Clear Lake Truck Accident Lawyer

Common Causes of Truck Crashes in Clear Lake

Commercial trucks run I-45 and Bay Area Blvd at all hours, carrying freight between Houston's port, industrial facilities, and Harris County communities. When drivers or carriers cut corners on safety, the people sharing Clear Lake's roads pay the price.

Most of the time, that comes down to one of the following:

• Trucker fatigue: When carriers push tight delivery schedules, drivers exceed safe limits and operate while exhausted, increasing the risk of serious crashes.
• Distracted driving: Cell phones, GPS devices, and dispatch systems divide a driver’s attention and delay reaction time in heavy traffic.
• Hours-of-service violations: Drivers who exceed legal driving limits, and the companies that pressure them, can be held responsible when fatigue contributes to a wreck.
• Improper cargo loading: Unbalanced or unsecured loads can shift during braking or turns, leading to jackknifing or rollovers.
• Inadequate vehicle maintenance: Worn brakes, bald tires, and skipped inspections lead to mechanical failures that cause preventable collisions.
• Undertrained drivers: Carriers that put inexperienced or poorly trained drivers on the road increase the likelihood of serious accidents.

"When someone comes to us after a truck accident, they've usually already been through the hardest days, pain, confusion, and not knowing what's next. What I want them to feel in that first meeting is that they're not alone in figuring this out anymore."

— Paul Skrabanek, Firm Partner

Types of Injuries From Truck Crashes

A passenger vehicle weighs roughly 4,000 pounds. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh 20 times that. In 2024 alone, Harris County recorded 41 fatal crashes involving commercial trucks and 112 crashes involving serious injuries, according to TxDOT.

Those numbers reflect what that weight difference does to Clear Lake drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles.

• Crush injuries: When a truck collapses a vehicle’s frame, occupants often suffer multiple fractures that require surgery and long-term rehabilitation.
• Catastrophic head and cervical injuries: These injuries frequently occur in underride crashes, where a passenger vehicle becomes lodged beneath a truck trailer.
• Spinal damage: The force of a truck impact can compress or twist the spine, causing herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or paralysis.
• Traumatic brain injuries: Violent head impact during a crash can result in lasting cognitive issues, memory loss, and personality changes that appear days or weeks later.
• Internal bleeding and organ damage: Blunt force trauma can rupture organs without obvious external signs, making these injuries especially dangerous without prompt medical testing.
• Burn injuries: Fires and fuel leaks in serious crashes can cause severe burns that require grafts, reconstructive surgery, and extended recovery.
• Psychological trauma: Many survivors, like our client Tuwanda, experience post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and driving avoidance that disrupt daily life and relationships long after the collision.

Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Clear Lake Truck Crash?

Before a commercial truck reaches I-45 or Bay Area, it has passed through the hands of several different companies. Any one of them can bear responsibility for what happens on Clear Lake roads.

• The truck driver. Speeding, distraction, impairment, and fatigue are among the most common reasons a commercial driver fails to respond to traffic in a timely manner.
• The trucking company. Carriers decide who drives, how long they drive, whether vehicles are maintained, and how cargo is handled. When those decisions contribute to a crash on Clear Lake's roads, the carrier is directly liable.
• Cargo loaders. Refineries, distribution centers, and third-party logistics companies load trailers before they leave the yard. Improperly secured or overweight cargo that causes a truck to jackknife or roll on I-45 is the loader's responsibility.
• Maintenance contractors. When an outside shop clears a vehicle for road use with worn brakes, failing tires, or unresolved defects, their work becomes part of the crash record.
• Truck manufacturers. Defective coupling systems, braking electronics, or tire construction can cause a driver to lose control on any Clear Lake road. When a component fails under normal operating conditions, the manufacturer may share liability.

When you hire our firm, we begin requesting critical records from the trucking company, identify every party whose decisions contributed to the crash, and handle all communication with adjusters and defense attorneys on your behalf.

Call us now at (832) 690-7000 or reach out online for a free, no-obligation case review with an experienced Clear Lake truck accident lawyer. We’ll handle the legal details so you can focus on recovery.

