Commercial vehicle accidents are among the most devastating crashes on Texas roads. A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When one collides with a passenger car, the consequences are rarely minor. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, shattered bones, and wrongful death claims are the realities that East Texas families face after these crashes—and they face them while going up against some of the most well-resourced corporate legal teams in the country.
McKay Law has built its reputation as the leading commercial vehicle accident law firm in East Texas via understanding something that most general personal injury firms do not: these cases are fundamentally different from standard car accident claims. The regulations are more complex. The defendants are more powerful. The evidence is more time-sensitive. And the stakes could not be higher.
Serving Tyler, Longview, Sulphur Springs, Greenville, Paris, Marshall, Jacksonville, Henderson, Nacogdoches, Palestine, Lufkin, Texarkana, Kilgore, Carthage, Lindale, Winnsboro, Gladewater, Canton, and 19+ additional East Texas communities, McKay Law is here to fight for you from day one.
If you or a loved one has been hit by a commercial vehicle, do not wait. Call McKay Law now at (903) 465-8733 for a free consultation available 24/7.
The Scale of the Problem: Commercial Vehicle Crashes in Texas
Texas roads carry more commercial truck traffic than almost any other state in the country. According to the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts, there were 4,150 traffic fatalities statewide in 2024 alone, with one reportable crash occurring every 57 seconds on Texas roadways. TxDOT’s 2024 data on Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)-involved crashes recorded 39,393 CMV-involved crashes across the state, resulting in 608 fatalities and 7,312 suspected serious injuries.
East Texas is no exception. Highways like I-20, I-30, US-59/I-69, and US-80 are primary commercial corridors where heavy trucks run day and night. Rural roads, changing weather conditions, and long stretches between exits create additional hazards that increase the risk of life-altering collisions. When one of those collisions involves you or your family, you need a legal team that knows this region—its roads, its courts, and its judges—inside and out.
McKay Law does.
Why Commercial Vehicle Cases Are Far More Complex Than Standard Car Accidents
Many accident victims make the mistake of treating a commercial vehicle crash like a standard fender-bender. That approach can cost them dearly. Here is why these cases operate on an entirely different level:
Multiple Defendants, Multiple Insurance Policies
Commercial vehicle accidents rarely involve just one at-fault party. Depending on the circumstances, liability may extend to the truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, a parts manufacturer, a maintenance contractor, or even a broker who arranged the shipment. Each defendant carries its own insurance policy, and each policy represents a potential source of compensation for your injuries.
McKay Law investigates every angle—evaluating all potential defendants to ensure you pursue the maximum recovery available under the law.
A Corporate Legal Machine Activates Immediately
The moment a serious commercial vehicle accident occurs, the trucking company’s insurer assigns experienced defense attorneys and accident reconstruction specialists to the case. Their job is to minimize the company’s liability. Fast. That means gathering evidence, coaching witnesses, and building a defense narrative before you have even left the hospital.
This is not the time to handle things on your own. It is not the time to give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster without legal advice. McKay Law sends evidence preservation letters the same day a case is taken—and advises every client: do not speak to the commercial vehicle company’s insurer before calling us first. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that reduce or eliminate your claim.
Federal and State Regulations Create Complicated Legal Rules
Commercial truck drivers and their employers must comply with a dense web of federal and state regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) governs most interstate trucking operations, setting rules on everything from driver hours to vehicle maintenance to cargo securement.
Take Hours of Service (HOS) rules as an example. Under FMCSA regulations, property-carrying drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. They are also subject to a 60/70-hour on-duty limit over 7/8 consecutive days. Violations of these rules—especially in fatigue-related crashes—can constitute strong evidence of negligence.
Federal regulations also require most commercial drivers to maintain electronic logs of their duty status via Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), which must be certified and registered with FMCSA. Carriers are required to retain this data for six months. That data can be critical evidence in your case—but only if it is preserved before it disappears.
Additionally, under 49 CFR Part 393 Subpart I, cargo must be contained, immobilized, or secured to prevent shifting that adversely affects the vehicle’s stability or maneuverability. Violations of cargo securement standards are a documented cause of disastrous accidents on Texas highways.
McKay Law’s attorneys understand these regulations deeply—and know exactly how to use violations as evidence of negligence in your case.
The McKay Law Approach: Preserving Evidence, Protecting Your Case
Evidence in commercial vehicle accident cases has a very short shelf life. Electronic Control Module (ECM) data, GPS and telematics records, dashcam footage, driver logs, inspection reports, and upkeep records can be overwritten, lost, or destroyed if legal hold notices are not sent immediately.
McKay Law takes swift, firm action. From the moment you retain the firm, the team sends preservation letters to every relevant party—trucking companies, fleet managers, and insurers—demanding that all electronic data, vehicle maintenance records, and driver qualification files be preserved. This aggressive, proactive posture is one of the most important things a commercial vehicle accident attorney can do for a client in the critical hours after a crash.
The firm’s investigative skills include:
- ECM/Black Box Data: Records of speed, braking, and engine performance at the time of the crash
- ELD Records: Driver hours and rest periods confirming whether HOS violations occurred
- Dashcam and Surveillance Footage: Visual evidence of the collision
- Driver Qualification Files: Employment history, training records, and prior violations
- Maintenance and Inspection Records: Documentation of known mechanical defects
- GPS and Telematics Data: Live tracking data from the vehicle
No stone is left unturned.
