Fatal 18-Wheeler and Tractor-Trailer Crashes in Richardson, Texas

You’re reading this because someone you love didn’t come home from a road most people in Richardson drive every day without thinking about it. Maybe it was the morning commute on Central Expressway when a fully loaded semi-truck failed to stop in time. Maybe it was the evening rush on President George Bush Turnpike when an 18-wheeler lost control in the rain. Maybe it was the late-night freight surge on I-635 when a fatigued driver crossed the median. The corridor through Richardson that everyone takes for granted took your father, your spouse, your child, your sibling—and the carrier whose driver caused the crash has lawyers who’ve been working since the moment it happened.

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003 started a clock on your family the day of the crash. Not the day of the funeral. Not the day the autopsy report came back. Not the day you finally felt ready to think about a lawyer. The day of the crash. You have two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful death action under §71.001. Under §71.004, you—as the surviving spouse, child, or parent—hold an independent statutory claim. So does your loved one’s estate under §71.021 for the conscious pain and suffering they endured between injury and death. Three separate claims, one two-year clock.

The carrier that killed your loved one on Richardson’s roads has a team that started working the case the night of the wreck. While you were making funeral arrangements, their lawyers were already calculating how to minimize liability. While you were sitting with your family in the hospital waiting room, their adjusters were already building a narrative about “shared fault.” While you were trying to process what happened, they were already working to make the evidence disappear.

We don’t let that happen.

The Reality of Big-Rig Crashes on Richardson’s Freight Corridors

Richardson sits at the crossroads of three major freight arteries that move billions of dollars in commerce through North Texas every year:

• Interstate 635 (LBJ Freeway) – The northern loop that carries long-haul freight between Dallas and points east and west, with a crash rate that consistently ranks among the highest in Dallas County
• U.S. Highway 75 (Central Expressway) – The primary north-south corridor through Richardson, where morning and evening commuter traffic collides with commercial truck traffic moving between distribution centers
• President George Bush Turnpike (SH 161) – The tollway that connects Richardson to the massive logistics hubs in southern Dallas County and beyond

These aren’t just highways—they’re economic lifelines for Richardson’s technology sector, its corporate headquarters (including major employers like Texas Instruments, State Farm, and Fujitsu), and the thousands of families who commute along them every day. When an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer loses control on these roads, the physics don’t leave time for the drivers of passenger vehicles to react. A semi-truck crash at highway speeds isn’t a fender-bender—it’s a closing-speed event that frequently produces fatalities and catastrophic injuries.

Dallas County recorded 46,257 crashes in 2024—more than any other county in Texas except Harris—and 305 of them were fatal. The stretch of I-635 through Richardson and North Dallas consistently appears in the Texas Department of Transportation’s annual “Top 100 Most Crash-Prone Road Segments” report. The intersection of I-635 and U.S. 75 alone accounted for 147 crashes in 2023, with commercial vehicles involved in nearly 40% of them.

When you call these “semi-truck,” “tractor-trailer,” or “18-wheeler” crashes, you’re naming the same vehicle class. The legal exposure under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) is identical, and the depth of investigation required to prove how the crash actually happened is the same.

What Texas Law Gives Your Family After a Fatal Truck Crash

Texas law provides a structured framework for holding the carrier accountable and securing compensation for your loss. This isn’t about “winning” or “losing”—it’s about making sure the corporate decision-makers who put that driver behind the wheel answer for what happened to your family.

Wrongful Death and Survival Claims Under Texas Law

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §71.001 et seq., the surviving spouse, children, and parents of a person killed by the wrongful act of another can bring a wrongful death claim. Each claimant holds an independent right of action under §71.004:

• Surviving spouse – For pecuniary loss (financial support the deceased would have provided), loss of companionship and society, mental anguish, and loss of inheritance
• Children – For pecuniary loss, loss of companionship and society, mental anguish, and loss of inheritance
• Parents – For pecuniary loss, loss of companionship and society, mental anguish, and loss of inheritance

The estate of the deceased also holds a separate survival action under §71.021 for the damages the deceased would have been entitled to recover if they had survived—including medical expenses incurred before death, physical pain and mental anguish suffered between injury and death, and funeral expenses.

