A truck accident claim in Huntsville, TX may involve more than the driver. The trucking company, trailer owner, or maintenance contractor may also share responsibility.
Texas generally gives injured people two years to file a lawsuit, but key records may be lost much sooner, and some claims, such as those against government entities, have much shorter deadlines.Texas generally gives injured people two years to file a lawsuit, but key records may be lost much sooner.
Read on to learn how truck accident claims work and what steps can help protect your rights.
What Walker County’s 2024 Crash Data Says About I-45
Walker County recorded 183 crashes involving a commercial motor vehicle in 2024, including seven fatal crashes, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s county tables. I-45 runs through Huntsville, where trucks carrying freight between Houston and Dallas share the road with people making short trips around town.
This mix of highway and local traffic can create risks. A loaded tractor-trailer traveling at highway speed needs much more distance to stop than a pickup. A compact car beside the cab can also be hidden in the truck driver’s blind spot. Ramps at SH 30 and SH 19 bring local drivers onto the highway throughout the day.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Huntsville Truck Crash
More than one party may be responsible. The driver may be named in the lawsuit, but the trucking company can also be liable for the driver’s actions under respondeat superior. This rule can hold an employer responsible for an employee’s actions while performing their job duties. Separate claims may involve a trailer owner, maintenance contractor, or cargo loader.
A trucking company is not automatically responsible for every crash involving one of its drivers. A company is generally not responsible for a driver who is commuting or running a personal errand. Many long-haul drivers are owner-operators who work as independent contractors rather than employees.
When an interstate carrier leases an owner-operator's truck, federal regulations require the lease to give the carrier exclusive possession, control, and responsibility for the truck's operation (49 C.F.R. § 376.12(c)). Courts differ on how far that rule makes the carrier liable in an injury lawsuit, so the result depends on the lease, the facts, and the applicable law. If the company cannot be held responsible for the driver's actions, a claim may focus on the company's own negligence.
Claims for negligent hiring, training, retention, supervision, and entrustment each have separate requirements. They examine whether the company acted reasonably when hiring, training, keeping the driver on the job, supervising the driver, or allowing them to use the truck. These claims may matter when the company disputes its control over the driver. If the company admits that the driver was acting within the scope of employment, Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 72.054 can limit most of these claims during the first phase of trial.
A truck accident lawyer can examine the driver’s work arrangement, the truck’s ownership, and each company’s involvement to identify who may be responsible.
Do Federal Trucking Rules Apply to Your Crash?
Not automatically. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations at 49 C.F.R. Parts 350 to 399 apply when certain requirements are met. These generally involve interstate commerce and a vehicle that meets the applicable definition of a commercial motor vehicle. A truck carrying freight entirely within Texas may still be engaged in interstate commerce if its trip is part of a shipment moving between states. Driving on an interstate highway alone does not determine whether federal rules apply.
Texas also has safety rules for carriers operating within the state. The Department of Public Safety adopts much of the federal system under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 644 and 37 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 4, with exceptions specific to Texas.
|
Question |
Interstate carrier |
Texas intrastate carrier |
|
Source of the safety rules |
Applicable federal motor carrier regulations |
Federal rules adopted by DPS under Transportation Code Chapter 644 |
|
Which vehicles count |
Vehicles meeting the applicable federal definition of a commercial motor vehicle |
Vehicles covered by Texas motor carrier safety rules |
|
Driving hours |
Federal hours-of-service rules |
Generally up to 12 hours of driving after 8 consecutive hours off duty, subject to other limits and exceptions |
|
Who enforces the rules |
FMCSA and state enforcement agencies |
Texas Department of Public Safety |
How Texas Divides Fault When the Trucking Company Blames You
The trucking company may argue that you share responsibility for the crash. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001, a claimant cannot recover damages if their share of responsibility is greater than 50 percent. At 50 percent or less, § 33.012 reduces the award by the percentage of fault assigned to the claimant.
Under § 33.003, the jury assigns percentages of responsibility to each person or company whose fault it considers. Section 33.004 allows a defendant to formally name a responsible third party who is not part of the lawsuit. The jury may then assign some responsibility to that person or company.
Deadlines and Where a Walker County Truck Case Is Filed
Most Texas injury lawsuits must be filed within two years under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Some situations change that:
- Wrongful death. The two-year period begins on the date of death, which may be different from the crash date. Under § 71.004, the surviving spouse, children, and parents may bring the claim. If none of them files within three months of the death, the executor or administrator may do so unless the family asks them not to. A separate survival action, which seeks the deceased person's own damages such as medical bills and pain before death, runs from the date of injury.
- Minors. The deadline for an injured child is generally delayed until the child turns 18 (§ 16.001), though a parent's own claim for the child's medical expenses is not.
- Government vehicles. If a state agency, county, city, school district, or other governmental unit was responsible, the Texas Tort Claims Act applies. It requires formal notice, generally within six months of the crash (§ 101.101), and some local charters require notice sooner. It also caps damages (§ 101.023). Missing the notice deadline can end the claim even if the two-year period has not run.
Cases filed in Walker County may be heard by the 12th and 278th Judicial District Courts at the Walker County Courthouse, 1100 University Avenue. Some truck cases are filed in the county where the carrier has its principal office or are moved to federal court. Waiting until the deadline approaches can make a case harder to prove. Electronic logs, engine data, and dispatch records may be overwritten as part of the carrier’s routine recordkeeping long before a lawsuit is filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Huntsville, TX?
The filing deadline is generally two years from the crash date under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003(a). For a wrongful death claim, the two-year period starts on the date of death.
Who pays if the driver was an owner-operator rather than an employee?
The carrier may still be liable if it leased the truck to haul freight between states, depending on the applicable law and facts. It may also be liable for its own negligence in hiring, training, or allowing the driver to use the truck. The owner-operator’s own insurance policy may also provide coverage.
Does it matter that the truck never left Texas?
It can affect which safety rules apply. A truck carrying interstate freight can fall under federal rules even during a part of the trip that stays within Texas. Texas adopts much of the federal system for intrastate carriers under Transportation Code Chapter 644, with exceptions specific to the state.
What if the trucking company says the crash was partly my fault?
Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. If that share is greater than 50 percent, you cannot recover damages. If the case goes to trial, the jury decides the percentages of responsibility.
Talk to a Lawyer Before the Records Disappear
Important records can help show what happened in a truck crash and who may be responsible.
If you were hurt on I-45 or elsewhere in Walker County, Brian C. Gutierrez can help gather and review the evidence needed to support your claim before it becomes harder to obtain. We offer free consultations, and there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
To discuss your case, you can contact Brian C. Gutierrez at (979) 243-9912.
Last reviewed: October 2026
This post was reviewed by Brian C. Gutierrez, licensed in Texas since 2006.
Content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Texas attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
