In early November, four Houston-area women, Lakeisha Brown, Myunique Johnson, Taylor White, and Breanna Brantley, were traveling back home from Oklahoma when their vehicle was struck from behind by a semi-truck. The collision tragically killed all four women. The following video captures the horrific event:
On November 5, 2025, four women were traveling along U.S. 87, about 10 miles south of Dalhart, when their vehicle got a flat tire. The four women activated their vehicle’s hazard lights and began to slow down in the right-most lane of U.S. 87. The video, taken from a dashboard camera of a third vehicle, shows that the third vehicle was able to safely switch lanes to avoid a collision. After the third vehicle passes, the video shows an 18-wheeler carrying potatoes for H-E-B strike the vehicle occupied by the four women. The collision pushed the four women’s vehicle across two lanes of traffic and into the median and caused the semi-truck to flip sideways. The investigation into the crash is ongoing; however, the preliminary investigation found that the driver of the 18-wheeler “failed to control its speed.”
Truck accident lawyer Christopher K. Fletcher at his desk
The families of the four women have filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking more than $1 million in damages. The lawsuit claims that the driver of the 18-wheeler, Guadalupe Villarreal, was distracted, likely on his phone, while driving. The lawsuit names H-E-B, Villarreal, and transportation companies Parkway Transport, Inc., and Scrappy Trucking, LLC. as defendants in the case. An H-E-B spokesperson claims the crash involved a third-party vendor, not an H-E-B employee. However, the truck accident lawyers at Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., know that this fact does not absolve H-E-B of responsibility for the truck driver’s conduct. “Due to the high degree of risk in trucking and the vast damages that may result when truck drivers are negligent, in many cases, Federal Motor Carrier law holds the original shipper liable for the negligent conduct caused by the driver hauling their load for them, even if the driver is working for an independent contractor.” Says attorney Christopher K. Fletcher. “If a shipper hires a trucking company or driver known to have safety issues or a history of violations, the shipper might be held responsible for ‘negligent selection’ or ‘negligent hiring.’ This is particularly relevant if the shipper had knowledge of, or should have known about, these concerns.”
What are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Texas?
Before determining liability, your legal team must determine what caused the accident to occur. An experienced legal team can help investigate the accident and gather evidence to determine the cause. The most common causes of truck accidents are:
- Distracted driving: Any instance, such as using a phone, eating, or adjusting the radio, in which the driver is not paying attention to the road, can cause an accident. To prove this, your attorney may look at the truck’s black box data and the driver’s cell phone records.
- Driver fatigue: Truck drivers are required to take breaks during their shifts and can only work a certain number of hours per day. However, some trucking companies strongly discourage their drivers from taking breaks, which can leave them fatigued, impaired judgment, and slower reaction times.
- Intoxication: The influence of alcohol, drugs, and sometimes prescription medications can cause drivers to drive more recklessly or not pay attention to the road.
- Aggressive driving: Truck drivers are taught to leave space between cars and brake their vehicle early to avoid collisions. Tailgating, improper passing, and ignoring traffic signals can all be considered aggressive driving and can lead to an accident.
Once your lawyer determines the cause of the accident, they can determine who is liable and can begin to pursue compensation for the victim.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Semi-Truck Accident?
Liability in truck accidents can be complex, as many parties may be held individually or jointly liable. Truck drivers, trucking companies, manufacturers, and other third parties may each be held liable to a degree. Additionally, each of these parties may have its own insurance policies and legal representation, which can complicate the lawsuit.
Furthermore, in Texas, House Bill 19 (HB 19) has altered trial proceedings to protect trucking companies from “excessive” lawsuits. House Bill 19 (HB 19) requires defendants in commercial truck accidents to file for a bifurcated trial, which can complicate liability determinations. While having multiple parties involved and bifurcated trials can make determining liability difficult, an experienced Houston truck accident attorney can work diligently to investigate your case and find the liable parties.
What Does the Court Define as Liability in a Truck Accident?
To prove negligence in a truck accident injury claim, the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001 states that there are four essential elements that you must prove. You and your legal representation must prove:
- A legal duty of care is present: the defendant had a duty to exercise reasonable care and to be safe on the road.
- There was a breach of the duty of care: The defendant’s negligent actions breached that duty of care.
- The breach of that duty of care caused the accident: The defendant’s negligence directly caused the accident.
- The accident caused the victim to suffer damages: economic and non-economic.
For a truck accident case to have a chance at winning, all four elements of negligence must be proven. If one or more of the essential elements are not proven, then negligence is not established, and the victim will not be able to collect compensation for their injuries.
Can the Negligent Parties be Sued for Wrongful Death After a Fatal Truck Accident?
A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed when a person loses their life due to the intentional or unintentional negligence of another party. The purpose of a wrongful death lawsuit is to allow surviving family members to hold negligent parties responsible for their actions so that they are less likely to cause harm or death to others in the future. Additionally, a wrongful death settlement can help restore damages to the decedent’s family and ensure that they can care for themselves in the absence of their loved one. Wrongful death lawsuits can be filed by the decedent’s surviving spouse, children, and parents. If no direct family member has filed a wrongful death claim within three months, any appointed executor or administrator of the estate will file a claim.
Should I Hire a Wrongful Death Attorney?
If a loved one has tragically passed away due to the negligence of another party, know that you don’t need to go through this legal process alone. At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., we understand that this is a difficult and sensitive situation, and we are here to guide you through the legal process. Our Houston wrongful death attorneys will do everything we can to make a recovery for your family and get the justice you deserve. Our firm has been helping heirs and loved ones of the victims of wrongful deaths get the closure and compensation they deserve for over four decades. For a free consultation with an experienced wrongful death attorney, call us at (713) 932-0777.
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