Katy Truck Accident Lawyer
Joe is one of the few Texas lawyers that is double board certified.
“No Legal Fees Until Joe Wins Your Case”
Content Reviewed by: Joe Stephens
Table of Contents
- Why Choose The Stephens Law Firm for Your Katy Truck Accident Case?
- How Does The Stephens Law Firm Investigate Truck Accidents in Katy, Texas?
- What Types of Truck Accidents Does The Stephens Law Firm Handle in Katy, TX?
- Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident in Katy?
- What Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Accident in Katy?
- What Trucking Regulations and Safety Standards Should I Know?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Truck accidents often cause life-altering injuries and losses far beyond the level of a typical car accident because of the weight and size of the vehicles involved. The trauma of being injured or losing a loved one in a truck accident is enough to deal with. You don’t have to navigate the legal process alone. Turn to an experienced Katy truck accident lawyer to fight for you.
The Stephens Law Firm is committed to providing personalized representation and helping you recover the full compensation you deserve for your truck accident.
Why Choose The Stephens Law Firm for Your Katy Truck Accident Case?
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Katy, TX, you need a lawyer you can depend on. Our founder, Joe Stephens, has over 30 years of experience in accident and injury cases. He has earned multiple board certifications from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy, is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has received recognition from Super Lawyers from 2008 to 2024.
Joe’s history of success in personal injury cases speaks for itself. During his legal career, he has secured millions in compensation for hundreds of clients. Joe has also argued multiple cases before Texas appellate courts, including the Texas Supreme Court. He provides personalized attention to each client and tackles each case with an aggressive but fair negotiation style.
The Stephens Law Firm is committed to preserving your financial peace of mind while you recover from your truck accident. We operate exclusively on contingency, which means you don’t pay us a dime unless we win your case. You’ll never have to pay surprise costs or hidden fees.
Local Presence in Katy
Our firm is conveniently located in Katy, TX, making it easy for our local clients to get in touch and receive face-to-face support. Our Katy office is located at 440 Cobia Dr., Ste. 601. We’re just off the main stretch of Cobia Dr. in the Grand Ridge Office Condominiums complex, right across the street from the Park Plaza Centre mall.
Commercial Trucking Case Results
- Joe obtained a $2.45 million settlement for a trucker injured in a highway accident. Our client suffered severe neurological injuries, including complex regional pain syndrome, with lifelong pain and impairment. The case settled pretrial, covering our client’s future medical care and lost wages.
- A Texas jury awarded a $1.2 million verdict to the father of a four-year-old who died in a rear-end collision with a Bishop Energy truck. The truck driver was found 60 percent responsible for the crash, and the trucking company was held liable for gross negligence.
- A Texas jury awarded a $1 million verdict to a client whose hand was crushed by the rotating drum of a concrete truck. We successfully alleged that our client’s injury resulted from a design flaw—an unguarded “pinch point.”
Our Client’s Testimonials
Here’s what some of our clients have said about working with the Stephens Law Firm:
How Does The Stephens Law Firm Investigate Truck Accidents in Katy, Texas?
Truck accident attorney Joe Stephens personally performs a thorough investigation of every accident case he handles. If our firm agrees to represent you, Joe will take steps to build a strong case, such as the following:
- Send a special investigator to the scene of the accident to gather evidence.
- Obtain a copy of the accident report from the police.
- Interview witnesses and take their statements to determine the sequence of events.
- Gather medical records to document the extent of injuries.
- Work with accident reconstruction experts to understand the cause of the accident.
- Obtain black box data from the truck.
- Secure and protect all evidence by sending a preservation letter to the trucking company.
- Collect driver logs, inspection reports, and other records related to the truck and driver from the trucking company.
- Obtain any dashcam and surveillance video footage of the accident.
I was in an accident, and my insurance refused to cover my injuries, and the lawyer I had wasn’t helping at all. I reached out to Joe Stephens’ firm, and they made sure the insurance covered all my expenses. I’m beyond grateful for their support and expertise.” – Zoila M.
What Types of Truck Accidents Does The Stephens Law Firm Handle in Katy, TX?
The Stephens Law Firm has decades of experience working on complex truck collisions and has handled all types of truck accident cases. Truck collisions we often see in Katy include the following:
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife accident occurs when a truck towing a trailer skids, causing the trailer to push the truck into a position that looks like a jackknife. Due to the size of the trucks involved, these accidents can block entire highways. Crashes occur when the trailer swings into other vehicles or they can’t stop in time.
Truck Rollovers
Rollover truck accidents are one of the most dangerous types of truck crashes. Rollovers happen when a truck skids and rolls over, crashing into any vehicles in its path and typically seriously hurting all drivers involved. Trucks carrying gas and other flammable chemicals are especially hazardous in rollovers and can cause explosions.
Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts occur when a truck’s tire suddenly explodes while the truck is in motion. Blowouts can cause the truck to become unstable, leading to collisions. They also put drivers at risk of impact from flying tire pieces.
