Find an 18-wheeler accident lawyer in Houston: freight routes, proof and who investigates

Last checked November 8, 2026

A truck wreck inside Houston is most likely with HPD, which has its own Truck Enforcement Unit at 713-247-4034.123 Harris County had 5,913 commercial vehicle crashes in 2025.4 A trucking company has to keep driver logs for only 6 months, so ask early.5 You generally have 2 years to sue.6

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Road map of Houston showing SH 225 from the 610 Loop to Highway 146, where HPD says large trucks are barred from the left lane
Truck logs may be kept just 6 months after a Houston wreck. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Why are there so many 18-wheelers on Houston roads?

Freight has to get from the ship channel to the rest of the country. Port Houston's Bayport and Barbours Cut terminals topped 11,000 truck gate moves in one day in August 2019, a record then.7 January 2026 brought 370,034 TEUs, a record for that month.8 A TEU is one twenty-foot container's worth of cargo. City planners expected freight tonnage to climb 60% from 2015 to 2040.9

Those containers leave by road. Bayport's main entrance is off Port Road, and Port Houston calls Barbours Cut Boulevard at SH 146 the main intersection in front of that terminal.1011 A regional study of crashes from 2011 to 2015 listed SH 146 at I-10 among the corridor's highest crash spots.12 In the 2025 state ranking, the Eastex Freeway in Houston was the most congested road in Texas for trucks.13

Interstates are only part of the picture. The city counted 4,778 truck-related crashes on non-interstate roads from 2018 through 2022. Its slide on those crashes names Bingle Road at West Little York, US 90A at Mesa Drive, and McCarty Street at I-10.1415

Was that truck allowed in that lane or on that Houston street?

RuleWhereWhy it can matter
No left lane, 24 hours a day, for trucks with 3 or more axles where signs are posted16Parts of the East Freeway, SH 225 from the 610 Loop to Highway 146, the North Freeway from Loop 610 to Rankin Road, and US 290 from Loop 610 to Beltway 817Tell the officer if the truck was in a barred lane when it hit you.
Hazardous loads must take the 610 Loop and not go through the city18The Pierce Elevated and the Highway 59 Overpass are restricted for hazmat19Certain bulk hazmat loads must carry at least $5 million in coverage.20
Draft no-through-truck streets, for local origins or destinations only21A citywide plan was aimed at adoption in summer 202422We could not confirm it was adopted, so check the current city code.

A broken route rule does not prove fault by itself, but it is a fair reason to ask why the truck was there.

Who investigates a truck wreck in Houston, and where is the report?

Start with the card the officer gave you. HPD worked 53,902 crashes in 2025 and the Harris County Sheriff's Office worked 26,110.123 HPD reports can be bought through BuyCrash, or by mail for $6.2425 If you mail a request, wait at least 10 days after the wreck.26

HPD truck officers run a 37-item inspection and can order a rig out of service for a serious federal violation.2728 A Level I inspection looks at hours of service, brakes and coupling devices, the parts that join tractor and trailer.29 Ask if the truck was inspected after your crash, and get that sheet too.

Did a Houston fire truck or police vehicle hit you? HPD's Vehicular Crimes Division handles crashes with HPD and HFD fleet vehicles, along with fatal wrecks.30 Its number is 713-247-4072.31 A crash with a city vehicle also means a far shorter notice deadline, shown below.

What proof should a Houston truck accident lawyer ask for first?

RecordWhat we knowWhy it helps
Driver hours logsMust be kept at least 6 months5Compare them to the limits: 11 hours driving, none after 14 hours on the clock32
Company crash listMust be kept 3 years after each crash33Can show a pattern of wrecks
Alcohol test after a deadly crashCompany must test the surviving driver as soon as it can34Can show whether alcohol played a part
Port gate appointmentTruckers need an Express Pass appointment to enter the container terminals35May show when the truck left the port and who booked the move

We did not find a public rule on how long Port Houston keeps gate data, so a written request to save records should go out soon. Container gates normally run weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and close on weekends.36 A container truck that hit you during those hours may have been on a port run.

What should you write down after a big rig hits you in Houston?

  1. Photograph the cab door for the company name and DOT number, then the trailer number and any container number. The tractor, the trailer and the box can belong to different companies.
  2. Get checked even if you can walk. Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center are both Level I trauma centers.3738 Harris Health says clear records requests go out within 15 business days.39
  3. To report dangerous truck driving that you see later, HPD lists the Eyes of Houston line at 713-247-4004.40 That line is not your crash report.

