New Braunfels Truck Accident Attorney: Your Guide to 18-Wheeler & Commercial Vehicle Litigation
The impact of an 80,000-pound commercial truck is not just a traffic accident; it is a life-altering force of physics. When a semi-truck or delivery van slams into a passenger vehicle on I-35 or Highway 46 in New Braunfels, the result is almost always catastrophic. At Attorney911, we understand that you aren’t just looking for a lawyer; you are looking for a lifeline. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has spent over 25 years holding trucking companies and corporate giants accountable. Since 1998, we have fought for families devastated by these collisions, recovering over $50 million for our clients.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a commercial vehicle in New Braunfels, the clock is already ticking. Trucking companies and their insurers deploy rapid-response teams to the scene of an accident sometimes before the ambulance has even left. They are already working to minimize your recovery. We work faster. Our team includes a former insurance defense attorney, Lupe Peña, who knows the “playbook” the insurance companies use to deny, delay, and devalue your claim. We use that inside knowledge to fight for every dime you deserve.
Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. Hablamos Español. Llame al (888) 288-9911.
Why New Braunfels Trucking Accidents Require Specialized Representation
New Braunfels is uniquely positioned in the heart of the “Texas Triangle,” sitting directly on the massive I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. This stretch of highway is one of the highest-volume freight routes in the United States, serving as a primary artery for NAFTA trade. Every day, thousands of 18-wheelers, gravel trucks, and corporate delivery vehicles pass through New Braunfels, sharing the road with local families, commuters, and tourists visiting the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers.
The sheer volume of commercial traffic in Guadalupe County creates a high-risk environment. Whether it’s a long-haul driver passing through on I-35 or a local Amazon delivery van rushing through a residential neighborhood near Landa Park, the potential for negligence is constant. When these vehicles collide with your sedan or SUV, the weight differential is terrifying. A standard car weighs about 4,000 pounds; a fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. That is a 20-to-1 weight disparity. In such a collision, the laws of physics are never in your favor.
Our firm’s founder, Ralph Manginello, is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and has extensive federal court experience. This is crucial because many trucking companies are headquartered out-of-state and their cases are often moved to federal court. You need a New Braunfels attorney who is as comfortable in a federal courtroom as he is in a local district court.
48-Hour Urgency: The Evidence Preservation Protocol
The first 48 hours after a truck accident in New Braunfels are the most critical. While you are focused on medical treatment and recovery, the evidence necessary to prove your case is at risk of being destroyed. Unlike a standard car accident, most of the evidence in a trucking case is electronic and ephemeral.
The Black Box and ELD Data
Commercial trucks are equipped with an Engine Control Module (ECM), often referred to as a “black box.” This device records speed, braking, throttle position, and engine RPM in the seconds leading up to a crash. Black box data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days or even sooner if the truck is put back into service. Similarly, since December 2017, the FMCSA has mandated Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to record driver hours. These records prove whether a driver was violating federal rest requirements and driving while fatigued.
Our Immediate Action
When you retain Attorney911, we send formal spoliation letters within 24 to 48 hours. This legal notice demands that the trucking company, the driver, and their insurer preserve all physical and electronic evidence, including:
- ECM/Black box data downloads
- ELD logs and previous paper logbooks
- Driver Qualification Files (DQFs)
- Vehicle maintenance and inspection records
- In-cab dashcam footage (Netradyne, Lytx, etc.)
- Dispatch communications and GPS telematics
As client Angel Walle stated, our team “solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.” Speed is our strategy.
Don’t let the evidence disappear. Call 888-ATTY-911 today before the trucking company overwrites the data we need to win your case.
Identifying All Liable Parties: Casting a Wide Net
In a typical car wreck, you sue the other driver. In a New Braunfels truck accident, that is almost never enough. To maximize your recovery and access the insurance coverage necessary for catastrophic injuries, we investigate the entire “chain of responsibility.”
Our investigation into your New Braunfels accident will look for liability among as many as 16 different parties, including:
- The Truck Driver: For direct negligence like speeding, distraction, or driving under the influence.
- The Trucking Company (Carrier): Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, they are responsible for their employees’ actions. We also pursue them for negligent hiring and training.
- The Corporate Parent (Walmart, Amazon, UPS, FedEx): If the vehicle was a corporate fleet truck, the parent company may be liable for setting dangerous delivery quotas or exercising excessive control over contractors.
- The Freight Broker: For negligently selecting a carrier with a poor safety record.
- The Maintenance Company: If a brake failure or tire blowout was caused by improper repairs.
- The Cargo Loader: If shifting cargo caused a rollover or jackknife.
- The Manufacturer: If a defective part like a tire or steering column failed on a New Braunfels highway.
Our associate attorney, Lupe Peña, previously worked for a national insurance defense firm. He knows how these entities try to shift blame to one another. He uses that insider perspective to cut through the finger-pointing and hold every responsible party accountable. We don’t just sue the driver; we follow the money to ensure you are fully compensated.
