Fatal 18-Wheeler and Tractor-Trailer Crashes in Westover Hills, Texas

You’re reading this because someone you love didn’t make it home from one of Westover Hills’ roads. Maybe it was the morning commute along Camp Bowie Boulevard, or the evening rush on I-30, or a quiet stretch of White Settlement Road where a fully loaded semi changed everything in an instant. The weight of what happened sits with you every hour—while the medical bills pile up, while the insurance adjuster’s calls keep coming, while the clock Texas law started the moment of the crash keeps ticking.

We know what comes next. The carrier that killed your loved one has lawyers who started working the case the night of the wreck. The evidence they control—the electronic logging device, the dashcam footage, the maintenance records—is disappearing every day. And the two-year window Texas gives you to file a wrongful-death action under Section 16.003 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code is already running, whether or not you feel ready to act.

This isn’t just another legal guide. This is what we do in the first 48 hours for families in Westover Hills who’ve lost someone to an 18-wheeler or tractor-trailer crash. We send the preservation letter that locks down the evidence before the carrier can “lose” it. We pull the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records on the driver and the carrier before discovery formally opens. We build the case around the questions a Tarrant County jury will actually answer under the Texas Pattern Jury Charges. And we pursue every defendant whose conduct contributed to the crash—not just the driver, but the carrier that hired them, the broker that arranged the load, the shipper that directed the haul, and where applicable, the government entity responsible for the road design.

The Reality of an 18-Wheeler Crash on Westover Hills’ Roads

Westover Hills sits at the intersection of some of the most dangerous freight corridors in North Texas. I-30 carries long-haul traffic between Dallas and Fort Worth, with trucks running loaded and empty 24 hours a day. Camp Bowie Boulevard and White Settlement Road serve as critical last-mile routes for Amazon, FedEx, and UPS delivery vans, as well as local businesses relying on commercial traffic. The nearby I-820 and I-20 corridors add another layer of risk, with trucks transitioning between interstates and surface streets in high-traffic areas.

When an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer crashes on these roads, the physics are unforgiving. At highway speeds, a fully loaded semi needs more than 500 feet to stop—longer than a football field. If the driver is fatigued, distracted, or running on falsified logs, that stopping distance stretches even further. And if the truck’s brakes or tires are poorly maintained, as federal regulations require them to be, the crash becomes inevitable long before the driver ever sees the hazard.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) documents what Westover Hills families already know: Tarrant County recorded 28,074 crashes in 2024, with 149 of them fatal. Commercial vehicles were involved in a disproportionate share of these fatalities, particularly on the high-speed corridors that define Westover Hills’ freight environment. The data doesn’t capture the human cost—the families left behind, the careers cut short, the futures rewritten in an instant. But the law does.

What Texas Wrongful-Death and Survival Statutes Give Your Family

Texas law gives surviving families two separate but related claims after a fatal crash:

1. Wrongful-death claims under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.001 et seq. These claims belong to the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased. Each surviving family member holds an independent claim for their own losses—loss of companionship, loss of financial support, mental anguish, and in some cases, loss of inheritance.
2. Survival action under § 71.021. This claim belongs to the estate of the deceased and covers the damages the deceased would have been entitled to if they had survived—pain and suffering before death, medical expenses incurred before death, and funeral expenses.

Both claims are subject to the two-year statute of limitations under § 16.003. The clock starts the day of the fatal injury, not the day of the funeral, not the day the autopsy report is finalized, and not the day the carrier’s insurer stops returning calls. Once the two-year window closes, the case dies procedurally, and the carrier walks away from a viable claim because the file was never opened.

Who Can Bring a Wrongful-Death Claim in Westover Hills?

Under § 71.004, the following family members can bring independent wrongful-death claims:

• Surviving spouse: The spouse holds a claim for loss of consortium, loss of financial support, and mental anguish.
• Children: Each child, regardless of age, holds a claim for loss of companionship and society, loss of financial support, and mental anguish. This includes adult children.
• Parents: Each parent holds a claim for loss of companionship and society, and mental anguish.