What Pierce Skrabanek Has Recovered for Truck Accident Clients

$2 million. A commercial truck driver was rear-ended by another 18-wheeler while on the job. The crash required multiple surgeries and put him out of work for an extended period. Pierce Skrabanek took the case through numerous depositions and secured a $2 million recovery against the at-fault carrier.

$850,000. After an 18-wheeler struck our client and left her with serious back injuries, Pierce Skrabanek took the case through four depositions and reached an $850,000 resolution.

What Sets Our Clear Lake Truck Accident Attorneys Apart

What Is My Clear Lake Truck Accident Claim Worth?

Several factors specific to commercial trucking cases determine the value of a Clear Lake truck accident claim.

• Insurance coverage available. Federal law requires commercial carriers to carry between $750,000 and $5 million in liability coverage, depending on the cargo they haul. That is substantially higher than what most passenger vehicle policies carry.
• Number of parties at fault. When the carrier, a cargo loader, and a maintenance contractor all contributed to a crash on Clear Lake roads, each party's coverage is potentially available. Identifying every liable party is one of the most important steps in a Clear Lake truck accident claim.
• Severity and prognosis. Claims involving permanent disability, ongoing care needs, or significant loss of earning capacity are valued differently from those with a defined recovery timeline. What your treating physicians project for your future care carries significant weight.
• Evidence strength. Black box data, electronic logging records, driver qualification files, and maintenance histories all affect how clearly liability can be established.

According to Martindale-Nolo research, accident victims with legal representation received close to three times more on average than those who handled their own claims.

What Compensation Can I Receive After a Truck Accident in Clear Lake?

Truck accident claims cover a wider range of losses than most people expect. Your Clear Lake 18-wheeler accident lawyer can pursue compensation to cover:

• Hospital stays, surgeries, and emergency care;
• Rehabilitation, specialist visits, and ongoing treatment;
• Medical equipment and prescription costs;
• Future care your doctors project you will need;
• Income you lost while unable to work;
• Earning capacity you lost if the injury affects your ability to return to your job;
• Physical pain and the limitations it places on your daily life;
• Emotional and psychological harm;
• Activities, hobbies, and relationships the crash took from you; and
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement.

Punitive damages may apply when a trucking company or driver acted with reckless disregard for public safety, such as knowingly placing an unqualified driver behind the wheel or falsifying maintenance records.

Truck Accident Statute of Limitations FAQs

How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?

​In most cases, Texas law gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline applies to claims against the truck driver, the trucking company, and other responsible parties.

​Does the Deadline Change If Someone Died in the Crash?

​Yes. Wrongful death claims generally must also be filed within two years of the date of death, which may differ from the crash date in some cases.

​Are There Exceptions to the Two-Year Deadline?

​Certain circumstances can alter the timeline. Claims involving minors, delayed discovery of injuries, or accidents involving government entities may be subject to different notice requirements and shorter deadlines. When a city, county, or state vehicle is involved, formal notice may be required within months of the incident.

​What Happens If I Miss the Statute of Limitations?

​If the filing deadline passes, courts will almost always dismiss the case, and you lose the right to pursue compensation through the legal system. Insurance companies are aware of these deadlines and may delay negotiations in hopes that time runs out.

​Why Should I Act Quickly Even If I Have Two Years?

​Evidence in truck accident cases disappears fast. Electronic logging device data, driver qualification files, dash camera footage, and maintenance records can be overwritten or lost. Prompt legal action allows your attorney to send preservation letters, secure critical records, and protect your claim well before the statutory deadline approaches.

If you have questions about how much time remains in your case, a Clear Lake truck accident attorney can calculate your exact filing deadline and take immediate steps to safeguard your rights.

How to Establish Negligence

Truck drivers and the companies behind them operate under federal safety rules covering driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and cargo handling. When those rules are broken, and a Clear Lake crash follows, the violation is part of what makes the case.

Our Clear Lake truck accident lawyers investigate by pulling:

• Black box data recording speed, braking inputs, and steering in the seconds before impact;
• Electronic logging device records showing actual hours driven versus reported hours;
• Driver qualification files documenting training history, licensing, and prior violations;
• Cargo loading records and weight inspection documentation;
• Vehicle maintenance logs showing whether required inspections were completed;
• Dashcam footage and traffic camera records from the crash location; and
• Post-accident drug and alcohol test results.