Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Dump Truck Brings Down Pedestrian Bridge on the West Side

Published on: March 1, 2023 | by Carabin Shaw

Texas has 28,000 more bridges than any other U.S. State.

(March 1, 2023) A pedestrian bridge collapsed after a dump truck crashed into it, causing the road to be closed while the debris was being cleared on February 21, 2023. The incident occurred at around 11:17 a.m. on the west side near the intersection of San Joaquin Avenue and Castroville Road, according to San Antonio Express-News. There were no reported injuries, and there is still no explanation as to why the accident happened. The sheer size of the state of Texas means that we have significantly more bridges than most states. Unfortunately, the United States has a bit of a bridge problem, and this has resulted in millions of dollars in property damage and personal injury over the years.

Did You Know?

Worker Falls Twenty Feet on San Antonio’s North Side

Published on: November 3, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

Construction workers are often exposed to dangerous working conditions

(November 3, 2022) Yesterday, November 2, 2022, a construction worker in the Northside of San Antonio was rushed to the hospital after an accident, as reported by KSAT 12. The worker was laying down pipes when he fell twenty feet into a hole, where he remained trapped until firefighters rescued him. Fortunately, the hole was not at risk of collapsing, and he received no life-threatening injuries as a result of the fall. With construction across San Antonio comes risks for the construction workers and drivers using the under-construction freeways. Unfortunately, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that 40,000 injuries a year and three fatalities a day are the results of vehicle traffic and poor operation on construction sites. Let’s take a look at common injuries associated with construction work and how to get the most out of workers’ comp claims.

Common Construction Site Injuries

Tips for Safe Driving in Inclement Weather

Published on: August 15, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

San Antonio forecast expects rain all week

(August 15, 2022) One unidentified person is dead after veering off of highway 90 and crashing into a pole, and an amazon truck hydroplanes off 1-35, spilling cargo and damaging a building this week, according to San Antonio Express-News. Driving in the rain comes with some unique challenges and increases the risk of accidents. Especially in the beautiful hill country of San Antonio, there are lots of areas that are prone to dangerous flooding on the roads. The forecast for San Antonio this week suggests that this much-needed rain is not going away any time soon, so let’s take a look at some tips for driving safely on wet roads.

Did you know?

I-10 Closed for 20 Hours Following Semi-Truck Accident

Published on: August 8, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

Hazardous Materials on Interstate Highways

(August 8, 2022) A semi-trailer hauling a flammable liquid caused Interstate 10 East to close for twenty hours after an accident that resulted in the hazardous liquid being spilled in the roadway, according to San Antonio Express-News. Police did not say what caused the accident on Sunday, August 7, 2022, only that the portion of the Interstate would be closed to clean up the spill. The Interstate reopened today at 4 p.m., but the access road between Pfeil Road and FM 1518 has remained closed. No injuries have been reported from the accident.

Did you know?

Culebra Shut Down After Tragic Accident This Morning

Published on: July 26, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

iStock-1095791206-300x200
(July 26, 2022) A thirty-one-year-old man tragically lost his life this morning, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, when struck by an 18-wheeler on the Far West Side. The accident happened on the eastbound lanes of Culebra Road just out front of the Harlan Highschool. The Bexar County deputies diverted traffic to Tally Road, and Culebra was shut down as they evaluated the scene.

How did this happen?

San Antonio Express-News reported that the thirty-one-year-old man who tragically lost his life this morning was a passenger of a seventeen-year-old driver of a KIA SUV. Deputies told San Antonio Express-News that the girl attempted a left turn on a blinking yellow light in front of the big rig. The driver of the tractor-trailer was unable to stop in time and collided with the small vehicle, killing the passenger and injuring the driver. The driver of the 18-wheeler was not reported to have sustained any injuries, and the seventeen-year-old driver of the KIA SUV was transported to the hospital for her injuries. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, and deputies asked that traffic avoid the area while the investigators cleared the scene.

Two 18-Wheelers Collide on I-35

Published on: May 5, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

iStock-505328022-300x200
(May 1, 2022) On Monday, April 24, 2022, two 18-wheelers collided with each other on Interstate 10 near downtown San Antonio, as reported by KSAT. The accident occurred while one truck was attempting to change lanes and lost control of the vehicle. It was raining at the time, and the roads were very slick, which seemed to contribute to the accident. The rig swerved, causing it to collide with a nearby 18-wheeler, which then jackknifed across all but one lane of I-10. The cabin then slid off the highway onto the lower level. Police reported that the cabin becoming wedged to the lower level of the highway was what prevented the whole rig from flipping completely over. It remained stuck dangling from the wall. No other vehicles were caught in the accident, and there were surprisingly no injuries reported as of May 1, 2022. The entire incident was captured on the dashcam of a closely following driver, who then shared the video with KSAT news.

Tips for safe driving in inclement weather conditions:

Whether you’re an experienced, confident driver, or brand-new to driving, it’s important to practice safe driving in inclement weather conditions. Even light rain can cause the roads to become very slick with lingering oil and dirt, greatly increasing the risk of hydroplaning or losing control of your vehicle. Additionally, our beautiful San Antonio hill country has many areas at high risk for flooding on the road. Here are some safe driving techniques you can use to make sure you’re driving safely.