Example from our case results:
“Multi-million dollar settlement for client who suffered brain injury with vision loss when log dropped on him at logging company”
Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

The Two-Year Statute of Limitations

Under §16.003, you have exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful death or survival action. This clock runs whether or not the carrier’s insurer is returning your calls. Once it runs, the case dies procedurally, and the carrier walks away from a viable claim because the file was never opened.

Critical exceptions to be aware of:

• Discovery Rule – If the cause of death wasn’t immediately discoverable (for example, if toxicology results took months to confirm a drug-impaired driver), the clock may start later
• Defendant Absence – If the defendant leaves Texas, the clock pauses while they’re gone
• Mental Incapacity – If a surviving family member is mentally incapacitated, the clock pauses during the incapacity
• Fraudulent Concealment – If the carrier actively hid evidence (a documented pattern in trucking cases), the clock may be extended

Modified Comparative Negligence (The 51% Bar)

Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Chapter 33. You can recover damages as long as your loved one was 50% or less at fault. If they were 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. The carrier’s first move will be to argue that your loved one was “partially at fault”—speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, changing lanes suddenly. We anticipate this argument and develop evidence to push fault back where it belongs.

Lupe Peña’s insider perspective (former insurance defense attorney):
“I’ve reviewed hundreds of cases where the defense tried to shift blame to the victim. They’ll take one frame of a dashcam video showing the victim’s car ‘moving normally’ and ignore the ten minutes of struggling before and after. They’re not documenting reality—they’re building ammunition. We know how to dismantle that narrative.”

The Federal Regulations the Carrier Was Supposed to Follow

Commercial trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) at 49 C.F.R. Parts 390–399 establish the minimum safety standards every motor carrier must follow. When a carrier violates these regulations, it supports a claim for negligence per se under Texas law—meaning the violation itself is evidence of negligence.

Hours of Service (HOS) Rules (49 C.F.R. Part 395)

Fatigue is a leading cause of truck crashes. The FMCSR limits how long a driver can be on duty and behind the wheel:

• 11-hour driving limit – After 10 consecutive hours off duty, a driver may drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour duty window
• 60/70-hour limit – No driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days
• 30-minute break – Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving
• Sleeper berth provision – Drivers using a sleeper berth must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the berth, plus 2 additional hours either in the berth or off duty

Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) – The Paper Trail That Doesn’t Lie
Since the December 2017 ELD mandate under 49 C.F.R. Part 395 Subpart B, every commercial truck is required to have an ELD that records every minute the truck is in motion. When the ELD log shows a driver in “on-duty not driving” status at the moment of the crash but the dashcam shows the truck moving at highway speed, we have a falsified log. That’s not just negligence—it’s gross negligence under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41, opening the door to exemplary (punitive) damages.

Driver Qualification Standards (49 C.F.R. Part 391)

Before a carrier can put a driver behind the wheel, it must verify:

• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) – With the proper endorsements (e.g., hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples)
• Medical certification – From a certified medical examiner, renewed every 24 months
• Driving record – No disqualifying offenses (e.g., DUI, leaving the scene of an accident)
• Prior employment verification – The carrier must contact every employer from the past 3 years and document the driver’s safety history
• Road test – The driver must demonstrate proficiency in operating the specific type of vehicle

The Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP)
The FMCSA maintains a database of every commercial driver’s crash and inspection history for the past 5 years. We pull the PSP record on every driver in every case. If the carrier hired a driver with a documented pattern of hours-of-service violations, preventable crashes, or out-of-service orders, that’s negligent hiring—a direct claim against the carrier, not just the driver.

