San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyers

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Hire a San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer

With its connections to the west and east coasts, Canada, Mexico, and South America, and links to major Texas centers via Interstate Highways, San Antonio is a central trade hub. Commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks — or big rigs, 18-wheelers, or tractor-trailers — play a vital role in the city’s transportation network, making them a common sight on Texas’s roads.

However, these large and heavy vehicles are challenging to handle and prone to causing devastating accidents. Semi-truck drivers under pressure to traverse long distances on tight schedules may cut corners or take unnecessary risks, such as speeding, working overtime, and driving while tired.

The pure difference in size and weight compared to the average passenger vehicle makes San Antonio truck accidents more severe than other types of auto accidents, often resulting in catastrophic injuries. Even those fortunate to walk away from such serious accidents face a long, uncertain, and expensive recovery.

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a semi-truck crash, San Antonio truck accident attorney and Law Ninja Dr. Louis Patino and his legal team can help you get justice and compensation for your injuries.

We pride ourselves on offering a personalized, compassionate service that turns the “typical personal injury attorney” stereotype on its head and ensures you’re satisfied with the outcome of your case.

Every claim begins with a free, no-obligation case review with our English and Spanish-speaking truck accident attorney so you can learn about your options and determine if we’re the right firm for you.

You’ll also never pay fees until we win your case.

To speak to our San Antonio personal injury lawyer, you can get in touch online, in person, or by phone.

Call Us 

You can always reach us by telephone. Call 855-LAW-NINJA, and you will be redirected to our San Antonio office or out-of-hours line, manned 24/7.

Send a Message via Our Contact Form

If you’d prefer to write to us, you can submit a confidential contact form on our dedicated contact page or any page on our website. After receiving your message, we will reach out to discuss your case further.

Video Call 

If you cannot visit us in San Antonio, we also offer video calls, giving you all the benefits of an in-person consultation from the comfort of your home. 

Visit Our Office

If you can attend your case review in person, you’re welcome to visit our office at Alamo Towers, 901 NE 410 Loop #700, San Antonio, TX 78209.

We Come to You 

We understand your injuries may make it difficult for you to attend our office. We want to make recovering your rightful compensation as easy and stress-free as possible, so if you can’t visit us in person, we may be able to come to you. Just call o

r send us a message letting us know where you are, and we’ll arrange a time and date that works for you.

How Our San Antonio Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

Recovering from a truck accident isn’t a simple or quick process. You likely have severe injuries that require extensive and expensive medical treatment when you’re unable to work and unsure when — or if — you can return. You’re entitled to recover compensation for your injuries, losses, and suffering, but you also need to focus on your recovery. Our San Antonio truck accident lawyers can take as much as possible off your plate as we fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

We’re a veteran-owned business that seeks to make a local impact to help injury victims and always strives to get you the maximum settlement you’re entitled to.

We also represent our clients on a contingency fee basis, so you never pay us upfront for our services — we only get paid a percentage of any settlement or judgment we help to secure. You have nothing to lose by calling our San Antonio truck accident lawyer today.

We can help you by:

  • Evaluating your case and identifying the liable party: Your truck accident attorney can determine how likely your case will succeed — whether in or out of court — and the various parties you might claim compensation from, such as the driver, the trucking company, or another third party. Truck accident claims are often complex, and multiple parties might be responsible. A trucker might be liable for ignoring federal hours-of-service regulations that determine how long they can drive before taking a break, resulting in them causing an accident due to fatigue. However, their employer might be equally at fault for pressuring truckers to meet strict deadlines, hiring inexperienced, untrained, or unqualified drivers, or failing to ensure their employees log their hours correctly.

  • Handling pushy insurance adjusters: You may be approached by an insurance adjuster — a representative of the liable party’s insurance company — pushing for information about your accident, including what happened and the injuries you sustained. Insurers will use this information to devalue your claim. For example, if you tell them about one injury but leave out details about another — either because you forget or it hasn’t appeared yet — the insurer might argue you shouldn’t receive compensation for your second injury because you failed to mention it earlier. You must know your rights and what to avoid saying to insurance companies if you speak to them. Fortunately, you can decline to talk to the insurance adjuster and leave it to us, giving you one less thing to worry about as you prioritize your recovery.

