18-Wheeler Accidents in Renner: Your Complete Legal Guide

Every year, thousands of 18-wheeler accidents occur on Texas highways, and Renner’s position along major trucking corridors means our community sees more than its share. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a trucking accident in Renner, you need an attorney who understands both the federal trucking regulations and the unique challenges of our local roads.

At Attorney911, we’ve been fighting for truck accident victims across North Texas for over 25 years. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements against some of the largest trucking companies in America. With offices serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, we know Renner’s highways, trucking corridors, and courtrooms better than out-of-state firms.

Why 18-Wheeler Accidents Are Different

Trucking accidents aren’t like car accidents. The physics alone make them far more dangerous:

• A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds – 20-25 times heavier than your car
• At 65 mph, a truck needs nearly two football fields (525 feet) to stop safely
• The impact force of an 80,000-pound truck is approximately 80 times greater than a passenger vehicle
• Truck accidents often involve multiple liable parties – not just the driver

This size and weight disparity means trucking accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. In fact, 76% of people killed in large truck crashes are occupants of the smaller vehicle.

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Renner

Renner sits at the crossroads of several major trucking routes, including I-635 and the George Bush Turnpike, which connect to I-35 – one of America’s busiest NAFTA corridors. This heavy truck traffic creates unique risks:

Driver Fatigue (Hours of Service Violations)

Federal regulations limit how long truck drivers can operate:

• Maximum 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
• Cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour on duty
• 30-minute break required after 8 cumulative hours of driving
• 60/70 hour weekly limits

Despite these rules, we frequently find drivers violating hours of service regulations in Renner trucking cases. Fatigued driving causes approximately 31% of fatal truck crashes. The pressure to meet tight delivery schedules often leads to falsified log books and dangerous driving.

Improper Cargo Loading

Cargo securement violations are among the top 10 most common FMCSA violations. Improperly secured cargo can:

• Shift during transit, causing rollover accidents
• Fall onto roadways, creating hazards for other vehicles
• Overload the truck beyond its weight capacity
• Create instability during turns or sudden maneuvers

Renner’s proximity to major distribution centers means we see many cargo-related accidents involving improperly secured freight.

Brake Failures

Brake problems are a factor in approximately 29% of large truck crashes. Common brake issues include:

• Worn brake pads or shoes not replaced
• Improper brake adjustments (too loose)
• Air brake system leaks or failures
• Overheated brakes (brake fade) on long descents
• Contaminated brake fluid
• Defective brake components

Tire Blowouts

Tire failures cause thousands of truck accidents each year. Common causes in Renner include:

• Underinflated tires causing overheating
• Overloaded vehicles exceeding tire capacity
• Worn or aging tires not replaced
• Road debris punctures
• Manufacturing defects
• Improper tire matching on dual wheels

The extreme Texas heat makes tire blowouts particularly common on Renner’s highways during summer months.

Distracted and Impaired Driving

Despite federal prohibitions, we frequently find evidence of:

• Cell phone use while driving (texting, talking, GPS)
• Dispatch communications distracting drivers
• Alcohol or drug impairment
• Prescription medication misuse
• Eating or drinking while driving

Speeding and Reckless Driving

Excessive speed is a factor in about 23% of fatal truck crashes. Common speed-related issues in Renner include:

• Speeding to meet tight delivery schedules
• Failure to reduce speed for weather conditions
• Speeding on curves or ramps
• Following too closely (tailgating)
• Aggressive lane changes

Types of Trucking Accidents We Handle in Renner

Jackknife Accidents

Jackknife accidents occur when the trailer swings out perpendicular to the cab, often blocking multiple lanes of traffic. These are particularly dangerous on Renner’s busy highways.

Common causes:

• Sudden or improper braking, especially on wet or icy roads
• Speeding, particularly on curves or in adverse conditions
• Empty or lightly loaded trailers (more prone to swing)
• Improperly loaded or unbalanced cargo
• Brake system failures or worn brakes
• Driver inexperience with emergency maneuvers

Underride Collisions

Underride collisions occur when a smaller vehicle crashes into the rear or side of an 18-wheeler and slides underneath the trailer. These are among the most deadly trucking accidents.

Types:

• Rear underride: Vehicle strikes back of trailer
• Side underride: Vehicle impacts side of trailer during lane changes or turns

Common causes:

• Inadequate or missing underride guards
• Worn or damaged rear impact guards
• Truck sudden stops without adequate warning
• Low visibility conditions (night, fog, rain)
• Truck lane changes into blind spots
• Wide right turns cutting off traffic

Shocking statistics:

• Approximately 400-500 underride deaths occur annually in the United States
• Side underride collisions have no federal guard requirement
• Many underride guards fail to prevent underride at highway speeds

Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents occur when an 18-wheeler tips onto its side or roof. Due to their high center of gravity, trucks are particularly susceptible to rollovers.

