Texas has 28,000 more bridges than any other U.S. State.
(March 1, 2023) A pedestrian bridge collapsed after a dump truck crashed into it, causing the road to be closed while the debris was being cleared on February 21, 2023. The incident occurred at around 11:17 a.m. on the west side near the intersection of San Joaquin Avenue and Castroville Road, according to San Antonio Express-News. There were no reported injuries, and there is still no explanation as to why the accident happened. The sheer size of the state of Texas means that we have significantly more bridges than most states. Unfortunately, the United States has a bit of a bridge problem, and this has resulted in millions of dollars in property damage and personal injury over the years.
Did You Know?
7.5% of the bridges in the U.S. are considered “structurally deficient” by the Federal Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Source: 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.
Why Are So Many Bridges in the United States Unsafe?
Many bridges throughout the country were constructed over fifty years ago. Unfortunately, those bridges were only supposed to last for around forty-two years before needing to be replaced or significantly repaired. Being structurally deficient does not necessarily mean that these bridges are constantly on the brink of collapse – it’s just that the risk of collapse gets more and more likely the older they get and that they are significantly more vulnerable to natural weather disasters. A simple solution would be just to replace the 46,154 deficient bridges across the country, but with the estimated cost of that being 125 billion USD, that’s not likely to happen any time soon. Half of the 55,000 bridges in Texas are forty years or older and are experiencing even more strain with the rapid population growth the state experienced in 2020, according to the TxDOT.
Who Is Responsible for Injuries in a Bridge Collapse in Texas?
There are many possible reasons for a bridge to collapse. Improper maintenance, extended poor weather conditions, a dump truck crashing into them, etc. Federal law requires that bridges be maintained to certain standards, so if the responsible entities within the state fail to comply, they might be held responsible for injuries sustained in a bridge collapse accident. However, the government is entitled to special legal protections (as long as they perform their duties in a reasonable manner), so proving liability would be extremely difficult. It’s also normally required that the governmental entity has prior notice of a defect or unsafe condition. However, every bridge collapse scenario is unique, and there could be many entities responsible for injuries, including the engineer, designer, contractor, subcontractor, or inspection and maintenance companies. In a few words, it depends, and in order to be sure, you need to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney in San Antonio.
Personal Injury Attorneys in San Antonio
If you or a family member have been injured in a bridge collapse incident in San Antonio or the surrounding area, contact the personal injury team at Carabin Shaw today at 800-862-1260. Our team has thirty years of experience representing the injured across Texas, so if you have been injured and want to know if you have a case, contact us today for your free case evaluation to find out. We’re available 24/7, and we care. Contact us today at 800-862-1260.