After a semi-truck accident in Midland-Odessa, Texas, life changes in an instant. Victims are often left facing catastrophic injuries, mounting medical bills, and overwhelming physical and emotional pain and suffering, while the trucking company immediately shifts into defense mode, working to pay you as little as possible, discredit your injuries, and shift the blame onto you.
These corporations and their insurers will stop at nothing to protect their bottom line —not your future. And while no amount of money can ever undo the harm they’ve caused, securing the full compensation you’re entitled to is one way to hold them accountable and protect your family’s financial future.
In Texas, truck accident victims have the right to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. But make no mistake—who you hire matters. Choosing the right legal team can mean the difference between a record-setting recovery or substantially less.
Here are the things you can do to help maximize your truck accident settlement, and how our undefeated Midland-Odessa truck accident lawyers can stand up, fight, and win for you.
1. Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
One of the first things you should do immediately after your accident is to seek medical treatment for your injuries. The more severe your injuries, the more your case is likely to be worth. Getting treatment right away can help ensure that any potentially hidden injuries are uncovered and treated.
Your medical records will serve as important evidence during the settlement process. Having these records can help prove that your injuries were the direct result of the accident.
2. Notify the Police
Texas law requires that accidents resulting in injuries or death be reported within 10 days. However, you should go ahead and call the police right away. The police will be able to help investigate the cause of your crash, and this can help place liability on the truck driver or trucking company.
Additionally, the police report will contain all the pertinent information you need after the accident, such as:
- The truck driver’s name
- Name of the trucking company
- Insurance information
- Names of witnesses
Most accident reports are ready within a day or two after the accident, and you should go ahead and obtain a copy from the police agency that responded to your accident.
3. Gather Evidence From the Scene
If you are able, you will want to gather as much evidence from the scene as possible. Take photos of all the vehicles involved. Also, take photos of the area surrounding the scene, including road signs, skid marks, or other evidence that may show what led up to your accident.
Write down the tag number and DOT number of the truck, and get contact information for any witnesses. While some of this information may be included in the police report, the more evidence you have to build your case, the better.
4. Don’t Communicate With the Trucking Company or Its Insurer
Truck accident claims are often worth millions due to the severity of injuries involved. That’s why insurance companies waste no time trying to protect their bottom line. You will likely be contacted by multiple insurance adjusters—including those representing the trucking company and their driver. No matter how friendly or helpful they seem, their only goal is to get you to say something that can be used against you.
NEVER give recorded statements, answer questions, or sign anything —contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.
Even with your own insurance provider, proceed cautiously. While they may seem cooperative, they still want to limit payouts. Anything you say—especially about fault, your injuries, or the accident—can hurt your case.
At Zehl & Associates, we handle all communications with insurance companies so you don’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing or settling for less than you deserve.
5.Never Try to Negotiate a Settlement on Your Own
In many cases, the insurance company will swoop in and make you a quick offer to settle your case. Do not accept the first settlement offer! This offer is almost never anywhere near the actual value of your case. They may simply be trying to take advantage of you during a stressful and emotional time.
Before you consider any settlement, contact an experienced truck accident attorney. Only a proven legal team has the resources, insight, and track record to stand up to the insurance company’s tactics and demand the full compensation you’re legally entitled to.
While some negotiation is expected during the settlement process, you should never walk away feeling as though you were taken advantage of. That’s why you need the best truck accident attorneys you can find — to stand up to the insurance company, demand the compensation that you are legally owed, and recover a record-breaking settlement on your behalf.
At Zehl & Associates, we don’t just negotiate—we fight to maximize your recovery. If the other side refuses to pay what you deserve, we take them to trial, where we’ve never lost a case and where they know they are going to have to pay more money than they’re used to paying.
6. Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer With a History of Record-Setting Results
Truck accident cases are among the most complex in personal injury law. They often involve catastrophic injuries, multiple at-fault parties, and aggressive corporate defense teams. Defendants may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The freight or cargo loader
- The manufacturer of defective parts or equipment
- The company responsible for maintenance
These cases are often won—or lost—based on your attorney’s ability to uncover critical evidence, apply state and federal trucking regulations, and leverage modern onboard technology, including ELDs, GPS tracking, and dash cam footage.
The best truck accident lawyers don’t just handle these cases. They don’t just take them to trial and win. They repeatedly recover the largest settlements and verdicts in history. That’s what sets us apart.
Having successfully represented thousands of victims against the biggest trucking companies in the country, our Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers know what evidence to look for, where to find it, and—most importantly—how to use it to hold negligent drivers and corporations fully accountable.
We never back down. We never let them take advantage of you. And we never stop fighting to maximize your recovery—so you and your family never have to worry about the future again.
Contact the Midland-Odessa Truck Accident Attorneys from Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today, Call (888) 603-3636
With Billions won, including the largest truck accident verdicts and settlements in Texas history, our undefeated Midland-Odessa 18-wheeler attorneys have the resources and experience to stand up against the largest trucking companies in the world and not only win, but set records. We do whatever it takes to ensure that our clients and their families receive the maximum compensation possible for their injuries and losses, and stand by them every step of the way.
For more information, please contact our truck accident attorneys in Midland at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours