A serious truck accident can turn your life upside down in seconds. If you or someone you love was injured in a crash involving an 18-wheeler or commercial motor vehicle in Carrollton, TX, or other surrounding North Texas communities you need legal guidance you can trust. At O’Hare and Koch Law Firm, we know how to navigate the complex trucking laws that apply in Texas and we’re committed to helping victims pursue the full and fair compensation they deserve.
Truck Accidents in Carrollton Are Becoming More Common
Carrollton sits at the heart of several major shipping and commuter corridors in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. As the region grows, so does its exposure to commercial trucking crash risks, especially along routes with high-speed traffic, complicated intersections, never-ending construction projects, and mixed zoning.
Local Highways and Crash-Prone Areas
Certain Carrollton roadways are magnets for truck-related accidents due to their design, traffic volume, and surrounding infrastructure. Some of the most hazardous zones include:
- I-35E (North Stemmons Freeway): This major north–south artery is frequently congested with freight traffic, especially near Valwood Parkway and Belt Line Road, where high-speed collisions and multi-vehicle pileups are common.
- George Bush Turnpike (SH 190): This fast-moving corridor connecting Carrollton to Plano and Irving often sees jackknife accidents and dangerous lane changes due to limited merge space and heavy commercial traffic.
- Belt Line Road: As a key east–west route through school zones and industrial areas, this road is a frequent site of T-bone crashes and wide-turn accidents involving large trucks.
- Josey Lane: This busy commuter and delivery route through central Carrollton, Farmers Branch and Lewisville regularly experiences lane blockages and fender-benders caused by delivery trucks in congested traffic.
- Trinity Mills and Crosby Road Industrial Zones: Constant shipping and receiving activity in these areas increases the risk of collisions from tight truck turns, unsecured cargo, and reduced visibility.
- Rosemeade Parkway: This mixed residential and commercial corridor often sees a high number of truck-related incidents due to limited visibility and local route restrictions.
Types of Truck Accidents in Carrollton
Due to the high volume of commercial traffic in this area, Carrollton has seen nearly every type of truck accident. Some common crash types include:
- Rear-end collisions: Passenger vehicles often get struck in the rear when truck drivers follow too closely and can’t brake in time. This situation is all too common in stop-and-go corridors like Josey Lane or Belt Line Road. Fatigue, distracted driving, or overloaded cargo can also be factors that increase stopping distance.
- Underride crashes: When a smaller vehicle slides beneath the trailer of a semi-truck, the results are often fatal. These horrific accidents usually stem from poor lighting on the trailer, missing underride guards, or a truck that stopped too abruptly without warning.
- Jackknife accidents: When a truck’s trailer swings out at a sharp angle, forming an L or V shape, it’s referred to as “jack-knifing.” Accidents often result from sudden braking on wet roads, speeding, or improperly balanced loads.
- Rollover crashes: Rollovers typically happen when a truck takes a turn too fast, especially on curved on-ramps like those along the George Bush Turnpike. A top-heavy load, overcorrection, or failure to adjust for road conditions can cause these accidents.
- Lost-load or unsecured cargo accidents: When cargo spills onto the road, it can cause chain-reaction crashes. These incidents often reveal negligence by the loading company, failure to use proper tie-downs, or violations of federal cargo securement rules.
- Wide-turn crashes: These happen when a truck swings left to make a right turn and clips another vehicle in the process. Lack of visibility, rushing through a tight industrial zone like Trinity Mills, or failing to use a turn signal often play a role.
- T-bone and intersection collisions: Often occurring when a truck runs a red light or fails to yield, these side-impact crashes can devastate smaller vehicles. Carrollton’s busy intersections, such as around Belt Line and Marsh, are especially vulnerable to this type of wreck.
- Unsafe lane changes and sideswipes during lane changes: A common result of blind-spot issues or driver inattention, sideswipe accidents can happen when a trucker changes lanes on a multi-lane road like I-35E without properly checking mirrors.
