Stephens Law Firm | October 29, 2025 | Truck Accidents

How Fast Can Commercial Trucks Safely Travel on Highways in Texas?

You need an attorney immediately after a fatal truck accident because the trucking company’s investigators are already at the scene, building a defense to minimize their liability while your family is still processing the tragedy.

While law enforcement conducts an official report, securing immediate legal help after a fatal truck accident may be an effective way to ensure your family’s interests are protected from the start.

Insights from a lawyer who handles Texas commercial truck wrongful death claims can level the playing field, preserving critical evidence and launching an independent investigation focused on uncovering the truth.

Losing someone in a commercial vehicle collision is a life-altering event, and the legal road ahead can be complex and challenging.

Stephens Law is ready to provide comprehensive legal support for families who have lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident occurring in Fort Worth and Weatherford, Texas.

Call (817) 420-7000 or message our award-winning Texas personal injury law firm online to schedule a free case evaluation exploring your legal rights and options.

  • Evidence Disappears Quickly: Key evidence like the truck’s black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records can be lost, altered, or legally destroyed in a short period. An attorney can send an immediate spoliation letter to legally demand evidence preservation for the fatal truck crash.
  • Trucking Companies Start Their Defense Immediately: Trucking companies and their insurers deploy rapid-response teams to the crash scene. Their goal is to control the narrative, gather evidence favorable to them, and limit their financial exposure before you have even had a chance to grieve.
  • Multiple Parties May Be Liable: Beyond the driver, the trucking company, cargo loaders, maintenance contractors, and parts manufacturers could all share responsibility. A thorough private investigation is needed to identify all negligent parties.
  • The Texas Wrongful Death Statute Sets a Deadline: Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, surviving family members typically have two years after the date of death to file a lawsuit. Early legal intervention helps keep your claim on track for pursuing compensation.
  • Official Reports Are Not Enough: While police reports are important, they may not capture the full scope of negligence, such as truck company safety violations or mechanical failures. A private investigation led by a legal team goes much deeper.
  • Early Legal Counsel Protects Your Rights: A lawyer acts as a shield between your family and insurance adjusters, handling all communications and protecting you from tactics designed to devalue your claim and push for a quick, low settlement.
Average Settlement Value of a Truck Accident Injury Case in Fort Worth, TX

Fatal truck accidents create a cascade of challenges that can quickly become unmanageable without immediate legal intervention. The complexities of these cases demand swift action to avoid losing critical opportunities to protect your family’s rights. Here’s why time is of the essence:

  • Evidence is fragile and time-sensitive: The physical evidence that tells the story of the crash, such as black box data, skid marks, and vehicle damage may sometimes be mishandled or lost entirely within days. Without prompt legal action, key details that could prove negligence may disappear forever.
  • Trucking companies move fast to protect themselves: While families are still reeling, trucking companies quickly deploy teams to investigate. They are focused on gathering evidence that supports their defense, delay, and deny tactics. Quick legal response may help mitigate their false narratives.
  • The legal landscape is complex: Fatal truck accidents often involve multiple layers of liability, from the driver to the trucking company, cargo loaders, and even parts manufacturers. Identifying all responsible parties and building a case against them requires immediate and thorough investigation.
  • Delays can jeopardize your claim: The clock starts ticking the moment the accident occurs. Missing critical deadlines, such as the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims, can permanently bar your family from seeking compensation. Acting quickly ensures that your legal options remain open.
  • Families face an uneven playing field: Insurance companies and trucking firms have vast resources and legal teams working to minimize payouts. Without immediate legal representation, families are left to navigate a system designed to protect corporate interests, not grieving individuals.
  • The emotional toll can cloud decision-making: Grieving families may be  pressured into accepting quick settlements that fail to account for the full scope of their loss. Having a legal advocate from the start can help clarify legal outcomes before they become financial burdens.

Taking swift action after a fatal truck accident is not just about meeting filing deadlines. It’s about leveling the playing field in a way that supports the full and fair compensation you may be eligible for under the law.

Learn how experienced wrongful death lawyers in Texas can help navigate the complex legal process of pursuing justice and compensating for the loss of a loved one.

What a Private Investigation Uncovers That a Police Report Doesn’t

While police officers and agencies, such as the Texas Department of Transportation, do a commendable job of documenting the basics of a crash scene, their investigation serves a different purpose.

They are primarily focused on determining if any traffic laws were broken and clearing the roadway. Their reports provide a starting point, but they rarely tell the whole story of why a crash happened.

A private evidence analysis directed by a traffic fatality case attorney in Texas goes much deeper. It is singularly focused on proving negligence in a fatal truck accident for the purpose of a civil claim.

