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Free Consultation
(512) 910-2000
Habla Espanol
No Fees Unless We Win
Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience and legal service in Texas.
Our clients know first hand how much we do to fight for them in the courtroom.
We consistently deliver results with over 1000+ client wins.
If for any reason there is no recovery, then we receive no fee or costs.
A crash with an eighty-thousand-pound commercial truck can total a vehicle, cause catastrophic injuries, and leave a family facing medical bills within days. While the trucking company’s insurer moves quickly to protect its own position, injured victims are often left without answers about what comes next.
At TK Injury Lawyers: Austin Personal Injury Lawyer, our Austin truck accident lawyer team can investigate the crash, deal with the insurance company, and seek the compensation Texas law allows. Contact us today at (512) 910-2000 for a free consultation.
Beyond our victories, our clients’ opinions speak for us:
“TK injury made the whole process so much less stressful and were always there to answer my questions. They worked hard on my case, negotiated my medical bills down, and helped me get the best outcome possible. Would definitely recommend them” – Samantha Garbo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’m a cautious driver and never thought I’d need a lawyer, but after my accident I was grateful to have Trent Kelly Law on my side. They were upfront, honest, responsive, and excellent negotiators. After everything I went through, they helped achieve a positive outcome and made the process much less stressful. I highly recommend Trent Kelly Law to anyone needing strong, trustworthy representation.” – Corina G ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I have nothing but great things to say about Austin and his team at TK Injury Lawyers. They were patient and knowledgeable, and helped settle my personal injury case swiftly but with incredible thoroughness. Austin was always reachable and was willing to talk me through anything and everything that came up throughout the 8 months that he was working on my case.” –Melissa Suh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to eighty thousand pounds under the federal maximum weight standard for vehicles on the interstate highway system, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, compared to roughly four thousand pounds for the average passenger car. That disparity in size and force means truck collisions routinely produce catastrophic injuries even at moderate speeds.
These cases also involve more parties. A truck crash may involve the driver, a trucking company, a cargo loader, and a parts manufacturer, each covered by its own commercial insurance policy. Untangling which policy applies and how much coverage is available requires an investigation that a standard car accident claim never requires.
Trucking companies do not wait to see how a claim unfolds. Some may dispatch rapid-response teams to the scene within hours of a serious crash, and those teams are trained to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and build a defense before an injured driver has even left the hospital. Without your own legal representation working just as quickly, critical details can disappear or get reframed in the company’s favor. Our Austin truck accident attorneys can move to secure evidence, document the scene, and identify every liable party before the trucking company’s version of events becomes the only one on record.
Having an attorney on your side also means someone is calculating the value of your claim, not just the costs already reflected on your medical bills. Our team can account for future treatment, lost earning capacity, and the long-term impact a serious injury can have on your daily life, categories that an insurance adjuster has little incentive to raise on their own. We may also handle every conversation with the trucking company’s insurer directly, so you are never pressured into a quick settlement before you understand what your case is truly worth. That level of support allows you to focus on recovery while we build the claim on your behalf.
Austin’s rapid growth has pushed more freight traffic onto roads that were not built for today’s volume. Each of the following corridors carries a documented pattern of truck-involved crashes:
According to recent data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 14 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths occurred in large truck crashes. Anyone who regularly drives these Austin corridors shares the road with vehicles that take longer to stop and leave far less space for driver error.
Trucking companies control most of the evidence that determines fault, and that evidence can disappear quickly once a claim begins. Our team at TK Injury Lawyers: Austin Personal Injury Lawyer can move fast to send preservation letters demanding that a carrier retain black box data, maintenance records, and dashcam footage before routine deletion policies erase them.
Modern commercial trucks record detailed engine and event data, and federal rules under the Electronic Logging Device mandate require carriers to track driver Records of Duty Status electronically, creating a digital trail that can reveal whether a driver was behind the wheel longer than federal law allows.
Black box data can capture speed, braking, and steering input in the seconds before impact, usually settling disputes over how fast a truck was traveling or whether a driver braked at all. Dashcam footage tells its own story when it exists, and many fleets now equip cabs with forward and inward-facing cameras that carriers are sometimes reluctant to turn over voluntarily.
