Texas Accident & Injury News
18-Wheeler accidents often come with catastrophic consequences.
Woman Detained By Police After Hitting a Big Rig
According to a KSAT News report, a woman was detained by police following an accident on Loop 410 early this morning.
According to police, the woman was heading eastbound on Loop 410 near North Vandiver Road at around 2:45 on August 2, 2023, when she struck the side of an 18-wheeler with her vehicle. EMS, police, and fire department officials all responded to the crash, but there were no reported injuries. The woman was detained by police following the incident, though no clear charges were filed, and the crash is under ongoing investigation.
Did You Know?
According to a TxDOT report, there were 26,963 crashes of varying severity involving 18-Wheelers and other big rigs in Texas in 2022.
Tractor Trailer Accidents in San Antonio
Texas is a big state and one of only four U.S. states that borders Mexico. As such, it is the top state that handles imports/exports with Mexico by truck, with 85% of all trade between Texas and Mexico transported by trucks. With more interstate mileage than any other state and over 66,000 trucking companies, it comes as no surprise that Texas is a top state for 18-wheeler accidents.
Trucking Accident Statistics
Unfortunately, 18-wheeler accidents are common in Texas and in San Antonio. San Antonio has seen staggering population growth in the past few years, which means more big trucks on the road. In Bexar County in 2022, 18-wheelers caused:
- 2,250 total crashes,
- 20 fatal crashes,
- 22 fatalities,
- And 37 crashes resulting in serious or incapacitating injury.
Additionally, the amount of 18-wheelers in Texas is suspected to increase by almost 30% by 2025 to meet the growing demand for freight.
Semi-Trailer Accidents and Negligence
There is a shortage of truck drivers in the United States, and as a result, some trucking companies may employ drivers who are not qualified for the position. As a result, the CVSA removed 6,710 commercial motor vehicles in the United States for Out Of Service (OOS) violations (16.5% of total vehicles inspected) and 2,080 drivers (5.3% of all drivers evaluated) in 2021 alone.
Unqualified drivers and tractor-trailers that are not up to code pose a great threat to other vehicles in San Antonio and across Texas with whom they share the road.
Injuries from 18-Wheeler Accidents
In Texas, a tractor-trailer can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds – roughly the weight of a passenger jet – and can be up to 80 feet in length. It’s no wonder why seeing an 18-wheeler barrelling down on you in the rear-view mirror is such a terrifying experience and why injuries from these kinds of accidents are often catastrophic and commonly include:
- TBIs
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Broken Bones
- Burns
- Amputations
- Crushing Injuries
- Wrongful Death
If you or a family member has suffered serious injury because of an 18-wheeler accident caused by a negligent driver, there may be multiple parties at fault for your injuries. Contact an experienced 18-wheeler accident attorney at Carabin Shaw to find out.
18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys in San Antonio
If you were injured or lost a loved one in an 18-wheeler accident that was not your fault, Carabin Shaw can help. Contact the 18-wheeler accident attorneys with 30 years of experience who care today via live chat or at 800-862-1260. We look forward to serving you.