If none of these family members file a claim within three months of the death, the executor or administrator of the estate can file on behalf of the estate under § 71.004(b).

What Damages Can Your Family Recover?

Texas Pattern Jury Charges (PJC) break damages into specific categories that a Tarrant County jury will evaluate:

• Pecuniary loss: The financial support the deceased would have provided to the family, including lost wages, benefits, and household services.
• Loss of companionship and society: The emotional support, love, and guidance the deceased provided to the family.
• Mental anguish: The emotional pain and suffering endured by the surviving family members.
• Loss of inheritance: The amount the deceased would have saved and left to the family if they had lived a normal lifespan.

In the survival action, the estate can recover:

• Pain and mental anguish: The conscious suffering the deceased endured between the injury and death.
• Medical expenses: The cost of medical treatment before death.
• Funeral expenses: The cost of burial or cremation.

Where the carrier’s conduct rises to the level of gross negligence—such as falsifying logs, ignoring prior preventability determinations, or dispatching a driver with a history of violations—exemplary damages under Chapter 41 may also be available. These damages are not capped when the underlying conduct is a felony, such as intoxication manslaughter.

The Federal Regulations the Carrier Is Supposed to Operate Under

Commercial carriers operating in Westover Hills are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations establish the minimum safety standards carriers must follow. When a carrier violates these regulations, the violation can support a claim of negligence per se under Texas law, meaning the carrier is automatically considered negligent for the purposes of the case.

Key FMCSR Violations in Westover Hills Trucking Cases

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

   • Property-carrying drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour duty window, after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
   • Drivers cannot exceed 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days.
   • Electronic logging devices (ELDs) are required to record driving time accurately. When ELD data shows discrepancies with the driver’s logs, it’s often evidence of falsification.

   Why it matters in Westover Hills: The I-30 corridor between Dallas and Fort Worth is one of the most heavily trafficked freight routes in Texas. Drivers running this route are under intense pressure to meet delivery deadlines, often leading to HOS violations. We’ve seen cases where drivers falsify logs to hide the fact that they’ve been on duty for 20+ hours straight. These violations are not just paperwork errors—they’re gross negligence that can support exemplary damages.

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

   • Carriers must maintain a driver qualification file for each driver, including:
     • The driver’s application for employment.
     • The driver’s motor vehicle record (MVR) from every state where the driver held a license in the past 3 years.
     • The driver’s road test or equivalent certification.
     • The driver’s medical examiner’s certificate.
   • Carriers must verify the driver’s employment history for the past 3 years and conduct a background check through the FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP).

   Why it matters in Westover Hills: The PSP report reveals a driver’s crash and inspection history. If a carrier hires a driver with a history of preventable crashes or HOS violations and that driver causes another crash, the carrier can be held liable for negligent hiring, retention, or supervision. We’ve seen cases where carriers ignore red flags in a driver’s PSP report because they’re desperate to fill routes. That’s not an excuse—it’s gross negligence.

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

   • Carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all commercial vehicles.
   • Drivers must conduct a pre-trip inspection of the vehicle’s brakes, tires, lights, and other critical systems.
   • Carriers must keep records of all inspections and repairs for at least 1 year.

   Why it matters in Westover Hills: Brake failures and tire blowouts are leading causes of truck crashes in Tarrant County. When a carrier fails to maintain its vehicles properly, it’s not just negligence—it’s a conscious decision to prioritize profits over safety. We’ve seen cases where carriers skip required inspections or falsify maintenance records to keep trucks on the road. These violations are often the difference between a preventable crash and a safe trip.

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

   • Cargo must be secured to prevent shifting or loss during transit.
   • Specific rules apply to different types of cargo, such as logs, steel coils, and hazardous materials.

