accident, you have to prove the other driver was careless. In a Montague County 18-wheeler accident, we go much further. We prove they broke the law. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established strict rules in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) that every commercial carrier must follow. When a trucking company violates these rules, it is often considered “negligence per se”—meaning the violation itself is proof of their liability.

Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395)

This is the most frequently violated regulation in catastrophic crashes. Drivers are generally limited to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour window, followed by 10 consecutive hours off-duty. They must also take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Trucking companies often pressure drivers to ignore these rules to meet Montague County delivery deadlines. We use ELD data to catch them in the act. If a driver was on hour 15 of a shift when they hit you, that trucking company is liable for your injuries.

Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391)

Trucking companies have a duty to ensure their drivers are safe. This includes:

• Running a background check and reviewing the driver’s Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) annually.
• Verifying the driver has a valid CDL for the vehicle they are operating.
• Ensuring the driver has a current medical certificate proving they are physically capable of driving an 80,000-pound vehicle.
  If a company hired a driver with a history of DUIs or multiple speeding tickets, they can be sued for negligent hiring. Our team subpoenas the complete Driver Qualification File to see if the company put a “ticking time bomb” behind the wheel.

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection (49 CFR Part 396)

Brake problems are a factor in nearly 30% of all large truck crashes. Federal law requires every motor carrier to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all vehicles under its control. Drivers must also conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections. If maintenance logs show that the truck’s brakes were out of adjustment or that tires were worn below the 2/32″ limit—and the company sent the truck out anyway—they are responsible for the resulting disaster.

Cargo Securement (49 CFR Part 393)

Whether it’s oilfield pipe or consumer goods, cargo must be secured using specific tiedown counts and strengths. Shifting cargo is a leading cause of rollovers on the curves of Montague County’s SH-59. If the cargo wasn’t loaded properly, we may be able to sue the loading company and the shipper in addition to the trucking company.

Our attorneys haven’t just read these regulations—we live them. Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911 use these federal standards to build an airtight case for you. We don’t just ask the trucking company what happened; we show them what they did wrong.

Identifying Every Liable Party: Maximizing Your Recovery

In Montague County, most firms will only sue the truck driver and their direct employer. At Attorney911, we know that isn’t enough. To get you the maximum compensation you deserve, we cast a wider net. Commercial vehicle operations are complex, and liability often spreads across multiple entities. More defendants mean more insurance policies, which means you won’t be left with unpaid bills for a catastrophic injury.

We investigate and hold the following parties accountable:

1. The Truck Driver: For direct negligence like speeding, distraction, or impairment.
2. The Trucking Company: Under “respondeat superior” for their employee’s actions, and for their own negligent hiring or training.
3. The Cargo Owner/Shipper: If they pressured the carrier to violate safety rules or failed to disclose hazardous materials.
4. The Loading Company: For improperly securing cargo that shifted and caused a rollover.
5. Truck/Trailer Manufacturers: If a defect in the brakes, steering, or underride guards contributed to the crash.
6. Parts Manufacturers: For defective tires (blowouts) or faulty electronic systems.
7. Maintenance Companies: If a third-party shop performed negligent repairs on a truck that later failed on a Montague County road.
8. Freight Brokers: For negligent selection of a carrier with a known bad safety record.
9. The Truck Owner: Who may be liable for negligent entrustment of a dangerous vehicle to an unfit driver.
10. Government Entities: If poor road design or failure to maintain safe highway conditions contributed to the wreck.
11. Corporate Parent Companies: When a Walmart or Amazon truck is involved, we look to the multi-billion dollar parent company, not just the subsidiary or contractor.
12. Oilfield Operators: In Montague County drilling areas, the company Man (wellsite supervisor) often directs truck traffic. If their site management was unsafe, the oil company is liable.
13. Staffing Agencies: If the driver was a temp worker whose qualifications weren’t properly vetted by the agency.
14. Rental Truck Companies: Like U-Haul or Penske, if they failed to maintain the vehicle or provided it to an obviously unqualified driver.
15. Transit Agencies and School Districts: For accidents involving public buses or Bowie/Nocona ISD school buses (Special government notice rules apply here!).
16. The Federal Government: If your accident involved a USPS mail truck or a military vehicle. (We handle Federal Tort Claims Act cases with the strict 2-year deadlines they require).