How much insurance does a trucking company need in Houston?

  • Freight carriers for hire that cross state lines need $750,000 or more.41
  • A regular Texas car policy, for comparison: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per crash.42

Those numbers are floors, not what a claim is worth. Know how hurt you are before giving a truck insurer a recorded statement.

How long do I have after a truck accident in Houston?

Who is responsibleDeadlineNote
A driver or trucking company2 years to sue6Records can be gone long before this date.
City of Houston truck90 days, written and verified43Sign before a notary.44 A missed notice can end the claim.45
Harris County truck180 days, in writing46Goes to Commissioners Court.
Another Texas government bodyUsually 6 months for notice47Find out early who owned the vehicle.

If a jury finds you more than 50% responsible, Texas does not let you recover.48

Questions

How long do I have to sue after an 18-wheeler wreck in Houston?

Generally 2 years.6 If a City of Houston truck was involved, written notice is due within 90 days.43

What if a Houston fire truck hit me?

HPD's Vehicular Crimes Division handles crashes with HFD fleet vehicles.30 Treat the city's 90-day notice as your first deadline.43

Can 18-wheelers use the left lane on SH 225?

Not on the signed stretch from the 610 Loop to Highway 146, where HPD enforces a 24-hour ban for trucks with 3 or more axles.1716