  • Negotiating a settlement: We will work with the responsible party’s insurance company and other parties to ensure you receive a fair offer. We’ll reject the lowball settlements the insurance company typically offers at the outset of talks and fight to get you maximum compensation.

  • Litigating your case: Not all truck claims settle during the negotiation phase. If you have a strong case, going to trial can be the better option and award significantly more compensation. As the truck accident attorney locals trust, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf. We’ll prepare the complaint and initial pleadings, write motions, present your claims, and argue your case at trial to persuade a jury of your right to compensation for your injuries.

  • Putting you at ease: We know being in a truck accident can be devastating. The last thing you want to do is worry about negotiating with stubborn insurance adjusters while you’re vulnerable. We’ll protect your legal rights while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery.

The experienced lawyers at Patino Law Office can evaluate your claim and determine whether you have a viable case, calculate how much compensation you could be entitled to, negotiate with the other party and their insurance company, and manage any resulting litigation.

Contact our law firm today for a free consultation and start your truck accident claim.

18 Wheeler Truck Accident Law Firm in Texas

Common Causes of Semi-Truck Accidents in San Antonio

Driver error is the most common cause of all auto accidents in San Antonio, and the same is true for truck accidents.

Driver error comprises many types of behavior, including:

  • Truck driver fatigue
  • Distracted driving (e.g.texting while driving)
  • Tailgating/following too closely
  • Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
  • Misjudging traffic conditions, such as bad weather
  • Speeding
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Changing lanes unsafely
  • Driving without a license
  • Disregarding signals
  • Turning improperly

But other factors can contribute to truck accidents, including those comprising negligence by a trucking company, cargo company, truck manufacturer, mechanic, or another third party:

  • Hiring unlicensed drivers
  • Failing to train drivers
  • Overloading or improperly loading a truck
  • Poorly maintaining a truck or fleet, leading to mechanical defects such as brake or tire problems
  • Failing to identify or fix auto defects
  • Road defects.

Who Is Responsible for a San Antonio Truck Accident?

Litigating a truck accident case is a unique challenge. An experienced truck accident lawyer must gather extensive evidence, including the truck’s “black box” data and maintenance records.

Truck wreck claims also tend to involve multiple parties. These can include:

Truck Drivers

Truckers can be liable if they drive negligently, such as driving while distracted, intoxicated, or fatigued, driving unsafely — such as maneuvering improperly — or violating federal trucking industry regulations, which dictate how and when they can operate their vehicle.

Truck Manufacturers

Seeking compensation against truck manufacturers is more common after a trucking accident than a conventional car accident. State and federal regulations provide strict requirements for truck manufacturers, so they may be liable if they fail to follow them.

Truck Companies

If a driver is within the scope of employment during a crash, you might hold the trucking company they work for liable under the respondeat superior law. Negligence can include encouraging drivers to work longer than allowed, hiring unqualified drivers, and failing to discipline employees who violate safety laws.

Governments

Local authorities might be liable for failing to maintain roads properly if a road defect or obstruction contributes to a truck accident. Your truck accident attorney in San Antonio might seek compensation from a government or its contractors if poor road conditions contributed to your truck accident.

What Compensation Can a Truck Accident Attorney in San Antonio Recover? How Much You Can Get If a Big Truck Hits You

You are legally entitled to fair compensation for your losses — or damages — when you are injured, or a loved one is killed in a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness.

The damages our truck accident lawyer can recover during your claim include:

  • A disability: Trucking accidents often cause severe injuries, such as:
  • Spinal cord damage, potentially resulting in paralysis
  • Traumatic brain injuries, which can lead to long-term memory problems or difficulty communicating
  • Lacerations, causing significant pain and reduced mobility or function, or even requiring amputation.

