Tomball Truck Accident Attorney

Types of Accidents Our Tomball Truck Crash Lawyers Handle

Pierce Skrabanek represents clients injured in:

• Rear-end truck collisions,
• Head-on truck collisions,
• Jackknife crashes,
• Truck rollover accidents,
• Underride tractor-trailer accidents,
• Tire blowout crashes,
• Unsecured cargo accidents,
• Accidents involving parked semi-trucks,
• Dump truck accidents,
• Garbage truck accidents,
• Unsafe lane-change accidents,
• Accidents caused by fatigued driving, and
• Crashes resulting from inadequate driver training.

If the trucking company's insurance adjuster has contacted you, be careful. You have no obligation to provide a recorded statement. Anything you say can be used to reduce your compensation. A Tomball truck accident attorney can handle these conversations while you focus on recovery.

Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents in Tomball

Large trucks pose unique dangers on Tomball's roads. Their size limits visibility, extends stopping distances, and magnifies the consequences of driver error.

Common causes include:

• Fatigued driving. Federal regulations limit driving hours. Companies that push drivers to meet tight deadlines encourage violations. Exhausted drivers have slower reflexes and may fall asleep at the wheel.
• Distracted driving. GPS devices, dispatch systems, cell phones, and eating pull attention from the road. At highway speeds, a few seconds of distraction can be fatal.
• Speeding. Delivery pressure leads drivers to exceed posted limits or drive too fast for conditions. A fully loaded truck cannot stop quickly.
• Aggressive driving. Tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and failure to yield create dangerous situations on congested roads like Highway 249.
• Failure to check blind spots. Trucks have large blind spots on all four sides. Drivers who change lanes or turn without checking mirrors strike vehicles they never saw.
• Impaired driving. Alcohol, drugs, and certain medications slow reaction times and impair judgment. Federal law requires regular testing, but violations occur.
• Improper loading. Cargo that shifts during transit can cause a truck to roll over or jackknife. Overloaded trucks are harder to control and take longer to stop.
• Negligent maintenance. Worn brakes, bald tires, broken lights, and faulty steering turn minor problems into deadly crashes.
• Unfamiliar routes. Drivers who don't know local roads make sudden turns, miss exits, or misjudge clearances.
• Dangerous road conditions. Construction zones, poor lighting, and weather hazards increase risk. Professional drivers must adjust their speed and following distance.
• Employer pressure. Some companies push drivers to meet unrealistic schedules, encouraging them to skip rest breaks or falsify logs.
• Equipment failure. Mechanical problems, such as brake failure or steering malfunctions, can cause drivers to lose control.

"Most people don't realize that truck accident cases are completely different from car accidents. The regulations are more complex, the insurance coverage is higher, and the stakes are much greater. That's why you need an attorney who specializes in trucking cases and understands how these companies operate."

— Michael Pierce, Founding Partner

Serious Injuries from Tomball Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks outweigh passenger cars by a factor of 20 to 1. When they collide, the people in the smaller vehicle absorb the force.

Truck accident victims in Tomball frequently suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries from striking the steering wheel, window, or airbag during impact. Even injuries that seem minor at first can cause lasting problems with memory, concentration, and mood.
• Spinal cord damage from the violent forces of a collision. These injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, requiring lifelong medical care.
• Internal injuries that may not produce symptoms for hours or days. Internal bleeding, organ damage, and punctured lungs are life-threatening emergencies.
• Broken bones and fractures when the vehicle's frame collapses. Arms, legs, hips, ribs, and facial bones often require surgery and months of rehabilitation.

These injuries explain why truck accident victims face overwhelming medical bills, extended time away from work, and permanent changes to daily life.

After a Truck Accident: Steps to Protect Yourself

The actions you take after a crash affect both your health and your legal options.

• Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks pain. Internal bleeding, brain injuries, and spinal damage may not produce obvious symptoms right away. What seems like minor soreness today could become permanent disability without proper treatment.
• Document everything you can at the scene. Photograph all vehicles, the accident location, any cargo that spilled, and your visible injuries. Get contact information from witnesses before they leave. Truck accident scenes become chaotic quickly with emergency responders, tow trucks, and cleanup crews.
• Be careful what you say to insurance representatives. You will likely receive calls from multiple insurance companies: the truck driver's carrier, the trucking company's insurer, and possibly your own. Each has different interests, and recorded statements can be used against you later.
• Do not accept quick settlement offers. Truck accident injuries often worsen over time. You may need surgery, extended rehabilitation, or accommodations for permanent disabilities that are not apparent in the first weeks after your accident. Once you sign a release, you cannot seek additional compensation.
• Preserve evidence by seeking legal help promptly. Trucking companies must maintain driver logs, maintenance records, and electronic data from the truck's systems. This information can be destroyed or overwritten if not secured quickly through legal action.

If you have not been able to take all these steps, an experienced Tomball truck accident lawyer can work with what is available, gather remaining evidence, and handle insurance companies going forward.

The trucking company has lawyers protecting its interests. You deserve the same. Pierce Skrabanek has fought for truck accident victims across Texas for over 30 years. We know how these companies operate and how to hold them accountable. 

Call (832) 690-7000 or contact us online to schedule a case review with a Tomball truck accident attorney at no cost.

Compensation a Tomball Semi-Truck Accident Attorney Can Pursue For You

Truck accident cases typically involve larger settlements because the injuries are severe and commercial trucks carry substantial insurance coverage.

Your potential compensation depends on:

• Your injuries and treatment. Truck accidents often cause brain injuries, spinal damage, and broken bones that require surgery, physical therapy, and long-term medical care.
• How your work is affected. Many truck accident victims cannot return to their previous jobs or work the same hours, resulting in lost income for years.
• Who was responsible. The truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loaders, and the maintenance contractors might all share responsibility. Multiple liable parties means more insurance coverage is available.
• Your recovery timeline. Serious injuries often require ongoing therapy, future surgeries, or permanent accommodations that affect the rest of your life.

Pierce Skrabanek fights to secure full compensation for truck accident victims. We have obtained substantial results, including:

• $2 million for a truck driver rear-ended while working who required multiple surgeries
• $565,000 for a client hit by a truck that ran a stop sign, despite the insurance company's attempts to blame a pre-existing injury

A national survey by Martindale-Nolo found that people who hired a personal injury attorney recovered, on average, nearly three times more compensation than those who handled their claims without legal help. That difference held even after accounting for attorney fees.

How Texas Trucking Laws Affect Your Case

Commercial truck drivers and their employers must follow both federal and Texas safety regulations. These rules govern:

• Hours of service. Drivers may not operate a commercial vehicle for more than 11 consecutive hours after 10 hours off duty. They must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
• Electronic logging devices. Most trucks must have ELDs that automatically record driving time, making it harder to falsify logs.
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance. Drivers must conduct pre-trip inspections and report defects. Companies must maintain vehicles in compliance with federal standards and keep records of all repairs.
• Drug and alcohol testing. Drivers must be tested before employment, after accidents, and randomly. Positive tests or refusals disqualify a driver from operating a commercial vehicle.
• Cargo securement. Federal rules specify how different types of cargo must be loaded and secured to prevent shifting or spillage.

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. You can recover compensation if you are less than 51% responsible for the accident, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Trucking companies routinely try to shift blame onto injured drivers. Our Tomball trucking accident lawyers know how to counter these tactics with evidence.