Man Dies in 18-Wheeler Accident on I-10

Published on: April 17, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

iStock-1221344103-300x186
On April 13, 2022, a major accident on I-10 near De Zavala resulted in two people being hospitalized, with one man dying from his injuries as reported by KSAT News. The crash was apparently caused by a blown tire on an 18-wheeler causing it to swerve to the left. It crashed into two vehicles, a Toyota Corolla and a Jeep latitude. The Corolla was driven onto a nearby median, where it slid until it was slammed into a metal pillar, and there it erupted into flames. The driver, a man, was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries and tragically lost his life. He was 55-year-old Johnny Rodriguez Jr. of Boerne, as identified by Bexar County medical examiner. The driver of the Jeep was also taken to the hospital with non-critical injuries. The condition of the driver of the Jeep and the driver of the gravel rig is unknown at this time. The accident happened just after 5 P.M. and resulted in a major traffic pileup, as reported by fire officials attempting to clear the scene.

A fully loaded gravel rig can weigh up to 20,000 pounds. This tremendous weight combined with Interstate speeds often results in devastating accidents like this one. Because of this, even though trucking accidents only account for roughly six percent of total accidents in the United States, they have destructive consequences. Nearly 28 percent of trucking accidents result in serious injury, and over 11 percent result in fatality. This means that 107,000 people are injured, and 4,415 people are killed every year in an accident with an 18-wheeler.

Have you or someone you love been injured by an 18-wheeler in San Antonio or the surrounding area? Call Carabin Shaw Today.

Fatal 18-Wheeler Accident Loop 410

Published on: April 5, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

iStock-92033473-300x200
According to San Antonio Police, early Monday morning, March 7th, a tragic automobile accident occurred, which left a man dead after his vehicle collided with an 18-Wheeler. These events took place on Loop 410 southbound, near the Pearsall Road exit, at around 3:45 a.m. The man’s dark-colored sport utility vehicle crashed into the back of an 18-wheeler that pulled off onto the side of the highway. He was trapped inside the automobile underneath the back end of the 18-wheeler. Sadly the man driving the SUV died. However, the driver of the 18-wheeler did not suffer injuries.

Car accidents are unique to each individual. The damages, injuries, and specific losses suffered by each individual injured in a car wreck will vary. Generally, most car accidents can be attributed to negligence or a momentary lack of attention, but some can also be attributed to reckless behavior. High-speed driving and driving while intoxicated (DWI or DUI) are examples of reckless behavior. In addition to understanding the rules of the road, our car wreck lawyers understand the special duties imposed on drivers and operators. Our practice of searching for answers over the years has sometimes allowed us to pinpoint the underlying causes of most car accidents and determine the responsible party. Our car accident attorneys have handled numerous car wreck losses over the past 15 years.

In most cases of liability claims, determining who is at fault in a car wreck is a matter of figuring out who is negligent. You can turn to our car accident attorneys for assistance in determining who was at fault in your accident. The first thing we’ll do is to obtain your police report, analyze the traffic laws, interview witnesses, and, if necessary, hire investigators or experts to determine who was at fault for your car accident.

Fatal 18-Wheeler Accident South Side

Published on: March 20, 2022 | by Carabin Shaw

iStock-1279002529-300x200
(March 10, 2022)

A tragic accident with an 18-wheeler took place at 12:30 A.M. this morning on I-37 in South Bexar County. The accident claimed the life of one individual and left the other in critical condition, as reported by KSAT News. The truck driver sustained no injuries; however, the impact pushed his vehicle into a nearby ditch. The other vehicle sustained significant damage, and the highway was closed temporarily to clear the debris. The cause of the accident has not yet been reported, nor have the names of the victims.

A collision with an 18-wheeler often has tragic consequences. Due to the sheer size of the vehicles, even a collision at low speeds can result in severe damage and injury. Combine this size and strength with Texas highway speeds, and the result is devastating. Victims of commercial vehicle accidents often sustain major permanent injuries, such as brain damage and extreme disfiguration. Unfortunately, it is often the case that victims of a commercial vehicle accident tragically lose their lives, as in this case. The law office of Carabin Shaw has been representing victims of 18-wheeler accidents for nearly 30 years in San Antonio and the surrounding area.

Fatal 18-Wheeler Accident Claims One Life in Smith County, Texas

Published on: September 14, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

Recently, one person was killed in a Texas truck accident in Smith County. While details about the accident are still sparse, according to a local news report, the accident occurred on FM 346. The driver of the truck survived the accident with serious injuries. However, an unidentified person was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is still under investigation, and there is no indication whether criminal charges will be pursued.

Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of preventable injury in Texas. In fact, according to the most recent data from the Texas Department of Transportation, there are more than 15,800 people injured and another 3,600 killed in Texas car accidents each year. Truck accidents are responsible for a significant portion of these collisions.

Although Texas does not have the highest population of all U.S. states, it does see the highest number of trucking accidents. In part, this is because of the large number of interstate highways spanning the state. However, there also seems to be a certain disregard of the state’s traffic laws and regulations among many Texas truck drivers. For example, the majority of Texas truck accidents are the result of entirely preventable driving behavior, such as distracted driving, drunk driving, and aggressive driving. There is also a portion of truck accidents caused by vehicle and equipment defects.