If you suffer any of these catastrophic injuries, you may be entitled to substantial damages to compensate you for your suffering and help you cope financially.

  • Medical expenses and loss of income: Typical expenses include hospital and emergency room visits, doctor’s appointments, surgeries, and assistive medical devices. You are also entitled to your lost wages from being unable to work and compensation for diminished earning capacity if you cannot work again or need to seek alternative employment because you cannot perform your duties.

  • Property loss or damage: A settlement or court-ordered payout can compensate you for external financial damages like repairs to your damaged vehicle.

  • Pain and suffering: Many truck accident injuries cause significant pain and suffering. Pain may be emotional or physical and lasts from a few months to the rest of your life.

  • Loss of companionship or consortium: If your spouse has lost relationship benefits due to your injuries or you’ve lost a loved one in a truck accident, you can recover compensation for loss of consortium or companionship.

  • Exemplary (punitive) damages: If a truck driver’s actions rise to gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing, a court might award additional compensation called exemplary or punitive damages, intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter future similar acts.

A 2020 Insurance Information Institute (III) study put the country-wide average personal injury jury award for vehicular liability at $2,673,427 (2.67 million dollars). However, looking at truck accident judgments in Texas illustrates how widely awards can vary.

Truck Accident Case Study 1

In August 2023, Werner Enterprises appealed a $100 million verdict previously awarded by a jury for a 2014 crash when the driver of a passenger car lost control of their vehicle and collided with a big rig traveling at high speed in icy conditions on Interstate Highway 20 (I-20) near Odessa. The crash caused the death of a seven-year-old child and paralysis of another.

The family posited that Texas guidelines suggested the truck driver should not have been driving in such poor conditions. They further argued that the trucker failed to slow their vehicle and that they should have known that driving at an excessive speed could have reasonably caused a crash if a motorist had lost control or entered the wrong lane.

Section 7 of the Texas Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Handbook (commonly referred to as the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Manual) urges motorists to “be more careful in adverse conditions.” The Court of Appeals ultimately upheld the judgment.

Truck Accident Case Study 2

In an older case from 2008, an Ellis County jury awarded plaintiffs Ronny Martinez and Kenneth O’Neal a much lower — but not insignificant — $1,456,874 (1.45 million dollars) in compensation for injuries sustained in a semi-truck accident on Interstate 35E in Waxahachie. Martinez, who was driving a car, sustained a fractured vertebra and was unable to work for two months. Kenneth O’Neal suffered a minor brain injury and tore the ligaments in his right knee — requiring a knee replacement — and had not worked since the crash in 2006.

The crash happened when a tractor-trailer driver for Indiana-based company Celadon Trucking Services veered into Martinez’s lane as both vehicles were traveling northbound. Martinez swerved his car, but off-road gravel caused him to lose control and veer back onto the highway, where he collided with the truck. The impact caused the car to roll over multiple times.

The plaintiffs argued that Celadon had negligently hired the truck driver — which the trucking company disputed in a post-verdict statement, although it admitted its driver contributed to the accident.

The jury ultimately agreed, finding Celadon 80% liable and Martinez 20% liable and awarding approximately $750,000 for medical bills and a further $750,000 for pain and suffering, physical impairment, and disfigurement. Under Texas’s modified comparative negligence laws — which allows plaintiffs to recover compensation if they are less than 51% at fault — Martinez and O’Neal could secure the compensation they deserved for the irrevocable harm caused by the negligent truck driver.

As we can see, how much money you might get if a big rig hits you can vary massively based on who is responsible, the injuries sustained, and the evidence supporting the case. It is also vital to note that a jury can award substantial exemplary damages, but Texas applies a cap.

You can use our Texas auto accident personal injury calculator to total your losses and get an idea of how much you might receive for your injuries and losses, but we urge you to take this only as a rough guide. Truck accident claims are complex, and you could be entitled to more or less. Our truck accident lawyer in San Antonio can more accurately determine how much your claim might be worth after discussing your case.