Behind many of these accidents are preventable factors, such as drivers pushed to their limits or companies overlooking critical safety standards. O’Hare and Koch Law Firm, a Dallas truck accident law firm, can help you determine if you have strong legal grounds for compensation.
Why Carrollton’s Mixed Zoning Increases Risk
Carrollton’s unique blend of residential neighborhoods, industrial zones, and commercial corridors means trucks are frequently operating in close quarters with everyday drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Many areas — like the Trinity Mills corridor or the Belt Line-Josey intersection — see a constant mix of box trucks, 18-wheelers, school buses, and commuter vehicles. Narrow streets, sharp turns, construction zones, and inadequate signage can create a perfect storm for trucking accidents.
Why You Need a Local Truck Accident Lawyer in Carrollton
Being based in Carrollton allows our firm to respond quickly after a crash. We can visit the scene to investigate, secure videos from local businesses, speak with witnesses while their memories are fresh, and act fast before evidence is lost. We know the local court systems, the filing process, and the people involved, and can move cases forward without delay.
Our Carrollton Truck Wreck Attorneys Know Local Roadways and Court Procedures
At O’Hare and Koch Law Firm, we bring more than just legal experience to the table; we bring local insight:
- We know how police reports in Carrollton and surrounding towns like Farmers Branch, Coppell, Irving and Lewisville are completed and filed.
- We understand how Denton, Dallas, and Collin County court systems operate.
- Our familiarity with area hospitals, including Carrollton Regional and Methodist Hospital, helps us collect injury records and coordinate treatment timelines crucial to your case.
- We know the hazards and design flaws of the most dangerous local intersections and which trucking companies regularly operate in the area, making it easier to gather evidence, check company safety records, and hold the right entities accountable.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Carrollton
Our legal team thoroughly investigates each case to uncover contributing factors, such as:
- Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations: Federal hours-of-service laws are designed to prevent exhausted truck drivers from operating vehicles for dangerously long shifts, but these rules are often bent or broken. In Carrollton, drowsy drivers navigating I-35E or SH 121 may miss exit signs, fail to respond to sudden slowdowns, or drift across lanes, leading to catastrophic accidents.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving on High-Speed Roads: Carrollton is crisscrossed by major roadways like the President George Bush Turnpike and I-35E, where commercial vehicles frequently travel at high speeds. When truck drivers speed, they reduce their ability to stop quickly or avoid sudden hazards.
- Blind Spots and Dangerous Lane Changes: Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles have extensive blind zones, particularly on their sides and rear. On multilane roads, failing to check these areas before merging or turning can result in sideswipe crashes and dangerous close calls with smaller vehicles.
- Unsecured Cargo or Overweight Loads on Highways: When freight isn’t properly secured or when a truck is overloaded, the vehicle may jackknife, lose control on a curve, or drop debris onto the roadway, endangering drivers nearby.
- Distracted or Impaired Driving: Truck drivers trying to multitask behind the wheel—whether texting, eating, or navigating GPS systems—are less likely to notice traffic signals, stalled vehicles, or merging cars. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol poses equally serious risks by impairing judgment, coordination, and reaction time.
- Brake Failure or Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Trucking companies must conduct regular maintenance checks, but in some cases, critical systems like brakes and tires are neglected. A blown tire or failed brake system can trigger multi-vehicle pileups within seconds.
- Inadequate Driver Training or Supervision: Some companies push drivers onto the road with minimal instruction, prioritizing profits over proper training. In high-traffic areas like Old Denton Road or Marsh Lane, unprepared drivers may not know how to safely handle wide turns, sudden stops, or vehicle malfunctions, putting local drivers at serious risk.
- Failure to Yield or Follow Traffic Signals: Truck drivers running red lights or ignoring yield signs can cause devastating side-impact or head-on crashes. The size and weight of a fully loaded truck make these kinds of collisions especially deadly.
- Negligent Hiring Practices by Trucking Companies: When carriers fail to vet new hires or overlook red flags like past DUIs, reckless driving citations, or multiple at-fault accidents, they put the public in danger.
