Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major north-south interstate highway that runs from Laredo, Texas, through San Antonio, to Minnesota. As one of the busiest highways in the area, I-35 sees high volumes of traffic daily, including many large 18-wheelers and commercial trucks. Unfortunately, the heavy truck presence on I-35 also leads to a significant number of truck accidents each year. Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of trucking accidents on I-35 and how a lawyer can help you seek maximum compensation.
Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents on I-35
I-35 runs for 1,568 miles from Duluth, Minnesota to Laredo, Texas. The stretch through San Antonio is notoriously congested, with over 100,000 vehicles traveling on it per day. This congestion, combined with the high volume of large trucks, creates prime conditions for multi-vehicle accidents. Some common causes of truck accidents on I-35 include:
- Speeding – Trucks going over the speed limit lose control more easily and require longer to stop. Speeding is a major factor in almost one-third of all truck crashes.
- Fatigued driving – Drowsy driving is a huge problem in the trucking industry. Fatigued truckers cause serious accidents. Federal Hours of Service regulations try to prevent tired trucking by limiting driving hours.
- Distracted driving – Eating, texting, talking on the phone, adjusting the radio, and fiddling with navigation take the truck driver’s attention off the road. Any distraction can have devastating consequences.
- Improper loading – Improperly balanced or secured cargo can cause rollovers and jackknife accidents. Trucking companies are required to properly distribute and tie down loads.
- Equipment failure – Defective brakes, tires, steering, and other truck parts can lead to catastrophic failures. Trucking companies must maintain their fleet with regular inspections and repairs.
- Changing lanes improperly – Trucks need more time and space to change lanes safely. Quick lane changes increase accident risk. Truckers must check their blind spots thoroughly.
- Drug and alcohol use – Intoxicated driving is shockingly common in the trucking industry and impairs motor skills and judgment.
- Aggressive driving – Tailgating, improper passing, and other reckless behaviors raise the risk of multi-vehicle collisions.
Common Injuries Sustained in 18-Wheeler Accidents
When an 80,000 pound big rig collides with a passenger car, the occupants of the smaller vehicle suffer severe and often permanent injuries. Some common truck accident injuries include:
- Head and brain trauma – Concussions, hemorrhages, and skull fractures from impacting interior surfaces or being ejected from the vehicle. Even mild brain trauma can have lasting cognitive effects like memory problems, headaches, and reduced concentration.
- Spinal cord injuries – Vertebrae fractures, paralysis from pinched nerves, and traction injuries from the body being pulled violently. Spinal cord damage leads to loss of mobility and bladder/bowel control, requiring lifetime medical care.
- Internal organ damage – Massive impact and crushing forces lead to lacerations, ruptures, and failure of vital organs like the liver, kidneys, spleen, and intestines. Organ damage ranges from mild to fatal.
- Broken bones – Fractured ribs, pelvis, arms, legs, ankles, and wrists from the extreme forces involved. Broken bones must be set through painful processes and can require multiple reconstructive surgeries.
- Amputations – Crush injuries and severed limbs when body parts are caught between vehicles and the road. Amputees require prosthetics, and physical therapy, and they must learn to live with permanent disability.
- Burns – Heat from fires, exploding fuel, dragging pavement, and toxic chemical spills. Burns result in permanent scarring, skin damage, and increased risk of infection.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder – Witnessing horrific events can lead to severe and lasting psychological trauma like flashbacks, anxiety, insomnia, and depression.
- Chronic pain – Severe injuries to muscles, joints, and nerves cause persistent pain that may never fully subside.
- Wrongful death – Severe and traumatic injuries can be fatal, especially head and internal trauma. Families experience devastating grief and loss.
Survivors may face a lifetime of expensive medical treatment, lost wages, and reduced quality of life, while the family members of fatalities are left struggling to cope without their loved one and the income they provided.
Proving Liability with Help from a Truck Accident Attorney
In order to receive full compensation, the innocent accident victim must prove that the truck driver and their employer acted negligently and are at fault. Skilled trucking company lawyers will try to avoid liability by shifting blame to the passenger vehicle driver. With an attorney, you can build a strong liability case by:
- Analyzing black box and GPS records from the tractor-trailer to show such violations as speeding, harsh braking, erratic maneuvers, etc.
- Reconstructing the accident scene and using experts like accident reconstructionists and traffic engineers to analyze sight lines, reaction times, vehicle positions, and more.
- Reviewing the truck driver’s training, certification, driving record, and logs for violations. Look for inadequate training or licensing.
- Investigating whether the trucking company knowingly pushed the driver to violate regulations by setting unreasonable delivery timelines.
- Evaluating truck maintenance records for evidence of unfixed defects that contributed to the crash.
- Obtaining and proving the driver was under the influence through toxicology reports and eyewitness statements.
- Interviewing additional eyewitnesses and first responders who can provide independent accounts.
- Checking highway design for dangerous conditions like insufficient lighting, poorly marked lanes, defective signage etc. that contributed.
- Retaining medical experts to prove the full extent of injuries caused by the accident.
- Consulting industry experts to show how the trucker deviated from standard practices.
With proof of the trucker’s reckless behavior and violations, you can achieve maximum compensation for your losses. An experienced attorney will build an ironclad liability case.
Contact Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
If you or someone you love has been injured by a negligent trucker on I-35 or anywhere in the San Antonio area, contact our experienced San Antonio personal injury attorneys today for a free case review. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients and know what it takes to win against the big trucking companies.
Our team will evaluate your claim at no charge and advise you on the best path forward. Justice and maximum compensation are one call away. Call us at 1-800-4THEWIN (1-800-484-3946).