Helpful Advice and Resources for Your San Antonio Truck Accident Claim

Have further questions? We’ve compiled a list of helpful guidance specifically around truck accident claims so you can learn about the different types of truck accidents, dig into who might be liable, discover the common challenges and defenses to San Antonio truck accident claims, and find out what to expect during the truck accident lawsuit process.

If you still have questions about your truck accident and would like to speak to a San Antonio personal injury attorney to see if you have a claim, call 855-LAW-NINJA or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review.

Hiring a San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer and Building Your Case

Truck Accident Lawsuits

Types of Truck Accidents and What Causes Them

Call Our San Antonio Truck Accident Attorney Today

If an 18-wheeler accident injures you and you have a viable claim for damages, our experienced truck accident lawyer at Patino Law Firm can help you secure the settlement or judgment you deserve. 

We provide our clients with individual attention and care to address their questions and concerns, working to ease additional stress during an already challenging time.

Call your trusted personal injury law firm today at 855-LAW-NINJA or write to us through our confidential contact page for your free, no-obligation case review. We’re available 24/7 and will determine whether you have a claim and explain your options for recovering compensation. If you decide we’re the right San Antonio truck accident lawyer for you, we’ll start investigating your case immediately to recover the maximum compensation allowed by the law.

You don’t pay until we win.

Frequently Asked Questions Our San Antonio Truck Accident Attorneys Receive

Some of the most common truck collisions in San Antonio, Texas, include:

There are many types of commercial trucks, from 18-wheelers to flatbed trucks. Here, we outline the most common types of trucks involved in accidents in Texas:

18-Wheeler Semi-Trucks

18-wheeler semi-trucks, also known as simply 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and big rigs, are massive vehicles that can cause significant damage if they collide with a smaller car. These large trucks comprise a cab and a trailer, which carries cargo. In a collision, the smaller vehicle absorbs much of this impact, which can cause severe injuries or fatalities.

Flatbed Trucks

Flatbed trucks transport heavy or large objects. These commercial vehicles can be tough for a truck driver to maneuver, leading to a deadly accident. Flatbed truck accidents typically happen when a trucker fails to stop at a red light or loses control of their vehicle and slams into traffic or a guardrail.

Dump Trucks

Dump trucks transport large amounts of rocks, dirt, or other materials. Like other commercial vehicles, they can be tricky to operate, so trucking companies must ensure their employees are fully trained and have the correct licenses.

You must seek legal assistance immediately if you are injured in an accident involving any of these trucks. An experienced lawyer can help you file a compensation claim and ensure you receive the damages you deserve.

How long your lawsuit will take depends on how long it takes to investigate your crash and gather evidence, how many parties are liable, and how well negotiations go between parties. The severity of your injuries can also impact how long the process takes, as catastrophic injuries often require long-term treatment, and it’s wise to wait until you’ve recovered as much as possible to recover maximum damages. Practicing patience now helps minimize the risk of your condition getting worse after you settle — when you won’t be able to claim additional compensation.

As a result, trucking accident claims can take several years. While you can accept an early settlement offer, it will usually be less than what you’re entitled to and may not be enough to cover all your expenses.

It’s tempting to accept an offer from an insurance company early on, especially if you have medical bills and can’t work, but you should never sign any paperwork before running it past your San Antonio truck accident lawyer. The initial offer likely won’t cover your total lost wages and treatment costs. Our experienced attorneys can explain the compensation you’re entitled to and postpone your medical bills until you reach an agreement so you’re not left struggling to make ends meet.

An 18-wheeler accident can cause significant property damage and multiple injuries, which may be debilitating and catastrophic. If a car or motorcycle collides with a commercial vehicle at high speeds, the car might be totaled and unrecoverable. More devastating, though, are the severe physical injuries truck accident victims often experience.