   Why it matters in Westover Hills: Improperly secured cargo can shift during transit, causing the truck to become unstable and leading to rollovers or jackknife crashes. We’ve seen cases where carriers cut corners on cargo securement to save time, with devastating consequences. These violations are often documented in post-crash inspections, providing clear evidence of negligence.

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

   • Carriers must conduct pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol tests.
   • Drivers who test positive must be removed from safety-sensitive duties until they complete a return-to-duty process.

   Why it matters in Westover Hills: Commercial drivers are held to a higher standard than other motorists. If a driver tests positive for drugs or alcohol after a crash, it’s not just evidence of impairment—it’s a violation of federal regulations that can support a claim of gross negligence. We’ve seen cases where carriers ignore positive test results or fail to conduct required follow-up testing, putting everyone on the road at risk.

The Investigation We Begin Within 48 Hours

Evidence in commercial-vehicle cases has a short half-life. Within days, critical evidence can disappear—ELD data overwrites, dashcam footage is deleted, dispatch records are purged. That’s why we act fast. Within 48 hours of taking your case, we:

1. Send a preservation letter to the carrier, the broker, the shipper, and any third-party telematics provider. The letter identifies the evidence we’re preserving:

   • The truck’s electronic control module (ECM) and event data recorder (EDR).
   • The electronic logging device (ELD) data.
   • The dashcam footage (driver-facing and forward-facing).
   • The dispatch communications and routing records.
   • The Qualcomm or PeopleNet telematics data.
   • The maintenance and inspection records.
   • The driver qualification file.
   • The post-accident drug and alcohol test results.
   • Any Form MCS-90 endorsement on the policy.

   The preservation letter puts the carrier on notice that spoliation of evidence will be argued—and an adverse inference charge sought—if any of this evidence disappears.

2. Pull the FMCSA records on the driver and the carrier:

   • The carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile, which tracks compliance in seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs):
     • Unsafe Driving
     • Hours-of-Service Compliance
     • Driver Fitness
     • Controlled Substances/Alcohol
     • Vehicle Maintenance
     • Hazardous Materials Compliance
     • Crash Indicator
   • The driver’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report, which reveals the driver’s crash and inspection history.
   • The carrier’s FMCSA SAFER profile, which includes the carrier’s safety rating, insurance coverage, and operating authority.

3. Deploy an accident reconstruction expert to the scene if needed. The expert will:

   • Document the scene with photographs and measurements.
   • Download the ELD and ECM data to determine the truck’s speed, braking, and other critical factors at the time of the crash.
   • Analyze the physical evidence, such as skid marks, vehicle damage, and roadway conditions.
   • Reconstruct the crash to determine how it happened and who was at fault.

4. Obtain the police crash report and interview witnesses. The police report is a critical starting point, but it’s not the final word. We often find discrepancies between the report and the evidence we uncover through our investigation.

5. Photograph the vehicles and the scene before the vehicles are repaired or scrapped. These photographs can be critical in proving liability and damages.

The Defendants Beyond the Driver

In a Westover Hills trucking case, the driver is rarely the only defendant. We pursue every party whose conduct contributed to the crash:

1. The motor carrier: The carrier is liable for the driver’s negligence under the doctrine of respondeat superior. The carrier can also be directly liable for:

   • Negligent hiring, training, or supervision.
   • Negligent maintenance or inspection of the vehicle.
   • Negligent dispatch or routing.
   • Failing to comply with federal regulations.

2. The freight broker: Brokers arrange loads between shippers and carriers. If the broker negligently selects an unsafe carrier, the broker can be held liable for the crash. This theory is supported by cases like Miller v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (9th Cir. 2020) and its progeny.

3. The shipper: If the shipper directed the loading of the cargo or the scheduling of the haul, and that direction contributed to the crash, the shipper can be held liable. For example, if the shipper loaded the cargo improperly or pressured the carrier to meet an unrealistic deadline, the shipper may share liability.

