A collision with an 18-wheeler can leave a family facing catastrophic injuries, months of medical care, lost income, and an aggressive trucking company already building its defense. You deserve a legal team prepared to investigate the carrier and take the case before a jury.
Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock represents people injured in truck accidents throughout College Station, Bryan, Brazos County, and the Brazos Valley. Known as The Trucking Trial Lawyers, the firm focuses on commercial vehicle cases involving death and life-changing injuries.
Our College Station truck accident lawyers move quickly to preserve driver logs, electronic data, inspection records, and company communications. Clients speak directly with an attorney and receive clear updates throughout the case.
Call Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock at (979) 551-8894 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7, and there is No Cost to You unless we win.
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Do I Need a College Station Truck Accident Lawyer?
You should speak with a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after a serious commercial vehicle collision. Trucking companies and their insurers may send investigators to the scene within hours, while evidence that supports your claim can disappear within days.
Legal representation becomes especially important when:
- You suffered a brain injury, spinal injury, amputation, internal injury, or multiple fractures.
- A family member died in the crash.
- The trucking company disputes fault.
- More than one company may share responsibility.
- The driver may have violated safety rules.
- The insurer requests a recorded statement or offers a quick settlement.
Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock prepares serious truck accident cases for trial from the beginning. That approach shapes how evidence is preserved, witnesses are interviewed, and damages are documented.
Why Are Truck Accident Claims Different From Car Accident Claims?
Truck accident claims often involve federal safety rules, corporate defendants, multiple insurance policies, and technical evidence. The motor carrier, maintenance contractor, cargo company, broker, or another business may share responsibility with the driver.
| Issue | Car Accident Claim | Truck Accident Claim |
| Potential defendants | Usually one or more drivers | Driver, carrier, owner, broker, maintenance company, loader, or manufacturer |
| Evidence | Police report, photos, witnesses, and vehicle data | Driver logs, electronic data, dispatch messages, inspection files, and qualification records |
| Safety standards | State traffic laws | State laws and federal motor carrier regulations |
| Defense | Personal auto insurer | Commercial insurer, corporate investigators, and defense counsel |
| Case preparation | May involve a standard insurance claim | Often requires reconstruction, company records, depositions, and trial preparation |
The trucking company controls much of the evidence at the start. Our attorneys act quickly to demand preservation before records are overwritten or destroyed through routine retention practices.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?
Several parties may be liable when unsafe driving, company practices, mechanical failures, or loading errors contribute to a crash. Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock investigates every business connected to the truck.
The Truck Driver and Motor Carrier
A driver may be responsible for speeding, following too closely, making an unsafe lane change, driving while distracted, or operating while fatigued. The motor carrier may be liable for the driver’s conduct and for unsafe hiring, training, supervision, or pressure to violate safety rules.
Maintenance and Loading Companies
A carrier or outside contractor may be responsible when worn brakes, unsafe tires, steering problems, or ignored inspection findings contribute to the crash. A shipper or loader may share liability when overloaded, unbalanced, or unsecured cargo causes a rollover, jackknife, or loss of control.
Vehicle and Parts Manufacturers
A manufacturer or seller may be liable if a defective tire, brake component, coupling system, or other part caused the collision or made the injuries worse.
Identifying every responsible party can reveal additional insurance coverage and show how company decisions created the conditions for the crash.
What Evidence Should Be Preserved After an 18-Wheeler Crash?
Truck accident evidence should be preserved immediately because electronic data can be overwritten, and company records may be discarded. A preservation letter can place the carrier and other parties on notice that relevant material must not be destroyed.
Important evidence may include:
- Electronic logging device data
- Engine control module and event data recorder information
- Driver qualification and training files
- Hours-of-service logs
- Dispatch messages and trip documents
- Cell phone and in-cab camera data
- Inspection, maintenance, and repair records
- Bills of lading, cargo records, and weight tickets
- Drug and alcohol testing records
- GPS and route information
- Company safety policies
- Photographs, video, and physical evidence
Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock identifies the records tied to the crash, demands preservation, and uses litigation tools to pursue evidence the company resists providing.
Which Trucking Safety Violations May Support a Claim?
A violation does not automatically decide liability, but it may show that the driver or carrier failed to follow a safety duty connected to the crash. Our attorneys compare company records and electronic data with the rules that applied to the vehicle, driver, and trip.
Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service
Federal rules limit how long many property-carrying drivers may drive and remain on duty. The FMCSA hours-of-service rules generally include an 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty, a 14-hour driving window, and required breaks under specified conditions.
Electronic logs, fuel receipts, dispatch messages, phone data, and delivery documents may reveal excessive driving time or inaccurate records.
Driver Qualification and Training
A claim may examine the driver’s license, driving history, medical qualification, prior violations, employment background, road-test records, and training for the vehicle or cargo.
Inspection, Maintenance, and Cargo
Repeated brake problems, worn tires, unresolved warning lights, or incomplete inspection reports may show that the truck should not have remained in service. Loading records may also reveal unsafe weight distribution, securement, or inspection practices.
These records can show whether unsafe practices existed before the driver reached College Station.
What Compensation Can a Truck Accident Claim Include?
A truck accident claim may seek compensation for the financial and personal losses caused by the collision. The value depends on the injuries, future needs, ability to work, available insurance, and liability evidence.
