Rear-end Collision Involving 18-Wheeler on I-35 Ends in Death, Severe Injury

According to a KSAT News report, a vehicle rear-ended an 18-wheeler in a deadly accident on I-35 yesterday.

Police reported the accident happened at around 9 p.m. on September 26th, in the 12100 block of I-35 in the northbound lanes near a construction zone. The events leading up to the accident are unclear. An Altima rear-ended an 18-wheeler. This severely injured a backseat passenger, who died at the scene. The driver and two other passengers were taken to the hospital in critical condition. The driver of the 18-wheeler stopped to render aid. No other vehicles were reportedly involved. The investigation is ongoing.

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Did You Know?

As of August 30th, 6,623 people have been injured in an accident involving a semi-truck.

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Rear-end Collisions With 18-Wheelers: What You Need to Know

Rear-end collisions with any type of vehicle are unsafe — add an 18-wheeler into the mix, and damage is likely going to be catastrophic.

You may be surprised to learn that a majority of rear-end collisions with an 18-wheeler involve the passenger vehicle striking the big rig, not the other way around. Many people wonder who’s at fault in a rear-end collision in Texas, and the answer will depend on a number of factors surrounding the accident.

What Causes Rear-end Collisions With Semi-Trucks?

Every accident is unique, but there are a few common factors that contribute to rear-end collisions with semi-trucks in Texas, including:

• Following too Closely — Following too closely caused 3,406 accidents in Texas in 2023. Truck drivers need more time and space to stop, and if they follow too closely, they may rear-end someone. Passenger vehicles following semi-trucks too closely can easily get caught underneath the rig if it suddenly slows.
• Distracted Driving — Driver inattention caused 20,996 total crashes in Texas in 2023. Distracted drivers often speed, drift, and make unsafe lane changes, all of which significantly increase the risk of an accident. This is especially true for a trucker since they require more time to stop.
• Drowsy Driving — Fatigued/asleep at the wheel drivers caused 4,477 crashes in 2023. Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving and affects both truckers and other drivers, though truckers frequently travel long distances at night.
• Unsecured Cargo — Unsecured loads caused 586 accidents in 2023. When a load falls off or shifts, truckers can easily lose control of the rig. Other drivers may also impact fallen cargo.

Who’s At Fault for a Rear-End Accident With an 18-wheeler?

The vehicle at fault for the accident is whichever one contributed the most to the accident.

For example, if an 18-wheeler suddenly changes lanes without looking, and a passenger vehicle strikes the back as a result, the 18-wheeler would be at fault. Alternatively, if a passenger vehicle is following too closely and driving distracted, causing them to not notice slowing traffic, they would be at fault for a resulting rear-end collision.

Drivers in Texas can share fault. If you are more than 50% responsible for the accident, than you cannot recover compensation for injuries or property damage under Texas law.

Injured in a Rear-End Collision With an 18-wheeler in Texas? Call Shaw.

You may be entitled to compensation for things like:

• Ambulance Costs,
• ER Treatment,
• Surgeries,
• Medical Bills,
• Pain and Suffering,
• Trauma/PTSD,
• Missed Work,
• Property Damage,
• Wrongful Death,
• And More.

We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.

Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our 18-wheeler accident attorneys. We put our clients first because we care. We look forward to serving you.

Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.

¹KSAT Report

²18-wheeler accident data

³Texas accident data (2023)