4. The maintenance contractor: If the carrier outsourced maintenance to a third party, and that contractor failed to maintain the vehicle properly, the contractor can be held liable.

5. The parts manufacturer: If a defective part, such as a brake system or tire, contributed to the crash, the manufacturer can be held liable under product liability laws.

6. The government entity: If a road design defect, such as a missing guardrail or inadequate signage, contributed to the crash, the government entity responsible for the road can be held liable under the Texas Tort Claims Act. This requires filing a notice of claim within six months of the crash.

How Texas Pattern Jury Charges Submit Damages to a Jury

A Tarrant County jury doesn’t decide your case in the abstract. They answer specific questions submitted under the Texas Pattern Jury Charges (PJC). These questions determine liability and damages. Here’s how the PJC works in a trucking case:

1. Negligence (PJC 27.1): The jury must find that the defendant was negligent and that the negligence was a proximate cause of the crash. Negligence can be proven through:

   • The driver’s conduct (e.g., speeding, distracted driving, fatigue).
   • The carrier’s conduct (e.g., negligent hiring, failure to maintain the vehicle).
   • Violations of federal regulations (e.g., HOS violations, maintenance failures), which can support a claim of negligence per se under PJC 27.2.

2. Proportionate Responsibility (PJC 3.1): The jury assigns a percentage of fault to each party, including the plaintiff. Under Texas’s modified comparative negligence rule, the plaintiff can recover damages only if their fault is 50% or less. If the plaintiff’s fault is 51% or more, they recover nothing.

3. Damages (PJC 9.1 and 9.2): If the jury finds the defendant liable, they award damages in the following categories:

   • Past and future medical expenses: The cost of medical treatment, including hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and future care.
   • Past and future lost earnings: The wages and benefits the deceased would have earned if they had lived.
   • Loss of earning capacity: The deceased’s ability to earn money in the future, taking into account their age, education, and career trajectory.
   • Physical pain and mental anguish: The conscious suffering the deceased endured between the injury and death.
   • Physical impairment and disfigurement: The permanent injuries the deceased suffered, such as amputations or burns.
   • Loss of consortium: The loss of companionship, love, and support suffered by the surviving spouse.
   • Loss of companionship and society: The loss of companionship, love, and support suffered by the surviving children and parents.
   • Exemplary damages (PJC 21.1): If the jury finds that the defendant’s conduct was grossly negligent, they can award exemplary damages to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future. Gross negligence requires clear and convincing evidence of an objective extreme risk and subjective awareness of that risk.

The Defense Playbook in Westover Hills Trucking Cases—and Our Answer

The carrier’s defense lawyers have a script. They’ll argue that the driver did everything right, that the crash was unavoidable, that the plaintiff was partly at fault, and that the damages are exaggerated. We’ve heard every line of that script before. Here’s how we answer it:

1. “The driver was professional and followed all the rules.”

   • Our answer: The ELD data, dispatch records, and dashcam footage often tell a different story. We’ve seen cases where drivers falsify logs to hide HOS violations, or where carriers ignore prior preventability determinations. These aren’t honest mistakes—they’re gross negligence.

2. “The crash was unavoidable due to road conditions or another driver’s actions.”

   • Our answer: Commercial drivers are trained to anticipate hazards and maintain safe following distances. If the truck rear-ended your loved one, the driver wasn’t maintaining a safe distance. If the truck jackknifed, the driver wasn’t using proper braking techniques. If the truck rolled over, the cargo wasn’t secured properly. These are all preventable failures.

3. “The plaintiff was partly at fault for the crash.”

   • Our answer: Texas follows modified comparative negligence. Even if your loved one was partly at fault, you can still recover damages as long as their fault is 50% or less. We develop evidence to push fault back where it belongs—on the carrier and the driver.

4. “The plaintiff’s injuries were pre-existing or exaggerated.”

   • Our answer: The eggshell skull doctrine means the defendant takes the plaintiff as they find them. If the crash worsened a pre-existing condition, the defendant is liable for the aggravation. We work with medical experts to document the full extent of the injuries.

