Fighting for Victims of Big Rig Crashes in Midland-Odessa & Beyond
Of the 253 million vehicles on the road today, fewer than 5 percent are commercial vehicles—and even fewer are large trucks. Despite making up a small number of vehicles on the road, large trucks take up a lot of room: they weigh between 10,000 and 80,000 pounds. Their large weight and size ensure that every truck accident is life-changing. That's why our Midland trucking accident lawyers represent truck crash victims and survivors.
The forces inflicted by a serious big rig accident often cause:
Our Midland truck accident attorneys have represented accident survivors who have suffered from catastrophic injuries, the loss of a loved one, or post-traumatic stress. People who get hurt in big rig accidents are left with serious medical needs, no income, and little hope of a stable future. By holding trucking companies accountable for 18-wheeler accidents, we help our clients get what they need to restart their lives.
Over $20 Billion Won by Truck Accident Lawyers in Midland
If there’s one thing we know, it’s that maximizing a plaintiff’s odds of success requires preparing a case for trial. Without trial preparation, insurance companies have the upper hand; they know that firms that are unwilling to go to court will settle for less. That’s why we pour our resources, time, and effort into preparing every case for trial, ensuring our clients get the best chance at recovery.
That’s why we’ve won numerous record-setting verdicts and settlements for truck accidents, including:
$117 million verdict for a pregnant woman injured by an inattentive ambulance driver.
$35.5 million settlement for a family struck by a commercial truck.
$12.4 million verdict for a worker struck by a UPS delivery truck while on the job.
$12 million settlement for a truck operator crushed by his own cargo due to unsafe loading practices.
$11.7 million settlement for a man struck by an 18-wheeler and denied recovery by the trucking company.
$10 million settlement for the families of two people killed by an 18-wheeler operator running a red light.
As an experienced Midland truck accident firm, we have the skills, experience, and tools to fight for the maximum compensation our clients deserve under the law. If you have questions about what happened to you and how we can help make it right, let’s discuss your legal options in a free consultation: (888) 493-1629.
Truck Accident Cases We’ve Recently Filed
When people need a personal injury lawyer after a catastrophic truck accident, they turn to Arnold & Itkin. Plaintiffs know that if there’s anyone who’s willing to take on a big defendant and help them fight for their future, it’s our Midland big rig injury lawyers. It’s why numerous accident survivors have reached out to us for help.
These are just a few of the trucking cases we’ve filed recently:
The Reason 18-Wheeler Trucking Accidents Are Common
With unprecedented safety technology, why are trucking accidents not dramatically decreasing? The issue might be with the industry itself. Trucking companies often set drivers up to work themselves to exhaustion just to make ends meet. As tired drivers get behind the wheel by the thousands, motorists everywhere, in Midland and nationwide, are in danger—including truckers themselves. Many drivers are paid by the mile, meaning they’re not paid for all of the vital work that truckers have always had to do: wait for rig inspections, wait for loading and unloading, resting for at least 10 hours a day, driving “flying canaries” (empty trailers) to new jobs.
Our Midland truck accident lawyers have represented people injured by:
Box truck crashes
Flatbed truck accidents
Garbage truck accidents
Jackknife accidents
Underride accidents
Gas truck crashes
Tow truck collisions
Tanker truck accidents
Ultimately, trucking companies incentivize unsafe behavior in order for a delivery to actually profit the driver. It’s not unheard of for a driver to end up spending more money on gas and food for a delivery than they earned. To avoid this, drivers sometimes spend more time behind the wheel than they should, which sets them up to make poor decisions. In the end, it catches up—and truckers and motorists alike pay the price.
Drowsy Driving Leads to Midland Trucking Accidents
Many trucking companies expect drivers to drive for long hours. Some researchers have found as many as 1 in 4 trucking crashes happen when a driver is hauling for 17 hours or more—even though driving for 17 hours is against the law. But even when truckers abide by FMCSA rules, the amount of actual sleep a trucker gets isn’t always adequate. One study found that truckers often overestimate how rested they are, with some thinking they had 40% more sleep than they actually got.
Lack of sleep leads to serious driving hazards, like:
Slower reaction time
Poor decision-making
Lack of focus, poor attention
Poor spatial judgment, decreased accuracy
Sleep debt causes worse performance than many people realize: experts believe driving while tired can impair your driving as much as drinking alcohol. Just 18 hours without sleep can impair driving performance as much as a .05% BAC—near the legal limit. At 24 hours, sleep debt impairs performance as much as .10% BAC.
Midland Oilfield Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck accidents are a serious threat anywhere the oil and gas industry has a major presence—and that includes Midland, Texas. Per the CDC, transportation accidents are the leading cause of death in the oilfield, and experts believe the problem is likely tied to drowsy driving. A key issue is that oilfield work is arduous and subjects workers to long shifts. On its own, that’s not a problem. However, what is a problem is the degree to which workers are deprived of adequate rest between shifts, which contributes to sleep debt and the performance issues we outline above.
