Waco Truck Accident Lawyer

Written and legally reviewed by Texas attorney Greg Baumgartner, updated September, 2026.

40+ Years Handling Serious 18-Wheeler and Commercial Truck Cases Across Texas

A serious truck crash in Waco can change a family’s life in seconds. If the collision happened on I-35, Loop 340, Highway 6, US 84, or another road in McLennan County, the trucking company may begin protecting itself before you leave the hospital. I believe the injured person deserves the same head start.

I’m Greg Baumgartner. I have handled serious truck and commercial vehicle accident cases since 1985. I personally stay involved in the cases my firm accepts, and I limit my caseload so I can spend the time needed to investigate the crash, preserve evidence, and deal with the trucking company and its insurer.

If you or a family member suffered a serious injury in a Waco truck accident, you can call a Texas truck accident attorney with decades of experience for a free consultation. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.

Quick Answer: What Makes a Waco Truck Accident Case Different?

Truck accident cases usually involve more evidence, more safety rules, and more potential defendants than ordinary car accident cases. A strong investigation may require driver logs, electronic truck data, camera footage, maintenance records, cargo documents, driver qualification files, and company safety records. The sooner that evidence is identified and preserved, the better.

Results From Serious Texas Truck Accident Cases

Results do not tell the whole story, but they do show whether a lawyer has handled major commercial vehicle cases. Some of my firm’s truck and commercial vehicle results include:

• Confidential settlement — largest settlement ever paid by the trucking company in that case
• $5.75 million — fatal head-on commercial truck collision
• $5 million — commercial truck crash resulting in a spinal injury
• $3.74 million — truck wreck resulting in a serious head injury
• $3 million — 18-wheeler crash requiring neck surgery
• $2.75 million — fatal big-rig collision

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case depends on its facts, evidence, law, insurance coverage, and damages. You can review more information about my background and approach on the About Greg Baumgartner page.

Why Hire Me for a Serious Waco Truck Accident?

I do not run a high-volume practice. My focus is on serious injury and fatal accident cases, especially commercial vehicle litigation. That matters because trucking cases can become document-heavy and technical very quickly. I want to know not only what happened at the moment of impact, but what happened in the days, weeks, and months before the crash.

I have dual law degrees, am a graduate of Trial Lawyers College, and have handled truck cases for more than four decades. Just as important, I personally communicate with clients and stay involved in the important decisions in their cases.

Waco Truck Accidents on Interstate 35

Interstate 35 is the central truck corridor through Waco. It carries local traffic and a large volume of through freight between North Texas, Central Texas, Austin, and San Antonio. The I-35 corridor also connects with major Waco-area routes including US 84, Highway 6, and Loop 340.

TxDOT has invested heavily in the Waco-area I-35 corridor and has also described Loop 340 as an alternative route for freight and passenger traffic around Waco. See TxDOT’s Waco Loop 340 project information for current corridor details.

In an I-35 truck case, I look closely at speed, following distance, lane changes, construction or traffic conditions, braking, driver fatigue, and whether the truck entered a congested area too fast. Rear-end crashes, jackknifes, underride collisions, sideswipes, and lost-load wrecks can all produce different evidence and liability issues.

Other Waco Roads Where Commercial Truck Crashes Can Happen

Serious commercial vehicle crashes are not limited to the interstate. Waco and McLennan County also have heavy traffic on Loop 340, Highway 6, US 84/Waco Drive, and the roads that connect industrial, retail, and distribution areas with I-35. The type of road matters because it affects traffic flow, turning movements, sight distance, speed, and the sources of available video or witness evidence.

What I Look for First After a Waco Truck Accident

When I evaluate a serious truck case, I do not start with a demand letter. I start with evidence. Some evidence can be lost, overwritten, or difficult to obtain if nobody acts quickly.

• Electronic logging device (ELD) data and records of duty status
• Engine control module or other electronic truck data
• Dashcam and in-cab camera footage
• Driver qualification, hiring, training, and disciplinary records
• Maintenance, inspection, brake, tire, and repair records
• Cargo loading and securement records
• Drug and alcohol testing records, when applicable
• Dispatch communications, trip documents, and supporting records
• Police photographs, body-camera footage, dashcam video, and witness information
• Nearby business, traffic, or vehicle video that may have captured the crash

For more detail, see my discussion of truck maintenance claims and negligent hiring claims against trucking companies.

The Police Report Is a Starting Point, Not the Whole Case

Depending on where a crash occurs in Waco, the investigating agency may be the Waco Police, the Texas DPS, or another local law-enforcement agency. The officer’s report is important, but a civil truck case usually requires a broader investigation.

Texas crash reports are maintained through TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System. TxDOT explains how to obtain reports and related records on its Crash Reports and Records page. Police reports do not normally contain the trucking company’s internal records, ELD data, driver file, maintenance history, or most other evidence needed to evaluate a commercial carrier’s conduct.

Federal Trucking Rules Can Point to Important Evidence

Many interstate motor carriers are governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Those rules cover subjects such as driver qualifications, safe operation, hours of service, equipment, cargo securement, inspections, and maintenance.