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Sources

  1. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “HOUSTON PD 264 284 1,086 1,279 4,276 5,953 12,300 18,429 33,421 97,773 2,555 18,384 53,902”
  2. Houston Police, Truck Enforcement Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “Officers within the unit conduct commercial truck and motorcoach safety inspections.”
  3. Houston Police, Phone Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Truck Enforcement Unit 713 247-4034”
  4. TxDOT, 2025 Commercial Motor Vehicle Involved Crashes by County, checked 2026-11-08. “Harris 41 43 108 125 541 820 880 1,326 4,272 15,347 71 875 5,913”
  5. 49 C.F.R. § 395.8(k)(1), checked 2026-11-08. “A motor carrier shall retain records of duty status and supporting documents required under this part for each of its drivers for a period of not less than 6 months from the date of receipt.”
  6. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  7. Port Houston, Record Gate Moves, checked 2026-11-08. “combined handled more than 11,000 gate moves in one day for the first time ever Aug. 28”
  8. Port Houston, Record January for Containers, checked 2026-11-08. “Port Houston handled 370,034 TEUs in January, the biggest January container volume on record”
  9. City of Houston, Citywide Truck Route Plan presentation, checked 2026-11-08. “estimated 60% freight tonnage increase b/w 2015 & 2040”
  10. Port Houston, Road Widening Projects, checked 2026-11-08. “The main entrance for Bayport Container Terminal lies off Port Road.”
  11. Port Houston, Road Widening Projects, checked 2026-11-08. “This is the main intersection in front of the terminal which sees a lot of transportation traffic each day.”
  12. Houston-Galveston Area Council, SH 146 Subregional Plan, checked 2026-11-08. “Locations with the highest crash numbers (shown in red) include the intersections of: • SH 146 at FM 1942 • SH 146 at Loop 207 • SH 146 at IH 10”
  13. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, 2025 Texas Top 100 Congested Road Segments, checked 2026-11-08. “Eastex Fwy in Houston moved from #4 last year to #1 this year.”
  14. City of Houston, Citywide Truck Route Plan presentation, checked 2026-11-08. “4,778 truck-related crashes along non-interstate roadways between 2018 and 2022”
  15. City of Houston, Citywide Truck Route Plan presentation, checked 2026-11-08. “Intersections: • Bingle Rd and West Little York • US 90A and Mesa Dr • McCarty St and I-10”
  16. Houston Police, Restricted Roadways, checked 2026-11-08. “large commercial trucks (3 or more axles) that drive in prohibited left lanes on freeways where signage is posted”
  17. Houston Police, Restricted Roadways, checked 2026-11-08. “Currently four freeways, the East Freeway between Waco Street and Uvalde, State Highway 225 between the 610 Loop and Highway 146, the North Freeway between Loop 610 and Rankin Road and US 290 between Loop 610 and Beltway 8 have left lane restrictions 24 hours a day.”
  18. Houston Police, Truck Enforcement Unit Haz-Mat, checked 2026-11-08. “Hazardous Material vehicles transporting haz-mat product must use this 610 Loop route and not travel through the city.”
  19. Houston Police, Truck Enforcement Unit Haz-Mat, checked 2026-11-08. “The Pierce Elevated and Highway 59 Overpass are restricted Haz-Mat routes.”
  20. 49 C.F.R. § 387.9, checked 2026-11-08. “(2) For-hire and Private (In interstate, foreign, or intrastate commerce, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds) Hazardous substances, as defined in 49 CFR 171.8, transported in bulk in cargo tanks, portable tanks, or hopper-type vehicles [...] 5,000,000”
  21. City of Houston, Citywide Truck Route Plan presentation, checked 2026-11-08. “For local origins or destinations only”
  22. City of Houston, Citywide Truck Route Plan presentation, checked 2026-11-08. “Citywide Truck Route Plan Adoption – Summer 2024”
  23. TxDOT, 2025 Crashes and Injuries by Investigating Agency, checked 2026-11-08. “HARRIS COUNTY 146 150 601 695 2,456 3,464 2,650 4,007 19,520 53,604 737 4,580 26,110 SO”
  24. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Crash Reports can be purchased online from the Texas Department of Transportation at https://buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com”
  25. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Send a check / money order for $6.00 (made payable to the City of Houston)”
  26. Houston Police, Crash Report Request Form, checked 2026-11-08. “should not be submitted until at least 10 days after the crash date to allow time for receipt of the report”
  27. Houston Police, Truck Enforcement Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “Officers within the Truck Enforcement Unit conduct a 37-item commercial vehicle safety inspection.”
  28. Houston Police, Truck Enforcement Unit, checked 2026-11-08. “If a serious federal regulation violation is detected, then an out-of-service order is conveyed to the driver.”
  29. Houston Police, Truck Enforcement Unit Safety Inspections, checked 2026-11-08. “hours of service; seat belt; vehicle inspection report (if applicable); brake systems; coupling devices”
  30. Houston Police, Vehicular Crimes, checked 2026-11-08. “VCD is specifically tasked with investigating crashes with a criminal nexus, such as fatal crashes, Failure to Stop and Render Aid (FSRA), Failure to Stop and Give Information (FSGI) accidents, as well as crashes involving HPD and HFD fleet vehicles.”
  31. Houston Police, Phone Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Vehicular Crimes Division 713 247-4072”
  32. 49 C.F.R. § 395.3(a)(2)-(3), checked 2026-11-08. “(2) 14-hour period. A driver may not drive after a period of 14 consecutive hours after coming on-duty following 10 consecutive hours off-duty. (3) Driving time and interruptions of driving periods — (i) Driving time. A driver may drive a total of 11 hours during the period specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.”
  33. 49 C.F.R. § 390.15(b), checked 2026-11-08. “Motor carriers must maintain an accident register for 3 years after the date of each accident.”
  34. 49 C.F.R. § 382.303(a)(1), checked 2026-11-08. “As soon as practicable following an occurrence involving a commercial motor vehicle operating on a public road in commerce, each employer shall test for alcohol for each of its surviving drivers: (1) Who was performing safety-sensitive functions with respect to the vehicle, if the accident involved the loss of human life”
  35. Port Houston, Gate Information, checked 2026-11-08. “Express Pass is a mandatory appointment required for truckers accessing Port Houston’s Container Terminals.”
  36. Port Houston, Hours of Operation, checked 2026-11-08. “Monday through Friday: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm (ingate closes at 6:00 pm) Saturday and Sunday: Closed”
  37. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “HARRIS HEALTH BEN TAUB HOSPITAL 4/1/2028 Q HOUSTON 77030”
  38. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “MEMORIAL HERMANN - TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER 5/1/2028 Q HOUSTON 77030”
  39. Harris Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “helps us send your records within 15 business days”
  40. Houston Police, Truck Safety Programs, checked 2026-11-08. “There is a phone number to report violations, 713-247-4004”
  41. 49 C.F.R. § 387.9, checked 2026-11-08. “(1) For-hire (In interstate or foreign commerce, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds) Property (nonhazardous) $750,000”
  42. Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1), checked 2026-11-08. “(1) $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision; (2) $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one collision, subject to the amount provided by Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the persons; and (3) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in one collision.”
  43. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “duly verified, within 90 days after the same has been sustained”
  44. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “in writing and sign the letter before a Notary Public”
  45. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “shall exonerate, excuse and exempt the city from any liability whatsoever”
  46. Harris County, Claim Filing Procedures, checked 2026-11-08. “Written notice of your claim must be mailed or delivered in person within 180 days of the occurrence to: Harris County Commissioners Court 1001 Preston, Room 610 Houston, Texas 77002”
  47. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  48. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”

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