I-35 Truck Wrecks: Managing Multi-Jurisdictional Litigation from Laredo to DFW with an I-35 Truck Accident Lawyer
Interstate 35 is one of the busiest and most dangerous freight corridors in the United States. It carries tens of thousands of trucks daily, making it a high‑risk environment for commercial vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, I-35 sees a high number of truck wrecks. Because of the high commercial vehicle traffic, many of these accidents are serious.
If you have been in an accident with a truck, it is crucial to find the right lawyer. Trucking cases follow a different set of rules than standard car accident claims, and the distinctions matter. Federal regulations, multiple liable parties, and an industry that responds to serious crashes with speed and legal resources all factor into how these cases are built and what they can recover.
The fact that I-35 runs through multiple states and counties also presents a unique legal challenge. Managing litigation that spans from Laredo, TX (a major border city) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) requires navigating different procedural rules, jurisdictional principles, and discovery obligations while maintaining a unified strategy.
Stephens Law focuses extensively on commercial motor vehicle and 18-wheeler truck wreck cases and has vast experience navigating these issues. Stephens Law obtained two of the Top 5 Trucking Settlements in all of Texas ($65.5M and $57.5M) while also securing the largest known truck accident settlement in Tarrant County History. This is in addition to all our other record-setting results—all of which are publicly verified and substantiated.
Jason Stephens at Stephens Law is recognized as an elite, national trial and truck accident lawyer:
- American College of Trial Lawyers (Fewer than 1% of Trial Lawyers in United States)
- Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer (2023—present)
- Top 100 Trial Lawyer, The National Trial Lawyers Association (2011—present)
- Top 100 Super Lawyer in Texas (2025—present)
- Top 100 Super Lawyer in Dallas/Fort Worth (2017, 2018, 2024—present)
- Texas Super Lawyer—23 Consecutive Years (2004—present)
Call Stephens Law, your Fort Worth truck accident lawyers, at 817-420-7000 or contact us online 24/7 for a Free Case Review.
Why is Driving on I-35 So Dangerous?
Route 35 is dangerous due to several factors:
- High truck volume: I‑35 is the primary north‑south freight route, linking Mexico’s industrial centers to the U.S. Midwest
- Urban‑rural mix: Drivers face both heavy commuter traffic and long rural stretches with weather hazards
- Construction zones: Ongoing expansion projects (e.g., I‑35 Northeast Expansion) add lane shifts, temporary barriers, and reduced visibility
- Safety record: Bexar County recorded 2,684 commercial motor vehicle crashes in 2024, with 18 fatalities and 46 serious injuries — the third most dangerous county in Texas for truck crashes. Dallas County recorded 3,857 commercial motor vehicle crashes, resulting in 29 fatal crashes and making it the second most dangerous county in Texas for truck crashes. Tarrant County recorded 1,716 crashes with 19 fatalities.
Why Are I-35 Accidents So Complex?
Trucking accidents on I‑35 involve several bodies of law and a lot of commercial parties, which is what makes them so much more difficult and challenging than an ordinary two‑car collision. These include:
- Many more potentially liable parties. A “standard” car wreck usually involves two drivers. A commercial truck crash can include the driver, the trucking company, the truck’s owner if it’s leased, the company that loaded the cargo, the shipper, a maintenance contractor, a freight broker, and even the manufacturer of a truck or component if equipment failed. Determining who is responsible for what, and which insurance policy answers for it, can be difficult.
- Federal law. Interstate trucks are governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in addition to Texas law —hours‑of‑service limits, electronic logging devices, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing, and maintenance and inspection requirements.
- I‑35’s characteristics. As discussed above, I-35 is one of the busiest freight corridors in North America and the primary route out of Laredo, the country’s largest inland port for cross‑border trade with Mexico. That means a high density of commercial traffic and a high percentage of cross‑border carriers. The cross-border aspect of a trucking accident can raise complications around foreign trucking companies, cross‑border insurance arrangements, and service of process.
- The size and weight factor. A fully loaded commercial semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds under federal legal limits. The force that weight generates in a collision is in a completely different category from what a passenger vehicle produces.