For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration explains that property-carrying drivers generally may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty and may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, subject to applicable rules and exceptions. See the FMCSA Hours of Service summary.

A violation does not automatically prove a case. I want to know whether the rule applied, whether it was violated, and whether that violation helped cause the crash. My detailed guide to federal trucking regulations in Texas truck accident cases explains how I use these rules when investigating a claim.

Who May Be Responsible for a Waco Truck Accident?

The truck driver may be only one part of the case. Depending on the facts, responsibility may involve the motor carrier, an employer, a maintenance contractor, a cargo-loading company, a leasing company, or another driver or business.

I look at each company’s actual role instead of assuming the name on the truck tells the whole story. My guide on who may be responsible for a truck accident explains the main liability questions in more detail.

Serious Injuries and Wrongful Death Claims

The size and weight difference between an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle means the injuries can be severe. I have handled cases involving brain injuries, spinal injuries, fractures, surgical neck and back injuries, permanent impairment, and fatal crashes. Read more about serious truck accident injuries in Texas.

When a truck crash causes a death, the case may involve Texas wrongful death and survival law. The Texas Wrongful Death Act is found in Chapter 71 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. You can review the official Texas Wrongful Death Act.

What Compensation Can Be Recovered?

The damages in a truck accident case depend on the injury and the evidence. Recoverable damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, and other losses allowed by Texas law. Fatal accident claims may involve additional wrongful death and survival damages.

I do not value a serious case by adding medical bills and applying a multiplier. I look at how the injury has changed the person’s work, independence, family life, future medical needs, and day-to-day activities. I also consider the available insurance and the strength of the liability evidence.

How Long Do I Have to File a Waco Truck Accident Lawsuit?

Texas generally gives an injured person two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. A wrongful death action is also generally subject to a two-year period, although the accrual date and exceptions can differ. The official rule appears in Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.

The legal deadline is not the only reason to act. Trucking evidence can disappear much sooner. That is why I prefer to investigate a major truck crash as early as possible.

What Should I Do After a Waco Truck Accident?

• Get medical care for your injuries. Your health comes first.
• Report the crash and obtain the investigating agency’s information.
• If you can do so safely, preserve photographs, video, witness names, and vehicle information.
• Do not guess about fault or the extent of your injuries in a recorded statement to the trucking insurer.
• Preserve texts, photos, medical paperwork, towing information, and any communications about the crash.
• Talk with a lawyer experienced in commercial vehicle cases before important evidence is lost.

Do I Need a Lawyer With an Office in Waco?

No. A Texas attorney can represent clients throughout the state. My offices are in Houston, and I handle serious truck accident cases across Texas. For a major commercial vehicle case, I believe the more important questions are whether the lawyer knows how to preserve trucking-related evidence, understands federal safety regulations, has handled serious truck cases before, and will personally give your case the attention you deserve.

You can also see the other Texas communities I serve on the Cities We Serve page.

Why My Practice Is Different

I have practiced law in Texas since 1984 and have handled truck accident litigation since 1985. I limit the number of serious injury and wrongful death cases I accept. That is intentional. I would rather know my clients and their cases well than run a file through a high-volume system. You will not find a more experienced truck accident attorney.

My clients can speak with me. I stay involved in strategy, investigation, negotiations, and litigation. When a trucking company disputes fault, I want the evidence to answer the argument—not slogans or a large demand letter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Waco Truck Accident Cases

How much does a Waco truck accident lawyer cost?

My initial consultation is free. I handle injury cases on a contingency fee, which means there is no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. The exact fee terms are explained in the written representation agreement before you hire the firm.

Who can be liable for an 18-wheeler crash in Waco?

Potentially responsible parties can include the driver, motor carrier, employer, maintenance contractor, cargo loader, leasing company, or another negligent driver. The answer depends on who controlled the work and what caused the collision.

What evidence should be preserved after a truck crash?

Important evidence can include ELD data, electronic truck data, camera footage, driver qualification records, maintenance records, inspection documents, cargo records, dispatch communications, drug and alcohol testing records, and scene evidence.

Are truck accident cases different from car accident cases?

Yes. Commercial truck cases often involve federal safety rules, company records, multiple businesses, specialized electronic data, and larger insurance policies. They usually require a more detailed investigation than an ordinary two-car collision.

How long do I have to sue after a truck accident in Texas?

Generally, Texas gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but exceptions can apply. A lawyer should check the deadline for your specific facts rather than relying only on the general rule.

Should I give the trucking company a recorded statement?

I generally recommend speaking with an experienced attorney before giving a recorded statement to the trucking company or its insurer. A statement made before you understand the facts or your injuries can be used later in the claim.

Talk With Greg Baumgartner About a Serious Waco Truck Accident

If you or someone in your family was seriously injured in a truck accident in Waco or McLennan County, call me. I will listen to what happened, explain what I would investigate, and tell you whether I believe I can help. There is no charge for the consultation.

Call (281) 893-0760 or toll-free at 1-866-758-4529, or use the free case review form. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.