Depending on the case, we can also pursue driver qualification files and maintenance logs, since gaps in either can point directly to a trucking company’s own negligence in hiring or upkeep. When a carrier destroys or loses evidence after receiving notice of a claim, that failure can itself become powerful proof that the missing material would have hurt its case, and our attorneys may document every request in writing to preserve that argument.
We fundamentally believe that you hired an Austin Personal Injury Lawyer to represent you in your legal matter and you should have the ability to speak to that lawyer when issues arise.
Most truck crashes trace back to decisions made under pressure to keep a schedule. The following causes appear most often in Austin truck accident claims:
Each of these causes points to a decision made by a driver, a loading crew, or a maintenance department that a jury can hold accountable, and our investigation traces the crash back to whichever decision started the chain of events.
Our Austin truck accident lawyers represent injured victims across every category of commercial vehicle on Austin’s roads, including:
Every vehicle type carries its own regulatory framework, insurance structure, and common failure points, and our firm tailors the investigation to fit each one. A crash involving a regional delivery van raises different liability questions than one involving a fuel tanker, and treating every case the same way can cost a client compensation they are owed.
The mechanics of a truck crash can determine the injuries involved and the legal theory behind a claim. Recognizing the type of collision helps our truck accident attorneys in Austin quickly identify the right evidence and defendants.
A jackknife crash happens when a truck’s trailer swings out at an angle to the cab, often after sudden braking, a sharp turn, or a slick road surface. These collisions can block multiple lanes of traffic and strike several vehicles at once, and they frequently point to driver error, excessive speed, or poorly maintained brakes as contributing causes.
An underride collision occurs when a smaller vehicle slides partially beneath a truck’s trailer, most often during a sudden stop. These crashes can cause devastating injuries to a vehicle’s occupants because standard safety features rarely engage during that type of impact. Trailer guard failures or inadequate rear lighting are frequently factors in these cases.
Commercial trucks carry large blind spots along both sides, the rear, and directly in front of the cab, areas the trucking industry refers to as no-zones. When a driver changes lanes or merges without confirming that the area is clear, the resulting collision may reflect a failure to check mirrors or to use available blind-spot technology.
A high center of gravity makes commercial trucks especially vulnerable to rollovers during sharp turns, sudden lane changes, or when cargo shifts unexpectedly. These crashes can crush nearby vehicles and often coincide with cargo loaded improperly or secured with inadequate restraints.
Truck accident liability rarely rests with one party. Identifying every responsible entity is usually what separates a modest settlement from full compensation for what a victim actually lost.
A truck driver who speeds, drives while fatigued, or fails to check a blind spot can be held personally liable for the resulting harm. Texting, eating, or adjusting a dispatch tablet while driving a vehicle this size raises the stakes far beyond what the same distraction would cause in a passenger car, and that liability typically extends to the driver’s employer as well.
Trucking companies can face liability for hiring unqualified drivers, pressuring drivers to violate hours-of-service limits, or failing to maintain their fleet. Corporate policies that prioritize delivery speed over safety often surface as central evidence in these claims, especially when internal dispatch records show a pattern of unrealistic delivery windows that all but require a driver to speed or skip rest breaks.
When a crash is traced to improperly secured cargo or a defective component, such as a faulty brake system or tire, the loading company or the manufacturer of the failed part can share responsibility with the driver and carrier. These claims usually rely on inspection records and engineering analysis to pinpoint the exact location of the failure.
Many trucking companies outsource repairs and inspections to independent shops. When a maintenance provider misses a defect or performs a repair negligently, such as failing to catch worn brake pads during a routine service, that provider can be named as a separate liable party in the resulting claim.
Texas law determines the timeline and the math behind every trucking claim filed in Austin. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001, an injured claimant cannot recover damages if a jury finds them more than 50 percent responsible for the crash, a threshold commonly called the 51 percent bar rule.
Below that threshold, recovery remains available but is reduced by the claimant’s own percentage of fault. A claimant found 10 percent responsible for a crash with $100,000 in total damages could still recover $90,000 under that same proportionate responsibility rule. Because a fault percentage directly affects the final recovery amount, having an Austin truck accident lawyer review how that percentage was calculated can make a difference in a trucking case.
Timing matters just as much as fault. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within two years of the crash date, and missing that window typically ends any chance of recovering compensation, regardless of how clear the trucking company’s negligence may be. Because trucking litigation usually involves multiple corporate defendants and extensive evidence gathering, waiting even a few months to consult a truck attorney can reduce the time available to build a case.