The oil and gas industry’s semi truck accident record is a problem for workers and locals alike. With major highways choked with oilfield vehicles, petroleum companies and the companies they contract with need to be held accountable for the accidents they cause. That's the role our Midland oilfield truck accident attorneys can play if you've been injured.
Cause & Liability: Big Rig Truck Accidents in Midland, Texas
An in-depth truck accident investigation is one of the most important parts of handling a case of this kind. We need to know what caused the accident in the first place. Once we know this, we can determine who should be held liable, or legally responsible, for the victim's injuries. A personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit for a Midland trucking accident will give a survivor or victim's family the opportunity to see justice served. The determination of fault and proof of liability will be essential to securing a settlement or award.
The following are examples of circumstances or behavior that can cause 18-wheeler accidents:
Overloaded trucks
Improperly secured truck cargo
Unbalanced truck loads
Fatigued truck drivers
Inexperienced truckers
Hours-of-service violations
Poorly maintained trucks
Defective truck or auto parts
Dangerous roadways
Speeding
Drunk driving
Heavy weather
Midland UPS & FedEx Accident Lawyers
In the truck shipping industry, UPS, Amazon, and FedEx rank at the top in terms of volume and market share. Together, they generate 82 percent of industry revenue and utilize a fleet of 307,000 vehicles. Unfortunately, FedEx and UPS have not used their position as leaders to make the roads safer for motorists.
Government data documents the crash rate for major shipping companies from 2022–2024:
UPS: 2,635 crashes total, 957 causing injury or fatality
Amazon: 298 crashes total, 124 causing injury or fatality
FedEx: 373 crashes total, 148 causing injury or fatality
The rate of injury or fatality here is a measure of how often these companies are involved in serious accidents. Looking at those figures, Amazon has the highest accident rate, followed by FedEx, then UPS. FedEx may be the middle of the pack, but its accident rate is far more alarming give that it has the smallest fleet of the three major parcel delivery companies.
See for yourself—find out how often trucking companies get into accidents on the FMCSA website.
Talk to Our Midland, Texas Truck Accident Lawyers: (888) 493-1629
At Arnold & Itkin, LLP, we take things personally. When one of our clients has been harmed by negligent trucking corporations, we demand fair compensation for our clients and demand that those companies make changes to keep their workers and people on the road safe. We are even ready to take cases to trial if need be. Our Midland truck accident attorneys will not back down until we can get our clients the results they deserve.
If you or a loved one has been in a truck accident, call (888) 493-1629 today to request your free, confidential case review with our nationally recognized law firm.
CommonQuestions
Who Can I Sue for a Truck Accident?
A truck driver, loading company, shipping company, manufacturer, truck company, or any other party responsible for causing a truck accident may be held liable in civil court for the harm the collision caused. Our Midland big rig accident attorneys know how to expose cause and establish liability so we can see justice served.
What Is One of the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Midland-Odessa?
Driver fatigue. Some companies give their implied approval to practices that help truckers violate hours of service regulations without discovery—an illegal practice. New drivers often "learn" bad habits, like keeping two logbooks that allow them to drive big rigs and 18-wheelers 15 hours or longer without alerting federal regulators.
Some trucking companies encourage "hard-driving" like this, but the consequences are steep. The data suggests that 13 percent of truck crashes are directly caused by fatigue—although the experts believe 13 percent is far too low, as fatigue is underreported as a crash factor.
What Damages Can I Claim After a Truck Accident in Midland, TX?
Because trucking accidents are often grievous and life-changing, you’ll be able to claim more damages than in a typical injury claim. Obviously, you’ll be able to claim hospitalization costs, medical bills, and future medical costs related to your injuries. You’ll be able to claim lost wages resulting from your injuries, as well as diminished wages if you’re unable to return to the same job. You may also claim noneconomic damages, which come from the losses arising from harm that’s difficult to quantify: loss of enjoyment from hobbies you can’t do anymore, emotional pain and suffering, loss of consortium from the harm done to an intimate relationship, and other damages. In especially egregious cases, you may be granted punitive damages; however, that’s only in cases where the defendant behaved with criminal negligence, which is a higher bar of proof.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for a Midland Semi Truck Accident?
Under Texas law, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. It’s known as the “statute of limitations,” and there are very few exceptions to this rule; those that exist often involve occupational disease. In other words, your legal window started closing the same day you were hurt. Two years is not much time, in terms of litigation, so you should speak with a Midland trucking injury attorney as soon as possible.
How Are 18-Wheeler Accidents in Midland Different from Car Accidents?
Car accidents typically involve two vehicles of roughly the same size and weight, which helps limit the harm done to occupants in all vehicles. Such cases typically involve only the two drivers and their insurers, although if there were injured occupants, they’d also be involved. However, 18-wheeler accidents are far more complex in every way: fully-loaded tractor trailers weigh up to 20x more than an average sedan, plaintiffs typically face multiple defendants, and the injuries created by these accidents are often permanently life-changing.
