Liability in San Antonio 18-Wheeler Crashes - The Top Texas Legal Experts at Carabin Shaw

San Antonio has become a bustling metropolis with easy access to major thoroughfares like I-10 and 1-35. Commercial vehicles frequent these highways, transporting goods and sometimes creating hazards for other motorists. San Antonio’s Bexar County is a hot spot for 18-wheeler crashes, with nearly 2,500 in 2023 alone.

Thirty-five people suffered incapacitating injuries in these accidents, often leaving them unable to work or even perform basic tasks. The San Antonio TX lawyers at Carabin Shaw help accident victims hold responsible parties liable for their injuries, lost wages, and other expenses. Our English- and Spanish-speaking professionals are available 24/7 for free consultations at 800-862-1260.

Some of the common causes of commercial vehicle collisions include:

• Driver fatigue due to long hours on the road
• Distractions like mobile phones and eating while driving
• Speeding and failure to adjust speed for weather conditions
• Mechanical failures like tire blowouts and brake malfunctions
• Unsecured or poorly loaded cargo

Truck drivers or trucking companies often contribute to these accidents. If your lawyer can prove fault, you can hold these parties liable for your injuries.

In addition to determining fault, your attorney must prove negligence to seek damages. Negligence breaks down into four essential elements:

Duty of care is the steps a reasonable person would take in the same situation to keep others safe. For example, a truck driver must obey road rules and never operate a vehicle when drowsy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A trucking company has a duty of care to maintain their semis and hire drivers with proper training.

When a driver speeds, drives while distracted, or gets behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, those are breaches of their duty of care. Truck companies also breach their duty when they fail to monitor their employees’ driving hours or skip regular truck inspections.

Your San Antonio truck accident lawyer must also prove the breach led directly to the accident. For example, a lapse in maintenance led to the faulty brakes that caused the truck to hit your vehicle.

Finally, you must show that the accident caused your injuries and subsequent expenses. Quantifiable or economic losses may include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.

Truck drivers are often the first people held responsible for a commercial vehicle accident. Your legal team may use the police accident report, eyewitness testimony, driver logs, and accident reconstruction specialists to establish the driver’s fault.

Trucking companies can also be liable for commercial vehicle accidents, even if the driver was at fault. Companies are responsible for their employees, and the company is to blame if a worker caused an accident because they weren’t appropriately trained or forced to drive extra hours. Companies are also liable for failing to inspect or maintain their vehicles, which can lead to mechanical failures.

Additional parties may also be liable for an 18-wheeler crash in San Antonio. Another driver may violate road rules, leading to your collision. The vehicle manufacturer may produce a defective part that malfunctions on the highway, causing the accident. Cargo companies can also be responsible for accidents caused by improperly secured loads.

In some cases, more than one party may contribute to an accident. Texas’s proportionate liability rule holds each party liable for their share in the crash. Your San Antonio 18 wheeler accident attorney will identify all at-fault parties in your accident and hold each responsible for their portion of your damages under the law.

If you’ve been hurt in a semi-truck crash in San Antonio, get legal help now. Our law firm’s client reviews attest to how our compassionate team helps accident victims like you. We offer our services on a contingency-fee-basis, so you pay nothing until we win your case. Contact us toll-free today at 800-862-1260.

For more information:

• TX DoT
• Safer America
• Cornell Law
• Texas Statutes 33