As Donald Wilcox said about his experience with our firm: “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 don’t shy away from complex liability. We find every dollar available to make your family whole again.

Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 and let us start the investigation. Our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont serve Montague County and all of Texas with a focus on high-stakes trucking litigation.

Understanding Catastrophic Injuries and Their True Cost

When an 18-wheeler hits a car in Montague County, the injuries are almost always life-altering. You aren’t just looking at medical bills for today; you’re looking at a lifetime of care. At Attorney911, we fight for compensation that accounts for your entire future. Our founder, Ralph Manginello, has secured multi-million dollar recoveries for victims because he understands the medical reality of these crashes.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

The violent deceleration of a truck crash can cause your brain to strike the inside of your skull. This often results in “diffuse axonal injury,” where the brain’s long connective fibers are torn. Even a “mild” concussion can leave you with chronic headaches, memory problems, and emotional regulation issues that prevent you from working. Severe TBIs can result in permanent cognitive impairment and the need for 24/7 supervision. Our firm has recovered settlements in the $1.5M to $9.8M range for TBI victims.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

A truck rollover or underride accident often leads to “roof crush,” which puts extreme pressure on the spine. Depending on where the injury occurs, you may face paraplegia or quadriplegia. The cost of a first year of care for a spinal cord injury can exceed $1 million, with hundreds of thousands in costs every year after. We pursue settlements that cover home modifications, adaptive vehicles, and high-tech wheelchairs. For paralysis cases, we have seen settlements and verdicts ranging from $4.7M to over $25.8M.

Traumatic Amputations

The crushing force of a dump truck or concrete mixer impact can sever a limb at the scene, or damage it so badly that surgical amputation is the only option. Beyond the initial trauma, victims face “phantom limb pain” and the lifetime cost of prosthetic replacement. A high-quality prosthetic can cost $50,000 and must be replaced every few years. Our amputation settlements often range from $1.9M to $8.6M.

Severe Burns and Disfigurement

When a fuel tanker ruptures on US-82, the resulting fire causes 3rd and 4th-degree burns. These injuries require agonizing debridement procedures and multiple skin grafts. The psychological impact of permanent scarring and disfigurement is immense. We work with vocational experts to prove how these visible injuries affect your ability to earn a living in Montague County.

Internal Organ Damage

Many truck accident victims have internal bleeding that isn’t spotted right away. A “seatbelt sign” bruise on the abdomen can indicate a ruptured spleen or liver laceration. These are medical emergencies that require immediate surgery and can have long-term impacts on your overall health.

Protecting Families in Wrongful Death Cases

There is no greater tragedy than losing a family member to a trucking company’s greed. We handle Montague County wrongful death claims with the compassion and aggression they deserve. We seek damages for lost future income, loss of parental guidance, and the mental anguish your family is suffering. In fatal 18-wheeler cases, we have seen results from $1.9M to as high as $9.5M.

As client Glenda Walker told us, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” We aren’t satisfied with a settlement that just pays your current hospital bills. We fight for a recovery that protects you for the rest of your life. Call us at 888-ATTY-911 for your free case evaluation.

Beyond Medical Bills: Recovering Your Total Quality of Life

If you’ve been injured in Montague County, the insurance company will try to tell you that “special damages” (your medical bills) are all that matters. They are wrong. Under Texas law, you are entitled to be made whole, and that includes your human losses.

Economic Damages we recover for you:

• Past and Future Medical Bills: From the initial ER visit to surgeries you will need 10 years from now.
• Lost Wages: The paychecks you’ve already missed while recovering.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injury means you can never return to your old career, we calculate the millions in earnings you will lose over your lifetime.
• Household Services: If you can no longer mow the lawn, cook for your family, or clean your home, the cost of hiring help is a recoverable loss.

Non-Economic Damages—The “Hidden” Cost:

• Physical Pain and Suffering: The actual, daily agony of living with your injuries.
• Mental Anguish: The anxiety, depression, and loss of sleep following the crash.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: We fight for the hobbies and activities you loved that are now gone—whether that’s fishing in the Red River or playing with your grandkids.
• Loss of Consortium: The impact your injuries have on your relationship with your spouse.

