Pasadena Truck Accident Attorney

What Causes Truck Crashes in Pasadena?

Many wrecks involving semi-trucks stem from poor choices in planning, hiring, training, or maintaining the rig. Smaller cars and vulnerable drivers pay the cost when a vehicle weighing 40 tons fails to stop.

Common causes include:

• Fatigue from driving too many hours,
• Trucks speeding to meet tight delivery windows,
• Improper loading that causes the trailer to shift or tip,
• Brake failures due to missed maintenance,
• Ignoring traffic signals at complex intersections, and
• Blind turns or wide-swinging trailers hitting stopped cars.

Each of these situations creates enormous risk for drivers in passenger vehicles. A commercial truck accident lawyer in Pasadena can review driver logs, maintenance history, dispatch records, and dash camera footage to find the evidence needed to support your case.

Avoid giving a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurance representative before consulting an attorney. Questions during these calls are often worded to shift blame or downplay the severity of the crash. Having a Pasadena truck accident attorney involved early in the process helps protect your interests and prevents statements from being used against your claim.

Pasadena's Trucking Corridors and Risk Zones

Pasadena's roadways are key access points for Houston's refining, freight, and shipping industries. Routes like Red Bluff Road, Fairmont Parkway, and Richey Street frequently carry trucks heading to and from fuel terminals, manufacturing sites, and warehouse hubs.

The layout of these roads—narrow lanes, short merge zones, heavy cross traffic—makes large vehicle movement more difficult, particularly during peak hours. Accidents are more likely near industrial parks, railroad crossings, and older intersections without modern safety controls.

Our team has handled cases throughout this region. Familiarity with Pasadena's roadway design, freight traffic patterns, and local ordinances helps us identify where corners may have been cut in trip planning, driver decisions, or vehicle handling.

Injuries We See in Pasadena Truck Accidents

The injuries from a truck crash tend to be more severe than those from other types of collisions. This is due not just to the size and weight of commercial vehicles, but also to the higher speeds at which they typically travel.

Victims of these accidents may suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions;
• Back injuries, spinal cord damage, or herniated discs;
• Fractures to legs, ribs, arms, or wrists;
• Burns caused by vehicle fires or hot wreckage;
• Internal injuries requiring surgery; and
• Long-term pain or reduced mobility.

If you were hurt in a commercial vehicle crash, a Pasadena semi-truck accident attorney can help demonstrate the full impact of those injuries, from what happened in the emergency room to how your daily life has changed since.

Justice on the Road: How We’ve Helped Victims of Trucking Accidents

When someone is hit by a commercial vehicle, whether it's a long-haul 18-wheeler or a local delivery truck, the injuries can be catastrophic. Our firm has worked cases across Texas involving driver fatigue, company negligence, missed stops, and unsafe speeds.

Here's what past cases have looked like for our clients:

$2 million secured. In Louisiana, a commercial driver was rear-ended by another truck on the job. He needed two surgeries. We obtained compensation from both the other trucking company and their insurer.

$565,000 recovery. In Dallas County, a woman was injured when a large truck ran a stop sign. After back surgery, the company pointed to a pre-existing condition. We brought in medical experts to show the connection and reached a settlement covering her needs.

Why It Can Pay to Have a Lawyer on Your Side

In a study by Martindale-Nolo, people with legal representation in truck crash claims recovered nearly three times more than those who went it alone. That includes cases like rear-end collisions, jackknifes, and failures to yield on a highway or a neighborhood road.

The right legal team can deal with evidence gathering, deadlines, and the back-and-forth with insurance. You don't have to learn the system while trying to recover.

Truck Accidents Leave Crashes and Costs. We Help with Both.
It's hard to focus on recovery when bills keep piling up. Texas law allows injured drivers to seek compensation when someone else's actions caused the crash.

Call Pierce Skrabanek today at (832) 690-7000 to speak with a Pasadena truck accident attorney, or message us online for a free case review. 

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Pasadena Truck Accident?

Unlike a typical car crash, a commercial truck accident often involves multiple parties, each with their own insurance, legal teams, and potential role in what went wrong.

Depending on the facts of your case, liability may extend to:

• The truck driver—for speeding, running a stoplight, texting while driving, or operating under the influence.
• The trucking company—for unsafe scheduling, poor hiring practices, or failure to properly train the driver.
• A maintenance or repair vendor—if brake failure, tire blowouts, or faulty lights can be traced to overlooked repairs.
• A cargo loading team or third-party shipper—especially if unsecured or unbalanced loads caused the truck to tip or swerve.
• The truck or parts manufacturer— in cases where defective equipment contributed to the crash (e.g., steering failure, brake malfunction).

In many truck accident claims, several entities point fingers at each other to avoid accountability. Our legal team collects maintenance logs, black box data, inspection records, dispatch communications, and contractor agreements to determine who was involved.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Pasadena

Trucking operations typically respond to crashes within hours. They send investigators to the scene, preserve black box data, and put their insurance carrier in charge of the defense. Victims sometimes don't know what steps to take, especially when they're hurt, but a few early decisions can help protect your claim.

Here's what you should do:

1. Call 911 and request medical assistance.
2. Ask for the truck driver's name, license number, company, and insurance information.
3. Take photos of the scene if it is safe, including damage to vehicles, road markings, and signage.
4. Get medical attention right away, even for minor symptoms.
5. Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company before speaking to a lawyer.

You may feel fine in the moment but experience more serious pain in the days after the accident. A Pasadena 18-wheeler accident lawyer at our firm can explain your options and speak with insurance representatives so you can focus on getting better.

Texas Trucking Laws That Affect Your Pasadena Injury Case

Both federal and Texas laws regulate trucking operations, all designed to prioritize safety on public roads. When these rules are violated, it can directly impact who is held liable in a truck accident case. Key regulations include:

• Hours-of-service rules limit how long truckers can drive and how often they must rest;
• Weight restrictions cap how much loaded trailers are allowed to carry;
• Hazmat rules require extra safety procedures when transporting dangerous materials;
• Maintenance rules require regular inspections of the brakes, lights, tires, and signals; and
• Drug and alcohol testing applies in most trucking employment situations.

If one or more of these rules were broken, the company operating the truck may be financially responsible for what happened. A Pasadena tractor trailer accident lawyer will request records and data showing whether required inspections or safety rules were ignored.

"Trucking companies have resources and lawyers on their side. Our job is to be the one looking out for you. We take that seriously."

— Paul Skrabanek │ Partner at Pierce Skrabanek

What to Expect When You Work With a Truck Accident Lawyer

At Pierce Skrabanek, we believe that no one should have to take on a trucking company alone while recovering from painful injuries.

That’s why when we take a case, we focus on the work that moves it forward:

• Gathering crash reports, photos, witness statements, and driver logs;
• Reviewing black box data, company maintenance records, and safety history;
• Identifying every party that may be responsible, including outside vendors or contractors;
• Working with medical providers to understand the full scope of your injuries; and
• Negotiating with insurers and preparing for trial if a fair outcome isn't offered.

Truck accident claims in Texas typically must be filed within two years of the crash date. Starting sooner helps preserve key evidence and protects your chance to recover compensation.