- Employer‑liability doctrines and the independent‑contractor fight. Companies are often on the hook for their drivers’ conduct and can face direct claims for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or retention. Trucking companies often use owner‑operators to argue the driver was an independent contractor to escape liability – a recurring, fact‑intensive battle. However, federal rules often limit that defense for interstate carriers.
- Texas tort reform aimed specifically at these cases. Texas passed a law in 2021 that lets defendants request separate trials in commercial‑vehicle cases. The jury first decides the driver’s negligence and compensatory damages, and only in a second phase considers the company‑level claims and punitive damages. These laws changed the strategy and structure of these cases significantly.
- Comparative fault. Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 33.001, Texas uses a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar – if you’re found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing – so fault allocation is fiercely contested. Because trucks are so much larger, injuries tend to be catastrophic, the insurance policies are large, and the defense by these insurance companies can be very aggressive.
- The strict two-year statute of limitations. Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 003, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the accident. If you do not file a car accident lawsuit within this period, the court will likely bar your claim forever.
- Evidence that disappears fast. Critical proof lives in the truck’s onboard/ECM data, Electronic Logging Device (ELD) logs, dashcam footage, and the carrier’s maintenance and personnel records – all of which can be lost or overwritten if it isn’t preserved quickly, which is why Stephens Law moves quickly to recover such evidence.
Why Choose Stephens Law as Your Truck Accident Lawyer
When you are facing a difficult recovery, the law firm you choose makes a difference. You need a team with the resources, the resolve, and the record of holding negligent parties accountable.
A record of holding negligent parties accountable – Our firm’s history of case results speaks to our commitment to our clients. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This thorough preparation and our reputation for seeing a case through to the end often convinces insurance companies to offer fair settlements without the need for a lengthy court battle. We are proud of the results we have achieved for families across Texas.
Resources to take on complex cases – Truck wreck cases, especially those involving catastrophic injuries or commercial vehicles, require significant financial and professional resources. We can retain leading professionals in medicine, accident reconstruction, and economics to build the strongest possible case for our clients. We level the playing field against large insurance corporations.
Navigating the complexities of trucking accident laws – The legal framework governing trucking accidents contains both Federal and Texas rules that can have a major impact on your ability to recover compensation. Insurance adjusters are intimately familiar with these laws and will use them to their advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire Stephens Law?
We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs or attorney fees. We only get paid if we win your case and secure a financial recovery for you.
How is a trucking accident different from a car accident?
The primary differences involve the number of potentially liable parties, the federal regulatory framework governing commercial trucks, and the volume of recoverable evidence. Trucking companies are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations that create specific duties, and violations of those duties can support negligence claims that go well beyond what a standard car accident claim involves.
What if the trucking company says the driver was an independent contractor?
Trucking companies sometimes classify drivers as independent contractors to limit their own liability exposure. Texas courts look past labels to the actual nature of the working relationship, including how much control the company exercised over the driver’s work. Stephens Law will assess whether the contractor classification holds up under the facts of a specific case.
Can an accident claim be filed if the at-fault truck driver also faces criminal charges?
Yes. Civil and criminal cases are separate proceedings with different purposes and different standards of proof. A wrongful death claim does not wait for the criminal process to conclude, and a criminal conviction is not required for a civil case to succeed.
What happens if the trucking company’s insurance limits are not enough to cover the family’s losses?
Commercial trucking policies typically carry significantly higher limits than personal auto policies, but they are not unlimited. When damages exceed available coverage, other potential sources of recovery include the trucking company’s own assets, umbrella policies, and claims against additional defendants such as cargo companies or maintenance providers. Stephens Law evaluates all available sources when assessing a case.
Do I have to go to court for my truck accident case?
Most truck accident cases are resolved through a settlement agreement without ever going to trial. However, we prepare every case for the courtroom. This readiness to go to trial often motivates the insurance company to negotiate in good faith and offer a fair settlement.
Take Control of Your Case
You do not have to accept the insurance company’s assessment. You have the right to an advocate who will fight for your best interests. The decisions you make in the coming days can affect your family’s financial stability for years to come. Take the first step toward protecting your rights and securing your future with a Texas truck accident lawyer.