 

Some of the most common injuries that happen in commercial truck accidents in San Antonio include:

 

  • Head injuries: A traumatic brain injury can sometimes go unnoticed before becoming severe. A medical exam can help identify head injuries early on — even if you don’t have symptoms.
  • Back and neck injuries: Injuries to the back and neck are often among the most serious. Whiplash and other neck injuries can lead to chronic pain, reduced mobility, long-term rehabilitation, and decreased quality of life.
  • Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the central nervous system can lead to a loss of sensation or motor function (paralysis), significantly impacting quality of life.
  • Broken bones: Medical procedures to repair fractures can sometimes include multiple surgeries and require physical therapy over months or years to rebuild strength.
  • Lacerations and scarring: Large or deep cuts can lead to permanent scarring. Courts often award compensation for “disfigurement” to help the injured party reduce scarring and relieve their physical and emotional pain.
  • Death: When a negligent truck driver kills your loved one in a truck crash, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and loss of income.

There are several steps you can take when you’re in a truck accident in San Antonio or elsewhere in Texas to stay safe, protect your legal rights, and lay the foundation for a personal injury claim:

  1. Get to safety: Move to a safe location if possible, being aware of traffic congestion and potential hazards.
  2. Call the police: Report the accident to emergency services. They will arrive at the scene, assess the situation, and create an official police report (also called a crash report).
  3. Seek medical help: Check yourself and others for injuries and immediately call for an ambulance.
  4. Document the scene: If it is safe, gather evidence by taking photos or videos of the accident scene. Capture the damaged vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, and any relevant details that may support your case later on.
  5. Call an attorney: Consider seeking legal advice from an attorney. They can determine whether the truck driver, the trucking company, or another party is responsible and guide you through the legal process.
  6. Follow your treatment plan: Follow all medical recommendations and attend follow-up appointments to document your injuries and progress and get treatment.
  7. Gather evidence: Evidence for your claim can include photos and videos, medical records, police reports filed by law enforcement, and an injury journal.

Each state has a time limit to file a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations to file a truck accident claim in Texas is two years from the accident date. However, two years fly by quickly, and evidence can be harder to gather the longer you leave taking action.

Exceptions can also apply, so it’s always advisable to speak to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your truck crash to discover your options for recovering compensation.

According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Crash Records Information System (C.R.I.S.), there were 1,548 truck accidents in San Antonio in 2023. The definition of an accident in this scenario is a reportable crash (meaning it resulted in death, injury, or property damage) where the “CMV Vehicle Type” — which law enforcement must state when compiling an accident report — is listed as one of the following:

  • Single unit truck 2 axles 6 tires
  • Single unit truck 3 or more axles
  • Truck trailer
  • Truck tractor (bobtail)
  • Tractor/semi-trailer
  • Tractor/double trailer
  • Tractor/triple trailer
  • Unknown heavy truck.

Driver inattention was the most prevalent primary contributing factor, cited 57 times, with changing lanes unsafely close behind with a count of 55.

Of all truck drivers (driving a truck, truck tractor, van, fire truck, trailer, semi-trailer, or pole trailer), 45 (2.1%) were unlicensed.

San Antonio Truck Accident Injury Severity

Fortunately, most people involved in San Antonio truck accidents in 2023 were not injured:

 

Person Injury Severity People Injured
Not injured 2,909
Possible injury 299
Unknown injury 261
Suspected minor injury 199
Suspected serious injury 21
Fatal injury 10

 

Most Dangerous Roads for Truck Accidents

 

Most truck accidents in San Antonio occurred on highways. Interstate Highways 35 (I-35) and 10 (I-10) topped the list, the site of 367 and 275 crashes, respectively:

 

