Gonzales County carries two kinds of dangerous truck traffic: the long-haul freight crossing its northern edge on Interstate 10 at Waelder, and the Eagle Ford oilfield tankers, sand haulers, and equipment trucks working its lease roads and two-lane highways every day. When one of those trucks causes a wreck, the company’s response team is often working the scene within hours — and the evidence that proves your case can be gone in days.
The Estes Law Firm handles serious truck and 18-wheeler accident cases in Gonzales County and along the entire I-10 corridor. Our firm has two lawyers Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — Joshua Estes and Gary M. Freeman — a credential held by a small fraction of Texas attorneys, and rarer still twice over in a single firm. We prepare every trucking case for trial from day one.
Tell us what happened. We’ll call you back fast.
Call (281) 238-5400Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. · Privacy policy
Why an 18-Wheeler Case Is Not a Car Accident Case
Commercial trucking is governed by a separate body of federal and state law. Interstate carriers must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules on driver qualification, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspection and maintenance, cargo securement, and hours of service. Drive time is recorded on electronic logging devices, and modern tractors carry engine control data, GPS pings, and often dash cameras. That evidence can prove a driver was fatigued, speeding, or out of hours — but carriers are only required to retain much of it for a limited time, and it has a way of disappearing once a claim looks expensive.
Oilfield trucking adds its own layer: lease operators, hauling contractors, and staffing companies often share responsibility, and the vehicles — tankers, sand haulers, heavy equipment transports — are among the most dangerous on rural roads. Each company has its own insurer and its own lawyers. Finding every defendant and every policy is where the real value in these cases is won or lost.
Where Truck Wrecks Happen in Gonzales County
- Interstate 10 at Waelder on the county’s northern edge — the main southern freight route across Texas
- US-183 through Gonzales toward Luling and Cuero, a heavy oilfield trucking route
- US-90A through Gonzales, the east–west route that still carries regional freight
- US-87, SH-97, and the farm-to-market network around Nixon and Smiley, where Eagle Ford tankers and sand haulers meet local traffic at rural intersections
Lawsuits arising from these wrecks can generally be filed in the county where the crash happened — which means Gonzales County courts in Gonzales.
How dangerous are these roads? Our analysis of TxDOT’s 2024 commercial truck crash data for the corridor counties shows that, per crash, commercial vehicle wrecks in this region are several times more likely to be fatal than in Harris County.
Hurt Far From Home
Serious truck-crash victims in Gonzales County are often stabilized at Gonzales Memorial Hospital and then transferred — frequently by helicopter — to a Level I trauma center in San Antonio. Families end up managing surgeries and rehabilitation more than an hour from home while medical bills mount and the carrier’s adjuster starts calling. You do not have to handle that alone, and you should not give any insurance company a recorded statement before speaking with a lawyer.
What Texas Law Says About Your Claim
Deadline. In most cases, Texas law gives you two years from the date of the crash to file suit. Waiting costs leverage long before it costs the claim: the earlier a lawyer is involved, the more evidence survives.
Shared fault. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. You can recover as long as you are not more than half responsible, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault — which is why carriers work so hard to shift blame onto you.
Bifurcated trials. Since 2021, Texas law allows trucking companies to split many commercial-vehicle trials into two phases, deciding the driver’s fault before the jury hears evidence about the company’s own safety failures. Trying cases under this framework is specialized work — another reason trucking cases belong with lawyers who actually try them.
What We Do in the First Days
- Send preservation letters so the carrier must retain driver logs, electronic control module data, dash-camera footage, inspection records, and the tractor and trailer themselves
- Get investigators and, when needed, accident reconstruction experts to the scene while the physical evidence is fresh
- Identify every liable party and every layer of insurance coverage
- Deal with the adjusters so you can focus on treatment
A Fort Bend County Firm Serving the I-10 Corridor
Our principal office is in Richmond, in Fort Bend County, with a satellite office in Missouri City — the eastern end of the same I-10 corridor. We handle trucking cases throughout the counties between Houston and San Antonio, meet clients by appointment where it is convenient for them, and work every case on a contingency fee: no fee or expenses unless we win. Hablamos español.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Texas?
In most cases, two years from the date of the crash. Some situations change that deadline, so talk to a lawyer promptly — and the evidence that wins trucking cases can disappear in weeks, long before any legal deadline.
The trucking company’s insurance already offered money. Should I take it?
Early offers in truck cases rarely account for future medical care, lost earning capacity, or the full extent of your injuries. Have a lawyer evaluate the offer before you sign anything — a release is permanent.
What does it cost to hire you?
Nothing up front. No fee or expenses unless we win. The consultation is free.
Do I have to come to your office?
No. We regularly represent clients along the I-10 corridor and can handle consultations by phone or video, or meet you by appointment.
If an 18-wheeler, oilfield truck, or other commercial vehicle hurt you or took someone you love in Gonzales County, call (281) 238-5400 now for a free consultation.
Advertisement. Responsible attorney: William F. Estes. Principal office: Richmond, Texas. No fee or expenses unless we win. Free consultation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.