San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyers

San Antonio, Texas, is among the fastest-growing areas in the U.S., with its roadways handling a heavy volume of commercial trucks every day. And while the metro area is growing, this traffic can be dangerous.

Because of their massive size, semi-truck and 18-wheeler accidents are often catastrophic. It’s hard to fully grasp the implications of a severe San Antonio truck wreck, which may include living with constant pain caused by blunt head trauma, restricted functionality or mobility due to a spinal cord injury, and being reminded every day of the trauma you experienced.

If you’ve suffered a truck accident injury because of someone else’s recklessness, the San Antonio truck accident lawyers from Nix Patterson are here for you. We’re ready to answer your questions and discuss your options.

San Antonio Truck Accident Statistics

Large-truck crashes are some of the most fatal due to payloads, truck size, difficult maneuverability, and other truck-related factors. These collisions are preventable through proper commercial vehicle inspection and maintenance, as Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations specify.

San Antonio had a total of 1,057 truck-related accidents in 2021. Out of these crashes, 266 (25.2%) resulted in injuries, according to records from the Texas Department of Transportation. The accidents were categorized based on their severity as follows:

Possible Injury Accidents

There were 164 possible injury wrecks involving commercial motor vehicles in San Antonio, with the most common causes being speeding (9%), tailgating (9%), changing lanes when it was unsafe (19.4%), and driver inattention (25.4%).

Minor Injury Accidents

San Antonio had 89 minor injury collisions involving trucks, with the most common causes being unsafe speed (14.1%), faulty evasive action (14.1%), changing lanes when it was unsafe (18.8%), and driver inattention (21.8%).

Severe Injury Accidents

13 severe injury accidents involved large trucks. The most common causes were tailgating (11.8%), distracted driving (23.5%), and unsafe speed (29.4%).

Fatal Crashes

There were 7 fatalities in truck-involved crashes. The leading causes of these accidents were backing out when it was unsafe (11.1%), faulty evasive action (11.1%), fleeing or evading police (11.1%), ignoring a stop-and-go signal (11.1%), speeding (11.1%), tailgating (11.1%), failing to yield the right of way when turning left (11.1%), and unsafe speed (22.2%).

Steps To Take After a Large Truck Accident in San Antonio

Getting into a truck-related crash can change your life forever. So can the steps you take in the hours, days, weeks, and months that follow. Here are some steps that you should take regardless of the type of truck accident that occurred:

Remain at the Scene

Never drive away after a truck accident (unless you are seeking emergency medical treatment). Leaving the scene may be considered a crime and may prevent you from preserving evidence for a potential personal injury claim in San Antonio.

Move to Safety

If possible, move to a safe location to allow traffic flow to continue. If your car cannot move, remain inside with your seat belt on until help arrives.

Stay Calm

It might not be easy, but keep your wits about yourself. Make a mental note of your surroundings. If possible, use your smartphone’s camera to capture circumstances surrounding the crash, such as location, vehicle position, and other driver admissions or omissions.

Remember not to apologize, as doing so will likely do more harm than good.

Call for Medical Assistance

If you sustain severe injuries, you will need emergency medical assistance and an ambulance at the scene. If EMTs do not transport you to the hospital from the scene, ensure that you seek medical care within 48 hours of the crash. Prompt treatment reduces the risk of complications and strengthens your truck accident case.

Call the Police

Call 911 or the San Antonio Police Department to report the collision and request emergency medical assistance.

Speak With a San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer

Contact a reputable truck accident attorney near you in San Antonio, Texas, as soon as possible after the crash. Do not provide a recorded statement to insurance adjusters or discuss the accident or the other driver’s fault without your attorney present.

Getting Nix Patterson’s personal injury lawyers involved early on in the process can significantly impact your case. We will help you handle conversations with other parties, guide you through the claims process, and advocate fiercely on your behalf.

Understanding What To Expect From Insurance Companies After a Truck Accident

When involved in a trucking accident, it’s important to remember that insurance companies will go to great lengths to reduce the value of your injury claim. To protect your interests, you must avoid making any statements that could be used against you. Even something as seemingly innocent as an apology could be interpreted as an admission of fault. So refrain from apologizing to anyone involved in the accident.

To minimize the value of your claim or to avoid responsibility altogether, insurance companies employ a range of tactics, including:

• Denial of claim. Insurance companies may deny your truck accident claim outright, arguing that the crash is not covered under the policy or that you have not met the requirements necessary to receive compensation.
• Delaying tactics. Insurance companies may attempt to drag out the claims process for as long as possible, hoping you will give up or settle for less. They may ask for additional documentation, schedule unnecessary meetings or evaluations, or take a long time to respond to your inquiries, so no truck accident lawyer in San Antonio can take your case. Remember that the statute of limitations for truck accident injury claims in Texas is 2 years from the accident date.
• Small settlements. If the insurance company does decide to offer a settlement, they may initially offer an amount that does not reflect the full value of your claim. They often do this by claiming that your injuries were pre-existing or that your treatment was excessive.
• Disputing liability. If the insurance company can argue that someone else was at fault for the event or damage in question, they may be able to avoid paying out any compensation at all. Modified comparative negligence is a concept you want to be familiar with after a truck accident in Texas. Under this law, you can be held accountable for part or all of your truck accident expenses if they deem you partially responsible.

Skilled Representation for Your Truck Accident in San Antonio

After a truck accident in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, or another location in Texas, let the skilled truck accident lawyers at Nix Patterson fight for you. We balance the aggressive pursuit of your San Antonio truck accident case with the compassion and dedication you need during this time filled with stress and uncertainty.

Call our truck accident attorneys in San Antonio at 512-328-5333 to book your free, no-obligation case review.