Top Causes of 18 Wheeler Accidents in San Antonio

18-wheeler collisions are among the most dangerous accidents that occur on San Antonio roads every year. The enormous size and velocity of these commercial trucks can prove deadly when they collide with a smaller passenger vehicle. In fact, 581 people in Texas were killed in 2020 alone due to 18-wheeler collisions. Additionally, over seven thousand people suffered injuries in these accidents. These accidents are a consistent danger for drivers on San Antonio roads and highways.

The state of Texas is a leader in nationwide 18-wheeler collisions and the city of San Antonio and the surrounding Bexar County area are major sites for these accidents. So, why is the number of San Antonio commercial truck accidents continuing to rise?

Some of the most common causes of 18 wheeler accidents in San Antonio Tx include:

In the great freeze of 2021, San Antonians became all too familiar with the difficulties of inclement weather (especially its effect on Texas roads). 18-wheeler trucks already take much longer to slow to a stop than regular passenger vehicles; this response time is further hampered when ice, rain, snow, or sleet impair road conditions.

It is against the law for any driver to operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but this law is especially important when it comes to commercial drivers. 18-wheelers weigh up to 80,000 pounds and are considered dangerous machinery; even a small misstep can cause major accidents, and unfortunately, drunk drivers are prone to making many mistakes.

Studies have proven that driving while drowsy is nearly as dangerous as driving while drunk. If a commercial driver does not take mandated rest breaks, they may be held liable for any lapses in judgment caused by their drowsy driving.

Any kind of distracted driving can result in a collision, but cell-phone usage is one of the most consistent causes of distracted driving. Responding to texts, checking emails, scrolling through social media, or making a phone call can reduce a driver’s awareness of his surroundings on the road.

Commercial drivers must abide by all traffic laws, but failure to yield the right-of-way is one of the most dangerous transgressions a driver can make. When a big truck does not yield to oncoming traffic, that decision is likely to cause severe injury or fatality.

While the majority of 18-wheeler accident lawsuits target the commercial driver as the liable party, in some cases it has been found that the commercial trucking company had some liability in causing the San Antonio trailer truck accident. For example, if a company overworks or under-trains their driver’s, they could be held financially responsible for the negligence they committed in the name of cutting corners.

If you were injured in an 18-wheeler accident due to no fault of your own, you could recover thousands in a personal injury lawsuit. Contact a qualified 18-wheeler accident attorney as soon as possible.

If you or a loved one were injured by a negligent commercial driver or trucking company, Texas law affords you the right to seek fair compensation in a commercial truck injury lawsuit. Before taking any legal action, schedule a no-cost, no-obligation case review with a Carabin Shaw 18-wheeler accident lawyer.

Call our office toll-free at 800-862-1260 to speak with our English and Spanish-speaking staff. For insight on our previous clients’ experiences with our team of experienced accident attorneys, see Carabin Shaw’s client reviews.