Commercial trucking operates under a dense layer of federal safety rules enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and violations of those rules can serve as evidence of negligence in an Austin truck accident claim. These regulations govern everything from driver qualifications to vehicle inspections, and a documented violation can shift a case from a disputed liability argument to one based on a clear regulatory breach.
Federal hours-of-service rules set firm limits on how long a driver can remain behind the wheel. Under Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a driver generally may not drive without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive after 14 consecutive hours since coming on duty, and may not exceed 11 total hours of driving time within that window.
When a fatigued driver exceeds these limits to meet a delivery deadline, the resulting logbook and electronic data can become some of the persuasive evidence in a trucking claim, directly connecting a company’s scheduling pressure to the crash that followed. Our Austin truck accident attorneys can request electronic logging device records early in every case, since a documented hours-of-service violation often removes any real dispute over whether the driver bears responsibility for the crash.
The compensation available after a serious truck crash depends on the severity of the injuries, the strength of the evidence, and the insurance coverage involved, but Texas law recognizes several categories of recoverable damages.
Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses a crash creates, including emergency care, surgery, ongoing rehabilitation, lost wages during recovery, and reduced future earning capacity for victims who cannot return to the same work. Property damage and vehicle replacement costs also fall within this category, along with the cost of any adaptive equipment or in-home care a serious injury may require going forward.
Non-economic damages account for the harder-to-quantify toll a crash takes, including physical pain, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of activities and relationships that existed before the collision. Catastrophic truck accident injuries, including spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries, often carry non-economic losses that extend for years beyond the initial recovery period, and documenting how an injury has changed a client’s daily life is central to presenting a complete claim.
When a truck crash proves fatal, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 71.004 allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for the wrongful act, neglect, or carelessness that caused the death. In cases involving gross negligence, such as a trucking company that knowingly ignored hours-of-service violations or skipped required maintenance, Texas courts may also allow punitive damages designed to punish especially reckless conduct rather than only compensate the victim’s family.
A serious truck crash changes everything in an instant, and the company responsible is already working to limit its liability. Our team at TK Injury Lawyers: Austin Personal Injury Lawyer can investigate your crash, identify every liable party, and seek the compensation Texas law allows. Contact us today at (512) 910-2000 for a free consultation with an Austin truck accident lawyer.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Visit our office in Austin, Texas
Our TK Injury Lawyers: Austin Personal Injury Lawyers help victims of truck accidents all around the Austin, Texas area. We have an office in Austin, Texas at 1002 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78701, United States. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 30.274129187629512, -97.7482397424445
Trent Kelly obtained his law degree from the University of Arkansas in 2007. He is licensed to practice law in Texas and regularly assists clients with their legal matters. Trent’s practice is primarily focused on personal injury matters – particularly those involving motor vehicles (such as cars, commercial trucks, 18-wheelers, and motorcycles) and wrongful death – but he also handles various business litigation matters as well. Click here to take a look at some complex cases Trent has resolved.
Years of experience: +15 years
Location: Austin, TX
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In most cases, Texas law gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Under the law, waiting past that deadline typically means losing the right to pursue compensation, no matter how clear the trucking company’s negligence may be. Because trucking cases often involve multiple companies and extensive evidence gathering, reaching out to an Austin truck accident lawyer before that deadline gives your case more time to preserve evidence and build a claim.
More than one party can share liability in a truck accident claim. The driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, a parts manufacturer, or a third-party maintenance provider can all bear some responsibility depending on what caused the crash. Our attorneys can investigate every link in that chain to identify each liable party.
Yes, in most cases, hiring an attorney is worth considering rather than negotiating alone. Trucking companies dispatch rapid-response teams and defense attorneys within hours of a serious crash, and an injured victim without legal representation is often outmatched from the beginning.
You may still recover compensation as long as you are not found more than fifty percent responsible for the crash. Under the law, any recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, but a partial-fault finding does not automatically end your claim. Insurance companies may try to inflate a victim’s share of fault, which is why having an attorney review the evidence matters.
Compensation can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in fatal cases, wrongful death damages. The exact value of a claim depends on the severity of the injuries, the strength of the evidence, and the insurance coverage available from every liable party involved in the crash.