Common Causes of Commercial Vehicle Accidents in East Texas
Understanding why a crash happened is essential to building a winning case. McKay Law has identified and litigated cases stemming from all of the following causes:
- Driver Fatigue: Hours-of-service violations that push drivers beyond safe limits
- Distracted Driving: Phone use, in-cab technology, or other inattention behind the wheel
- Speeding and Aggressive Driving: Especially dangerous given the stopping distance required for a fully loaded commercial vehicle
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol, prescription drugs, or controlled substances affecting reaction time
- Inadequate Training and Supervision: Employers who place unqualified drivers behind the wheel
- Negligent Hiring Practices: Failure to conduct proper background checks or verify CDL credentials
- Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering defects that could have been prevented
- Overloaded or Improperly Secured Cargo: Cargo that shifts mid-transport and causes the driver to lose control
- Defective Vehicle Parts: Manufacturing or design defects in brakes, tires, or other critical components
- Poor Weather Decisions: Continuing to operate under dangerous conditions without appropriate speed reduction
Each of these causes points to a potentially liable party. McKay Law’s job is to identify them all.
Crossing the Insurance Maze
Insurance companies that represent large trucking firms are not on your side. They have experienced claims teams whose purpose is to reduce payouts, dispute liability, and pressure injured victims into accepting settlements that fall far short of what they actually need.
Common tactics include contacting quickly after an accident to obtain a recorded statement, making a fast but grossly inadequate settlement, and challenging the severity of your injuries with their own medical experts.
McKay Law fights back—aggressively. The firm challenges unfair fault assignments, negotiates hard against lowball settlement offers, and prepares every case as though it will go to trial. That posture sends a clear message to insurance defense teams: McKay Law’s clients will not be undervalued.
When you hire McKay Law, you also receive:
- Free property damage representation: The team handles repair negotiations, total loss valuations, and rental car coverage advocacy at no additional charge
- Weekly communication: Client updates are guaranteed—not optional—so you are never left wondering about the status of your case
- A dedicated in-house nurse: McKay Law’s Texas Nursing Board Certified nurse guides personal injury clients on medical treatment decisions, guaranteeing your health and legal needs are addressed together
- No fee unless we win: Zero financial risk to you
When McKay Law Goes to Work: A Real East Texas Case
Results matter. In 2023, McKay Law secured a $6,000,000 wrongful death settlement for Hayley Dorsey, a mother of three young boys whose husband was killed when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by an 18-wheeler in Gilmer, Texas.
The case involved contested liability. The trucking company argued that the driver of the victim’s vehicle was partially at fault for failing to yield. McKay Law countered by demonstrating that the 18-wheeler was traveling over the posted speed limit and that the driver was not operating safely for road conditions at the upcoming intersection.
Within six months, McKay Law obtained the full $6,000,000 policy limit.
In Hayley Dorsey’s own words: “She is tough! And we trusted her from day one. Nothing gets past her. They tried to contest liability, but Ms. McKay got us the full policy of $6,000,000 in less than 6 months. Now I can focus on taking care of my boys and helping us grieve this horrible loss.”
This is what fighting for best results looks like in practice.
Frequently Asked Questions: Commercial Vehicle Accidents in East Texas
What makes a commercial vehicle accident different from a regular car accident?
Commercial vehicle accidents involve larger, heavier vehicles and are governed by a complex set of federal and state regulations. They typically involve multiple defendants—including the driver, the trucking company, cargo loaders, and potentially manufacturers—each with separate insurance policies. Corporate legal teams mobilize immediately after a crash, making prompt legal representation essential.
How long do I have to file a commercial vehicle accident claim in Texas?
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of the accident (or the date of death in wrongful death cases) to file a personal injury claim. Acting quickly protects critical evidence and preserves your legal rights.
What types of compensation can I recover?
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, future care costs), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life), wrongful death damages, and in some cases, exemplary or punitive damages if the conduct was especially egregious.
Does McKay Law handle my property damage as well?
Yes. McKay Law includes free property damage representation with every case. The firm handles repair negotiations, total loss valuations, and rental car advocacy at no additional charge to you.
Can I afford a commercial vehicle accident attorney?
McKay Law operates on a contingency fee basis: no fee unless we win. You face zero financial risk in pursuing your case.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under this rule, you can still recover damages as long as you are found to be no more than 50% at fault for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced proportionately by your percentage of fault. McKay Law aggressively challenges unfair fault assignments to protect your right to full recovery.
Don’t Wait—Your Case Clock Is Already Running
After a commercial vehicle accident in East Texas, the trucking company’s lawyers are already working. Evidence is already at risk. Every hour that passes without legal representation is an hour the other side uses to build their defense.
McKay Law serves more East Texas communities than any other personal injury firm in the region. With 20+ years of combined experience, a proven track record of multi-million-dollar results, and an authentic devotion to every client’s well-being, the firm stands ready to fight for what you deserve.
Call McKay Law at (903) 465-8733 or submit your case online at mckaylawtx.com for a free consultation, available 24/7. No fees unless we win. You may be owed money—and you should not face this fight alone.