This comprehensive review may involve:

  • Hiring accident reconstructionists: These professionals use physics and engineering principles to analyze the crash scene evidence and determine exactly how the collision occurred. They can identify factors like speed, point of impact, and driver actions.
  • Analyzing truck driver and trucking company records: An attorney can subpoena records that reveal a pattern of negligence, such as a history of hours-of-service violations related to driver fatigue in a fatal truck accident, a poor driving record, or a lack of proper training.
  • Inspecting the truck: Mechanical experts are brought in to inspect the truck for maintenance issues, such as faulty brakes, worn tires, or other defects that could have contributed to the crash.
  • Interviewing witnesses: An investigative team will locate and interview witnesses to gather accounts that may not have been included in the official police report.
  • Reviewing cargo and loading documents: If improperly loaded or secured cargo contributed to the accident, investigators will review shipping manifests and loading procedures to identify liability.

This detailed approach is essential for building a strong case, especially in multi-vehicle collision liability scenarios where fault may be disputed.

Identifying the Chain of Negligence in Fatal Truck Accidents

One of the most complex aspects of commercial vehicle fatal collision claims is that the driver is often just one link in a longer chain of negligence.

Many different parties have a duty to ensure a commercial truck operates safely, and a failure by any one of them can have tragic consequences.

A thorough analysis of all available crash scene evidence aims to identify all potentially liable parties, which could include:

  • The trucking company: For negligent hiring, inadequate training, poor supervision, or creating a culture that encourages breaking safety rules.
  • The truck driver: For direct negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, or an alcohol or drug-related fatal truck accident.
  • The freight broker or shipper: For hiring a trucking company with a known poor safety record.
  • The cargo loading team: If the truck was overloaded or the cargo was not properly secured, causing it to shift and leading to a loss of control.
  • Maintenance and repair shops: For performing shoddy repairs or failing to identify critical mechanical issues.
  • The truck or parts manufacturer: If a defective component, like a tire or brake system, failed and caused the crash.

Holding all responsible parties accountable is crucial for securing the full compensation a family may need to cover economic damages in a wrongful death lawsuit, such as lost future income, as well as recovery of medical, funeral, and burial expenses.

Recovering compensation after a fatal truck accident involves more than just filing a claim. It requires a strategic approach to ensure your family receives the full value of what was lost. 

How Stephens Law Firm PLLC Can Help You Recover Compensation After a Truck Accident

Hiring a lawyer as soon as possible can help mitigate immediate legal missteps that could threaten your ability to recover compensation. Here’s how early legal intervention supports your claim:

  • Economic damages that reflect financial losses: Fatal truck accident claims often include compensation for tangible financial losses, such as medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and the loss of the deceased’s future income. A lawyer can help calculate these damages with all losses in mind.
  • Non-economic damages for emotional and personal losses: Beyond financial losses, families may recover damages for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and mental anguish. These non-economic damages are often the most contested by trucking companies, making legal representation essential to presenting a compelling case.
  • Protection against insurance tactics: Insurance adjusters often approach grieving families with quick settlement offers that undervalue the claim. A lawyer acts as a shield, handling all communication and preventing you from accepting a lowball offer that doesn’t reflect the true scope of your losses.
  • Preservation of evidence to strengthen your case: Building a strong claim requires evidence that supports the full extent of your damages. From securing black box data to gathering witness statements, a lawyer can help preserve and use it to support your pursuit of maximum compensation.
  • Accountability for all liable parties: Fatal truck accidents often involve multiple layers of liability, from the driver to the trucking company, cargo loaders, and beyond. A lawyer will identify all responsible parties to help maximize the potential recovery for your family.
  • Advocacy for the full value of your claim: Trucking companies and their insurers often fight hardest to minimize non-economic damages. A skilled legal team can articulate the depth of your loss to a court or jury in an effort to help recover the maximum compensation you may be eligible for 

By hiring a lawyer early, your family gains an advocate who is dedicated to protecting your rights and pursuing the compensation you deserve. This proactive approach not only eases the burden on your family but also ensures that no opportunity for recovery is missed.

Where do fatal truck accidents commonly occur in Fort Worth and Weatherford, TX?

Fatal truck accidents often happen on high-traffic routes like I-20, I-35W, and U.S. Highway 180, which are heavily used by commercial vehicles. A lawyer familiar with these locations can use their knowledge of local accident patterns to strengthen your case.

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for a wrongful death claim?

Most wrongful death lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they recover compensation for your family. This arrangement allows families to pursue justice without worrying about upfront legal fees. During a free consultation, a lawyer can explain how their fee structure works and what to expect throughout the legal process.

At Stephens Law, our firm is prepared to launch an immediate and thorough analysis to identify and preserve evidence that supports your claim.

12 Rules For Giving A Deposition In A Personal Injury Case

Our Texas truck accident lawyers collaborate with a network of respected investigators and industry professionals to build a compelling case that holds every negligent party accountable.

We understand the profound loss your family has experienced, and we are committed to providing compassionate guidance while aggressively pursuing the justice you deserve.

Are you ready to have a dedicated advocate fighting for your rights from the very beginning? Call Stephens Law at (817) 420-7000 or message our Texas personal injury lawyers in Fort Worth and Weatherford online for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help.