Find The Best Truck Accident Lawyer In Houston (2025)

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Sarah Edwards

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Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.

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Summary

  • Houston truck crashes injure or kill thousands of people annually
  • Trucking companies are liable for crashes resulting from their negligence
  • A truck accident lawyer in Houston fights for injury compensation

As a major city near international border crossings and seaports, Houston sees a lot of truck traffic. Collisions with commercial motor vehicles like semi-trucks, construction vehicles and even garbage trucks caused over 2,200 injuries and fatalities in Harris County in 2023 alone.

Texas uses a fault-based insurance system that requires accident victims to pursue compensation from the trucking company’s insurer. However, truck accident claims can raise complicated legal and factual issues that require legal assistance.

ConsumerShield helps crash victims find attorneys. Contact us for a free case review and assistance finding a truck accident lawyer in Houston. It’s also important to understand what truck accident attorneys do and how to find one for your injury case.

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How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost in Houston, TX?

A truck accident lawyer typically charges a legal fee that is contingent on the outcome of the case. You pay an agreed percentage of your compensation when the lawyer wins or settles your case. You pay nothing if the lawyer fails to recover anything.

Fees can vary, so you should discuss them when you consult lawyers about your case. In Houston, truck and car accident lawyer fees are often tiered, with a lower percentage—such as 33.3%—for cases settled before a lawsuit. A higher percentage, such as 40%, is charged if a case is not resolved until after a lawsuit is filed.

How to Hire a Houston, TX, Truck Accident Attorney

A truck accident lawyer is usually a personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with legal claims against trucking companies as well as commercial motor vehicle insurers and sureties. Thus, you can typically start by gathering recommendations of personal injury attorneys from friends, family members and lawyer referral services like ConsumerShield.

Schedule consultations with the lawyers who handle auto accidents. A lawyer who focuses on another area of personal injury law, such as a product liability attorney, may not be the right fit.

Every attorney has unique experiences that influence their approach to truck crash cases. Ask questions about your case and the lawyer’s experience handling similar claims. You will also want to discuss the lawyer’s fees.

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Average Truck Accident Settlement in Houston, TX

Truck accident settlements are highly dependent on the facts of your particular case, such as your injuries and their impact on your ability to work. This makes estimating an average truck accident settlement a challenge. You might use the national numbers for typical car accident settlement amounts with injury as a baseline. These cases usually settle for about $30,416.

However, national average truck accident settlements are typically higher, falling around $103,654. This happens for a few reasons. First, heavy trucks can cause more serious injuries. These injuries can result in greater medical expenses and wage losses.

Second, trucking companies must carry much larger insurance policies and surety bonds. Under federal law, companies that carry non-hazardous cargo must have at least $750,000 in coverage, while those that carry hazardous materials might need as much as $5 million in coverage. Companies can settle for more because they have more resources.

Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Texas

A truck accident lawyer will often advise you to start with an insurance claim against the trucking company’s insurance policies and surety bonds. Surety bonds are like insurance policies except the trucking company must reimburse the surety for any claims paid.

In either case, an adjuster will investigate the claim. If the claim falls within the policy or bond, they must negotiate with your lawyer to pay the claim. The adjuster denies claims that fall outside the policy.

Your lawyer can guide you on filing a lawsuit if the adjuster refuses to make a fair settlement offer or denies your claim. A lawsuit will typically involve a neutral judge or jury to resolve any disputes over liability or losses.

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How Does a Truck Accident Lawsuit Work in Houston?

A truck accident lawsuit begins with a complaint. The trucking company’s insurers and sureties must defend it against any liability claims, which they often handle by hiring insurance defense lawyers to respond to your complaint.

Once the pleadings have been filed, the case enters discovery. The parties then gather evidence to support their cases.

Most cases settle before trial. If your case reaches trial, the lawyers will present their evidence to a jury. The jury renders a verdict that determines whether you get paid and, if so, how much.

Types of Truck Accident Cases in Houston, TX

One way to categorize truck accident cases is by the cause. Trucking companies can be held vicariously liable for employee negligence. This doctrine, called respondeat superior, means the trucking company pays if an on-duty employee drives the company’s trucks negligently.

Trucking companies can also be liable for their own negligence in operating their businesses. For example, a failure to exercise reasonable care in any of the following areas might expose a company to liability for resulting crashes:

  • Vetting drivers, including independent contractors, for safety
  • Conducting drug and alcohol testing
  • Repairing and maintaining trucks and trailers
  • Loading and securing cargo
  • Supervising drivers to reduce fatigue

While the same legal principles of negligence apply in both cases, the facts proving negligence may be different depending on the cause of the crash.

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Contact ConsumerShield for Help Finding a Truck Accident Lawyer in Houston

Trucking companies, insurers and sureties could fight hard against your claim, hoping to frustrate you into taking a low settlement. A lawyer can assess your case and fight for a fair amount.

ConsumerShield can connect you with a qualified truck accident lawyer in Houston. Contact us for a free case review and lawyer referral today.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If you suffered any losses due to the accident, such as medical bills and lost income, it may be wise to contact a truck accident lawyer. A lawyer can help you present the strongest case possible to give you the best chance of obtaining compensation.

  • A truck accident attorney files your insurance claim and deals with adjusters to get your claim accepted. If the adjuster accepts your claim, the lawyer negotiates a fair settlement. If they deny it, the lawyer can respond to the denial or file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

  • You can seek compensation for economic losses like medical bills and lost paychecks. You can also pursue damages for non-economic losses that affect your quality of life, such as physical pain, mental anguish, disability, disfigurement and dismemberment. A lawyer can help you document your losses for your case.

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