Mesquite, TX — April 13, 2025, Anthony Brantley Jr. was injured in a truck accident at about 3:40 p.m. on eastbound U.S. Route 80.

A preliminary accident report indicates a 2020 Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck collided with a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu while changing lanes east of North Belt Line Road.

Chevrolet driver Anthony Brantley Jr., 28, suffered serious injuries in the crash near Samuell Farm, according to the report. The truck driver was not injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Dallas County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a semi-truck changes lanes and collides with a smaller vehicle, the primary legal issue is whether the truck driver took the necessary steps to ensure the lane was clear before making the move. In this crash on U.S. Route 80, where a Chevrolet Malibu driver suffered serious injuries, the early reports suggest that the truck driver may have failed to meet that basic and critical duty.

Commercial drivers are trained extensively on the dangers of lane changes, particularly because of the large blind spots on both sides of a tractor-trailer. The law holds truck drivers to a higher standard precisely because failing to check blind spots, mirrors and surrounding traffic before changing lanes can have devastating consequences for smaller vehicles caught in their path.

The truck’s engine control module will be important in this investigation. It can show speed, throttle input and even stability control events that might indicate whether the driver was executing a lane change under safe conditions. If dashcam footage exists, it could further clarify whether the Malibu was already in the lane when the truck began moving over, which would directly point to driver error.

It’s also important to consider the surrounding conditions at the time of the crash. Was traffic heavy? Was visibility clear? Was the truck driver possibly distracted or rushing to meet a deadline? These factors can influence both liability and the degree to which the crash might have been avoidable.

One thing that cannot be overlooked is that in any lane change, the driver initiating the movement carries the greater burden of caution. It’s not enough to assume the way is clear: commercial drivers must confirm it before committing to a maneuver. When they don't, and another driver is seriously injured as a result, the law rightly treats that failure as a significant breach of duty.

This crash serves as a reminder that heavy commercial vehicles are not just another part of traffic: they are high-risk vehicles that require constant vigilance and careful decision-making. The investigation must determine whether this collision was the result of an avoidable mistake and, if so, hold the responsible party fully accountable. Because when professional drivers make unsafe moves on busy highways, it’s the people around them who often pay the price.