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection (49 C.F.R. Part 396)

Carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain every commercial vehicle. Specific requirements include:

• Pre-trip inspections – Drivers must inspect the vehicle before every trip and document the inspection
• Periodic inspections – Every vehicle must undergo a comprehensive inspection at least once every 12 months
• Brake system requirements – Adjustment limits, performance standards, and documentation
• Tire requirements – Minimum tread depth (4/32″ for steer tires, 2/32″ for others), no audible leaks, no cuts or bulges

Example from our case results:
“In a recent case, our client injured his back while lifting cargo on a ship. Our investigation revealed that he should have been assisted in this duty, and we were able to reach a significant cash settlement.”
Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Drug and Alcohol Testing (49 C.F.R. Part 382)

The FMCSR requires carriers to conduct drug and alcohol testing:

• Pre-employment – Negative test before the first time a driver operates a commercial vehicle
• Random – Unannounced testing throughout the year
• Post-accident – Required after any fatal crash, or if the driver receives a citation for a crash involving injury or vehicle tow-away
• Reasonable suspicion – If a supervisor has reasonable suspicion of impairment
• Return-to-duty and follow-up – After a violation, the driver must complete a substance abuse program and pass follow-up tests

The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
The FMCSA maintains a national database of every commercial driver’s drug and alcohol violations. We query the Clearinghouse on every driver in every case. If the driver who killed your loved one had a prior positive test that the carrier ignored, that’s negligent retention—another direct claim against the carrier.

Minimum Insurance Requirements (49 C.F.R. §387.7)

The FMCSR sets minimum liability insurance requirements:

• $750,000 – For most property-carrying commercial vehicles
• $1,000,000 – For passenger vehicles with 16 or more seats (e.g., charter buses)
• $5,000,000 – For vehicles transporting certain hazardous materials

The MCS-90 Endorsement – The Ultimate Collection Safety Net
The MCS-90 is a federal insurance endorsement that guarantees payment to injured third parties even if the policy would otherwise exclude coverage. This is critical in cases where the at-fault carrier claims the driver was an independent contractor or the crash fell outside the scope of employment.

The Investigation We Begin Within 48 Hours

Every day that passes after a fatal truck crash is a day the carrier controls the evidence—and a day that evidence gets harder to preserve. We don’t wait for the police report to come back. We don’t wait for the carrier to “do the right thing.” We act immediately.

The Preservation Letter – Locking Down the Evidence

Within hours of taking your case, we send a preservation letter to:

• The motor carrier
• The freight broker (if applicable)
• The shipper (if applicable)
• Any third-party telematics provider (e.g., Qualcomm, PeopleNet)

The letter identifies every category of evidence that must be preserved:

• Electronic Control Module (ECM) / Black Box data – Speed, braking, throttle position, and other critical data from the moments before the crash
• Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data – Every minute the truck was in motion, including any edits or annotations
• Dashcam footage – Both forward-facing and driver-facing cameras
• Qualcomm / PeopleNet telematics data – GPS tracking, messaging, and engine performance data
• Dispatch records – Routing instructions, delivery schedules, and communications
• Driver Qualification File – CDL, medical certification, employment history, training records
• Maintenance records – Inspection reports, repair orders, brake and tire records
• Prior preventability determinations – The carrier’s internal investigation reports on the driver’s past crashes
• Post-accident drug and alcohol test results – Required under 49 C.F.R. §382.303
• Form MCS-90 endorsement – The federal insurance guarantee

We put the carrier on notice that spoliation of evidence—the intentional or negligent destruction of evidence—will be argued to the jury, and an adverse inference instruction will be sought. This means the jury can assume the destroyed evidence would have been unfavorable to the carrier.