Understanding FMCSA Regulations and How They Prove Negligence
Trucking in the United States is governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR). When a trucking company violates these rules in New Braunfels, it is powerful evidence of negligence.
Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395)
Driver fatigue is a factor in approximately 31% of fatal truck crashes. Federal law is strict:
- 11-Hour Limit: A driver cannot drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- 14-Hour Window: A driver cannot drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty.
- 30-Minute Break: Drivers must take a break after 8 cumulative hours behind the wheel.
When we find HOS violations in the ELD data, it proves the trucking company prioritized profit over the safety of New Braunfels drivers.
Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391)
Trucking companies have a duty to ensure their drivers are qualified. This requires maintaining a Driver Qualification File for every operator. If a company puts a driver on I-35 without checking their driving record, verifying their medical certificate, or conducting proper drug testing, they are guilty of negligent hiring. Our founder, Ralph Manginello, has over two decades of experience subpoenaing these files to expose companies that put dangerous drivers on our roads.
Vehicle Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396)
Trucking companies must systematically inspect and maintain their vehicles. Brake failure is a factor in nearly 30% of all large truck crashes. If the maintenance logs show deferred repairs or ignored inspection failures, the company is liable for your injuries.
Accident Types Common to New Braunfels and Guadalupe County
Every New Braunfels trucking accident is unique, but the physics of heavy vehicles create several common, deadly crash patterns.
Jackknife Accidents on I-35
A jackknife occurs when a truck’s trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab. This often happens on I-35 through New Braunfels due to sudden braking in heavy traffic or on rain-slicked roads near the Comal River. A jackknifed 18-wheeler can sweep across three or four lanes of traffic, creating a multi-vehicle pileup.
Rollover Accidents
Because of their high center of gravity, trucks are prone to rolling over, especially on the curves of Highway 306 or during high winds on I-10. Overloaded trailers or improperly secured cargo often cause these crashes. If a truck rolls onto your passenger vehicle, the crushing force is almost never survivable.
Underride Collisions
Perhaps the most horrifying accident type, an underride occurs when a car slides beneath the back or side of a trailer. These often occur at night on rural Guadalupe County roads when a truck is poorly lit or lacks proper reflective tape. Underride crashes frequently result in decapitation or catastrophic traumatic brain injury.
Delivery Van Accidents (Amazon, FedEx, UPS)
With the rise of e-commerce, New Braunfels residential streets are flooded with delivery vans. These drivers are often under extreme time pressure to meet quotas. Whether it’s an Amazon DSP van in a neighborhood or a UPS truck on a busy thoroughfare, “last-mile” delivery accidents are increasing rapidly. We have successfully litigated against these Fortune 500 giants and their contractor networks.
Catastrophic Injuries and Their Life-Long Impact
Trucking accidents don’t just cause “injuries”; they cause life-long transformations. We approach every case with the empathy and tactical aggression required for catastrophic loss.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The violent force of a truck impact causes the brain to strike the inside of the skull, leading to axonal shearing and permanent cognitive deficits. Settlements for moderate to severe TBI cases handled by our firm have ranged from $1.5 million to over $9.8 million. This compensation covers the lifelong cognitive therapy and 24/7 care often required.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
A crushed vertebra can change your life in a fraction of a second. The lifetime care costs for a quadriplegic can exceed $5 million. We work with life-care planners to ensure your settlement covers every future surgery, home modification, and specialized vehicle you will need. Our firm has seen spinal cord injury settlements reach $25 million+ in the most severe cases.
Amputation and Crush Injuries
The weight of a commercial vehicle often results in the loss of limbs. Amputation settlements typically range from $1.9 million to $8.6 million, accounting for the ongoing cost of prosthetics (which must be replaced every 3-5 years) and the loss of earning capacity.
Wrongful Death
If you have lost a family member in a New Braunfels truck accident, we offer our deepest condolences. No check can replace a loved one, but a wrongful death claim can provide the financial security your family needs during this impossible time. Texas law allows for the recovery of lost future income, loss of consortium, and mental anguish. Wrongful death recoveries in trucking cases often reach between $1.9 million and $9.5 million.
The Insurance Defense Advantage: Why We Win
Insurance companies are not in the business of paying fair settlements; they are in the business of protecting their bottom line. Against an 18-wheeler carrier, you are fighting a policy that typically ranges from $750,000 to $5 million.
Companies like Walmart and Amazon are often “self-insured,” meaning they pay the first several million dollars of a claim out of their own pockets. They employ teams of corporate adjusters and lawyers whose only job is to devalue your life.
This is where the Attorney911 team makes the difference. Associate Attorney Lupe Peña used to work for these very insurance companies. He knows their valuation software (like Colossus), he knows how they train adjusters to ask leading questions, and he knows how to call their bluff during negotiations. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial. When the insurance company sees that Attorney911 is on the other side, they know they aren’t dealing with a “settlement mill”—they’re dealing with fighters.
Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-ATTY-911 para una consulta gratis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for New Braunfels Truck Accident Victims
1. How long do I have to file a lawsuit in New Braunfels?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of the accident. However, in trucking cases, you should never wait. Essential evidence can disappear in 30 days. As client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” We take care of the legal deadlines so you can focus on healing.
2. Can I sue Amazon if their delivery van hit me in New Braunfels?
Yes. Although Amazon uses “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs) to shield themselves from liability, we know how to pierce that shield. By showing the level of control Amazon exercises over their drivers—through routes, uniforms, and in-cab AI cameras—we can hold the corporate parent accountable.
3. What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule (51% bar). This means that as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash, you can still recover damages. Your total award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you were 20% at fault and awarded $1 million, you would receive $800,000. Our job is to minimize the fault attributed to you by letting the data prove the trucker’s negligence.
4. Who pays my medical bills while my case is pending?
The trucking company’s insurance will not pay your bills as they come in. They pay a one-time settlement at the end. We help our clients navigate this by working with healthcare providers who accept “Letters of Protection,” meaning they treat you now and wait for payment from the settlement. As client Chavodrian Miles noted, “Leonor [our case worker] got me into the doctor the same day.”
5. What makes an 18-wheeler case different from a car accident case?
The complexity. A trucking case involves federal regulations (FMCSA), multiple potentially liable parties, high insurance limits, and sophisticated electronic data. It is the difference between a minor skirmish and a full-scale legal war. You need a veteran general like Ralph Manginello to lead that fight.
Proven Results: The Manginello Law Firm Difference
When you choose Attorney911, you are choosing a firm that has gone toe-to-toe with the world’s largest corporations. We were involved in the landmark BP Texas City Refinery Litigation, a case involving 15 deaths and $2.1 billion in settlements. We are currently litigating a $10 million lawsuit against a major university for egregious hazing. We aren’t afraid of big corporate legal teams; we thrive when the stakes are highest.
Our clients’ reviews speak to our dedication. Donald Wilcox shared: “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, we find the evidence others miss, and we treat our clients with the respect they deserve.
No Fee Unless We Win
We work on a 100% contingency fee basis. This means we advance all the costs of the investigation, reconstructive experts, and litigation. You pay us nothing upfront and nothing out-of-pocket. We only get paid if we recover money for you. Our standard fee is 33.33% if the case settles and 40% if we have to take it to trial.
Take Action Now: Protect Your Future
A truck accident in New Braunfels sets off a chain of events that can feel overwhelming. The medical bills are piling up, the insurance company is calling, and your family’s future feels uncertain. You don’t have to carry this burden alone.
Since 1998, the Manginello Law Firm has been the first responder to legal emergencies in Central and Southeast Texas. Whether you were hit on I-35, Highway 46, or FM 725, we are ready to move. We will send the detectives to the scene, we will subpoena the black box data, and we will hold the negligent parties responsible for every dime of your suffering.
As client Ernest Cano put it: “Mr. Manginello and his firm are first class. Will fight tooth and nail for you.”
Your fight for justice starts with one free call. Contact Attorney911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911 or visit our offices in Houston or Austin. The consultation is free, and the advice is priceless.
1-888-ATTY-911 | (713) 528-9070 | ralph@atty911.com
Powerful. Proven. Attorney911.
Appendix: Additional Commercial Vehicle and Victim Types
While 18-wheelers often dominate the headlines, our firm handles all forms of commercial vehicle accidents in New Braunfels.
Dump Trucks and Construction Vehicles
New Braunfels is growing fast, which means our roads are full of dump trucks, concrete mixers, and utility vehicles. These trucks often weigh 60,000+ pounds and are prone to rollovers and cargo spills. Because these are often operated by local contractors, identifying the hiring entity is key to finding adequate insurance.
Garbage Trucks
Operating in residential areas, garbage trucks have massive blind spots and frequently strike pedestrians or cyclists. These cases often involve municipal liability or complex contracts with waste management giants like Republic Services or Waste Management Inc.
Rental and Moving Trucks (U-Haul, Penske)
Rental trucks are uniquely dangerous because they allow untrained, non-CDL drivers to operate heavy vehicles. If a rental company like U-Haul failed to maintain the vehicle or rented it to an obviously unfit driver, they can be held liable for the resulting wreckage.
Vulnerable Road Users: Pedestrians and Cyclists
When a commercial vehicle strikes someone walking or riding a bike in New Braunfels, the result is almost always a survival struggle. We have specific expertise in “right-hook” accidents where a truck turns right through a bike lane without looking. The law provides heightened protection for vulnerable road users, and we ensure the trucking company respects those rights.
Don’t wait for the trucking company to make the first move. Call (888) 288-9911 or 1-888-ATTY-911 now. Hablamos Español.
