San Antonio 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer

When you get in a crash involving a large vehicle, your property damage and personal injuries are likely to be severe. In this case, you may be entitled to compensation. An 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer in San Antonio will work with you to obtain multiple compensation benefits, so you can rebuild your life alongside loved ones and without financial stress.

18-wheeler accidents are especially dangerous due to the size of these vehicles, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, according to regulations by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Given their large size, these trucks can cause an increased risk of catastrophic and even fatal injuries during a crash. According to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation, an average of 5,000 people are killed and 115,000 are injured each year in crashes involving 18-wheelers. 

For a victim of this type of accident to get fair compensation, it’s almost always necessary to negotiate with powerful insurance companies that aim to defend the interests of their investors. Often victims are left unprotected when insurers deny them compensation or pay them as little as possible.

Many people who suffer traffic accidents wonder if they can sue on their own without a lawyer. In truth, it’s almost impossible to win these types of cases without the advice of an expert lawyer, as insurance companies have generous financial and technical resources to undermine victims’ claims. Unfortunately, many victims lose their right to be compensated by not hiring legal help or by choosing a law firm that’s inexperienced in fighting insurance companies. 

To receive compensation, victims of large truck accidents should seek the expertise of a legal team specializing in traffic accidents, such as George Salinas Injury Lawyers. We’ll work to build a strong case that conclusively proves that the other driver was at fault. To prove this, it’s necessary to gather evidence and engage specialists from different fields, such as investigation, medicine and mechanics. Typical evidence collected during this process includes: 

  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Videographic material 
  • Medical reports
  • Reports on manufacture, design or maintenance defects

Contrary to popular belief, hiring experienced traffic accident lawyers isn’t expensive. In fact, victims don’t have to pay out of pocket at any time. In cases involving personal injury, lawyers almost always work under a payment method known in the legal world as “contingency fees”. This means that the law firm covers all expenses and in exchange keeps a small percentage of the final compensation – but only if they win. If the lawyer doesn’t win the case, the victim doesn’t have to pay for their services.

Have you or a loved one gotten in an accident involving a large vehicle? At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we’re experts at winning compensation benefits for our clients, which let them rebuild their lives alongside their families and without financial stress.

Contact us by calling (210) 225-0909 or filling out this form to schedule a free consultation, where we’ll explain the different legal options for your case. Our San Antonio 18-wheeler accident lawyers will fight to get you justice.

How can our 18-wheeler accident lawyers in San Antonio help you?

How can our 18-wheeler accident lawyers in San Antonio help you?

In addition to the pain of their injuries, victims and their families must face several difficult questions after an accident:

How am I going to pay for all the hospital bills, medications, doctor appointments and rehabilitation sessions?

What’s going to happen to me and my family if the accident prevents me from working?

Who’s going to reimburse me for all my lost wages?

Can I sue if my immigration status is unclear?

To get started, our large truck accident attorneys at George Salinas Injury Lawyers can help clarify your doubts:

  • As your attorneys, we’ll seek various compensation benefits to cover all your medical expenses now and in the future, as well as reimbursement for lost wages if you’re unable to work due to your injuries.
  • If the injuries you suffered as a result of the accident have caused you emotional and psychological damages, such as distress, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, we’ll also seek financial compensation for this.
  • It doesn’t matter what your immigration status is. If you’ve suffered an accident due to someone else’s negligence, Texas law protects you. You’re entitled to compensation to help rebuild your life.
  • At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we’ll fight for justice while also ensuring the privacy of your personal information.

In addition to answering your questions, our large commercial vehicle accident attorneys at George Salinas Injury Lawyers will study the specifics of your case and outline a plan of action to build a winning compensation claim.

Our #1 priority is always your health. That’s why our work also includes making sure that you’re attended by the finest medical team, as insurers often seek to impose their own doctors and hospitals, even if they’re not the best.

Once we’ve guaranteed that your health is in good hands, we’ll take the necessary actions to win your case while you focus your energies on recovering alongside your loved ones. Some of the steps we’ll take include the following:

01

We’ll go to the scene of the accident, so our crash experts can reconstruct the events and get the most accurate information possible about what happened. 

02

We’ll identify possible eyewitnesses of the accident and speak with them to record their testimonies.

03

We’ll examine the surrounding area of the accident scene to search for public or private surveillance cameras that may have recorded what happened. If found, we’ll manage getting access to these recordings.

04

We’ll find and gather evidence to prove that the driver’s behavior was negligent. This sometimes requires the aid of technology experts, who perform complex and specialized work, such as tracking the other driver’s phone to prove he was texting when the accident happened (in the case of distracted driving).

05

Based on all the evidence gathered, we’ll build a solid case and seek fair compensation. Normally, this demand must be made to the insurance company representing the at-fault driver, which involves a negotiation process. In the event that negotiations fail to produce a beneficial settlement for the victim, the case may have to be taken to court and resolved at trial.

06

We’ll engage in transparent and honest dialogue with you about the different legal options that arise during negotiations in order to jointly make the best decisions.

If you were the victim of a truck accident, you can’t risk leaving your case in the hands of an inexperienced law firm. At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we’re here to help. We’re one of the most prestigious law firms in San Antonio. Our work is defined by legal excellence, extraordinary negotiation skills and tailored services provided by warm, friendly and Spanish-speaking professionals.

Common types of large commercial vehicle accidents

18-wheeler accidents often result in victims suffering serious, even catastrophic or fatal injuries. In an effort to prevent these types of incidents, the Texas Department of Transportation studies the most common types of large commercial vehicle accidents each year. Here are the top eight types:

Jackknife accidents

Most 18-wheelers are made up of two parts: a trailer and a cab. Jackknife accidents happen when these parts become misaligned and the driver loses control of the vehicle, often rolling over. It usually happens when accelerating on a curve or when tires skid on a wet road.

Flat tires

A large truck tire weighs an average of 100 pounds, so when it goes flat, the stability of the entire vehicle is at risk. Not only is there a risk of rollover, but the tire may become dislodged and impact other cars or even pedestrians.

Wide turns

When a large truck makes a sharp turn, such as a U-turn, it must first turn in the opposite direction to make enough space to turn without risking stability. However, if the driver doesn’t notice vehicles in the next lane when making this wide turn, it’s possible to crash into them.

Multiple blind spots

All vehicles have blind spots that drivers can’t see in their mirrors, especially when vehicles are located on either side. When it comes to 18-wheelers, these blind spots are multiplied and drivers must be very careful before turning or changing lanes.

Rear-end collisions

Rear-end collisions are among the most common road accidents. They occur when a vehicle brakes and the vehicle behind it can’t brake in time and ends up colliding into it. For cars, these types of accidents don’t often have major consequences. However, when the striking vehicle is an 18-wheeler, the consequences can be very serious. To avoid this type of accident, drivers should keep in mind that it can take a large truck up to six seconds to come to a complete stop.

Falling cargo

Often 18-wheelers have a commercial purpose and transport heavy loads from one town to another. Companies are obliged to ensure that these loads are properly positioned and not in danger of falling if the vehicle were to brake abruptly or make a wide turn. However, sometimes the cargo isn’t properly loaded and poses a potential hazard to nearby vehicles if the truck were to crash or overturn. In addition, large trucks sometimes carry gas or other flammable substances that risk causing a fire when spilled.

Head-on collisions

One of the most devastating traffic accidents occurs when two vehicles collide head-on. If one of the vehicles involved is a large truck, it’s likely that the injuries will be catastrophic or fatal. These accidents usually occur when one of the drivers engages in an act of gross negligence, such as drunk driving or running a red light. However, gross negligence can also occur on the part of the company. For example, if the head-on collision occurs due to a lack of maintenance on the truck.

T-bone crashes

These collisions occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another. They occur very frequently at intersections where a smaller avenue joins a larger one, or those with multiple streets. (In these cases, the fault may lie with the authority in charge of maintaining these streets, i.e. if the signage isn’t clear.)

