Identify the carrier behind the truck
A commercial crash can involve a driver and several companies. Nolan reviews carrier and vehicle information before assuming the driver is the only relevant party.
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Dallas truck accident Lawyer
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Discuss your truck accident case directly with Nolan. Review the evidence, coverage and next steps.
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Contacting the firm does not create an attorney–client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Talk about your truck crash
Hurt in a truck crash?
Get help facing a commercial claim.
A collision with an 18-wheeler can leave you dealing with serious injuries while a trucking company and its insurer investigate. Nolan can discuss what happened and the work involved in reviewing the commercial evidence and your losses.
- Examine driver, vehicle and company records for the particular collision questions, rather than treating the crash as a larger car wreck.
- Address preservation and case preparation while keeping treatment costs and work disruption central to the discussion.
Nolan Ryan McConvilleManaging attorney · Licensed in Texas since 2016
Firmwide: 99% win rate.
Firmwide: 99% win rate.
Dallas truck accident cases
Dallas truck and 18-wheeler accident lawyer
Nolan Ryan McConvilleManaging attorney · Licensed in Texas since 2016A crash with an 18-wheeler is not a bigger car wreck. It is a commercial case against a company that has a response plan, an insurer and defense counsel, often before you leave the hospital.
Nolan Ryan McConville represents people hurt in truck crashes across Dallas-Fort Worth. He moves fast on the evidence trucking companies control, works your case personally, and prepares it for trial from the start. The consultation is free, and there is no attorney's fee unless money is recovered.
- Free consultation
- No fee unless we recover
- Work directly with Nolan
Do you have the carrier name or photos of the truck?
If the truck or recordings may change, start with the evidence discussion. If you are trying to understand what the investigation involves, use the preparation steps. Missing company records should not stop the first conversation.
About Nolan Ryan McConville, Texas attorney since 2016 · Updated October 2026
Nolan Ryan McConville
Managing attorney
- Licensed in Texas since 2016
- J.D. cum laude, Texas Tech School of Law
- Member, Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Keep tractor, trailer and company details distinct
The visible identifiers
For each existing truck photo, note whether it shows the tractor, trailer or another vehicle. Keep visible names, unit numbers and plates with the correct image.
The paperwork
When a report, tow receipt or letter uses a different company name, retain both versions. Record where each name appeared rather than assuming one must be a mistake.
The question for review
Tell Nolan which identifiers you cannot connect. You do not need to decide who owned, operated or loaded the equipment before asking him to review the available records.
Why trucks are different
A commercial case from the first minute
A loaded tractor-trailer weighs many times more than a passenger car and needs far more room to stop. Injuries are often severe: spinal and brain injuries, fractures, burns and deaths.
A rule violation can be strong evidence, but only if someone gets the records.
18-wheeler crash patterns
- A jackknife can block several lanes.
- A car can slide under a trailer with missing or damaged underride guards or poor lighting.
- A tire blowout can throw debris across traffic, and a shifted load can tip a trailer on a curved ramp.
Trucks Nolan handles
- 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers, box and delivery trucks, dump trucks and gravel haulers on Dallas construction projects, tankers and tow trucks.
- A city garbage truck or other government vehicle requires a separate immunity-waiver, notice and damage-cap review.
Federal safety rules
Depending on the operation and vehicle, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules cover hours of service, electronic logs, inspection and maintenance, driver qualification, and drug and alcohol testing. An applicable violation can help prove negligence when it relates to the crash.
The carrier moves fast
- After a serious crash, many carriers send an adjuster or investigator to the scene within hours to protect the company.
- They photograph the scene, download the truck's data and talk to witnesses.
- Nolan promptly requests the records and inspections needed to protect your side of the case.
Evidence on a timer
Truck evidence that can disappear
- Electronic logging device (ELD) data showing driving and duty hours
- Engine control module data on speed, braking and throttle before impact
- Forward-facing and driver-facing dashcam video
- Dispatch messages, trip records and delivery schedules
- Cell phone records for the time of the crash
- Inspection, maintenance and repair records for the tractor and trailer
- The driver qualification file, hiring and training records
- Post-crash drug and alcohol test results
- Bills of lading, weight tickets and cargo-loading records
Case preparation
What Nolan checks first
Nolan moves first on the evidence the carrier controls, then on the crash report, the coverage and your medical records.
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01Review step
Preservation letters
Nolan sends preservation letters to the motor carrier, the driver and the insurer, demanding they keep ELD data, engine data, dashcam video, dispatch records and the truck itself.