Many commercial accidents stem from State and Federal regulatory violations, and our Texas truck accident lawyers know how to spot them. We’ll dig into logbooks, maintenance records, and onboard data to uncover the full story.
Types of Injuries in Carrollton Truck Accidents
Because of the sheer size and force involved in trucking collisions, the injuries victims sustain are often life-altering:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): From concussions to severe cognitive damage
- Spinal cord injuries: Including partial or full paralysis
- Broken bones and fractures: Often requiring surgery and long-term rehab
- Internal organ damage: Especially in high-speed or underride crashes
- Amputations or crush injuries: Common in rollover and jackknife accidents
- Psychological trauma: Including PTSD, anxiety, and depression
Severe injuries like these can lead to overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, and long-term recovery costs. A lawsuit allows you to pursue the compensation needed to meet these challenges.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Carrollton
If you’re involved in a truck collision, taking the right steps can protect your rights:
- Call 911 request police support and medical help – even if you feel okay at first.
- Get a police report – important evidence in a personal injury claim.
- Take photos and videos – including vehicle damage, the scene, and the road conditions.
- Document your injuries with photos and videos – start taking pictures of the injuries right away and throughout the healing process.
- Get witness contact info – they may provide statements to support your case.
- Avoid talking to the trucking company’s insurer – remember, they’re not on your side.
- Contact an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Carrollton – the sooner you call us, the sooner our investigative team can start working on your case.
Damages You May Be Eligible to Recover
A qualified truck accident attorney in Carrollton will fight to recover all the damages you’re entitled to. These may include:
- Medical expenses (past, current, and future)
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and long-term care
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering/ Emotional distress or mental anguish
- Disabilities / physical impairments / disfigurement / scarring
- Negative effects on daily activities and duties, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (for spouses or dependents)
- Loss of companionship
- Punitive damages (in egregious negligence cases)
Texas doesn’t place a cap on most personal injury damages, which means it’s especially important to fully document every loss — financial, physical, and emotional. But it is important to know Texas’s modified comparative fault rule bars recovery if you’re found more than 50% at fault, making strong evidence essential.
In rare but serious cases, like those involving drunk or reckless truck drivers, Texas law also allows for punitive damages to hold wrongdoers accountable.
Calculating damages accurately takes experience, especially when dealing with trucking insurers who try to minimize payouts. We work with medical economists, vocational experts, and accident reconstructionists to build a strong, evidence-backed case for compensation.
How O’Hare and Koch Law Firm Builds Strong Carrollton Cases
When you choose O’Hare and Koch Law Firm, you’re getting a full-service commercial motor vehicle injury law firm with the tools and resources to handle complex trucking cases.
Here’s what we do:
- Secure black box data (event data recorders)
- Obtain dashcam footage from public and private sources
- Subpoena driver logs and maintenance records
- Analyze GPS data and route schedules
- Partner with accident reconstruction experts
- Uncover hours-of-service or DOT violations
- Identify all liable parties — not just the driver, but also potentially the trucking company, maintenance provider, or cargo loader
We also know how to deal aggressively with insurers. Trucking companies often carry million-dollar-plus policies, and their insurers fight hard to avoid large settlements. Our team has decades of experience countering those tactics and positioning a case for maximum recovery.
Speak With a Carrollton Truck Accident Lawyer Today
You only have a limited time to file a truck accident claim in Texas, and every day that passes makes gathering evidence harder. If you’ve been hurt on I-35E, Belt Line, or anywhere in the Carrollton area, don’t wait. Call our commercial motor vehicle injury law firm in Carrollton.
Our team offers free consultations and works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay until we win.
Call now or schedule your free consultation online with O’Hare and Koch Law Firm. Our Carrollton trucking injury lawyers are here to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Is Dallas a more convenient location for you or your injured loved one than Carrollton? Speak with a Dallas truck accident lawyer to discuss your case today at no cost to you.