The FMCSA Records Pull – What the Carrier Doesn’t Want You to See

Before discovery formally opens, we pull:

• The carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile – The FMCSA’s public record of the carrier’s safety performance in seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs):
  1. Unsafe Driving
  2. Hours-of-Service Compliance
  3. Driver Fitness
  4. Controlled Substances/Alcohol
  5. Vehicle Maintenance
  6. Hazardous Materials Compliance
  7. Crash Indicator
• The driver’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) record – The FMCSA’s database of the driver’s crash and inspection history for the past 5 years
• The carrier’s SAFER profile – Basic information about the carrier’s operations, including its USDOT number, insurance coverage, and out-of-service rates

What the SMS profile tells us:
If the carrier has a pattern of violations in the Hours-of-Service BASIC, we know fatigue was likely a factor. If the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC is high, we know mechanical failure was likely a factor. If the Crash Indicator is elevated, we know this carrier has a documented history of preventable crashes.

Accident Reconstruction – Proving How the Crash Happened

We work with accident reconstruction specialists who use:

• Physical evidence – Skid marks, vehicle damage, roadway gouges, debris patterns
• Electronic data – ECM downloads, ELD logs, Qualcomm data, dashcam footage
• Witness statements – Including 911 calls and first responder reports
• Photogrammetry – Using photographs to measure distances and angles
• Computer simulations – Recreating the crash to test different scenarios

Key questions we answer:

• How fast was the truck going at impact?
• Did the driver brake? If so, when and how hard?
• Was the truck in the proper lane?
• Did the driver have time to react to your loved one’s vehicle?
• Were there any mechanical failures (brakes, tires, steering)?
• Was the cargo properly secured?

The Defendants Beyond the Driver

Most plaintiffs’ attorneys stop at the driver. We don’t. The driver is just one defendant—and rarely the most exposed. The real liability lies with the corporate actors who put that driver behind the wheel.

Potential defendants in a Richardson truck crash case:

1. The commercial driver – For negligence, hours-of-service violations, distracted driving, or impairment
2. The motor carrier employer – For negligent hiring, training, supervision, and retention; respondeat superior (vicarious liability)
3. The freight broker – For negligent selection of an unsafe carrier (under Miller v. C.H. Robinson and its progeny)
4. The shipper – For directing unsafe loading, scheduling, or routing
5. The maintenance contractor – For failing to properly inspect or repair the vehicle
6. The parts manufacturer – For defective brakes, tires, steering components, or other parts
7. The road designer or Texas Department of Transportation – For dangerous road conditions, inadequate signage, or missing guardrails (Texas Tort Claims Act applies)
8. The municipality – For traffic signal malfunctions or other infrastructure failures (Texas Tort Claims Act applies)
9. The parent corporation – For alter-ego or single-business-enterprise liability
10. The cargo loaders – For improper loading or securement

Example from our case results:
“At Attorney 911, our personal injury attorneys have helped numerous injured individuals and families facing trucking-related wrongful death cases recover millions of dollars in compensation.”
Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

How Texas Pattern Jury Charges Submit Damages to a Jury

A jury in a Richardson truck crash case doesn’t decide the case in the abstract. They answer specific questions submitted under the Texas Pattern Jury Charges (PJC). We build every case around the questions the jury will actually be asked.

PJC 27.1 – General Negligence

The jury answers whether the defendant was negligent and whether that negligence was a proximate cause of the crash. If the answer to both is “yes,” they move to damages.

PJC 27.2 – Negligence Per Se

If the carrier violated a federal regulation (e.g., hours-of-service rules, driver qualification standards, vehicle maintenance requirements), the jury can find negligence per se—meaning the violation itself is evidence of negligence.

PJC 5.1 – Gross Negligence

If the carrier’s conduct rises to the level of gross negligence—defined as an act or omission that, when viewed objectively, involves an extreme degree of risk, and the actor had actual awareness of the risk but proceeded with conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others—the jury can award exemplary (punitive) damages under Chapter 41.

The felony exception to punitive damages caps:
Under §41.008, the statutory cap on punitive damages (greater of $200,000 or 2× economic damages + non-economic damages, capped at $750,000) does not apply if the underlying act is a felony. For example:

• Intoxication Manslaughter (Penal Code §49.08) – A felony
• Intoxication Assault (Penal Code §49.07) – A felony

This means there is no cap on punitive damages in cases involving a drunk or drugged truck driver who causes serious injury or death.

Damages Categories Under Texas Law

The jury considers the following categories of damages:

1. Past medical expenses – All reasonable and necessary medical care from the date of the crash to the date of trial
2. Future medical expenses – The present value of all reasonable and necessary medical care the survivor will need for the rest of their life (or, in a wrongful death case, the medical expenses the deceased incurred before death)
3. Past physical pain and mental anguish – The physical pain and emotional suffering the survivor endured from the date of the crash to the date of trial
4. Future physical pain and mental anguish – The present value of the physical pain and emotional suffering the survivor will endure for the rest of their life
5. Past physical impairment – The loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and disability from the date of the crash to the date of trial
6. Future physical impairment – The present value of the loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and disability the survivor will endure for the rest of their life
7. Past lost earning capacity – The wages and benefits the survivor lost from the date of the crash to the date of trial
8. Future lost earning capacity – The present value of the wages and benefits the survivor will lose for the rest of their life
9. Loss of consortium – For the surviving spouse, the loss of companionship, affection, and household services
10. Loss of companionship and society – For the surviving children and parents, the loss of love, comfort, and guidance
11. Pecuniary loss – In wrongful death cases, the financial support the deceased would have provided to the surviving family members
12. Mental anguish – In wrongful death cases, the emotional pain and suffering of the surviving family members
13. Loss of inheritance – The present value of what the deceased would have saved and left to their heirs if they had lived a normal life expectancy
14. Exemplary (punitive) damages – If gross negligence is proven by clear and convincing evidence

Example from our case results:
“In a recent case, our client’s leg was injured in a car accident. Staff infections during treatment led to a partial amputation. This case settled in the millions.”
Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

The Defense Playbook in Richardson Trucking Cases—and Our Answer

The carrier’s defense lawyers have a script. They’ve used it in hundreds of cases. We know every line of that script before we walk into the courtroom.

The Colossus Algorithm – How the Insurance Company Values Your Case

Most insurance companies use proprietary software—like Colossus, Liability Decision Manager, or Claim IQ—to algorithmically value bodily injury claims. The software ingests:

• Medical codes and treatment duration
• Injury type and severity
• Geographic and demographic modifiers (based on historical jury verdicts in the venue)
• The carrier’s internal claims guidelines

The Colossus geographic modifier:
The software values claims partly based on the historical jury verdict pattern in the venue. Conservative counties produce lower modifier values. Plaintiff-friendly counties produce higher modifier values. Richardson sits in Dallas County—one of the most plaintiff-friendly venues in Texas for commercial-vehicle litigation.

Why Lupe Peña’s experience matters:
Lupe worked inside this system for years. He knows which medical codes the software weights most heavily, which treatment durations trigger value bumps, and which demographic markers reduce the modifier. He knows how to develop evidence to push the Colossus value up before negotiations even begin.

Why Richardson Families Choose Attorney 911

Ralph Manginello – 27+ Years of Federal Court Experience

Ralph Manginello has been representing injury victims in Texas courtrooms since 1998. He grew up in Houston’s Memorial area, went to UT Austin, and has spent his career fighting for families in communities like Richardson. When your case is filed in Dallas County District Court, Ralph’s 27+ years of experience and federal court admission mean he’s standing in a courtroom he knows—not one he’s visiting.

Key credentials:

• Admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (Houston Division)
• Texas Bar Card #24007597
• Licensed in Texas since 1998, in New York since 2014
• South Texas College of Law Houston (J.D., 1998)
• University of Texas at Austin (B.A. Journalism and Public Relations)
• Cheshire Academy Hall of Fame inductee (2021)
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Houston volunteer
• 290+ educational videos published on Attorney 911’s YouTube channel

Ralph’s perspective on Richardson cases:
“Richardson sits at the heart of North Texas’s logistics network. The carriers running freight through I-635 and U.S. 75 know the crash patterns, the jury pools, and the courtrooms. They count on families not knowing the federal regulations, the evidence preservation timelines, or the two-year clock. We make sure Richardson families have the same depth of representation the carriers fear.”

Lupe Peña – The Insurance Defense Advantage

Lupe Peña worked for years at a national insurance defense firm, learning firsthand how large insurance companies value claims. He calculated them himself. He knows the tactics. He knows the doctors. He knows the software. Now he fights for you.

Lupe’s insider quote:
“I’ve reviewed hundreds of surveillance videos and social media posts as a defense attorney. Here’s the truth: insurance companies take innocent activity out of context. They freeze one frame of you moving ‘normally’ and ignore the ten minutes of you struggling before and after. They’re not documenting your life—they’re building ammunition against you.”

Lupe’s experience as your advantage:

• Former insurance defense attorney—knows how adjusters think
• Fluent in Spanish—no interpreters needed
• Bilingual staff member Zulema available for Spanish-speaking families
• 13+ years licensed in Texas (Texas Bar Card #24084332)
• Admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
• South Texas College of Law Houston (J.D., 2012)
• Saint Mary’s University, San Antonio (B.B.A. International Business, 2005)
• 3rd-generation Texan with family roots to the King Ranch

The $10 Million UH Hazing Lawsuit – Active Litigation That Shows Our Capability

In November 2025, we filed a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and 13 other defendants on behalf of Leonel Bermudez, a UH student who suffered severe rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure, and spent four days in the hospital after a hazing incident.

Why this matters for your truck crash case:
This case demonstrates our ability to handle high-stakes litigation against institutional defendants—the same kind of corporate defendants we sue in truck crash cases. Whether it’s a fraternity, a university, or a Fortune 500 trucking company, we have the resources and experience to hold them accountable.

Lupe Peña on ABC13:
“If this prevents harm to another person, that’s what we’re hoping to do. Let’s bring this to light. Enough is enough.”

BP Texas City Refinery Litigation Experience

Our firm is one of the few firms in Texas to be involved in BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation. On March 23, 2005, an explosion at the BP refinery in Texas City killed 15 workers and injured 180 others. The incident was one of the deadliest industrial disasters in recent U.S. history.

Safe-framing language we use:

• “BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation experience”
• “Litigated against multinational corporations including BP in the Texas City Refinery explosion”
• “One of the few firms in Texas to be involved in BP explosion litigation”

Why this matters for your case:
This experience demonstrates our ability to handle complex litigation against major corporate defendants—the same kind of defendants we pursue in catastrophic truck crash cases.

Multi-Million Dollar Case Results

We’ve recovered $50 million+ for our clients across all practice areas. Here are some of our documented case results:

1. Logging Brain Injury – $5+ Million
   “Multi-million dollar settlement for client who suffered brain injury with vision loss when log dropped on him at logging company.”
   Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

2. Car Accident Amputation – $3.8+ Million
   “In a recent case, our client’s leg was injured in a car accident. Staff infections during treatment led to a partial amputation. This case settled in the millions.”
   Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

3. Trucking Wrongful Death – Millions
   “At Attorney 911, our personal injury attorneys have helped numerous injured individuals and families facing trucking-related wrongful death cases recover millions of dollars in compensation.”
   Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

4. Maritime Jones Act Back Injury – $2+ Million
   “In a recent case, our client injured his back while lifting cargo on a ship. Our investigation revealed that he should have been assisted in this duty, and we were able to reach a significant cash settlement.”
   Every case is unique. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

What Our Clients Say About Us

We’ve earned a 4.9-star Google rating from 251+ reviews. Here’s what some of our clients have said:

Brian Butchee:
“Melanie was excellent. She kept me informed and when she said she would call me back, she did. I got to speak with Ralph Manginello once and knew quickly the way his Firm was ran.”

Stephanie Hernandez:
“When I felt I had no hope or direction, Leonor reached out to me…She took all the weight of my worries off my shoulders.”

Chelsea Martinez:
“Special thank you to my attorney, Mr. Pena, for your kindness and patience with my repeated questions.”

Dame Haskett:
“Consistent communication and not one time did I call and not get a clear answer…Ralph reached out personally.”

Ambur Hamilton:
“I never felt like ‘just another case’ they were working on.”

Chad Harris:
“You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client…You are FAMILY to them.”

Diane Smith:
“They went above and beyond! Special thank you to Ralph and Leanor.”

Donald Wilcox:
“One company said they would not except my case. Then I got a call from Manginello…I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.”

Tymesha Galloway:
“Leonor is the best!!! She was able to assist me with my case within 6 months.”

Hannah Garcia:
“Mariela and Zulema have done such a fantastic job…gone above and beyond to get my case settled quickly!”

Nina Graeter:
“Highly recommend! They moved fast and handled my case very efficiently.”

Tracey White:
“She had received a offer but she told me to give her one more week because she knew she could get a better offer.”

Chavodrian Miles:
“Leonor got me into the doctor the same day…it only took 6 months amazing.”

Mongo Slade:
“I was rear-ended and the team got right to work…I also got a very nice settlement.”

Kiimarii Yup:
“I lost everything… my car was at a total loss and because of Attorney Manginello and my case worker Leonor… 1 year later I have gained so much in return plus a brand new truck.”

Greg Garcia:
“In the beginning I had another attorney but he dropped my case although Mangiello law firm were able to help me out.”

Madison Wallace:
“Leonor is absolutely phenomenal. She truly cares about her clients.”

Beth Bonds:
“Ralph Manginello took his bogus case and had it dismissed within a WEEK! I have been trying for over 2 years.”

CON3531:
“They took over my case from another lawyer and got to working on my case.”

Angel Walle:
“They solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”

Maria Ramirez:
“The support provided at Manginello Law Firm was excellent…They worked hard to do their best.”

Eduard Marin:
“Thank you for your excellent work; I highly recommend you.”

Celia Dominguez:
“Especially Miss Zulema, who is always very kind and always translates.”

Miguel J. Mayo Bermudez:
“Melani, thank you for your excellent work.”

S M:
“Attorney Manginello is so knowledgeable but straight to the point…responded quickly even while he was away.”

Ken Taylor:
“He listened intently heard my concerns and issues and immediately began working to protect my rights.”

Jamin Marroquin:
“Mr. Manginello guided me through the whole process with great expertise…tenacious, accessible, and determined throughout the 19 months.”

AMAZIAH A.T:
“Ralph Manginello is indeed the best attorney I ever had..He cares greatly about his results.”

Manraj:
“Ralph has kept me up to date on the case, checked in on me.”

Cassie Wright:
“Ralph is an AMAZING ATTORNEY. I have used him 2 TIMES FOR 2 separate cases the first case he got me an OFF DOCKET DISSMISSAL! And the other only 10 months probation. He gets the JOB DONE RIGHT!!!!”

Dean Jones:
“Best lawyers in the city…fast return..and they really care about their clients.”

Monty Cazier:
“Very professional and got good results.”

Bill Spragg:
“Mr. Manginello got us a nice result in my wife’s injury.”

Ernest Cano:
“Mr. Maginello and his firm are first class. Will fight tooth and nail for you.”

Glenda Walker:
“They make you feel like family and even though the process may take some time, they make it feel like a breeze. They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”

Kiwi Potato:
“This place feels like having a family over your case. And communication with you every step of the way. That’s how you know you’re in good hands.”

Jacqueline Johnson:
“One of Houston’s Great Men Trae Tha Truth has recommended this law firm. So if he is vouching for them then I know they do good work.”

Erica Perales:
“You know if TraeAbn tells you it’s the right way to go best attorney out here you can’t go wrong.”