5. “The damages are exaggerated.”

   • Our answer: We work with life-care planners, vocational experts, and economists to calculate the full value of your claim. This includes future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and the non-economic damages Texas law allows.

6. “The case should be bifurcated under Chapter 72.”

   • Our answer: House Bill 19 (2021) allows carriers to move for bifurcation of trucking trials, separating compensatory and exemplary damages into two phases. The defense strategy is to keep the carrier’s hiring file, training records, and prior preventability determinations out of the first-phase jury. We build the case so the second phase becomes inevitable, and then we open the carrier’s own files in front of the jury for the gross-negligence determination.

The Two-Year Clock Under Section 16.003

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 imposes a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful-death and personal-injury claims. The clock starts the day of the fatal injury—not the day of the funeral, not the day the autopsy report is finalized, and not the day the carrier’s insurer stops returning calls.

Once the two-year window closes, the case dies procedurally. The carrier is under no obligation to negotiate, regardless of how clear the negligence is. We’ve seen cases where families wait too long, thinking they have more time, only to learn that the statute of limitations has run and their case is barred forever.

Exceptions to the Two-Year Rule

There are limited exceptions to the two-year statute of limitations:

1. Discovery Rule: If the injury or its cause was not immediately discoverable, the clock may start later. This is rare in trucking cases, where the cause of the crash is usually apparent.
2. Defendant’s Absence: If the defendant leaves Texas, the clock may be tolled until they return.
3. Mental Incapacity: If the plaintiff is mentally incapacitated, the clock may be tolled until the incapacity ends.
4. Fraudulent Concealment: If the defendant actively concealed evidence, the clock may be tolled until the concealment is discovered.

These exceptions are narrow and fact-specific. The safest course is to assume the two-year clock is running from the date of the crash.

How Attorney 911 Approaches Your Westover Hills Case

When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you’re not just hiring a law firm—you’re gaining a team that knows how to fight for families in Westover Hills. Here’s what we do differently:

1. We Don’t Stop at the Driver

Most personal injury firms file a lawsuit against the driver and stop there. We file against the carrier, the broker, the shipper, the maintenance contractor, the parts manufacturer, and where applicable, the government entity responsible for the road. Trucking companies count on plaintiffs’ counsel who stop at the driver. We start at the corporate parent and work down.

2. We Pull Federal Data Before Discovery Formally Opens

Most firms wait until discovery formally opens to pull FMCSA records. We pull the carrier’s SMS profile, the driver’s PSP report, and the carrier’s SAFER profile within 48 hours of taking the case. This gives us a head start on building the case and puts us in a stronger position to negotiate from the outset.

3. We File in the County the Carrier Wishes You Wouldn’t

Tarrant County District Court is one of the most plaintiff-friendly venues in Texas for commercial-vehicle cases. The jury pool is diverse, the bench is experienced in trucking litigation, and the verdicts reflect the community’s values. We file in the county the carrier wishes you would file in—because that’s where the case belongs.

4. We Anticipate the Carrier’s Defense Playbook

Lupe Peña worked for years on the defense side, learning how insurance companies value claims and what tactics they use to minimize payouts. He knows the playbook because he wrote it. Now, he uses that knowledge to fight for you.

“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 Peña, Associate Attorney

5. We Work with the Best Experts in Texas

We work with accident reconstruction experts, life-care planners, vocational experts, economists, and medical experts who specialize in catastrophic injuries. These experts help us build a strong case and present it effectively to a jury.

6. We Prepare Every Case as If It’s Going to Trial

Most trucking cases settle, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. This gives us leverage in negotiations and ensures that we’re ready to take the case to verdict if necessary.

7. We Keep You Updated Every Step of the Way

We know that communication is key to a successful attorney-client relationship. We keep you updated on the progress of your case, answer your questions promptly, and make sure you understand your options at every stage.

