Plano Truck Accident Attorney Fighting for Injured Drivers and Families
Plano sits where several of the busiest freight routes in North Texas meet. Tractor-trailers move through the city every hour on US-75 (Central Expressway), the President George Bush Turnpike, the Dallas North Tollway, and the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH-121) along the northern edge of town. Add the delivery traffic serving the Legacy business district and the retail centers along Preston Road, and the result is constant contact between passenger cars and vehicles that can outweigh them twenty times over.
When a commercial truck hits a car, the physics are brutal. A loaded 18-wheeler can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds and needs far more room to stop than a passenger vehicle. The people inside the smaller car absorb nearly all of that force, which is why these crashes so often lead to spinal injuries, brain trauma, extended hospital stays, or a death in the family.
Our office is right here in Plano, on East Park Boulevard. Joel Vecchio has spent more than 25 years trying personal injury cases, and he handles truck claims himself instead of passing them to a case manager. Representation is on a contingency fee basis, so there is nothing to pay upfront and no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Free consultations are available 24/7, in English or Spanish.
Why a Plano Truck Crash Usually Has More Than One Defendant
A typical car wreck involves two drivers and two insurance policies. A commercial truck crash is different because the driver is only one part of a larger business operation, and each part of that operation can carry its own share of the blame.
The driver may have been tired, rushing, distracted by a phone or dispatch screen, or impaired. The motor carrier may have hired someone with a poor safety record, skipped required training, or set delivery schedules that were impossible to meet legally. The company that loaded the trailer may have overloaded it or failed to secure the freight. A repair shop may have signed off on worn brakes or bald tires. And a parts manufacturer may be responsible if a defective component failed on the road.
The Federal Safety Rules Trucking Companies Must Follow
Interstate carriers operating in Plano answer to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and the rules they must follow are detailed and specific. When a crash investigation shows that a driver or carrier broke one of these rules, that violation can become strong evidence that the crash was preventable.
Rules for the Person Behind the Wheel
Drive-time limits: Hours of Service regulations cap how long a driver can operate before taking required rest. Electronic logging devices record that time, which makes falsified logs easier to catch.
Qualification standards: carriers must confirm that every driver holds a valid commercial license, passes a medical exam, and has a driving history that meets federal requirements.
Testing for drugs and alcohol: drivers are tested before hire, at random, after qualifying crashes, and whenever a supervisor has reasonable suspicion.
Rules for the Truck and Its Load
Inspections and upkeep: carriers must inspect vehicles regularly and keep maintenance records. Brake problems, tire failures, and broken lights are among the most common violations found after a crash.
Securing the freight: federal cargo rules dictate how loads are balanced and tied down. A shifting load can tip a trailer on a highway ramp or send debris into traffic.
Weight restrictions: an overweight truck takes longer to stop and puts added stress on brakes and tires.
Protecting the Evidence Before It Disappears
Trucking companies and their insurers often have a response team working on a serious crash within hours. Their goal is to control the story. Yours should be to lock down the evidence before routine data overwrites and document purges make it unavailable.
Once retained, an attorney can send a preservation letter (sometimes called a spoliation letter) to the driver, the carrier, and their insurer. This formally puts them on notice that key records must be kept, including:
Engine control module data showing speed, braking, and throttle in the seconds before impact. Electronic logging device records that reveal whether the driver was over the legal drive-time limit. The driver qualification file, with license history, medical certification, and past violations. Dispatch messages and GPS history that can expose unrealistic delivery deadlines. Inspection and repair records for the tractor and trailer. Video footage from the truck's cameras, nearby businesses, and traffic cameras along the route.
Texas Laws That Shape a Plano Truck Accident Claim
The Filing Deadline
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash. Wrongful death claims generally run two years from the date of death. Once that window closes, the right to recover is usually gone for good. Our guide to Texas personal injury filing deadlines explains the exceptions.
Shared Fault and the 51% Bar
Texas applies modified comparative fault under Chapter 33. If you are found partly responsible, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover at all. Expect the trucking company's insurer to argue that you changed lanes too close, braked suddenly, or sat in a blind spot. Solid evidence is how those arguments are answered.
Claims Involving Government Vehicles or Roads
If a city, county, or state vehicle was involved, or a dangerous road condition played a role, the Texas Tort Claims Act may apply. Written notice is generally required within six months, and some city charters set even shorter deadlines, so these claims need attention right away.