San Antonio 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer

The Law Giant Can Help After an 18-Wheeler Accident

At Begum Law Group, we understand that an 18-wheeler crash can upend your life and derail your future. We’re here to handle every aspect of your injury claim.

We’ll Investigate

Our team will conduct a thorough investigation of your accident, using physical evidence, the truck’s black box, paper or electronic trucking records, and eyewitness testimony to figure out exactly what happened.

We’ll Consult the Experts

Truck accidents are complex, and we have a broad network of accident reconstruction specialists, experts in the trucking industry, and others with relevant experience. We’ll consult as needed to build a solid case for you.

We’ll Calculate Your Damages

You want to know what your accident is worth. A comprehensive assessment of your medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and other expenses will help you know when an offer is worth accepting.

We’ll Negotiate on Your Behalf

Once we determine the liable party, we’ll negotiate aggressively on your behalf. Bringing an attorney to the table lets the insurance company know that you won’t entertain lowball offers.

Who’s Liable for an 18-Wheeler Accident?

Before pursuing compensation for an 18-wheeler accident in San Antonio, you must figure out who is liable for your injuries. In a large truck collision, there are several possible liable parties. They are:

• The driver. A driver who drives too fast for conditions, drives recklessly, or drives while impaired may be liable for any damage they cause.
• The employer. Companies are responsible for vetting their drivers and ensuring that they can be trusted with a large truck. They may be held liable if they miss or overlook a red flag. They may also be liable if they push drivers to ignore regulations. They may do this by telling drivers to skip breaks, to drive more than permitted, or asking them to falsify documentation.
• The manufacturer. Trucks with improper parts or malfunctioning components can cause fatal accidents. If an investigation finds that a defective part caused the crash, the manufacturer could be liable.

 Types of 18-Wheeler Accidents

Most truck collisions fit into one of the following categories:

Rollover

Rollover accidents may occur when a truck is overloaded or improperly loaded. The shifting weight can cause the truck to tip over, possibly crushing other vehicles. Rollovers can also happen when a driver brakes too quickly or swerves and loses control.

Jackknife

Jackknife collisions have the potential to cause devastating damage. They happen when a driver brakes too quickly and the trailer swings out from the tractor. They form a 90-degree angle, and the driver loses control. These crashes often shut down entire highways.

Head-on

Head-on crashes often lead to fatal injuries for those in the other vehicle. These may occur when the other driver passes on the left and doesn’t get back to their lane in time, or either driver crosses the median.

Rear-end

Rear-end crashes can be minor between passenger vehicles, but they often lead to serious injuries when an 18-wheeler is involved. This may occur when a truck driver is inattentive to the road, another driver cuts them off and brakes too quickly, or the truck’s brakes malfunction.

Underride

An underride accident happens when a driver does not stop in time and ends up wedged under the back of a tractor-trailer. Their vehicle gets dragged along, and those in the vehicle often suffer serious or fatal injuries.

Truck Accidents Causes

Some of the most common causes of truck crashes include:

• Distracted driving
• Fatigued driving
• Driving while impaired
• Inexperienced driving
• Inadequate training
• Poor road conditions
• Malfunctioning truck components

The Dangers of 18-Wheeler Accidents

Large trucks have the potential to cause catastrophic damage. They are extraordinarily large, with the average 18-wheeler weighing 80,000 pounds. That’s 16 times heavier than the average passenger vehicle. Stopping such a large vehicle takes much longer than stopping a car. Their length gives them large blind spots and limited visibility, increasing the risk of a side-impact crash.

The drivers themselves may also be at greater risk of a collision. They often work extremely long hours and drive while fatigued or overworked, increasing the likelihood of a crash.

Truck Accidents in Texas

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large truck accidents caused just over 5,000 U.S. deaths in 2019. Over 70% of those fatalities were occupants of the other vehicle.

Texas had the highest number of total fatal truck crashes in the country in 2019, with 658. Our state also has the highest number of truck occupant deaths and the highest number of other vehicle occupant deaths, 146 and 433 respectively. Unfortunately, Texas also has the highest number of non-occupant deaths, with 73 reported in 2019.