Truck Driver DWI
Driving while intoxicated is always dangerous, but a drunk truck driver poses an extra risk to other drivers on the road. A swerving or unstable truck can cause serious injuries if it collides with other cars. Intoxication can cause any of the other types of truck accidents listed here due to the trucker’s inability to drive safely.
Wide Turn Accidents
Given their size, trucks must make wide turns. If the driver fails to maneuver the truck carefully, the cab or trailer might strike another vehicle.
Blind Spot Accidents
Blind spot accidents are especially serious when a commercial truck is involved. Because trucks are so much larger and heavier than regular cars, a blind spot accident can crush and seriously damage a vehicle when a car of equal size might have caused only minor damage.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are among the most common accidents on the road. The significant size difference between a truck and a passenger car means that rear-end truck accidents have a much harder impact than typical rear-end collisions, sometimes crushing cars into an “accordion” shape that can be lethal to passengers.
Brake Failure
Brake failure can happen at any time for several reasons. Mechanical problems with a truck can cause the brakes to suddenly stop functioning, leading to collisions and similar accidents.
Underride Accidents
Underride accidents occur when smaller cars slide between a truck’s wheels and end up partially beneath the truck. This typically happens when trucks brake suddenly or vehicles merge carelessly. The impact often crushes the passenger compartment of the smaller vehicle, leading to severe injuries and fatalities.
Lost Load Accidents
A lost-load truck accident happens when a truck suddenly scatters the contents of its trailer over the highway. This requires other vehicles to stop suddenly or swerve to avoid projectiles, objects, and hazardous substances.
Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision with a truck can result in serious injuries. The smaller size of a passenger vehicle relative to a truck means that a head-on crash can crush a car and seriously injure its occupants.
T-Bone Collisions
T-bone collisions occur when a vehicle slams into the side of another vehicle in a “T” shape. T-bone crashes are extremely dangerous and often cause serious harm to drivers or passengers, especially in accidents involving heavy vehicles like trucks.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident in Katy?
Many parties might be potentially liable for a truck accident. Often, an accident involves multiple liable parties. The sheer number of moving parts in a trucking operation means the accident could have been caused by parties other than the drivers involved. Potential at-fault parties in your Katy truck accident case include the following:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The truck owner
- The loading company
- The truck manufacturer
- Third-party maintenance companies
- Other drivers on the road
- Government entities responsible for road maintenance
An experienced truck accident attorney can help you determine which parties may be at fault in your truck collision. Your attorney will work to determine all the responsible parties to ensure you pursue the maximum compensation you’re entitled to.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Accident in Katy?
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a truck accident in Katy, you can pursue several types of damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for the tangible financial losses you sustained from your accident. These can include medical costs, lost wages, lost earning capacity, missed career opportunities, and property damage, including damage to your vehicle and other items.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate you for those impacts on your quality of life without a specific financial value. These include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, emotional distress, and PTSD.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, a judge may award punitive damages to punish the defendant and deter future harm. You must prove with clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted maliciously or grossly negligent.
Wrongful Death Damages
If a loved one has died from a truck accident, you may be eligible for wrongful death damages. Wrongful death damages compensate for financial losses such as funeral costs and intangible impacts such as grief. Only the spouse, children, or parents of the deceased can recover wrongful death damages.
What Trucking Regulations and Safety Standards Should I Know?
Truckers and trucking companies are subject to both federal and state regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles impose these regulations, which cover a multitude of areas, including the following:
- Licensing requirements
- Vehicle size and weight limits
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance requirements
- Insurance requirements
- Hours of service limits
- Hazardous materials
- Drug and alcohol testing of drivers
Frequently Asked Questions About Katy Semi-Truck Accidents
Common questions about truck accidents we receive at The Stephens Law Firm include:
How Long Do I Have To File a Trucking Accident Lawsuit?
Generally, the statute of limitations for a personal injury or wrongful death case in Texas is two years. While this may seem like plenty of time to file, it’s always in your best interest to file early to avoid missing important legal deadlines. A Katy truck accident attorney can handle the filing process for you.
How Long Does an 18-Wheeler Lawsuit Take in Katy, TX?
Crashes involving commercial trucks often cause more severe injuries than standard car accidents. Because a commercial truck belongs to a trucking company and may be carrying a shipment for another company, there are many more potentially liable parties than in a typical car crash. These factors lead to more complex cases that can prolong a case. An attorney can estimate how long your case will likely take.
What Are Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Katy?
The most common types of truck accidents include rollover accidents, tire blowouts, jackknife collisions, and underride accidents. These types of accidents can be caused by driver inattention, failure to check blind spots, vehicular issues, or overweight cargo, among other factors. No matter why your truck accident happened, The Stephens Law Firm can help.
What Are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Katy?
Ready To Get Help From a Katy Truck Accident Lawyer? Contact Us for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident near Katy, don’t wait. Reach out to The Stephens Law Firm for your free legal consultation. We offer experienced legal representation on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay us unless you win.
Call (281) 623-1701 or contact us online today. Ofrecemos servicios en español.