Truck Accident Attorney near Mansfield

Board Certified Trial Experience Backed by a $1.4 Million 18-Wheeler Settlement

A collision with a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or other commercial vehicle can leave Mansfield residents facing serious injuries, mounting expenses, vehicle damage, and pressure from insurance companies. These claims often require a different investigation than an ordinary car accident because evidence may involve the driver, trucking company, maintenance providers, cargo handlers, and several insurers.

At Coontz Cochran, we represent injured people throughout Greater Fort Worth, including Mansfield, in personal injury litigation. Attorney Greg Coontz is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law. Our firm has also secured a $1.4 million settlement in an 18-wheeler truck accident case.

Electronic vehicle data, driver records, maintenance documents, inspection reports, cargo information, photographs, and witness recollections can become more difficult to obtain as time passes. We develop an individualized strategy based on the facts of each crash and the losses the injured person and family are experiencing.

Contact our truck accident attorneys serving Mansfield at (888) 858-0536 to schedule a free consultation.

Board Certified Representation for Mansfield Truck Accident Claims

Truck accident cases can involve substantial injuries, corporate defendants, and commercial insurance carriers with their own investigators and legal teams. Since 1993, Greg Coontz has held Board Certification in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law. Board Certification requires attorneys to demonstrate substantial experience, pass a rigorous examination, and meet continuing legal education requirements.

Our attorneys have received Texas Super Lawyers^® recognition and hold an AV^® rating from Martindale-Hubbell^®, its highest peer-review rating for legal ability and ethical standards. We have handled thousands of cases since opening our doors in 1990, and Attorneys Greg Coontz and Jeff Cochran personally develop strategies tailored to each client’s circumstances.

We have pursued injury claims against insurance companies and corporate defendants. That experience matters when a trucking company disputes fault, points to another business in the transportation chain, or challenges the seriousness of an injury.

How We Investigate Truck & 18-Wheeler Accidents

A truck crash investigation should look beyond the initial accident report. The report can be important, but it may not answer whether the driver followed safety rules, whether the truck was properly maintained, whether cargo was secured, or whether another company contributed to the collision.

Depending on the facts, our investigation can involve electronic control module data, which is information recorded by a truck’s onboard computer, driver qualification materials, hours-of-service records, inspection reports, maintenance and repair records, dispatch communications, cargo loading documentation, and witness accounts. Hours-of-service records track a commercial driver’s driving and rest time.

Truck accident investigations may examine:

• Driver Conduct: Speed, following distance, distraction, fatigue, lane changes, impairment, and compliance with driving rules
• Motor Carrier Practices: Hiring, training, supervision, dispatch instructions, and safety policies
• Vehicle Condition: Brake, tire, steering, lighting, coupling, inspection, and maintenance records
• Cargo Operations: Loading procedures, weight distribution, and cargo loading and securement records
• Crash Evidence: Vehicle data, photographs, physical evidence, witness statements, and qualified professional analysis when needed

We prepare claims with negotiation and possible litigation in mind. Some cases require accident reconstruction, medical evidence, employment documentation, or economic-loss analysis to evaluate how the collision affected an injured person’s health, work, and daily life.

Insurance Company Communications After a Truck Crash

Commercial insurers may contact injured people soon after a crash to request a recorded statement, seek broad medical authorizations, discuss an early settlement, or ask them to sign documents. Those communications should be reviewed carefully. A statement or release can affect how an insurer evaluates liability and damages.

We can handle communications with trucking insurers, organize supporting documentation, and evaluate settlement proposals. Our role is to give clients clear information about their options while we address the insurer’s questions and arguments.

A complete claim evaluation can include past and future medical care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life when supported by the facts. The available damages and value of a claim depend on the evidence, liability, causation, insurance coverage, and the nature of the injuries.

What to Do After a Truck Accident near Mansfield

Medical care and safety come first after a serious collision. Call 911 for life-threatening or serious conditions, cooperate with emergency personnel, and avoid guessing about fault or the cause of the crash.

After a truck or 18-wheeler crash, focus on these actions:

• Get Medical Attention: Seek prompt care for injuries. Methodist Mansfield Medical Center provides emergency care in Mansfield.
• Report the Collision: Contact law enforcement and obtain information about the crash report when it becomes available.
• Preserve What You Can: If it is safe and you are physically able, take photographs and save vehicle, witness, injury, and insurance information.
• Keep Records: Retain medical paperwork, receipts, repair estimates, work-loss information, and insurer correspondence.
• Limit Speculation: Don’t admit fault or speculate about how the collision happened.
• Speak With an Attorney: Prompt legal guidance can help address evidence preservation and insurer communications.

The City of Mansfield provides accident-report access through the Mansfield Police Department and the Crash Records Information System (CRIS). A report can provide useful starting information, but it is only one part of a commercial motor vehicle claim.

Multiple Parties May Be Liable for a Truck Accident

Truck accident claims can involve more than the person behind the wheel. A commercial vehicle may be owned, leased, maintained, dispatched, loaded, or insured by different businesses. Identifying all potentially responsible parties is an important part of evaluating the available evidence and insurance coverage.

