Houston Commercial Vehicle Accident FAQs - Top Texas Attorneys at Carabin Shaw

The Lone Star State is awash in commercial vehicles. While the number of smaller vehicles is unknown, Texas is second in the nation when it comes to trucks, boasting 14 million registered private and commercial trucks in 2019. Unfortunately, this means many commercial vehicle accidents. In 2022, nearly 39,000 injury and fatality crashes involving trucks occurred in the state, with over 6,200 in Harris County.

If you or your family members have been impacted by a commercial vehicle accident in Houston Texas, it’s vital that you act quickly to protect your rights and ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve. The experienced, compassionate Houston personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw are ready to help you.

The Texas Department of Public Safety classifies vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds, carrying more than 15 passengers, or transporting hazardous materials, as commercial. Vehicles with three axles must also register as commercial vehicles. Examples include:

• 18-wheelers (also known as tractor trailers or semis)
• Transit, intercity, and school buses
• Farm worker vehicles
• Tow trucks
• Dump trucks and cement mixers

Under the Texas Transportation Code, delivery trucks are also considered commercial vehicles. Taxis, limousines, and rideshare vehicles (when in service) are often considered commercial vehicles as well.

Commercial vehicle incidents can occur anywhere, and affect anyone. In recent years, the Houston metro area has been rocked by several tragic accidents involving commercial vehicles.

• Deaths and injuries after a cement truck drove off a Beltway 8 overpass and landed on a passenger vehicle on Woodforest Blvd.
• Deaths and injuries when an SUV collided with an 18-wheeler on FM-2978 in Tomball
• Deaths and injuries after a truck went airborne and landed on a vehicle on I-69 in Montgomery County

• The death of a baby girl who was struck and killed by a rideshare driver in a parking lot off of Waverly Drive near Bush Airport
• the death of a young girl after her family’s rideshare driver chased a hit-and-run vehicle and crashed on the North Freeway service road
• deaths and injuries caused by a head-on collision involving a rideshare vehicle on Highway 249

If you or a loved one is in need of a commercial vehicle accident lawyer in Houston, it’s best to rely on a firm with years of expertise handling such cases. You may be entitled to a damage award, but a veteran attorney will know best how to evaluate your particular case and win for you the maximum compensation. You can rely on our team at Carabin Shaw to provide you with the skilled representation you deserve.

Commercial vehicles in Texas are required to carry liability insurance. After an accident, a policy with minimum coverage will pay up to $30,000 for each person injured, $60,000 for all people injured, and $25,000 for property damage. However, these minimum coverage levels may be inadequate to cover the financial losses suffered by a victim of an accident with a commercial vehicle. And Texas has some specialized laws that pertain to commercial liability cases.

That’s why a knowledgeable Houston Tx commercial accident attorney is key to recovering additional compensation after an accident. To learn how our law firm has helped other Texans win damage awards after accidents, please read our Carabin Shaw reviews.

If you or your family has been involved in a commercial vehicle accident, you need a lawyer dedicated to winning you the maximum compensation possible. Carabin Shaw offers a free case review, so there’s no reason to worry for a moment about adding another expense at a difficult time. That’s the same reason that we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we collect no legal fees or expenses unless and until we win your case.

So don’t wait another moment. You can reach us 24/7 at our toll-free number, 800-862-1260. Both English AND Spanish-speaking staff are ready to take your call.

For more information:

• FHWA
• TX DOT
• DPS Texas