What Your Case Is Worth in Westover Hills

The value of your case depends on the facts, the evidence, and the damages Texas law allows. Here’s what we consider:

1. The Carrier’s Conduct

   • Did the carrier violate federal regulations, such as HOS rules or maintenance requirements?
   • Did the carrier have a history of violations in the FMCSA’s SMS profile?
   • Did the carrier ignore prior preventability determinations or positive drug tests?
   • Did the carrier falsify logs or dispatch records?

   The more egregious the carrier’s conduct, the stronger the case for exemplary damages under Chapter 41.

2. The Driver’s Conduct

   • Was the driver fatigued, distracted, or impaired?
   • Did the driver have a history of violations or crashes?
   • Did the driver falsify logs or violate other federal regulations?

3. The Damages

   • What were the medical expenses?
   • What was the lost earning capacity?
   • What was the pain and suffering before death?
   • What is the loss of companionship and society for the surviving family members?

   We work with life-care planners, vocational experts, and economists to calculate the full value of your claim.

4. The Jury Pool

   • Tarrant County juries have a history of holding carriers accountable for gross negligence.
   • The jury pool is diverse and reflects the values of the Westover Hills community.
   • We present the case in a way that resonates with the jury and maximizes your recovery.

Case Results (Every Case Is Unique. Past Results Do Not Guarantee Future Outcomes.)

1. Logging Brain Injury — $5+ Million
   Multi-million dollar settlement for a client who suffered a brain injury with vision loss when a log dropped on him at a logging company.

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.

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.

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.

5. BP Texas City Explosion Litigation
   Our firm is one of the few firms in Texas to be involved in BP explosion litigation.

What to Do Next

The evidence in your case is disappearing every day. The carrier’s insurer is already working to minimize your claim. And the two-year clock under Section 16.003 is running.

Here’s what you need to do now:

1. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free case evaluation. We’ll review the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and tell you what we think your case is worth.
2. Don’t talk to the carrier’s insurer without us. Anything you say can be used against you. Let us handle the communication.
3. Don’t sign anything. The carrier’s insurer may try to get you to sign a release or accept a lowball settlement. Don’t do it without talking to us first.
4. Gather the evidence. If you have photographs, videos, or witness statements, save them. If you don’t, we’ll gather the evidence for you.
5. Focus on your family. We’ll handle the legal work so you can focus on what matters most.

Why Choose Attorney 911 for Your Westover Hills Case?

1. Experience: Ralph Manginello has been representing injury victims in Texas since 1998. He’s tried cases in state and federal court, and he knows how to hold carriers accountable.
2. Insurance Defense Advantage: Lupe Peña worked for years on the defense side, learning how insurance companies value claims and what tactics they use to minimize payouts. He knows the playbook because he wrote it.
3. Results: We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients, including multi-million dollar settlements for catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
4. Compassion: We understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help. We treat every client like family.
5. Communication: We keep you updated every step of the way and make sure you understand your options.
6. No Fee Unless We Win: We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is 33.33% if the case settles before trial and 40% if it goes to trial. You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do I have to file a wrongful-death claim in Texas?
A: Texas law gives you two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful-death claim under Section 16.003 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The clock starts the day of the crash, not the day of the funeral or the day the autopsy report is finalized. Once the two-year window closes, the case dies procedurally, and the carrier is under no obligation to negotiate.

Q: Can I sue the trucking company, or just the driver?
A: You can sue the trucking company, the driver, the broker, the shipper, the maintenance contractor, and any other party whose conduct contributed to the crash. Most personal injury firms stop at the driver. We start at the corporate parent and work down.

Q: What if the driver was an independent contractor, not an employee?
A: Many carriers try to avoid liability by classifying drivers as independent contractors. However, if the carrier controls the driver’s work—such as setting routes, schedules, and delivery quotas—the carrier can still be held liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior. We’ve successfully pierced the independent contractor defense in cases involving Amazon DSP drivers, FedEx Ground contractors, and oilfield service truckers.

