18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers in Overton, Texas | Attorney911

When an 80,000-Pound Truck Changes Your Life in an Instant

One moment, you’re driving home on Highway 135 through Overton, Texas. The next, an 18-wheeler is jackknifing across three lanes of traffic. 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 an 18-wheeler accident in Overton, Texas, you need more than just a lawyer. You need a legal emergency response team that understands the unique dangers of East Texas trucking corridors and knows how to hold negligent trucking companies accountable.

At Attorney911, we’ve been fighting for trucking accident victims across Rusk County 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 Overton’s highways, the trucking routes that connect to Longview and Tyler, and the local courts that will decide your case.

The Overton Trucking Corridor: Where Highways and Danger Collide

Overton sits at the crossroads of several major trucking routes that serve East Texas:

• Highway 135 – The main artery through Overton, connecting to I-20 and serving local businesses and oil field operations
• I-20 – The major east-west corridor just north of Overton, carrying transcontinental freight between Dallas and Shreveport
• Highway 322 – Connecting Overton to Henderson and serving the oil and gas industry
• Highway 323 – Running north-south through Rusk County, carrying agricultural and industrial freight

These routes see heavy truck traffic from:

• Oil and gas industry vehicles serving the East Texas oil field
• Agricultural trucks transporting timber, poultry, and crops
• Interstate freight carriers moving goods between major distribution hubs
• Local delivery trucks serving Overton businesses and residents

The mix of local and interstate trucking creates unique dangers on Overton’s roads. We know these corridors, the distribution centers, the truck stops where drivers may be violating federal hours-of-service regulations, and the local conditions that contribute to accidents.

Why Overton 18-Wheeler Accidents Are Different

Trucking accidents in Overton and Rusk County present unique challenges:

1. Oil Field Trucking Culture – The East Texas oil field brings specialized heavy equipment and a culture that sometimes prioritizes speed over safety
2. Rural Road Conditions – Many accidents occur on two-lane highways with limited shoulders and poor lighting
3. Mixed Traffic Patterns – Local drivers share roads with interstate truckers unfamiliar with Overton’s unique conditions
4. Limited Emergency Response – Rural accidents may face longer response times from EMS and law enforcement
5. Local Industry Knowledge – We understand the specific hazards of oil field, agricultural, and industrial trucking in East Texas

The Catastrophic Reality of 18-Wheeler Accidents

When an 18-wheeler weighing 20-25 times more than your car crashes into you, the results are often catastrophic:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries – From concussions to permanent cognitive impairment
• Spinal Cord Damage – Leading to paralysis or lifelong disability
• Amputations – When limbs are crushed beyond repair
• Severe Burns – From fuel tank ruptures or chemical spills
• Internal Organ Damage – Often life-threatening
• Wrongful Death – Leaving families devastated

In Overton, we’ve seen these injuries firsthand – families whose lives were forever changed by a single moment of trucking company negligence.

The Trucking Company Playbook: What They Don’t Want You to Know

Within hours of your accident, the trucking company’s rapid response team springs into action. Their mission? Protect their interests, not yours.

Here’s what they’re doing right now:

1. Sending investigators to the scene to document evidence in their favor
2. Downloading black box data before it can be overwritten
3. Coaching the driver on what to say to police and insurance
4. Offering quick settlements before you understand the full extent of your injuries
5. Destroying evidence that could prove their negligence

They have one goal: minimize their liability and pay you as little as possible.

Our Insider Advantage: We Know Their Tactics Because We Used to Work for Them

At Attorney911, we have a secret weapon: Lupe Peña, our associate attorney who spent years working at a national insurance defense firm. He knows exactly how trucking insurance companies evaluate, minimize, and deny claims. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you.