Common causes:

• Speeding on curves, ramps, or turns (most common cause)
• Taking turns too sharply at excessive speed
• Improperly secured or unevenly distributed cargo
• Liquid cargo “slosh” shifting center of gravity
• Overcorrection after tire blowout or lane departure
• Driver fatigue causing delayed reaction
• Road design defects (inadequate banking on curves)

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions occur when an 18-wheeler strikes the back of another vehicle or when a vehicle strikes the back of a truck.

Common causes:

• Following too closely (tailgating)
• Driver distraction (cell phone, dispatch communications)
• Driver fatigue and delayed reaction
• Excessive speed for traffic conditions
• Brake failures from poor maintenance
• Failure to anticipate traffic slowdowns
• Impaired driving (drugs, alcohol)

Wide Turn Accidents (“Squeeze Play”)

Wide turn accidents occur when an 18-wheeler swings wide (often to the left) before making a right turn, creating a gap that other vehicles enter. The truck then completes its turn, crushing or striking the vehicle that entered the gap.

Why trucks make wide turns:

• 18-wheelers need significant space to complete turns
• Trailers track inside the path of the cab
• Drivers must swing wide to avoid curbs, signs, or buildings

Common causes:

• Failure to properly signal turning intention
• Inadequate mirror checks before and during turn
• Improper turn technique (swinging too early or too wide)
• Driver inexperience with trailer tracking
• Failure to yield right-of-way when completing turn
• Poor intersection design forcing wide turns

Blind Spot Accidents (“No-Zone”)

Blind spot accidents occur when an 18-wheeler changes lanes or maneuvers without seeing a vehicle in one of its four major blind spots.

The Four No-Zones:

1. Front No-Zone: 20 feet directly in front of the cab
2. Rear No-Zone: 30 feet behind the trailer
3. Left Side No-Zone: Extends from cab door backward
4. Right Side No-Zone: Extends from cab door backward, much larger than left side (MOST DANGEROUS)

Common causes:

• Failure to check mirrors before lane changes
• Improperly adjusted or damaged mirrors
• Inadequate mirror checking during sustained maneuvers
• Driver distraction during lane changes
• Driver fatigue affecting situational awareness
• Failure to use turn signals allowing other drivers to anticipate

Catastrophic Injuries from Trucking Accidents

The physics of trucking accidents make catastrophic injuries the norm in Renner cases:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

TBI occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. The extreme forces in trucking accidents cause the brain to impact the inside of the skull.

Severity levels:

• Mild (Concussion): Confusion, headache, brief loss of consciousness
• Moderate: Extended unconsciousness, memory problems, cognitive deficits
• Severe: Extended coma, permanent cognitive impairment

Lifetime care costs: $85,000 to $3,000,000+ depending on severity

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord damage disrupts communication between the brain and body, often resulting in paralysis.

Types of paralysis:

• Paraplegia: Loss of function below the waist
• Quadriplegia: Loss of function in all four limbs
• Incomplete Injury: Some nerve function remains
• Complete Injury: No nerve function below injury

Lifetime care costs:

• Paraplegia: $1.1 million to $2.5 million+
• Quadriplegia: $3.5 million to $5 million+

Amputation

Amputations occur when limbs are severed at the scene or require surgical removal due to crash damage.

Ongoing medical needs:

• Initial surgery and hospitalization
• Prosthetic limbs ($5,000 – $50,000+ per prosthetic)
• Replacement prosthetics throughout lifetime
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Occupational therapy for daily living skills
• Psychological counseling

Severe Burns

Burns occur from fuel tank ruptures, hazmat cargo spills, electrical fires, or friction burns.

Burn classification:

• First Degree: Epidermis only
• Second Degree: Epidermis and dermis
• Third Degree: Full thickness
• Fourth Degree: Through skin to muscle/bone

Internal Organ Damage

Common internal injuries include:

• Liver laceration or rupture
• Spleen damage requiring removal
• Kidney damage
• Lung contusion or collapse (pneumothorax)
• Internal bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Bowel and intestinal damage

Wrongful Death

When a trucking accident kills a loved one, surviving family members can pursue wrongful death claims.

Damages available in Texas:

• Lost future income and employment benefits
• Loss of consortium (spousal companionship and relationship)
• Loss of parental guidance and nurturing (for surviving children)
• Mental anguish and emotional distress
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical