Fatal Truck Accidents in Highland Park, Texas: What Families Need to Know

You’re reading this because someone you love didn’t come home from a drive through Highland Park. Maybe it was the morning commute along US-75. Maybe it was a late-night trip on the Dallas North Tollway. Maybe it was a routine errand that turned into a nightmare. One moment your family was whole. The next, an 80,000-pound commercial truck changed everything.

We know what you’re facing. We’ve represented Highland Park families in these exact cases for over 24 years. We know the corridors where these crashes happen. We know the carriers that run them. We know the Texas laws that give surviving families the structure to seek accountability. And we know the clock is already ticking.

The Reality of Truck Crashes in Highland Park

Highland Park sits at the crossroads of two major freight corridors: US-75 (Central Expressway) and the Dallas North Tollway. These routes carry everything from long-haul tractor-trailers moving cross-country freight to last-mile delivery vans dropping packages in Highland Park neighborhoods. The Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) shows that Dallas County—where Highland Park is located—recorded 46,257 crashes in 2024 alone, with 305 of them fatal. That’s nearly one fatal crash every day in the county.

When a commercial vehicle is involved, the outcomes are often catastrophic. A fully loaded 18-wheeler at highway speed doesn’t stop like a passenger car. It doesn’t swerve like a pickup truck. It doesn’t yield like a delivery van. When a Highland Park family is hit by one of these vehicles, the physics of the crash frequently produce life-altering injuries or fatalities.

The Corridors That Define Highland Park’s Risk

• US-75 (Central Expressway): This is Highland Park’s primary north-south freight artery. It carries long-haul trucks moving between the Port of Houston and the Midwest, as well as regional freight serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The stretch between downtown Dallas and the LBJ Freeway (I-635) is one of the most crash-dense segments in North Texas. Rear-end collisions, lane-change crashes, and sudden-stop pileups are common—especially during rush hours when commuter traffic mixes with commercial freight.
• Dallas North Tollway: While not a traditional freight corridor, the Tollway sees heavy commercial traffic from last-mile delivery vehicles (Amazon, FedEx, UPS), construction trucks, and service vehicles. The interchange at I-635 is a known chokepoint, where sudden lane changes and merging conflicts frequently lead to crashes.
• Loop 12 (Northwest Highway): This older highway carries a mix of local and regional truck traffic, including food distribution trucks serving Highland Park’s grocery stores and restaurants. The lack of modern safety features—like wide shoulders and barrier-separated lanes—makes it particularly dangerous for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
• Local Neighborhoods: Highland Park’s residential streets aren’t immune. Delivery trucks, garbage trucks, and construction vehicles operate in these areas daily. Pedestrian strikes, driveway backovers, and blind-spot crashes happen here too—often involving children or elderly residents.

These aren’t just statistics. They’re the roads your family drives every day. The same roads where, in a split second, a truck crash can rewrite your future.

What Texas Law Gives Your Family After a Fatal Truck Crash

When a loved one dies in a truck crash in Highland Park, Texas law provides two separate legal claims to surviving family members:

1. Wrongful Death Claim (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.001 et seq.)

   • Who can file: The surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased.
   • What it covers: Pecuniary losses (financial support the deceased would have provided), mental anguish, loss of companionship and society, and loss of inheritance.
   • Key point: Each surviving family member holds an independent claim. This means a spouse, a child, and a parent can each bring their own wrongful death lawsuit. The carrier’s insurer will try to settle these claims as a single unit to minimize payouts. We don’t let that happen. We file each claim separately to maximize recovery for every family member.

2. Survival Action (§ 71.021)

   • Who can file: The estate of the deceased (typically through the executor or administrator).
   • What it covers: The pain and mental anguish the deceased endured between the moment of injury and death, as well as any medical bills incurred during that time.
   • Key point: This claim is separate from the wrongful death claim. It belongs to the estate, not the family members. We pursue it alongside the wrongful death claims to ensure full compensation for every harm suffered.

The Two-Year Clock You Can’t Afford to Miss

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 imposes a two-year statute of limitations on both wrongful death and survival actions. The clock starts ticking on the date of the fatal injury—not the date of the funeral, not the date the autopsy report is finalized, and not the date the police report is released. Once the two years expire, the case dies procedurally. The carrier’s insurer is under no obligation to negotiate, regardless of how clear the negligence is.

We’ve seen families lose viable claims because they waited too long. The carrier’s adjuster will call with a lowball offer in the first few weeks. They’ll say, “Sign this now, and we’ll take care of everything.” They won’t tell you that the offer is a fraction of what your case is worth. They won’t tell you that the evidence they control—like the truck’s black box data and the driver’s electronic logs—is being overwritten every day. And they certainly won’t tell you that the two-year clock is running.

What this means for you:

• If the crash happened today, you have until two years from today to file a lawsuit.
• The clock runs whether or not the carrier’s insurer is returning your calls.
• Delay favors the carrier. Evidence disappears. Witnesses forget. The case gets harder to prove.

We open the investigation within 24 hours of taking your case. We send preservation letters to the carrier, the broker, and any third-party telematics providers to lock down the evidence before it’s lost. We pull the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records on the driver and the carrier before discovery even begins. We don’t wait for the adjuster’s next call. We act.

The Federal Regulations the Carrier Is Supposed to Follow

Commercial trucks don’t operate under the same rules as passenger vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) set the standards for how these vehicles—and their drivers—are supposed to operate. When a carrier violates these regulations, it’s not just negligence. It’s negligence per se under Texas law (Texas Pattern Jury Charge 27.2), which means the jury can find the carrier liable simply because the violation occurred.

Here are the key FMCSR violations we see in Highland Park truck crashes:

1. Hours-of-Service Violations (49 C.F.R. Part 395)

Commercial drivers are limited to:

• 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour duty window, after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• A 70-hour cap over 8 consecutive days (or 60 hours over 7 days for certain carriers).

The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate (49 C.F.R. Part 395, Subpart B) requires carriers to use ELDs to track driving time. These devices record every minute the truck is in motion. But here’s the catch: drivers and carriers have found ways to manipulate the logs. We’ve seen cases where the ELD shows the driver was “off duty” at the time of the crash, but the dashcam footage shows the truck moving at highway speed. That’s not a discrepancy. That’s a falsified log, and it’s a federal violation that can support a claim for gross negligence under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41.

How we prove it:

• We subpoena the raw ELD data, not just the logs the carrier provides.
• We cross-reference the ELD data with fuel receipts, toll records, and GPS data to identify inconsistencies.
• We pull the carrier’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores, specifically the Hours-of-Service Compliance BASIC, to show a pattern of violations.

2. Driver Qualification Violations (49 C.F.R. Part 391)

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

• Verify the driver’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) is valid and appropriate for the vehicle being operated.
• Run a Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report from the FMCSA to check the driver’s crash and inspection history.
• Conduct a road test to ensure the driver can safely operate the vehicle.
• Obtain a medical examiner’s certificate showing the driver is physically qualified.
• Verify the driver’s employment history for the past three years.

We’ve seen carriers skip these steps to fill driver shortages. We’ve seen them hire drivers with suspended CDLs, falsified medical certificates, or histories of preventable crashes. When a carrier cuts corners on driver qualification, it’s not just negligence. It’s negligent hiring, and it’s a separate claim from the driver’s negligence.

How we prove it:

• We subpoena the driver’s qualification file from the carrier.
• We pull the PSP report to check for prior crashes and violations.
• We review the medical examiner’s certificate for red flags (e.g., untreated sleep apnea, falsified health information).
• We depose the carrier’s safety director to ask why they ignored the driver’s history.

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

Carriers must:

• Conduct pre-trip inspections before every trip (49 C.F.R. § 396.13).
• Perform systematic inspections, repairs, and maintenance (49 C.F.R. § 396.3).
• Keep maintenance records for at least 12 months (49 C.F.R. § 396.3).

We’ve seen crashes caused by brake failures, tire blowouts, and lighting malfunctions—all of which are preventable with proper maintenance. When a carrier fails to inspect or repair a vehicle, it’s not just negligence. It’s negligent maintenance, and it’s another separate claim against the carrier.

How we prove it:

• We subpoena the maintenance records for the truck involved in the crash.
• We hire a trucking safety expert to inspect the vehicle and identify any overlooked defects.
• We review the carrier’s CSA Vehicle Maintenance BASIC score to show a pattern of violations.

4. Cargo Securement Violations (49 C.F.R. Part 393, Subpart I)

Improperly secured cargo can shift during transit, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. This is especially dangerous for:

• Flatbed loads (steel, lumber, pipe, oversize equipment).
• Dump trucks (gravel, sand, construction debris).
• Tankers (liquids, hazardous materials).

The FMCSR sets specific standards for how cargo must be secured. For example:

• Cargo must be secured to withstand 0.8g deceleration in the forward direction, 0.5g in the rearward direction, and 0.5g in the lateral direction.
• Aggregate materials (like gravel or sand) must be contained by headboards, bulkheads, or tarps to prevent spillage.

When cargo isn’t properly secured, it’s not just negligence. It’s a violation of federal law, and it can support a claim for negligence per se.

How we prove it:

• We obtain the cargo manifest and loading records from the shipper and the carrier.
• We hire an accident reconstruction expert to determine whether cargo shift caused the crash.
• We review the carrier’s CSA Cargo-Related BASIC score to show a pattern of violations.

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

Commercial drivers are subject to random drug and alcohol testing, as well as post-accident testing if the crash involves a fatality, injury requiring immediate medical treatment, or disabling damage to a vehicle (49 C.F.R. § 382.303). If a driver tests positive for alcohol or controlled substances after a crash, it’s not just evidence of negligence. It’s gross negligence under Texas law, which can open the door to exemplary damages (punitive damages) under Chapter 41.

How we prove it:

• We subpoena the post-accident drug and alcohol test results from the carrier.
• We pull the driver’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse record to check for prior violations.
• We review the carrier’s random testing program to ensure it complies with FMCSA requirements.

The Defendants Beyond the Driver

When a truck crashes in Highland Park, the driver is rarely the only liable party. The carrier’s negligence often starts long before the crash—with hiring decisions, training failures, dispatch pressures, and maintenance oversights. Here’s who else we sue in these cases:

1. The Motor Carrier (Trucking Company)

   • Respondeat superior: The carrier is liable for the driver’s negligence if the driver was acting within the course and scope of employment.
   • Direct negligence: The carrier can also be liable for its own negligence in hiring, training, supervising, or retaining the driver (negligent hiring, negligent training, negligent supervision, negligent retention).
   • Negligent maintenance: The carrier is responsible for ensuring the truck is safe to operate.

2. The Freight Broker

   • Brokers arrange loads between shippers and carriers. Under Miller v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., brokers can be liable for negligent selection if they hire a carrier with a documented safety record.
   • We’ve seen brokers dispatch loads to carriers with CSA scores in the red, out-of-service orders, and prior preventability determinations. That’s not just poor judgment. It’s negligence.

3. The Shipper

   • Shippers can be liable if they directed unsafe loading (e.g., overloading, improper securement) or pressured the carrier to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines.
   • We’ve seen shippers load cargo in a way that violates FMCSR standards, then turn a blind eye when the carrier signs off on it. That’s not just a paperwork error. It’s negligence.

4. The Maintenance Contractor

   • Many carriers outsource maintenance to third-party contractors. If the contractor failed to identify or repair a defect, they can be liable for negligent maintenance.

5. The Parts Manufacturer

   • If a defective part (e.g., brakes, tires, steering components) contributed to the crash, the manufacturer can be liable under product liability laws.
   • We’ve seen cases where tire blowouts were caused by manufacturing defects, not driver error. That’s not just bad luck. It’s a defective product.

