Texas continues to rank as the deadliest state in the nation for large truck crashes — and new data shows the problem may be getting worse.
According to reporting highlighted by The Texas Tribune, fatal crashes involving large commercial trucks remain near record highs while federal safety enforcement actions against unsafe trucking companies have sharply declined. Published reports indicate that federal efforts to remove dangerous carriers from the road dropped approximately 60% in 2025, with dozens of enforcement actions stalled.
At the same time, truck traffic in Texas continues to surge.
The result is a dangerous combination: more trucks, less oversight, and families paying the price.
For victims of truck accidents, this trend isn’t abstract policy. It’s a life-altering reality. At The Burkett Law Firm, we understand the impact of these accidents, and our Corpus Christi truck accident lawyers are here to help victims and families recover the compensation they are entitled to.
Federal Enforcement Declines While Fatal Crashes Remain High
Large commercial trucks operate under federal regulations governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These regulations cover:
- Hours-of-service limits to prevent driver fatigue
- Vehicle inspection and maintenance standards
- Driver qualification and training requirements
- Accurate safety record reporting
When enforcement weakens, compliance often follows.
Reports cited in the Tribune-sponsored article note that nearly 70 enforcement cases aimed at shutting down trucking companies with chronic violations were stalled in 2025. That means carriers with safety histories may continue to operate on Texas highways.
The impact of reduced oversight becomes clearer when looking at crash data:
- Over 39,000 commercial motor vehicle crashes occurred in Texas in 2024.
- 546 of those crashes were fatal.
- More than 1,600 resulted in suspected serious injuries.
- Federal data previously showed Texas recorded 772 fatal large truck crashes in a single year — the highest of any state.
Those numbers aren’t random. They reflect systemic exposure.
Texas has more interstate corridors, more freight traffic, more oilfield transport routes, and faster population growth than almost anywhere else in the country. The Texas Department of Transportation projects commercial truck traffic will increase by more than 20% by 2030.
More trucks on the road without strong enforcement creates a predictable risk.
Real Texas Trucking Tragedies Show What’s at Stake
Behind the statistics are devastating real-world crashes.
In June 2025, five people — including four members of the same family — were killed when a tractor-trailer hauling U.S. mail drove through a construction zone on Interstate 20 near Terrell, Texas. Police reports indicated the driver fell asleep and never applied the brakes before causing a chain-reaction crash.
Investigators later revealed that the trucking operator had a troubling safety history, including:
- Hours-of-service falsification
- Maintenance failures
- Inspection violations
- Paperwork irregularities
- Fraudulent vehicle registration issues
In the year before the crash, the company’s trucks were involved in multiple injury accidents and failed inspections at rates well above national averages. The driver was later indicted on felony charges, including manslaughter.
That crash was not isolated.
In March 2025, a tractor-trailer hauling an Amazon shipment allegedly triggered a 17-vehicle pileup in a construction zone near Austin, killing five people, including children.
In February 2023, an undertrained driver hauling an unauthorized trailer contributed to a deadly chain-reaction crash on an icy stretch of Interstate 35 in Fort Worth.
Different locations. Different companies. Same pattern.
When safety corners are cut — whether through fatigue, inadequate training, falsified logs, or neglected maintenance — catastrophic outcomes follow.
When Oversight Fails, Civil Litigation Becomes the Accountability Mechanism
Government enforcement is one layer of protection. When that layer weakens, civil litigation often becomes the only meaningful accountability tool left.
Under Texas law, victims and surviving family members may pursue compensation when negligence contributes to a crash.
Truck accident claims are not simple car wreck cases. They often involve:
- Corporate safety culture investigations
- Driver log analysis
- Electronic logging device (ELD) data
- Maintenance record review
- Hiring and supervision practices
- Prior regulatory violations
In fatal crashes, families may pursue wrongful death and survival claims, which can include compensation for:
- Medical expenses prior to death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of companionship and guidance
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of inheritance
Texas law also allows juries, in certain cases, to award exemplary (punitive) damages when a company’s conduct shows gross negligence.
When a trucking company repeatedly ignores safety violations or falsifies compliance records, juries can send a powerful message.
And sometimes, that message is the only thing that forces change.
How The Burkett Law Firm Protects Victims of Texas Truck Accidents
Commercial truck litigation requires experience, technical understanding, and immediate action. The Burkett Law Firm represents individuals and families across Texas who have been harmed by negligent trucking companies and commercial drivers.
Here’s how the firm approaches these cases:
Immediate Evidence Preservation
Trucking companies move quickly after serious crashes. Black box data can be overwritten. Logbooks can be altered. Maintenance records can disappear.
The Burkett Law Firm acts swiftly to issue preservation notices, secure electronic data, and prevent the loss of critical evidence.
Deep Corporate Investigation
Truck accident cases often reveal more than a single driver mistake. The firm investigates company hiring practices, training procedures, safety policies, inspection histories, and regulatory violations to determine whether systemic negligence contributed to the crash.
Accurate Damage Assessment
Serious truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, permanent disability, or death.
The firm evaluates not only immediate medical bills but also long-term medical needs, loss of earning capacity, and the full economic and emotional impact on families.
Trial-Ready Representation
Insurance carriers for trucking companies are well-funded and aggressive. Settlement negotiations differ when the opposing law firm is prepared to present the case to a jury.
The Burkett Law Firm builds cases with trial in mind from day one.
Texas Roads Are Getting Busier And Riskier
The growth of Texas’s economy means more freight, more oil field transport, more construction vehicles, and more 18-wheelers navigating urban congestion and rural highways alike.
From the Permian Basin to Dallas-Fort Worth to Houston corridors, commercial trucking exposure is constant.
When enforcement slows and safety compliance weakens, crash risk increases. The statistics show it. The recent tragedies confirm it.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or commercial vehicle in Texas, you may have the right to pursue compensation.
Texas law generally provides two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Waiting too long can jeopardize evidence and legal rights.
The Burkett Law Firm offers consultations to help victims understand:
- Whether negligence may have played a role
- What compensation may be available
- What steps should be taken immediately?
When 80,000-pound commercial vehicles are involved, the legal response must be just as serious.
Accountability matters especially when oversight fails.