Top causes of large truck accidents

Due to their size, large trucks require a high degree of technical expertise by their drivers. Companies are required to train drivers and verify that they have the capacity to drive the vehicle they have been assigned. Yet, not all accidents occur due to a lack of driving skills, but also other causes:

1. Speeding

Speeding is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents. Drivers of large trucks often have very tight schedules to deliver goods by a certain deadline. If their schedule is delayed for any reason, the driver may be tempted to try to go faster, even if it means exceeding speed limits and putting other vehicles and pedestrians at risk.

Fortunately, many large trucks have built-in technology where repeatedly exceeding the speed limit automatically shuts down the vehicle’s engine.

2. Distracted driving

Many drivers of large trucks have to travel long distances every day and often suffer from boredom. To combat this, they often turn to auditory entertainment, such as music, podcasts, radio programs or audio books, which they tune into via their mobile devices, causing them to take their eyes off the road.

Other common distracted driving behaviors involve checking GPS routes, eating, drinking, smoking or applying makeup. To prevent distracted driving accidents, it’s recommended to complete these actions when the vehicle is stopped.

3. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

As a central nervous system depressant, alcohol slows down the movements of consumers and impacts their ability to react. When driving a large truck, alcohol becomes a very dangerous substance that can cause a tragedy.

That’s why the law is particularly severe with drivers who don’t comply with this rule. Likewise, the law obliges companies to carry out in-depth investigations on their drivers’ backgrounds to rule out the possibility that they suffer from alcoholism.

4. Reckless driving

To get from one place to another more quickly and meet ambitious timetables, 18-wheeler drivers often adopt reckless driving behaviors, which can range from driving too close to the vehicles in front of them to changing lanes abruptly or without proper signaling.

5. Extreme weather

In extreme weather, drivers must take extreme precautions. It’s not enough to respect speed limits. In addition, they should adopt other preventive measures, such as driving with their flashers on and even stopping the vehicle if weather conditions become extreme.

Examples of extreme weather include heavy rain, strong winds or snowfalls that impact drivers’ visibility and make roads slippery by coating them with mud, sand, water and/or ice.

6. Poorly maintained streets or highways

When driving a large truck on a highway, any malfunction on the road can lead to an accident. Consider that these types of vehicles can take several seconds to reach full stop, especially when loaded, which limits the driver’s ability to react to potholes, obstacles and other poor road conditions.

In these cases, the blame for an accident may fall on the authority responsible for ensuring road maintenance and safety.

7. Mechanical failure

Sometimes the cause of the accident has nothing to do with a traffic violation. Instead, the incident may be due to some kind of defect in the design, manufacture or maintenance of one of the vehicles.

In the case of large trucks, companies have a direct responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are in top roadworthy condition.

8. Animals crossing the road

Many highways in Texas cross areas with a high density of animal life. This sometimes causes different animals to cross the road, including squirrels, dogs and larger animals such as cows, deer and horses.

A driver’s natural reaction when this happens is to turn the steering wheel sharply to avoid hitting the animal, which can cause an accident with vehicles in nearby lanes.

9. Truck driver fatigue

Companies have a legal obligation to provide their drivers with rest periods in order to prevent them from becoming fatigued at the wheel.

In fact, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has identified a condition known as “truck driver fatigue” that occurs when a driver has been subjected to long days behind the wheel. Fatigue causes a drastic decrease in reflexes (equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08, which is twice the permitted level).

Common injuries sustained by victims of 18-wheeler accidents

Motor vehicle accidents can cause a wide range of injuries for victims. The severity of these injuries tends to increase when one of the vehicles involved is large. Here are common injuries suffered by victims of large truck crashes.

  • Spinal cord injuries (these can lead to catastrophic injuries associated with different types of paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia)
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Rib and bone fractures
  • Amputations
  • Crushing
  • Internal bleeding
  • Whiplash and neck injuries
  • Injuries to abdomen, chest, legs, arms, elbows and knees
  • Death

Recommendations to prevent large truck accidents

As part of a campaign to prevent traffic accidents, the Texas Department of Insurance published a report detailing these five recommendations to prevent drivers from adopting reckless driving behaviors.

