Understanding Serious Truck Accident Injuries in Texas
Accidents happen in a heartbeat. You’re merging onto I-35, heading home after a long day.
Out of nowhere, an 18-wheeler swerves into your lane.
The impact is deafening. Glass flies. Metal crunches. Suddenly, your world has changed forever.
Truck accidents don’t just cause wrecked vehicles. They cause wrecked lives.
At Angel Reyes & Associates, we’ve spent over three decades helping Texans survive and recover after crashes exactly like this.
We know how hard it is to fight for your health and your future while insurance companies fight to pay as little as possible.
Why Truck Accident Injuries Are So Devastating
When a commercial truck weighing 80,000 pounds slams into a smaller vehicle, physics doesn’t favor the smaller one.
Even low-speed collisions can cause massive injuries. On major highways like Loop 12 or I-20, a jackknife or underride wreck can destroy lives in seconds.
The severity also stems from what trucks are carrying: hazardous cargo, flammable fuel, or unstable loads.
If freight shifts, it can send a rig into another lane or cause a rollover, putting everyone nearby at risk.
Our Dallas overloaded & unsecured cargo accident lawyers have seen firsthand how improperly secured loads lead to catastrophic crashes.
And with large trucks often weigh 20 to 30 times more than smaller cars, even minor collisions turn fatal fast.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 65% of truck crash fatalities in 2023 were people in smaller vehicles.
Life-Altering Injuries We See After Truck Crashes
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Some truck accident victims hit their heads and lose consciousness.
Others walk away thinking they’re fine, only to later experience blinding headaches, confusion, memory loss, or sudden mood swings.
These are signs of a traumatic brain injury.
In severe cases, TBIs lead to speech loss, chronic migraines, personality changes, or permanent disability.
Many victims in Dallas and across Texas require long-term care and support just to manage daily life again.
The cognitive impairments can affect everything from remembering loved ones’ names to performing basic work tasks.
Spinal Cord Damage and Paralysis
In one moment, you have full control of your body.
In the next, you may lose the ability to walk, lift your child, or perform basic tasks.
Truck accidents often crush vertebrae or sever nerves, causing partial or complete paralysis.
Severe accident injuries force families to adapt fast: installing ramps, buying wheelchairs, and paying for lifelong care.
The emotional toll is just as devastating. Spinal trauma affects relationships, career prospects, and mental health in ways that deserve full compensation.
Internal Injuries
What you don’t see can be deadly. Many internal injuries such as punctured lungs, internal bleeding, or organ damage don’t show up right away.
Victims sometimes decline treatment, only to collapse hours later.
That’s why seeking immediate medical attention is critical after any crash, no matter how minor it seems.
Early diagnosis could save your life and strengthen your legal case. Internal organ damage from truck accidents often requires multiple surgeries and extended hospital stays.
Broken Bones and Fractures
We often hear clients downplay a broken arm or leg. But in physically demanding jobs like construction, roofing, or HVAC, even a minor fracture can mean months without work.
And truck accidents rarely cause simple breaks.
Compound fractures often require metal rods, pins, and multiple surgeries, followed by therapy, lost income, and insurance battles.
The immense force generated by truck accidents frequently affects arms, legs, ribs, and the pelvis. Complications such as improper healing or infections can further worsen the situation.
Burns and Lacerations
In truck crashes involving spilled fuel or fire, burns can cause severe disfigurement. Deep cuts from broken glass and twisted metal leave permanent scars.
Some survivors can’t return to jobs in sales, customer service, or public-facing roles because of visible injuries.
Burns often require skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries. Beyond physical pain, the emotional toll of disfigurement affects self-esteem and mental health, making recovery even more challenging.
The scars, both physical and emotional, deserve legal recognition and compensation.
Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries
Whiplash and soft tissue injuries are among the most common truck accident injuries.
The sudden force during a collision can strain muscles, ligaments, and tendons, particularly in the neck and back.
These injuries often cause chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, requiring extensive physical therapy for recovery.
What starts as neck pain can develop into chronic conditions that affect your ability to work and enjoy life.
Emotional Trauma and PTSD
Not every injury leaves a physical mark. Many survivors suffer panic attacks, flashbacks, or refuse to drive altogether.