Three Office Locations Serving Texas

We have offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, with a catchment that covers the entire state:

• Houston (Primary): 1177 West Loop S, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027
  • Catchment: Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston
• Houston (Secondary): 1635 Dunlavy Street, Houston, TX 77006-1007
• Austin: 316 West 12th Street, Suite 311, Austin, TX 78701-1844
  • Catchment: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop
• Beaumont: Available for client meetings throughout the Golden Triangle
  • Catchment: Jefferson, Orange, Hardin

Contingency Fee – No Fee Unless We Recover

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means:

• 33.33% of the recovery if the case settles before trial
• 40% of the recovery if the case goes to trial
• No fee unless we recover compensation for you
• “You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses”

24/7 Live Staff – Not an Answering Service

When you call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911), you’ll speak to a live staff member—not an answering service. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Hablamos Español:
“Para las familias hispanohablantes de Richardson, sabemos que enfrentar el sistema legal después de un accidente catastrófico con un camión de carga puede ser abrumador, especialmente cuando la compañía transportista y su aseguradora se comunican en inglés y con un equipo de abogados que conoce cada táctica de demora. Nuestro despacho atiende a las familias en español, desde la primera llamada hasta la última audiencia en el tribunal del condado donde se presente el caso. El Código de Práctica Civil y Remedios de Texas, Sección 16.003, otorga dos años desde la fecha de la lesión fatal para presentar una demanda por homicidio culposo — el reloj no se detiene mientras la familia está de luto.”

What This Means for Your Richardson Truck Crash Case

The carrier that killed your loved one on Richardson’s roads has already started working to minimize their liability. They have lawyers, adjusters, and algorithms working against you 24/7. They’re counting on you not knowing:

• The two-year clock under §16.003 has already started
• The evidence they control is disappearing every day
• The federal regulations they violated support a claim for negligence per se
• The multiple defendants beyond the driver who share liability
• The damages categories Texas law allows you to recover
• The gross negligence predicate that could open exemplary damages

We know all of this because we’ve been doing it for 24+ years. We’ve handled hundreds of cases exactly like yours. We know what the carrier’s next move will be. We know how to counter it.

Here’s what we do in the first 48 hours of your case:

1. Send the preservation letter – Locking down the ECM, ELD, dashcam, dispatch records, and maintenance files before the carrier can “lose” them
2. Pull the FMCSA records – The carrier’s SMS profile, the driver’s PSP record, and the prior preventability determinations
3. Open the evidence chain – Photographing the vehicles, the scene, and your loved one’s injuries
4. Identify all liable parties – Not just the driver, but the carrier, the broker, the shipper, the maintenance contractor, and any others whose negligence contributed
5. Begin the accident reconstruction – Using physical evidence, electronic data, and expert analysis to prove how the crash happened

Here’s what we do in the first 30 days:

• Subpoena the ELD and ECM data downloads
• Request the driver’s paper logs (backup documentation)
• Obtain the complete Driver Qualification File
• Request all truck maintenance and inspection records
• Pull the carrier’s CSA safety scores and inspection history
• Order the driver’s complete Motor Vehicle Record
• Subpoena the driver’s cell phone records
• Obtain dispatch records and delivery schedules
• Pull surveillance footage from businesses near the scene

Here’s what we do throughout the case:

• Work with medical experts to establish causation and future care needs
• Work with vocational experts to calculate lost earning capacity
• Work with economic experts to determine the present value of all damages
• Work with life-care planners to develop detailed care plans for catastrophic injuries
• Work with FMCSA regulation experts to identify all violations
• File the lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires
• Pursue full discovery against all liable parties
• Depose the truck driver, dispatcher, safety manager, and maintenance personnel
• Build the case for trial while negotiating settlement from a position of strength
• Prepare every case as if going to trial – because that’s what creates negotiating strength

The Two-Year Clock Is Running

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003 gives you two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful death action. The clock runs whether or not the carrier’s insurer is returning your calls. Once it runs, the case dies procedurally, and the carrier walks away from a viable claim.

The carrier’s strategy is built on counting on grief to run the clock.

We don’t let that happen.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) now for a free consultation. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and start preserving the evidence before it disappears. There’s no obligation, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to carry the weight for you.