  1. Store all mobile devices out of view as soon as you get in the car.
  2. Pull over to handle any emergency on your phone, if needed.
  3. Study the fastest route before getting into the car, so you can avoid checking the GPS app while driving.
  4. Stop and seek medical attention, if you feel fatigued at the wheel.
  5. Limit the number of passengers in your vehicle whenever possible.

What steps should you take after a large truck accident?

After suffering any traffic accident, the #1 priority should be the victim’s health. The first thing you should do is call an ambulance to receive specialized medical attention (and be hospitalized if your injuries require it).

Once medical attention has been received, the victim should take the following actions to help win their compensation case:

1. Call an attorney at George Salinas Injury Lawyers at 210-225-0909.

2. Avoid any contact with insurance company agents (don’t sign or declare anything).

3. Never say you’re okay (some injuries take hours or days to manifest).

4. Ask for the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the people involved in the accident, as well as possible eyewitnesses.

5. Take photographs of your injuries and the vehicles involved.

6. Request a copy of the police report from the officers who arrived at the accident scene (you can track it online here).

How much money can you get if you win an 18-wheeler accident case?

The amount of compensation that traffic accident victims may receive usually depends on two factors:

  1. The severity of injuries
  2. The estimated recovery time

The more serious the injuries (and thus the longer the recovery time), the higher the compensation tends to be. To calculate a fair amount, experienced personal injury lawyers usually take into account the following benefits:

  • Coverage of any medical expenses (from hospitalization to medications and doctor’s fees)
  • Reimbursement of lost wages if the victim is unable to work due to their injuries
  • Funeral expenses (in the event of the victim’s death)
  • Compensation for emotional and psychological injuries

Contact our 18-wheeler accident lawyers

Have you or a loved one gotten in an accident involving a large vehicle? At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we’re experts at winning compensation benefits for our clients, which let them rebuild their lives alongside their families and without financial stress.

Contact us by calling 210-225-0909 or filling out this form to schedule a free consultation, where we’ll explain the different legal options for your case. Our San Antonio 18-wheeler accident lawyers will fight to get you justice.

FAQs

How long do large truck accident lawyers have to file for compensation?

Texas law establishes an average number of years to file for compensation from the date of the accident. However, it’s best to file immediately, as the more time that passes, the more difficult it is to obtain evidence to build a winning case.What should you do if you can’t come to our offices because you’re hospitalized?

If the injuries you sustained in a large truck accident have you bedridden, don’t worry. We just need you or a loved one to call us and we’ll visit you at the hospital, your home or wherever you’re recovering. If your condition prevents you from traveling, we’ll come to see you as many times as necessary to gather information about the accident and discuss various legal options for your case.Why is George Salinas Injury Lawyers your best option?

We’ve won millions of dollars in compensation for our clients and specialize in truck accident cases. George Salinas’ career as a San Antonio 18-wheeler accident lawyer is impressive. He was selected for the top 100 best lawyers in the U.S. by The National Trial Lawyers (2019) and named a “Texas Super Lawyer” in 2020.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyers

Our law firm’s staff is fully bilingual (we speak both Spanish and English) and we offer free consultations to evaluate each case. Contact us at (210) 225-0909, so that our 18-wheeler accident lawyers can discuss your legal options to get justice.


George Salinas Injury Lawyers
6243 I-10 Ste. 955, San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 225-0909
Open 24 hours

San Antonio, TX Auto Repair Shops

  • The Auto Shop- 429 Earl St, San Antonio, TX 78212, United States
  • Alex Tire & Auto Shop- 605 Culebra Rd Unit 106, San Antonio, TX 78201, United States
  • A&s auto repair & sales-1717 West Ave, San Antonio, TX 78201, United States
  • BEXAR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR-1400 W Hildebrand Ave, San Antonio, TX 78201, United States
  • AA Auto Repair-2219 Vance Jackson Rd, San Antonio, TX 78213, United States

San Antonio, TX Emergency Rooms

  • Methodist Hospital Texsan Emergency Room- 6700 I-10, San Antonio, TX 78201, United States
  • St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital Emergency Room- 7930 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
  • Methodist Hospital ER Adult Entrance- 7700 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
  • Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital Emergency Room- 7400 Merton Minter Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States