Street Name (C.R.I.S Reference) Street Name (Full) Accident Count
IH0035 Interstate Highway No. 35 367
IH0010 Interstate Highway 10 275
IH0410 Interstate Highway 410 210
SL1604 State Highway Loop No. 1604 88
US0090 U. S. Highway No. 90 32
IH0037 Interstate Highway 37 27
US0281 U. S. Highway No. 0281 23
SL0013 State Highway Loop No. 13 22
PA1502 Principal Arterial State System No. 1502 19
SH0151 State Highway No. 151 18
FM2252 Farm-to-Market Road No. 2252 13
RITTIMAN RD Rittiman Road 12
FM0471 Farm-to-Market Road No. 471 10
SH0016 State Highway No. 16 9
S ZARZAMORA ST South Zarzamora Street 8
SS0536 State Highway Spur No. 536 7
CULEBRA RD Culebra Road 6
E COMMERCE ST

E HOUSTON ST

E SOUTHCROSS BLVD

N FOSTER RD

OCONNOR RD

US0087

East Commerce Street

East Houston Street

East Southcross Boulevard

North Foster Road

O’Connor Road

U. S. Highway No. 87

5
BULVERDE RD

E EVANS RD

EISENHAUER RD

FM1346

FM2696

GIBBS SPRAWL RD

N LOOP 1604 W

NE I 410 LOOP

NE LOOP 410

NW LOOP 410

S CALLAGHAN RD

S FLORES ST

S FRIO ST

Bulverde Road

East Evans Road

Eisenhauer Road

Farm-to-Market Road 1346

Farm-to-Market Road 2696

Gibbs Sprawl Road

North Loop 1604 West

Northeast Interstate 410 Loop

Northeast Loop 410

Northwest Loop 410

South Callaghan Road

South Flores Street

South Frio Street

4
ACKERMAN RD

APPLEWHITE RD

BROADWAY ST

CLETO RODRIGUEZ FWY

COLLEGE ST

DE ZAVALA RD

FM 1346

GRISSOM RD

N I 35

RAY ELLISON BLVD

ROGERS RD

S CHERRY ST

S NEW BRAUNFELS AVE

SL0368

SW LOOP 410

THOUSAND OAKS DR

W SOUTHCROSS BLVD

Ackerman Road

Applewhite Road

Broadway Street

Cleto Rodriguez Freeway

College Street

De Zavala Road

Farm-to-Market Road 1346

Grissom Road

North Interstate 35

Ray Ellison Boulevard

Rogers Road

South Cherry Street

South New Braunfels Avenue

State Highway Loop No. 368

Southwest Loop 410

Thousand Oaks Drive

West Southcross Boulevard

3

 

San Antonio Accidents by Time and Day of Week

 

Thursday was the most dangerous day of the week, with 311 reportable crashes occurring:

 

Day of Week Truck Accident Count
Thursday 311
Tuesday 288
Wednesday 272
Friday 252
Monday 221
Saturday 122
Sunday 82

 

Mornings were the most dangerous time, with 127 truck accidents happening between 8:00 and 8:59 am. A total of 445 truck accidents occurred between 8:00 am and midday.

 

Time of Day Truck Accident Count Time of Day Truck Accident Count
08:00 – 08:59 127 18:00 – 18:59 73
11:00 – 11:59 116 05:00 – 05:59 39
09:00 – 09:59 106 02:00 – 02:59 35
13:00 – 13:59 105 19:00 – 19:59 31
14:00 – 14:59 101 04:00 – 04:59 27
12:00 – 12:59 99 20:00 – 20:59 27
10:00 – 10:59 96 21:00 – 21:59 27
15:00 – 15:59 93 23:00 – 23:59 27
16:00 – 16:59 90 00:00 – 00:59 24
17:00 – 17:59 83 22:00 – 22:59 23
06:00 – 06:59 80 03:00 – 03:59 22
07:00 – 07:59 78 01:00 – 01:59 19

Call Our San Antonio Truck Accident Attorneys Today

If an 18-wheeler accident injures you and you have a viable claim for damages, the experienced truck accident lawyers at Patino Law Office can help you receive fair compensation. We provide our clients with individual attention and care to address their questions and concerns, working to ease additional stress during an already challenging time.

Call your trusted personal injury law firm today at 210-646-9100 for a free case evaluation, or visit our contact page.

You can reach us 24/7.

You can reach us 24/7.

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