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02Review step
Inspect the vehicles
Where needed, he arranges for the truck and your vehicle to be inspected before anything is repaired or destroyed. He also looks for nearby business and traffic video.
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03Review step
Review the crash report
He orders the Texas Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3) through TxDOT's CRIS system and reviews it for the carrier's USDOT number, any citations and the investigating agency.
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04Review step
Coverage and medical records
He tracks down every policy that may apply, including the carrier's primary and excess coverage and your own PIP and UM/UIM. He also starts collecting your medical records from the first responders forward.
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05Review step
Keep everything
Keep your photos, the tow receipt, the names of anyone who stopped, and any card or letter a trucking company representative left with you.
The sequence and timing depend on your case, engagement and the records available.
Don't give a statement to the carrier's adjuster before you talk to Nolan.
Common causes
What causes truck crashes around Dallas
Driver fatigue
Tight delivery windows push drivers past their hours. Electronic logs and fuel receipts can show it.
Brake and tire failures
Skipped inspections and deferred repairs show up in maintenance records and post-crash inspections.
Improper loading
Overweight or poorly secured cargo can shift, spill or cause a rollover. The shipper or loader may share fault.
Wide turns and blind spots
Right-turn squeezes and lane changes into a car the driver never checked for are common on Dallas frontage roads.
Distraction and impairment
Dispatch messages, phone use and drugs or alcohol all fall under federal rules and testing requirements.
Unqualified drivers
Carriers must vet the drivers they hire. A thin or missing qualification file can point to the company, not only the driver.
Local freight
Dallas freight routes and where trucks crash
Dallas is a freight hub, and trucks share every major interchange with commuters.
Big interchanges
- The downtown Mixmaster where I-30 meets I-35E, the High Five at LBJ Freeway and US-75, and the LBJ express-lane merges see heavy truck traffic and frequent lane changes.
- Nolan's North Dallas office sits on LBJ Freeway, so he knows that corridor well.
Southern warehouse districts
- Distribution centers in Lancaster, Wilmer, Hutchins and the rest of southern Dallas County put trucks on I-20, I-45 and I-35E at all hours.
- Wide, slow turns across frontage roads and construction zones leave little room for a driver's mistake.
Overnight long-haul routes
Long-haul trucks run I-45 toward Houston and I-20 toward Fort Worth and Shreveport through the night, when fatigue can become a bigger factor.
Out-of-state carriers
Many of those trucks belong to out-of-state carriers. Nolan identifies the motor carrier, its insurer and any broker or shipper early, so the right companies are on notice.
The long view
Planning for serious injuries
Truck crash injuries often affect years of your life, not weeks. The claim needs medical and economic support, and Nolan builds it before settlement talks start.
Carriers and their insurers can tell which cases are being built for a jury.
What a full claim covers
A full claim may include future surgeries, therapy, home changes, lost earning capacity, and physical pain and mental anguish. Where the facts call for it, Nolan brings in accident reconstructionists and trucking safety consultants.
Exemplary damages
- When a carrier's conduct goes beyond carelessness, such as knowingly keeping a dangerous driver or truck on the road, exemplary damages may be available.
- They require clear and convincing evidence of fraud, malice or gross negligence, and Texas generally caps them.
Prepared for trial
Nolan prepares truck cases for trial from the start. That preparation can shape how a case resolves.
Wrongful death claims
If a truck crash took the life of someone in your family, the same evidence work applies to a wrongful death claim.
Don't wait on a truck case
The trucking company starts its investigation right away. ELD and dashcam data can be overwritten, and a damaged truck can be repaired or sold. The sooner a preservation letter goes out, the more evidence is likely to survive. Call Nolan at (214) 706-4031.
Questions about preserving evidence? Call Nolan at (214) 706-4031
Past results
Related results
Past result
$10,000,000
18-wheeler accident settlement
Case results are gross settlement amounts from past Nolan Ryan Law cases and depend on the facts of each case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Related cases
Related practice areas
Car accidents
Wrongful death
Company vehicle accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Free consultation
Talk to Nolan about your case
There is no cost to talk with Nolan, and no attorney's fee unless money is recovered.
Share any carrier name, report number or truck photos. You do not need company records before discussing preservation with Nolan.
Describe what you know about the truck’s current location and any contact from company representatives. Ask which preservation questions remain open; you do not need to obtain the carrier’s private records yourself.