PTSD from a truck crash is real, and it can affect every part of life: work, relationships, sleep, and mental health.
Texas law allows compensation for emotional harm, but it must be documented properly through therapy records and evaluations.
The psychological impact of watching an 18-wheeler bear down on you is something many victims never fully overcome.
What to Do After a Truck Crash
After a truck wreck, you’re in shock. It’s hard to think clearly. But the choices you make in those first hours and days can impact your future and the success of any truck accident settlement.
First, get medical care—even if you don’t feel hurt. Many serious injuries don’t show symptoms right away.
A doctor’s report can not only protect your health but serve as key evidence.
If you’re able, gather details at the crash site: photos of damage, skid marks, vehicle positions, and any company logos on the truck.
Try to get names and contact info for any witnesses. If police respond, request a copy of the report as soon as possible.
Avoid speaking with insurance companies until you have consulted a lawyer.
Understanding truck accident liability is complex, often involving multiple parties, and an experienced attorney can guide you through the process while protecting your rights.
What Compensation Can Truck Accident Victims Recover?
The aftermath of a serious truck crash touches every part of your life. That’s why Texas law allows victims to seek damages that go beyond hospital bills.
The average payout for an 18-wheeler accident in Texas varies widely based on several factors.
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical costs, including surgeries, rehab, and long-term care
- Lost wages during recovery, or reduced earning capacity if you can’t return to work
- Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
- Punitive damages, in cases where gross negligence is proven (like drunk or fatigued truck drivers)
We work with a network of medical professionals, financial experts, and life care planners to fully assess what you need, and fight to make sure it’s covered.
Our recent data shows that truck accident settlements in Texas typically range from $750,000 to $5,000,000, with the amount depending on injury severity and case specifics.
Common Causes Behind These Devastating Injuries
Understanding the top causes of truck accidents in Texas helps explain why injuries are so severe:
- Driver fatigue, contributing to more than 13% of all truck accidents
- Distracted driving, even seconds of distraction can be fatal with an 80,000-pound vehicle
- Improper cargo loading, causing rollovers and jackknife accidents
- Brake failures, loaded trucks need 20% to 40% more stopping distance than cars
- Speeding and reckless driving, often due to pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines
If you’ve been rear-ended by a commercial truck, the physics of the collision make severe injuries almost inevitable, even at relatively low speeds.
FAQs About Truck Accident Injuries in Texas
What are the most common injuries in truck crashes?
Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal organ injuries, fractures, and PTSD are the most frequent. The severity often depends on impact speed and the size of the vehicles involved.
How long do I have to file a claim in Texas?
Texas law limits how long you have to file. Waiting too long can prevent you from getting compensation, even if your case is strong. Contact a Texas truck accident lawyer immediately to protect your rights.
Can I get compensation for emotional trauma?
Yes, but documentation matters. Therapy notes, psychiatric evaluations, and medical records can help prove your case for pain and suffering damages.
Is the truck driver always at fault?
Not always. Fault could lie with the trucking company, a third-party loader, or a manufacturer. A lawyer helps uncover the full story and identify all liable parties.
What if I was partially at fault?
Texas follows comparative negligence rules, meaning you can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, though your award may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Why Choose Angel Reyes & Associates for Your Truck Accident Case
We know what truck crash victims go through because we’ve stood by thousands of them across Texas.
Our firm has helped clients recover after jackknife wrecks on the LBJ Freeway, underride crashes on I-20, and rollover collisions near downtown Dallas.
With offices in Dallas, Waco, El Paso, and San Antonio, we’re positioned to serve truck accident victims throughout Texas.
Our team has recovered over $1 billion for our clients, including a recent $4,800,000 settlement for a client who suffered traumatic brain injury and severe spinal cord damage in an 18-wheeler accident on I-35.
We don’t just handle the legal work. We fight for your future. You focus on healing. We’ll handle the rest.
Use our free case calculator to get an initial assessment of your potential truck accident case value, then contact us for a comprehensive consultation.
Ready to take the first step toward justice?
Contact Angel Reyes & Associates today for your free case evaluation. There are no fees unless we win your case.