At TK Injury Lawyers: Austin Personal Injury Lawyer, we work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Fees are calculated as a percentage of your final settlement or verdict rather than an upfront cost, and every arrangement is disclosed in writing before representation begins. Contact us today at (512) 910-2000 to discuss your specific fee structure during a free consultation.
“Want to send out a sincere “Thank You” for an outstanding job in handling my case. It took a little over a year to resolve but Jim T. was extremely thorough in putting all of the phases together to close it out. I found out quickly how punctual Jim is as well as his dedication t…
Trent Kelly has been very supportive and very helpful throughout my case. He has been very realistic from day one. He never changed his position. He really cares for you and fights for your case to the best of his ability. Honestly, he got my case resolved for more than I expected. I once had a…
My wife and I were very pleased with the services provided by Jim Terry of TK Injury Lawyers in assisting us with her motor vehicle injury accident. He was extremely professional and kept us up-to-date with the progress. Jim took the time to help us understand the circumstances and legal conside…
After I was hit by a car on my scooter, I worked with Jim Terry and Trent Kelly, with Trent handling the bulk of my case. I was pleased with their professionalism and that they were always good about staying in touch and keeping me up-to-date on my case. I trusted them completely, and they resolved my case faster than I expect…
When my insurance company denied my claim I did not know where to turn. I called Jim Terry and explained my not so easy situation. I had no hope in having my vehicle repaired when I called Mr. Terry. He took on my case and was always in contact with me about where we stood in regards to a resolut…
I want to express my thanks to Attorney Mr. James Terry and staff for their representation, guidance and assistance settling my case. The insurance company was difficult, however Mr. Terry was able to get full policy limits available. The staff always kept me up to date and never left me in the dark. …
Mr. Kelly and Mr. Terry handled my personal injury case in Texas. They contacted me frequently to give me updates on my case and made sure I felt it was being handled to my expectations. I was so pleased with their professionalism. My settlement was extremely fair and timely. I would recommend them to my own family and…
Mr. Terry is an exceptional attorney. James (Jim) is easy to talk to, he explains the process very clearly, and he keeps you informed of events normally before they will occur. Most importantly, he settled the case to everyone’s satisfaction. I used him for a personal injury case and I would highly recommend him.
Trent Kelly is by far the best attorney I have worked with and I was actually married to one! He is professional and got the job done. He is one of the first attorneys I have worked with that did not make me feel like he just took my money and then did nothing. He was referred to me by my daughter who wanted…
I would highly recommend Trent Kelly and have to several friends. I have worked with Trent and his firm several times over the past four years and have always been impressed with the level of service and very confident in his abilities. After working with Trent, he set the bar in characteristics to search for in an…
We handle cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning costs come out of your recovery, not your pocket.
We’ve helped numerous Austinites win their Austin Personal Injury case and we would love to help you if you’ve experienced a serious accident. Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, Call us today, to speak with either Jim or Trent. We’ll review the details of your case, give you an honest assessment of it, and then, if appropriate, we’ll help you create a legal plan of action to pursue justice on your behalf.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Trent Kelly, who has more than 15 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney.
We are a well-known and top-rated Austin personal injury law firm. Our clients work directly with us at every stage of their legal matter and know that they can turn to us at any time for the sound advice and trusted counsel they deserve.
To learn more about our individual background and professional accomplishments, click on the attorney profile links below.
Trent Kelly is committed to providing each of his clients
with personalized and attentive service.
Jim Terry has devoted his entire career to helping
those who needed it most.
Austin has significant experience representing clients
in personal injury matters.
Want to send out a sincere “Thank You” for an outstanding job in handling my case. It took a little over a year to resolve but Jim T. was extremely thorough in putting all of the phases together to close it out. I found out quickly how punctual Jim is as well as his dedication tR...
Trent Kelly has been very supportive and very helpful throughout my case. He has been very realistic from day one. He never changed his position. He really cares for you and fights for your case to the best of his ability. Honestly, he got my case resolved for more than I expected. ...
My wife and I were very pleased with the services provided by Jim Terry of TK Injury Lawyers in assisting us with her motor vehicle injury accident. He was extremely professional and kept us up-to-date with the progress. Jim took the time to help us understand the circumstances and ...
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