6. The Government Entity (Texas Tort Claims Act)

   • If the crash was caused by a roadway defect (e.g., missing guardrails, potholes, inadequate signage), the government entity responsible for maintaining the road can be liable under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 101).
   • Key requirements:
     • Six-month notice under § 101.101 (must be filed within six months of the crash).
     • Damages cap under § 101.023 ($250,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence for municipalities; higher caps for state agencies).

7. The Parent Corporation (Alter-Ego or Single Business Enterprise Theory)

   • Some carriers operate under multiple subsidiaries or shell companies to shield assets. Under alter-ego or single business enterprise theory, we can pierce the corporate veil and hold the parent corporation liable.

The Carrier’s Playbook—and How We Counter It

The carrier’s defense lawyer has a script. We know it because we’ve written it—and we’ve defeated it. Here’s what they’ll say, and how we respond:

The Damages Your Family Can Recover

Texas law allows surviving families to recover compensation for the full extent of the harm caused by a fatal truck crash. The damages fall into two categories:

1. Economic Damages (Past and Future)

   • Medical expenses (ambulance, ER, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications).
   • Funeral and burial expenses.
   • Lost earning capacity (the income the deceased would have earned over their lifetime).
   • Loss of inheritance (the financial support the deceased would have provided to their heirs).
   • Loss of household services (the value of the deceased’s contributions to the household, like childcare, cooking, and home maintenance).

2. Non-Economic Damages (Past and Future)

   • Mental anguish (the emotional pain and suffering endured by surviving family members).
   • Loss of companionship and society (the loss of the deceased’s love, guidance, and emotional support).
   • Physical pain and suffering (the pain the deceased endured between injury and death, pursued through the survival action).
   • Disfigurement and physical impairment (if the deceased survived for a period after the crash but suffered visible injuries or disabilities).

Exemplary (Punitive) Damages: When the Carrier’s Conduct Is Grossly Negligent

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41 allows for exemplary damages when the carrier’s conduct rises to gross negligence. Gross negligence requires:

1. Objective evidence that the carrier’s actions created an extreme degree of risk.
2. Subjective awareness that the risk was extreme.
3. Proceeding anyway with conscious indifference to the safety of others.

Examples of gross negligence in truck crashes:

• Falsifying logs to hide hours-of-service violations.
• Ignoring prior preventability determinations on a driver.
• Dispatching a driver with a suspended CDL or a history of DUIs.
• Failing to repair known brake or tire defects.
• Pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines, leading to fatigue or speeding.

Why exemplary damages matter:

• They punish the carrier for reckless conduct.
• They send a message to the industry that gross negligence won’t be tolerated.
• They can exceed the standard damages cap if the underlying conduct is a felony (e.g., intoxication manslaughter).

We’ve recovered multi-million-dollar exemplary damages for Highland Park families when carriers put profits over safety. We know how to build the record to prove gross negligence.

The Investigation We Begin Within 48 Hours

Evidence in truck crash cases has a half-life measured in days, not months. The carrier controls most of the evidence, and they have every incentive to make it disappear. Here’s what we do in the first 48 hours to lock it down:

1. Send Preservation Letters

   • We send letters to the carrier, broker, shipper, and any third-party telematics providers (e.g., Qualcomm, PeopleNet) demanding they preserve:
     • The Electronic Control Module (ECM) / black box data.
     • The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) logs.
     • The dashcam footage (driver-facing and forward-facing).
     • The dispatch communications and routing records.
     • The maintenance and inspection records.
     • The driver’s qualification file.
     • The post-accident drug and alcohol test results.
     • The cargo manifest and loading records.
   • We put the carrier on notice that spoliation (destruction of evidence) will result in an adverse inference charge at trial.

2. Pull FMCSA Records

   • We download the carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile from the FMCSA’s website. This shows the carrier’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores in seven categories:
     1. Unsafe Driving (speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes).
     2. Hours-of-Service Compliance (fatigue, log falsification).
     3. Driver Fitness (invalid CDLs, medical disqualifications).
     4. Controlled Substances/Alcohol (drug and alcohol violations).
     5. Vehicle Maintenance (brake, tire, lighting defects).
     6. Hazardous Materials Compliance (improper placarding, loading).
     7. Crash Indicator (preventable crash history).
   • We also pull the driver’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report, which shows their crash and inspection history for the past five years.