- Fee agreed in writing
- Phone, video or in person
- You talk directly with Nolan
Your written fee agreement also explains how case expenses are handled.
Your case, handled personally
5 reasons to choose Nolan Ryan
Seek the data the carrier controls
Electronic logs, engine information, dispatch records and dash camera footage can answer different questions. Nolan requests relevant evidence connected to the particular collision.
Consider inspection before repairs
A truck or vehicle inspection may help explain the crash. Where needed, Nolan seeks inspection before repairs or other changes alter the available evidence.
Read the commercial crash details
Nolan reviews the crash report for carrier identifiers, citations and the investigating agency, considering that information alongside company records rather than relying on a report alone.
Connect the injury and insurance evidence
Commercial coverage does not answer every claim question. Nolan reviews applicable policies alongside the collision evidence and medical records when discussing the available options.
Recent Victories
Proven Case Results
Case results are gross settlement amounts from past Nolan Ryan Law cases and depend on the facts of each case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
$10 Million
Major 18 Wheeler Accident Settlement
$12 Million
Construction Accident and Wrongful Death Settlement
$1.5 Million
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
$1,150,000
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
Pre-suit Offer: $0
$775,000
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
$2,100,000
Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Pre-suit Offer: $0
Personal Injury Cases we handle
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you need a team that acts fast and fights hard. Nolan Ryan Law has a strong record of securing significant settlements and verdicts for injured Texans.
We pursue the full compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing while we handle the fight.
Call Us Now
Talk with Nolan Ryan Law about the incident, the records available and your questions. The consultation is free. Fees and case expenses are explained in a written agreement.
- Start with what you know — incident details and report number, if available
- Discuss your questions — evidence, responsibility and possible coverage
- Understand the next steps — consultation and written agreement
- Meet by phone or video — Dallas office meetings by appointment
- Clear expectations — an inquiry does not create an attorney–client relationship
100% Free Case Evaluation
Share the city, what happened and your contact details for follow-up. Start with the information you have.
Testimonials
What Real clients say
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are truck accident cases different from car cases?
Truck cases can involve several companies, commercial insurance and safety records controlled by the carrier.
For property-carrying drivers covered by federal hours-of-service rules, usual limits are 11 driving hours after 10 consecutive hours off within a 14-hour window. A 30-minute interruption is generally required after 8 cumulative driving hours; exceptions can apply.
Proving a violation means getting electronic logging, dispatch, maintenance and driver qualification records before they are lost, so a preservation letter should go out quickly.
How much insurance do trucking companies carry?
Federal law generally requires interstate for-hire carriers hauling nonhazardous property in vehicles rated 10,001 pounds or more to carry at least $750,000 in public liability coverage. Carriers hauling oil or certain hazardous materials need $1 million or $5 million. Many carriers also have excess policies, which is why truck cases often involve several insurers.
Who can be held responsible for a truck crash?
Depending on the facts, the driver, the motor carrier, the company that loaded the cargo, a maintenance contractor or a parts manufacturer. Each may have its own insurer and lawyers.
Where do truck crashes happen around Dallas?
Freight moves through the Dallas inland port south of I-20 between I-35 and I-45, and along I-20, I-30, I-35E, I-45 and I-635. TxDOT data shows 305 fatal crashes in Dallas County in 2024, 81 of them on interstates. These totals cover all crash types, not only trucks.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Texas?
Generally two years from the date of the crash, or two years from death in a wrongful-death case, subject to exceptions. Government claims require separate notice and immunity review. Evidence disappears much faster, so it is best to act within days, not months.
What if the trucking company blames me?
Texas reduces your recovery by your share of fault and bars recovery only if you were more than 50% responsible. Truck data recorders, logs and dash cameras often show what really happened.
What if the truck and trucking company are from out of state?
A crash on a Dallas road can usually be brought in a Texas court even when the carrier is based in another state. Federal safety rules apply to interstate carriers wherever they operate. Cases between parties from different states are sometimes moved to federal court, which changes the schedule but not the core evidence.
How long does a truck accident case usually take?
It depends on the injuries and how hard the carrier fights. Many claims wait until treatment shows the full medical picture, and cases that go to suit can take a year or more. Nolan will give you a realistic timeline once he has seen the evidence, without promising a date.
Where we help: we represent injured people across Dallas-Fort Worth, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Irving, Garland, Grand Prairie, Mesquite and the other communities we serve. Meet attorney Nolan Ryan McConville.