Potentially responsible parties can include:

• Truck Drivers: For negligent driving, fatigue, distraction, impairment, or other unsafe conduct
• Motor Carriers: For hiring, training, supervision, dispatch, or maintenance practices
• Vehicle Owners or Leasing Companies: For issues related to ownership, leasing, inspection, or repair responsibilities
• Maintenance Providers: For negligent repair or inspection work
• Cargo Loaders: For unsafe cargo loading and securement
• Brokers, Manufacturers, or Parts Suppliers: When their conduct or defective equipment may have contributed to the crash

Responsibility is fact-specific. We review the relationships among the companies involved, the applicable records, and the conduct that led to the collision before advising a client about potential claims.

Truck Accident Injuries & Daily Consequences

The force involved in a commercial truck collision can cause fractures, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, burns, soft-tissue injuries, permanent impairment, or wrongful death. Some effects are immediately apparent, while others develop during treatment and recovery.

Injuries can affect far more than medical bills. A person may need emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, ongoing care, assistance at home, or time away from work. Families may also face lost income, changes in household responsibilities, and uncertainty about whether the injured person can return to the same job or activities.

Medical records, treatment plans, photographs, employment records, testimony, and other documentation can help show the full effect of the crash. We review this information when evaluating a claim and communicating with insurers or presenting evidence in court.

Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents

Truck crashes can result from a combination of driver conduct, company practices, vehicle condition, cargo issues, and roadway circumstances. An investigation should consider the facts rather than assume that one factor alone caused the wreck.

Common contributing factors include:

• Fatigued Driving: Extended hours behind the wheel or inadequate rest
• Unsafe Driving Conduct: Speeding, following too closely, distraction, impaired driving, or unsafe lane changes
• Inadequate Training or Supervision: Failures involving driver preparation, monitoring, or safety practices
• Mechanical Problems: Brake, tire, steering, lighting, coupling, or other equipment failures
• Unsafe Cargo Conditions: Overweight, improperly loaded, or unsecured freight
• Roadway Conditions: Construction, congestion, weather, visibility, and road conditions that may be relevant to the investigation

FMCSA Regulations & Texas Trucking Requirements

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, often called FMCSA regulations, govern many aspects of interstate commercial trucking. These rules address driver qualifications, hours of service, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspection, maintenance, equipment, and motor-carrier operations.

Texas requirements may also apply depending on the vehicle, carrier, route, cargo, and type of operation. A regulatory violation can be evidence in a truck accident claim, but it does not automatically establish liability. Liability still depends on the facts, applicable law, causation, and resulting harm.

Our personal injury litigation practice includes truck accident claims. Greg Coontz brings Board Certified personal injury trial and civil trial credentials to the review of evidence, legal issues, and litigation strategy in these cases.

Compensation After a Mansfield Truck Accident

Texas law may allow an injured person to seek compensation for losses caused by another party’s negligence. The categories of damages available in a truck accident case depend on the facts, the evidence, the injuries, and the applicable law.

Possible compensation may include:

• Medical Expenses: Emergency care, hospital treatment, rehabilitation, medication, and future medical needs
• Income Loss: Lost wages and reduced earning capacity when injuries affect work
• Property Damage: Vehicle repair or replacement and other damaged property
• Non-Economic Losses: Pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful Death Damages: Losses available to qualifying family members after a fatal collision

Texas personal injury claims generally have a two-year limitations period, although exceptions and claim-specific rules can apply. Waiting can also make evidence harder to obtain, so it is important to discuss deadlines with an attorney as soon as practical.

We represent personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay attorney fees upfront, and we collect a fee only if we recover compensation for you. During a free consultation, we can discuss the circumstances of the crash, the documents available, and the next steps for your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Pay Attorney Fees Upfront?
No. For a truck accident or personal injury case, we collect a fee only if we recover compensation for you.

How Soon Should I Contact a Lawyer?
Contacting an attorney promptly can help with evidence preservation and communications with trucking insurers.

What Sets Your Truck Accident Representation Apart?
Greg Coontz is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law, and our firm has secured a $1.4 million settlement in an 18-wheeler truck accident case.

Can You Handle Trucking Insurance Communications?
Yes. We can communicate with trucking insurers, review paperwork, organize claim documentation, and evaluate settlement discussions.

Where Can I Get a Mansfield Accident Report?
The City of Mansfield provides accident-report access through the Mansfield Police Department and the Crash Records Information System (CRIS).

What Compensation May Be Available?
Depending on the claim, compensation may include medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Discuss Your Mansfield Truck Accident Claim with Our Attorneys

If you were hurt in a truck or 18-wheeler collision near Mansfield, a free consultation can help you understand the next steps. We can discuss the crash, the available evidence, insurance communications, and the information needed to evaluate a potential claim.

Our firm serves clients throughout Johnson County, Tarrant County, and Greater Fort Worth with contingency fee representation for personal injury matters. You don’t pay attorney fees upfront.

For a free consultation, contact our truck accident lawyers serving Mansfield at (888) 858-0536.