3. Hire an Accident Reconstruction Expert

   • We deploy an expert to the scene to:
     • Document skid marks, debris patterns, and vehicle damage.
     • Download black box data to determine speed, braking, and other critical factors.
     • Create a 3D reconstruction of the crash to show how it happened.

4. Obtain Surveillance Footage

   • We identify and preserve footage from:
     • Traffic cameras (TxDOT, city-operated).
     • Red-light cameras.
     • Businesses near the scene (gas stations, retail stores, banks).
     • Residential doorbells (Ring, Nest, etc.).
   • Most surveillance systems overwrite footage within 7–14 days. We act fast to preserve it.

5. Interview Witnesses

   • We locate and interview eyewitnesses while their memories are fresh.
   • We obtain 911 call recordings from the police department.

6. Subpoena Cell Phone Records

   • If distracted driving is suspected, we subpoena the driver’s cell phone records to check for calls, texts, or app usage at the time of the crash.

Why Highland Park Families Choose Attorney 911

We’ve represented Highland Park families in truck crash cases for over 24 years. Here’s why they trust us:

1. We Know the Corridors

Highland Park’s freight environment is unique. We know the dangerous intersections (e.g., US-75 and LBJ Freeway, Dallas North Tollway and I-635). We know the high-risk stretches (e.g., the US-75 construction zones, the Loop 12 pothole clusters). And we know the carriers that run them—from the long-haul trucks moving cross-country freight to the last-mile delivery vans dropping packages in Highland Park neighborhoods.

2. We Sue Trucking Companies, Not Just Drivers

Most personal injury firms stop at the driver. We don’t. We sue the carrier, the broker, the shipper, the maintenance contractor, and the parent corporation. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for Highland Park families by holding every responsible party accountable.

Case Example:

“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.)

3. Lupe Peña’s Insurance Defense Advantage

Lupe Peña worked for years at a national insurance defense firm. He knows how adjusters value claims, select “independent” medical examiners, and manipulate recorded statements. He knows their playbook because he wrote it. Now, he uses that knowledge to fight for Highland Park families.

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.”

4. Federal Court Experience

Ralph Manginello has been licensed in Texas since 1998 and is admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas (which covers Dallas County). He’s tried cases in federal court, where trucking litigation often ends up. That experience matters when we’re up against national carriers with teams of defense lawyers.

5. We Speak Spanish

Highland Park has a growing Spanish-speaking community. We have bilingual staff members who can communicate with you in Spanish from the first call to the final court appearance. No interpreters needed.

6. 24/7 Live Staff—No Answering Service

When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you’ll speak to a real person, not an answering service. We’re available 24/7 to answer your questions and start the investigation.

7. No Fee Unless We Recover

We work on a contingency fee basis:

• 33.33% pre-trial.
• 40% 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.

Client Testimonial:

“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.” — Brian Butchee

What to Do Next

The carrier’s insurer is already working against you. They’ve assigned an adjuster whose job is to close your claim for the lowest possible amount. They’re counting on you to wait, to sign a release too soon, or to miss the two-year deadline.

Here’s what we’ll do for you:

1. Send preservation letters to lock down the evidence before it’s lost.
2. Pull FMCSA records on the driver and the carrier.
3. Hire an accident reconstruction expert to document the scene.
4. Identify all liable parties—not just the driver.
5. File your claim before the two-year deadline.
6. Negotiate with the insurer from a position of strength.
7. Take the case to trial if necessary to get you full compensation.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 Now

The clock is ticking. Evidence is disappearing. The carrier’s team is already at work.

Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 (or (888) 288-9911) for a free consultation. We’ll evaluate your case in 15 minutes and tell you exactly what it’s worth. There’s no obligation, and we’ll handle everything from here.

You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to fight for you.