Here’s what Lupe knows that other attorneys don’t:

• How insurance adjusters are trained to lowball victims
• What makes insurance companies actually pay fair settlements
• How they calculate claim values to minimize payouts
• The software they use to undervalue your pain and suffering
• How they train adjusters to manipulate victims

This insider knowledge gives us an unfair advantage in negotiating with trucking companies and their insurers.

The 48-Hour Evidence Preservation Protocol

Evidence in 18-wheeler accident cases disappears fast. Black box data can be overwritten in 30 days. Dashcam footage gets deleted. Witnesses forget what they saw. That’s why we act immediately.

Within 24-48 hours of being retained, we:

1. Send formal spoliation letters to the trucking company, their insurer, and all potentially liable parties
2. Demand immediate download of all ECM/black box data
3. Preserve ELD records proving hours of service violations
4. Secure dashcam footage before it’s overwritten
5. Obtain cell phone records to prove distracted driving
6. Photograph all vehicles before they’re repaired or scrapped
7. Interview witnesses before memories fade
8. Canvass the scene for security camera footage

We’ve seen what happens when victims wait. Evidence gets “lost.” Data gets “overwritten.” Trucking companies claim they “can’t find” critical records. Don’t let this happen to you.

The FMCSA Regulations That Can Win Your Case

Every 18-wheeler on Overton’s roads must comply with federal safety regulations. When trucking companies violate these rules, they create dangerous conditions that cause catastrophic accidents. These violations are often the key to proving negligence and securing maximum compensation.

The 6 Critical FMCSA Regulation Categories:

1. Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391) – Who is allowed to drive commercial trucks
2. Driving Rules (49 CFR Part 392) – How trucks must be operated safely
3. Vehicle Safety (49 CFR Part 393) – Equipment and cargo securement standards
4. Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395) – How long drivers can operate vehicles
5. Inspection & Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396) – Vehicle upkeep requirements
6. General Regulations (49 CFR Part 390) – Definitions and applicability

Common Violations We Find in Overton Trucking Cases:

• Hours of Service Violations – Drivers exceeding 11-hour driving limits or 14-hour duty windows
• False Log Entries – Falsifying ELD or paper logs to hide violations
• Brake System Failures – Worn brakes or improper adjustments
• Cargo Securement Failures – Improperly secured loads causing rollovers or spills
• Unqualified Drivers – Operating without valid CDL or medical certification
• Drug/Alcohol Violations – Operating under the influence
• Mobile Phone Use – Texting or using hand-held phones while driving
• Failure to Inspect – Skipping required pre-trip inspections
• Improper Lighting – Non-functioning lights or missing reflectors
• Negligent Hiring – Failing to properly vet drivers

When we prove these violations, we don’t just establish negligence – we create leverage for maximum compensation.

The 10 Potentially Liable Parties We Investigate

18-wheeler accidents are different from car accidents because MULTIPLE parties can be responsible for your injuries. Unlike a simple car crash where usually only one driver is at fault, trucking accidents often involve a web of companies and individuals who all contributed to the dangerous conditions that caused the crash.

1. The Truck Driver

• Direct negligence: speeding, fatigue, distraction, impairment
• Failure to conduct proper pre-trip inspections
• Violation of traffic laws

2. The Trucking Company / Motor Carrier

• Vicarious liability for driver’s actions
• Negligent hiring of unqualified drivers
• Negligent training and supervision
• Negligent maintenance of vehicles
• Pressure to violate hours of service regulations

3. The Cargo Owner / Shipper

• Providing improper loading instructions
• Failing to disclose hazardous nature of cargo
• Requiring overweight loading
• Pressuring carriers to expedite beyond safe limits

4. The Cargo Loading Company

• Improper cargo securement (49 CFR 393 violations)
• Unbalanced load distribution
• Exceeding vehicle weight ratings
• Failure to use proper blocking, bracing, or tiedowns

5. Truck and Trailer Manufacturer

• Design defects in brake systems, stability control, or fuel tanks
• Manufacturing defects causing component failures
• Failure to warn of known dangers