Medical Expenses and Future Care
Compensation may include emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, therapy, medical equipment, home modifications, and future care. Catastrophic injury claims may require medical opinions and life-care planning.
Lost Income and Reduced Earning Ability
A claim may include wages or business income already lost. It may also address reduced earning capacity when the injury prevents the person from returning to the same career or remaining employed for the expected number of years.
Pain, Impairment, and Disfigurement
Texas law may allow compensation for physical pain, mental anguish, impairment, and disfigurement. These losses may be shown through medical evidence, photographs, testimony, and examples of lost activities and independence.
Wrongful Death and Survival Damages
When a truck crash causes a death, qualifying family members may bring a wrongful death claim. The estate may also have a survival claim for losses the person experienced between the injury and death.
Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock develops the damages case to show the full human and financial loss, not just the bills generated after the crash.
Can I Recover Compensation If I Was Partly at Fault?
You may recover compensation in Texas if your share of responsibility is not greater than 50 percent. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you cannot recover if you are found more than 50 percent responsible.
The trucking company may claim that you:
- Entered the truck’s blind spot.
- Changed lanes without enough space.
- Failed to react quickly enough.
- Drove too fast for the conditions.
- Stopped suddenly.
- Contributed to a chain-reaction crash.
Our attorneys test those claims against vehicle data, reconstruction findings, sight lines, video, electronic logs, and witness accounts.
How Long Do I Have to File a Texas Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Texas generally allows 2 years from the date of the collision to file a personal injury lawsuit. The same general period applies to wrongful death claims, although the facts may affect a deadline or create another notice requirement.
The deadline appears in Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. Evidence can disappear long before the filing date.
Early action gives the legal team time to:
- Inspect the truck and other vehicles.
- Preserve electronic data and company records.
- Locate witnesses and obtain video.
- Identify carriers, contractors, and insurers.
- Investigate driver history and company practices.
- Document treatment and future needs.
The statute of limitations is a final filing deadline, not a safe period for delaying the investigation.
Why Choose Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock?
Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock is built to handle catastrophic truck accident litigation. The firm combines trucking-case knowledge, courtroom preparation, financial resources, and direct attorney communication.
The Trucking Trial Lawyers
Michael Cowen is Board Certified in Truck Accident Law and Personal Injury Trial Law. He has tried more than 120 jury cases, wrote Big Rig Justice, and founded Cowen’s Big Rig Boot Camp to teach trucking litigation strategies to other attorneys.
Trial Readiness and Direct Communication
The firm prepares cases around admissible evidence, credible witnesses, strong visual presentations, and the questions a jury may decide. Clients speak directly with an attorney who explains the evidence, discusses major decisions, and provides updates.
Seven- and Eight-Figure Outcomes
The firm has published seven- and eight-figure results in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, trucking, and commercial vehicle cases, including multiple eight-figure trucking outcomes. Past results do not guarantee a similar recovery.
A Commitment to Aggieland
Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock is an official partner of Texas A&M Athletics. Michael Cowen is a 1991 Texas A&M graduate, and the firm serves clients from its College Station office and throughout the Brazos Valley. Texas A&M University and Texas A&M Athletics do not endorse the firm’s legal services.
Whether a crash occurs on State Highway 6, Harvey Mitchell Parkway, Wellborn Road, Texas Avenue, or State Highway 21, the firm is prepared to investigate the carrier and fight for accountability.
How Much Does a College Station Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?
Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock handles truck accident cases on a contingency fee. You pay no upfront attorney fee, and the firm receives a fee only if it recovers compensation for you.
Your free consultation can address:
- How the collision occurred
- The injuries and medical care involved
- Companies that may be responsible
- Evidence that needs immediate preservation
- Insurance coverage and next steps
- Fees and the legal process
Call us at (210) 941-1306 for a free consultation or contact us below. No cost to you unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions address common concerns people have when deciding whether to hire a College Station truck accident lawyer.
Should I Talk to the Trucking Company’s Insurance Adjuster?
You should speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement or signing documents. The adjuster may seek admissions about fault, injuries, prior medical conditions, or treatment before you know the full value of the claim.
What If the Truck Driver Received No Ticket?
A ticket is not required for a civil claim. The police investigation may not include electronic logs, company policies, maintenance files, phone records, or all available video. An independent investigation can uncover additional evidence.
Should I Accept a Quick Settlement Offer?
You should not accept an offer until the long-term medical and financial losses have been evaluated. An early payment may exclude future treatment, reduced earning ability, permanent impairment, or additional insurance coverage.
Will My Truck Accident Case Go to Trial?
Many cases resolve before a verdict, but strong claims should be prepared for trial. A carrier is more likely to take a demand seriously when the legal team has preserved the evidence and shown it is ready for court.
Speak With Our College Station Truck Accident Lawyers
Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock is ready to take over the legal fight while you and your family focus on recovery. The firm investigates the driver, carrier, vehicle, cargo, and corporate decisions behind the crash.
When you contact The Trucking Trial Lawyers, you receive:
- A free consultation
- Direct communication with an attorney
- Immediate attention to evidence preservation
- Trial-ready representation
- No upfront attorney fee
- No Cost to You unless we win
Call Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock at (979) 551-8894. We are available 24/7 and ready to fight for the justice and compensation your family deserves.
Schedule A Free Case Consultation
Cowen Law - Texas Office
Address: 809 E. Univ., Ste. 210-B, College Station, TX 77845
Contact No: (979) 551-8894