Dallas County, TX — October 25, 2024, two people were injured following a rear-end truck accident at approximately 1:00 p.m. along Interstate Highway 35E.

According to authorities, a Peterbilt 18-wheeler with a trailer in tow was traveling northbound on I.H. 35E in the vicinity between Danieldale Road and Wintergreen Road when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the truck was following too closely behind the vehicles ahead. A rear-end collision subsequently occurred involving the Peterbilt, a Ford F-150 occupied by a 30-year-old man, and a Lexus occupied by two 54-year-old women.

The woman who had been in the passenger seat of the Lexus sustained reportedly serious injuries over the course of the accident. The man from the pickup truck was possibly injured, as well, reports state. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I hear about a crash like this one on Interstate 35E involving an 18-wheeler rear-ending other vehicles, my first thought isn’t “Who’s at fault?” but “Why did this happen in the first place?” A rear-end collision involving a commercial truck isn’t necessarily as straightforward as it might seem, and uncovering the true cause almost always requires looking well beyond the crash scene.

For instance, this report mentions that the truck may have been following too closely. While that could point to driver error, there’s almost always more to the story. Was the driver distracted, possibly by their cell phone or in-cab devices? Were they fatigued from excessive hours on the road? Or did the truck’s brakes or other safety systems fail because of poor maintenance? These are critical questions that require gathering key evidence like driver cell phone records, ECM (“black box”) data, maintenance logs, and witness statements.

Another angle to consider is the role of the trucking company in this crash. Did they enforce policies or schedules that pressured the driver to rush and cut corners? Was the driver adequately trained to maintain safe following distances, especially in heavy traffic? In my experience, many of these crashes aren’t solely the result of a driver’s mistake but rather reflect systemic issues within a trucking company—issues that put their drivers, and everyone else on the road, at risk.

Investigating these possibilities isn’t just about assigning blame; it’s about getting answers for those affected. A passenger in the Lexus reportedly sustained serious injuries, and another individual may have been hurt as well. Their families deserve to know whether someone’s negligence—whether it’s the driver, their employer, or another party—contributed to this crash. Unfortunately, typical crash scene investigations often fall short of providing those answers. Without an independent investigation, crucial evidence may never come to light.

This crash raises a critical point I’ve seen time and again in my 30 years handling truck accident cases: rear-end collisions involving 18-wheelers are rarely as simple as they first appear. It’s only by looking at all the factors leading up to the crash that the truth can come to light, and those responsible can be held accountable.