Spinal Cord Injuries from 18 Wheeler Collisions: Help from San Antonio Attorneys

Many know San Antonio for its infamous River Walk, but it is also rich in manufacturing and transportation. Multiple state and U.S. highways run through the city, including I-10 and U.S. 87. The collision of tourists and these shipping vehicles, carrying a variety of cargo, causes headaches, sometimes resulting in traffic jams and 18-wheeler collisions.

The impact of a big rig hitting a car can lead to catastrophic injuries for motorists and their passengers, including life-changing spinal cord injuries. Victims of truck accidents may suffer from ongoing pain and limited or no function. They may be unable to return to their jobs, and some might not be able to care for themselves. The San Antonio personal injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw have seen firsthand how a spinal cord injury can impact a person’s life and future.

If a commercial vehicle accident leaves you with a spinal cord injury, contact our team right away at 800-862-1260. We seek compensation for accident victims to get them the financial support they need to heal and move forward. Our Spanish- and English-speaking professionals are available 24/7, and we offer free consultations!

Your spinal cord is a band of tissue that carries nerve signals between your brain and the rest of your body. Damage to the spinal cord may cause temporary or permanent changes in movement, strength, feeling, and essential functions. A spinal cord injury can lead to symptoms like:

• Tingling or loss of sensation
• Pain in the head, neck, and back
• Weakness is one or more areas of the body
• Problems with walking or paralysis
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of bladder control

The impact of a spinal cord injury typically impacts the body below the site of the damage. Incomplete injuries allow the spinal cord to send some messages through the nervous system, preserving some feeling and function below the injury. Complete injuries sever all communication below the injury, so the person loses feeling, function, and muscle control beneath the injury site.

More than 37% of spinal cord injuries are the result of vehicle accidents, making car and truck crashes the leading cause of these devastating injuries. In 2023, Texas saw 38,909 commercial motor vehicle crashes, and nearly 2,500 of those accidents occurred in San Antonio’s Bexar County. The risk for a severe injury is high when your car collides with a larger and heavier 18-wheeler, and the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the energy from the impact.

Victims of a truck crash may see life change in an instant. Suddenly, they cannot work and participate in activities they enjoyed before the collision. They may deal with chronic pain or paralysis that dramatically reduces their quality of life and even keeps them from taking care of themselves.

Families also suffer the consequences of caring for an injured loved one and often face a dramatic reduction in income if the victim is a primary wage earner. The combination of lost wages and the cost of a spinal cord injury can quickly put families into a dire financial situation. The lifetime cost of a spinal cord injury depends on its severity and the age of the victim at the time of the injury but can go higher than $6 million.

A Texas trucking accident attorney is familiar with the potential cost of a spinal cord injury. An experienced lawyer will fight hard to maximize compensation for victims to relieve the financial strain.

A spinal cord injury can alter the lives of a victim and their family, but help is available. A personal injury attorney will come alongside you to protect your rights and pursue sufficient compensation so you can focus on adjusting to life’s new normal. We offer our services on a contingency-fee basis at Carabin Shaw, which means you don’t pay anything unless you receive compensation. Reviews from previous clients attest to our commitment to maximizing compensation for accident victims like you. Contact us toll-free now at 800-862-1260.

For more information:

• NINDS
• NSCISC
• DoT Texas
• NSCISC