Trucking Injury Lawyer In Texas
18-wheeler crashes cause catastrophic injuries. Trucking companies and their insurers move fast to protect themselves. We move faster. Cesar Ornelas Injury Law represents victims across Texas, New Mexico, and California with no fee unless we win.
18-Wheeler Cases Are Different.
Your Lawyer Should Be Too.
Trucking companies carry massive insurance policies and deploy legal teams within hours of an accident. You need a firm that has handled these cases at the highest level and has the results to prove it.
Why You Need a Trucking Injury Lawyer On Your Side
Trucking accidents are multi-faceted and need expertise and understanding of the industry. A trucking injury lawyer will know not only how to handle the case, but also handle the settlement and make sure that you are taken care of from your injury.
- Federal Trucking Regulations – 18-wheeler cases are governed by FMCSA regulations covering hours of service, maintenance logs, driver qualification, and cargo loading. We know these rules in full and know how violations create liability.
- Multiple Liable Parties – Trucking accidents often involve the driver, the carrier, the freight broker, the cargo loader, and the truck manufacturer. We identify every liable party and pursue every available avenue of recovery.
- Evidence Disappears Fast – Electronic logging device data, dash cam footage, and black box records can be overwritten or destroyed within days. We send spoliation letters and secure this evidence before it is gone.
- No Fee Unless We Win – Our practice is entirely contingency-based. We advance all case costs and collect nothing unless we recover compensation for you. You have no financial risk in calling us.
18-Wheeler Accident Cases We Represent
Areas We Serve
We advocate for injury victims across the nation, focusing on Texas, New Mexico, and California for now. Our approach ensures that every case is trial-ready from the very beginning.
Trucking Injury Lawyers Serving Clients Across Texas
Texas has the most registered large trucks of any state in the country and consistently ranks among the highest for trucking fatalities. The interstate corridors connecting San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, and Laredo carry some of the heaviest commercial freight traffic in the nation, and I-35, I-10, and I-20 see thousands of 18-wheelers daily. The combination of high freight volume, long haul routes, and extreme weather conditions across West Texas and the Gulf Coast creates conditions where driver fatigue, overloaded cargo, and equipment failures cause serious crashes on a regular basis.
Texas law allows victims of 18-wheeler accidents to pursue claims against the driver, the trucking company, and any third parties whose negligence contributed to the crash. Texas does not cap compensatory damages in most personal injury cases, which means victims with serious injuries can recover the full value of their medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. We handle trucking accident cases in San Antonio, El Paso, Laredo, Midland, Odessa, and across the state.
Trusted trucking Injury Representation Across New Mexico
New Mexico sits at a critical crossroads for interstate freight movement between the western and southern United States. I-40, which runs east to west across the state through Albuquerque, and I-25, which runs north to south, carry a high volume of commercial truck traffic year-round. The open, high-speed stretches of highway across New Mexico, combined with unpredictable weather including sudden dust storms and ice in winter, create dangerous conditions for vehicles sharing the road with large commercial trucks. Accidents on these corridors often involve catastrophic injuries given the speeds involved.
New Mexico follows a pure comparative fault system, which means your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but is not eliminated unless you are found entirely at fault. The statute of limitations for personal injury in New Mexico is three years from the date of the accident. We represent 18-wheeler accident victims in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Carlsbad, Hobbs, and throughout the state. Our team is familiar with New Mexico courts and the trucking carriers that operate through the region.
Experienced Trucking Injury Lawyers Serving California Communities
California is the largest freight market in the United States. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the busiest in the country, and millions of tons of cargo move through the state’s highway system every year. This means more 18-wheelers on California roads than virtually anywhere else in the nation. The I-5, I-10, and I-15 corridors are among the most congested truck routes in the country, and the combination of dense traffic, aggressive lane changes, and driver fatigue on long haul routes creates conditions for serious and fatal trucking accidents daily.
California has some of the strictest trucking safety regulations in the country, including its own rules on top of federal FMCSA requirements. California also follows a pure comparative negligence standard, meaning you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault. The statute of limitations for personal injury in California is two years. California law also provides stronger protections against freight brokers who retain unsafe carriers, which can significantly expand the pool of liable defendants in a trucking crash case. We represent 18-wheeler accident victims in Corona, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and throughout California.
Over $1 Billion Won in Personal Injury Cases
It’s Not Just a Case. It’s Personal. The Cesar Ornelas Difference
Every personal injury case we accept runs on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees. We get paid when you do. That alignment of interests means we are always working toward the same goal: the maximum possible recovery for you.
Serious accidents do not follow a schedule, and our team is available any time. Call (210) 957-2103 to speak with a member of our team. We offer free consultations and will travel to you when needed.
We’ve helped thousands recover the compensation they deserve. Now it’s your turn.
With top trial lawyers on our team, we bring experience and strength to every case.
Every client. Every day. We fight for maximum compensation and real justice.
From doctor visits to insurance claims, we take care of it all so you can focus on healing.
We walk you through your case and your right to an injury settlement—clearly and honestly.
You’ll never be left in the dark. We provide clear, consistent updates and 24/7 access to our team.
Our Process for 18-Wheeler Accident Cases
We review your case at no charge, assess liability, identify the defendants, and tell you directly what your claim may be worth. No obligation. We send spoliation letters to the carrier and secure ELD records, dash cam footage, black box data, maintenance logs, and driver qualification files before they can be altered or destroyed.
We retain accident reconstruction experts, FMCSA compliance specialists, and medical professionals to build a complete picture of what happened and who is responsible.
We prepare a full demand package and negotiate directly with the carrier’s insurance team. Our track record in litigation gives us real leverage at the table. We prepare every case for trial from day one. Most trucking cases settle, but trucking companies and their insurers know we take cases to verdict when necessary.
Brain Injury Lawsuit FAQs
Seek medical attention first, even if you feel fine. Trucking injuries often manifest hours or days later. Document everything you can at the scene including photos, witness names, and the truck’s DOT number and carrier name. Do not give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer before speaking with an attorney. Call us as soon as possible so we can begin preserving evidence.
Yes. Under federal law, motor carriers are vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their drivers. You can also bring direct claims against the carrier for negligent hiring, negligent maintenance, and allowing hours of service violations. Depending on the facts, claims may also extend to freight brokers, cargo loaders, and equipment manufacturers.
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is two years from the date of the accident. In New Mexico it is three years. In California it is two years. Wrongful death claims follow different timelines in each state. Acting quickly is critical because electronic data from the truck can be overwritten and witness memories fade. Contact us as soon as possible.
Trucking companies frequently classify drivers as independent contractors to limit their liability exposure. Courts in all three states we serve regularly look past this classification when the carrier exercises control over how the driver operates. We evaluate the actual relationship between the driver and carrier and pursue the carrier directly when the facts support it.
The value of a trucking accident case depends on the severity of your injuries, your lost income, your future medical needs, and the degree of negligence involved. Cases with catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, or evidence of egregious carrier conduct can result in significantly higher recoveries. We provide a full case evaluation at no charge so you understand the value of your claim before making any decisions.