6. Parts Manufacturer

• Defective brakes or brake components
• Defective tires causing blowouts
• Defective steering mechanisms
• Defective lighting components

7. Maintenance Company

• Negligent repairs that failed to fix problems
• Failure to identify critical safety issues
• Improper brake adjustments
• Using substandard or wrong parts

8. Freight Broker

• Negligent selection of carrier with poor safety record
• Failure to verify carrier insurance and authority
• Failure to check carrier CSA scores

9. Truck Owner (If Different from Carrier)

• Negligent entrustment of vehicle to unfit driver
• Failure to maintain owned equipment
• Knowledge of driver’s unfitness

10. Government Entity

• Dangerous road design that contributed to accident
• Failure to maintain roads (potholes, debris, worn markings)
• Inadequate signage for known hazards
• Improper work zone setup

We investigate every possible defendant to ensure you can recover from all responsible parties.

The Overton Trucking Accidents We Handle

Jackknife Accidents – When trailers swing out perpendicular to the cab, often blocking multiple lanes

• Common causes: sudden braking, wet roads, improperly loaded cargo
• Often result in multi-vehicle pileups on I-20 or Highway 135

Rollover Accidents – When trucks tip onto their sides or roofs

• Common causes: speeding on curves, top-heavy loads, overcorrection
• Frequently occur on Highway 323 where trucks navigate rural curves

Underride Collisions – When vehicles slide underneath trailers

• Among the most deadly accident types
• Rear underride guards are federally required but often inadequate
• Side underride guards are not required but would prevent many deaths

Tire Blowout Accidents – Sudden tire failures causing loss of control

• Common causes: underinflation, overloading, worn tires
• Particularly dangerous on I-20 where debris can strike following vehicles

Brake Failure Accidents – When braking systems fail or underperform

• Common causes: poor maintenance, overheating on long descents
• Brake problems are a factor in 29% of large truck crashes

Cargo Spill/Shift Accidents – When improperly secured cargo falls or shifts

• Common causes: inadequate tiedowns, improper loading
• Cargo securement violations are among the top FMCSA violations

Wide Turn Accidents (“Squeeze Play”) – When trucks swing wide before turning

• Common causes: failure to signal, inadequate mirror checks
• Particularly dangerous in Overton’s business districts

Blind Spot Accidents (“No-Zone”) – When trucks change lanes without seeing vehicles

• Right-side blind spots are especially large and dangerous
• Common on Highway 135 where trucks merge with local traffic

Head-On Collisions – When trucks cross into oncoming traffic

• Often fatal due to combined speed of both vehicles
• Common causes: driver fatigue, distraction, medical emergencies

Rear-End Collisions – When trucks fail to stop in time

• Common causes: following too closely, distraction, brake failure
• Trucks need 40% more stopping distance than cars

The Catastrophic Injuries We See in Overton Trucking Cases

The physics of 18-wheeler accidents make catastrophic injuries the norm, not the exception:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• From mild concussions to permanent cognitive impairment
• Symptoms: headaches, memory loss, mood changes, difficulty concentrating
• Lifetime care costs: $85,000 to $3,000,000+

Spinal Cord Injury

• Paraplegia (loss of function below the waist)
• Quadriplegia (loss of function in all four limbs)
• Incomplete injuries with partial function remaining
• Lifetime care costs: $1,100,000 to $5,000,000+

Amputations

• Traumatic (limb severed at scene)
• Surgical (limb so damaged it must be removed)
• Prosthetics and rehabilitation costs: $500,000 to $2,000,000

Severe Burns

• From fuel tank ruptures or chemical spills
• Third and fourth degree burns requiring skin grafts
• Permanent scarring and disfigurement

Internal Organ Damage

• Liver lacerations, spleen damage, kidney injuries
• Internal bleeding requiring emergency surgery
• Long-term health consequences

Wrongful Death

• When trucking company negligence takes