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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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 DriversTruckers 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 ManufacturersSeeking 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 CompaniesIf 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. |
GovernmentsLocal 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. |
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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:
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:
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:
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 |
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.
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