Q: What if the driver was from out of state?
A: It doesn’t matter where the driver is from. If the crash happened in Texas, Texas law applies. We’ve handled cases involving drivers from all over the country, and we know how to hold out-of-state carriers accountable.

Q: What if the truck was owned by a government entity?
A: If the truck was owned by a government entity, such as the Texas Department of Transportation or a local municipality, you may still be able to sue under the Texas Tort Claims Act. However, there are special rules and deadlines that apply, so it’s important to act quickly.

Q: What if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
A: If the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it’s not just evidence of impairment—it’s a violation of federal regulations that can support a claim of gross negligence. We’ve seen cases where carriers ignore positive drug tests or fail to conduct required follow-up testing, putting everyone on the road at risk.

Q: What if the driver fled the scene?
A: If the driver fled the scene, we pursue the claim under your uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Texas law requires every auto insurance policy to offer UM/UIM coverage unless rejected in writing. We’ve successfully recovered compensation for clients in hit-and-run cases by pursuing the UM/UIM track on their own policies.

Q: What if I don’t live in Texas?
A: It doesn’t matter where you live. If the crash happened in Texas, Texas law applies. We’ve represented clients from all over the country, and we know how to navigate the legal system in Texas.

Q: What if I’m undocumented?
A: Your immigration status does not affect your right to compensation in Texas. We represent clients regardless of immigration status, and we keep your information confidential. Hablamos Español.

Q: How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911?
A: We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee is 33.33% if the case settles before trial and 40% if it goes to trial. You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

Westover Hills’ Freight Reality and How It Shapes Your Case

Westover Hills is a small town with big-city freight exposure. The I-30 corridor between Dallas and Fort Worth carries some of the highest commercial-vehicle traffic in Texas, with trucks running loaded and empty 24 hours a day. Camp Bowie Boulevard and White Settlement Road serve as critical last-mile routes for Amazon, FedEx, and UPS delivery vans, as well as local businesses relying on commercial traffic. The nearby I-820 and I-20 corridors add another layer of risk, with trucks transitioning between interstates and surface streets in high-traffic areas.

The Carriers Operating in Westover Hills

Westover Hills sees freight from every category of motor carrier operating in Texas:

1. Long-haul interstate carriers: Werner Enterprises, J.B. Hunt, Schneider National, Knight-Swift, and other national fleets move dry van and refrigerated freight through Westover Hills on I-30 and I-20.
2. Regional less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers: Old Dominion, Saia, Estes, and ABF Freight serve the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, including Westover Hills.
3. Last-mile delivery: Amazon DSP contractors, FedEx Ground contractors, and UPS deliver packages to Westover Hills homes and businesses every day.
4. Oilfield service trucking: While Westover Hills isn’t in the heart of the Permian Basin, oilfield service vehicles from Halliburton, Schlumberger, and other companies transit through the area on their way to and from well sites.
5. Refuse and construction: Waste Management, Republic Services, and local haulers operate garbage trucks and dump trucks in Westover Hills.
6. Food and beverage distribution: Sysco, US Foods, and HEB deliver food and beverages to Westover Hills restaurants and grocery stores.
7. Government commercial vehicles: The Texas Department of Transportation, the City of Fort Worth, and Tarrant County operate maintenance trucks, garbage trucks, and other commercial vehicles in Westover Hills.

Each of these carrier categories carries a different regulatory profile under the FMCSR, and each requires a different discovery posture. We know which carriers operate in Westover Hills, and we know how to hold them accountable.