Punitive Damages:
In cases of “gross negligence”—where a trucking company knew they were creating an extreme risk but didn’t care—we can ask for punitive damages. These are designed to punish the company and prevent them from hurting anyone else in Montague County again.

“You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them,” said client Chad Harris. We believe in taking a holistic approach to your recovery. Call our Montague County truck accident legal team at (888) 288-9911 today.

Frequently Asked Questions for Montague County Truck Accident Victims

How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Montague County?

In Texas, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. However, waiting two years—or even two months—is often a fatal mistake for your case. Evidence like black box data and ELD logs can be legally destroyed by the trucking company in a fraction of that time if an attorney hasn’t sent a preservation letter. You should call Attorney911 within 48 hours of your crash to secure your rights.

What if I was partially at fault for the truck accident?

Texas follows “modified comparative negligence” with a 51% bar. This means that as long as you were not MORE than 50% responsible for the accident, you can still recover damages. Your total award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages are $1 million and a jury finds you 20% at fault, you would receive $800,000. Trucking companies always try to point the finger at you—we use the truck’s black box data to prove where the fault truly lies.

Who pays my medical bills while my case is pending?

This is one of the biggest stresses for victims. Generally, the trucking company will not pay your bills as they come in; they only pay a lump sum at the end of the case. In the meantime, we can help you use your own health insurance or “Letters of Protection” (LOPs) to ensure you get the high-quality specialty care you need without any out-of-pocket costs. As Chavodrian Miles noted, “Leonor got me into the doctor the same day.”

I was hit by an Amazon delivery van—can I sue Amazon?

Amazon attempts to shield itself from liability by using “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs) and calling them independent contractors. However, our firm knows how to fight this. We look at the level of control Amazon exercises—they set the routes, they monitor the drivers with AI cameras, and they set strict delivery quotas that pressure drivers into unsafe speeds in Montague County neighborhoods. We fight to hold the parent company accountable because they have the “deep pockets” needed to pay for serious injuries.

What makes an oilfield truck accident different from a regular 18-wheeler crash?

Oilfield cases often involve “dual jurisdiction.” The truck on the public highway is regulated by the FMCSA, but the truck on a wellsite or private lease road may also be regulated by OSHA (29 CFR Part 1910). Oilfield trucking also involves specialized vehicles like frac sand haulers and water trucks that have unique handling characteristics. Finally, in oilfield cases, we can often sue the oil company (the operator) for creating unsafe worksite conditions that contributed to the crash.

Do I need a lawyer if the insurance company is already offering me a settlement?

YES. If an insurance adjuster offers you a quick settlement right after an accident, it is almost certainly a “lowball” offer. They are trying to get you to sign away your rights before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign their release, you can never go back for more money—even if you later need a spinal fusion or can’t return to work. As Glenda Walker said, “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.” Never sign anything without letting us review it first.

How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?

Zero dollars upfront. We work on a pure contingency fee basis. We take a percentage of the final settlement or verdict (typically 33.33% if settled pre-trial, or 40% if we go to trial). If we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us an attorney fee. We also advance all the costs of hiring experts and filing your lawsuit. You can focus on your medical recovery; we’ll focus on your financial recovery.

Your Recovery Starts with One Call: 1-888-ATTY-911

If you or a loved one has been hit by a truck in Montague County, time is your greatest enemy. Every minute that passes is a minute for the trucking company to build their defense and for critical data to be deleted. You need an attorney who is powerful, proven, and aggressive.

Ralph Manginello and the team at the Manginello Law Firm offer the perfect combination: the resources and results of a major firm with the personal attention of a local practice. We have spent over 25 years fighting for Texans, and we are ready to fight for you. We treat our clients like family, and we don’t back down until justice is served.

Do not let a negligent trucking company take any more from you than they already have. Level the playing field today. Call our 24/7 hotline at 1-888-ATTY-911 or direct at (713) 528-9070. You can also email Ralph directly at ralph@atty911.com.

We represent victims of 18-wheelers, delivery vans, dump trucks, and oilfield vehicles across Montague County and the entire state of Texas. Hablamos Español. Your consultation is free, and there is no obligation. Your fight for justice starts here.

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