The Corridors That Define Westover Hills’ Freight Risk

1. I-30: The primary east-west corridor between Dallas and Fort Worth, carrying long-haul and regional freight. High-speed crashes on I-30 often involve multiple vehicles and catastrophic injuries.
2. I-20: A major east-west corridor that intersects with I-30 in Fort Worth, carrying freight from the Permian Basin and beyond.
3. I-820: A loop around Fort Worth that carries local and regional freight, including last-mile delivery vehicles.
4. Camp Bowie Boulevard: A critical last-mile route for Amazon, FedEx, and UPS delivery vans, as well as local businesses.
5. White Settlement Road: Another key last-mile route, carrying commercial traffic to and from Westover Hills’ industrial areas.
6. Loop 820 (I-820): A high-speed loop around Fort Worth that carries freight between I-30 and I-20.

These corridors produce the crash patterns Westover Hills families know all too well—rear-end collisions, jackknife crashes, rollovers, and multi-vehicle pileups. The Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) documents the reality: Tarrant County recorded 28,074 crashes in 2024, with 149 of them fatal. Commercial vehicles were involved in a disproportionate share of these fatalities.

The Trauma Network Serving Westover Hills

When a catastrophic crash happens in Westover Hills, victims are typically taken to one of the following trauma centers:

1. John Peter Smith Hospital (JPS): A Level I trauma center in Fort Worth, serving Tarrant County and the surrounding area. JPS is the primary trauma center for Westover Hills residents.
2. Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center: A Level II trauma center in Fort Worth, providing comprehensive trauma care.
3. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth: A Level II trauma center with a strong reputation for trauma care.
4. Cook Children’s Medical Center: A Level II pediatric trauma center in Fort Worth, serving children injured in crashes.

The quality of trauma care in Tarrant County is excellent, but the long-term care required for catastrophic injuries—such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations—can be overwhelming. We work with life-care planners and medical experts to document the full extent of your loved one’s injuries and calculate the cost of future care.

The Westover Hills Jury Pool and What It Means for Your Case

Tarrant County District Court is one of the most plaintiff-friendly venues in Texas for commercial-vehicle cases. The jury pool is diverse, with a mix of urban and suburban residents who understand the risks of sharing the road with large trucks. Tarrant County juries have a history of holding carriers accountable for gross negligence, particularly when the evidence shows a pattern of violations or a conscious disregard for safety.

Key Factors That Influence a Tarrant County Jury

1. The Carrier’s Safety Record: If the carrier has a history of violations in the FMCSA’s SMS profile, the jury is more likely to find the carrier liable for gross negligence.
2. The Driver’s Conduct: If the driver was fatigued, distracted, or impaired, the jury is more likely to find the driver liable for negligence.
3. The Damages: Tarrant County juries understand the devastating impact of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. They are willing to award significant damages for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and loss of earning capacity.
4. The Defense Playbook: If the carrier’s defense lawyers try to shift blame to the victim or minimize the damages, the jury is likely to see through it and hold the carrier accountable.

We present the case in a way that resonates with the jury and maximizes your recovery. We know the Tarrant County jury pool, and we know how to build a case that wins.

The Westover Hills Community and How We Serve It

Westover Hills is a tight-knit community with a strong sense of identity. The town is home to families, professionals, and retirees who value safety, accountability, and justice. When a catastrophic crash happens in Westover Hills, the entire community feels the impact.

We understand the Westover Hills community because we serve it every day. We know the roads, the employers, the schools, and the values that define the town. We’re here to help Westover Hills families hold carriers accountable and recover the compensation they deserve.

Spanish-Language Services for Westover Hills Families

Westover Hills has a growing Hispanic community, and we’re committed to serving all families in their preferred language. Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish, and our staff includes bilingual team members who can communicate with you in Spanish from the first call to the final hearing.

“Para las familias hispanohablantes de Westover Hills, 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.”

— Lupe Peña, Associate Attorney

The Next Step: Call 1-888-ATTY-911

The evidence in your case is disappearing every day. The carrier’s insurer is already working to minimize your claim. And the two-year clock under Section 16.003 is running.

You don’t have to face this alone. We’re here to help. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free case evaluation. We’ll review the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and tell you what we think your case is worth.

There’s no obligation, and the call is free. But don’t wait. The clock is ticking.