18-Wheeler Truck Crashes in San Antonio — Why These Collisions Are So Devastating and What Victims Can Do

You are merging onto I-10 east of San Antonio when a 40-ton 18-wheeler jackknifes across three lanes. Metal twists, glass shatters, and a Bexar County nightmare unfolds in seconds. For drivers who share the road with commercial trucks every day on San Antonio’s highways, this scenario is not hypothetical — it is a daily risk backed by hard data. In 2024, Bexar County recorded 2,684 commercial motor vehicle crashes, resulting in 18 fatal crashes that claimed 18 lives and 34 serious-injury crashes that left 46 people with suspected serious injuries, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s CMV crash report. A San Antonio personal injury attorney at J.A. Davis & Associates handles high-stakes truck accident cases across South Texas and understands that when an 80,000-pound rig collides with a passenger vehicle, the consequences are almost always catastrophic.

Those 2,684 truck accident crashes also produced 406 suspected minor injuries, 484 possible injuries, and 2,037 non-injury collisions that still caused property damage and disrupted lives. Bexar County ranked third in Texas for total CMV crashes in 2024, trailing only Harris County at 6,313 and Dallas County at 3,857. Tarrant County came in fourth at 1,716, and El Paso logged 965. San Antonio’s position as a major crossroads for interstate freight traffic — where I-35, I-10, and I-37 converge — ensures a constant flow of 18-wheeler traffic through the metro area, and the crash data reflects that reality. The truck accident lawyers at J.A. Davis & Associates have spent over 25 years fighting for victims of truck accidents on these corridors, and they know exactly how to hold negligent trucking companies accountable for the destruction their vehicles cause.

What separates a truck accident from a typical car accident is physics. A fully loaded 18-wheeler weighs roughly 20 times more than the average passenger car. At highway speeds, that weight differential means the truck driver may walk away from a collision that kills or permanently disables everyone in the smaller vehicle. The forces involved in these crashes cause injuries that are fundamentally more severe — crushed passenger compartments, traumatic amputations, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries that leave victims dependent on lifelong medical care. The truck accident attorneys at J.A. Davis & Associates pursue every dollar of compensation these cases demand, because the financial toll of a serious 18-wheeler wreck is unlike anything most families have ever faced.

What Causes 18-Wheeler Crashes on San Antonio Highways?

The causes behind Bexar County’s 2,684 commercial vehicle crashes are well documented through federal safety data, crash investigations, and the case files of attorneys who handle these claims. Driver fatigue sits at the top of the list. Despite Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations that limit driving hours to 11 hours per shift within a 14-hour window, violations remain widespread. Truck drivers hauling freight along I-10 between Houston and San Antonio or running the I-35 corridor between Laredo and Dallas face enormous pressure to meet delivery deadlines, and that pressure leads some drivers and their employers to falsify electronic logging device records or push past safe limits. A fatigued truck driver’s reaction time degrades to levels comparable to drunk driving, and at 65 miles per hour, a few seconds of delayed reaction can mean the difference between a near-miss and a fatal collision.

Brake failure and mechanical deficiencies are the second major category. An 18-wheeler traveling at highway speed requires approximately 500 feet to come to a complete stop under ideal conditions — nearly the length of two football fields. When brakes are worn, improperly adjusted, or inadequately maintained, that stopping distance increases dramatically. Jackknife accidents, where the trailer swings out of alignment with the cab, are frequently caused by braking problems compounded by wet roads, steep grades, or sudden maneuvers. Loop 410 and Loop 1604, with their curves and grade changes, are particularly susceptible to these types of crashes.

Improper Loading, Distraction, and Speeding

Cargo that is improperly loaded, unsecured, or overweight creates a chain of hazards that can turn an otherwise routine trip into a catastrophe. Shifted cargo alters the truck’s center of gravity, making rollovers more likely during turns and lane changes. Unsecured loads can spill onto the highway, creating debris fields that cause multi-vehicle pileups. The party responsible for loading the trailer — which may be a different company than the driver’s employer — can be held liable when improper loading contributes to a crash.

Distracted driving among truck operators has increased alongside the same smartphone technology that plagues passenger vehicle drivers. A truck driver scrolling through a phone or adjusting an in-cab GPS system at highway speed is piloting a 40-ton vehicle blind. Speeding compounds every other risk factor — it increases stopping distances, reduces the driver’s ability to react to changing conditions, and dramatically increases the severity of any resulting collision. The attorneys at J.A. Davis & Associates subpoena electronic logging devices, GPS tracking data, dashcam footage, and maintenance records to identify exactly which violations contributed to each crash they investigate.

The Legal Complexity of 18-Wheeler Crash Cases

Truck accident claims are fundamentally more complex than standard car accident cases because they involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and insurance policies that are structured very differently from personal auto coverage. The FMCSA requires interstate carriers to maintain minimum liability coverage of $750,000, and many carriers are self-insured for amounts well above that threshold. While these higher policy limits mean more money is theoretically available to compensate victims, they also mean the trucking company and its insurer will fight harder to deny or minimize the claim.

Liability in an 18-wheeler crash can extend well beyond the driver who caused the collision. The trucking company may be directly liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, failure to maintain the vehicle, or policies that encourage hours-of-service violations. The owner of the trailer, if different from the trucking company, may bear responsibility for maintenance failures. The freight broker who hired an unqualified carrier may share liability. The manufacturer of a defective truck component — brakes, tires, steering systems, coupling devices — may be liable under product liability theories. The company that loaded the cargo may be responsible if improper loading contributed to the crash. Identifying and pursuing all liable parties is essential to maximizing the victim’s recovery, and it requires an attorney who understands the trucking industry from the inside out.

Why Evidence Preservation Is Critical — and Urgent

One of the most time-sensitive aspects of any truck accident case is preserving the electronic and physical evidence that proves what happened and who was at fault. Federal regulations require trucking companies to retain certain records, but the required retention periods can be as short as six months for some categories of data, and electronic logging device records may be overwritten within days or weeks. Some companies have been known to “lose” or destroy unfavorable evidence when they know litigation is likely.

The attorneys at J.A. Davis & Associates send formal spoliation letters — legal demands to preserve all evidence — to the trucking company and every potentially liable party immediately upon being retained. In urgent situations, they may seek emergency court orders to prevent evidence destruction. They also arrange for independent inspections of the truck and trailer, download data from the vehicle’s event data recorder (the truck’s “black box”), and secure toxicology results from the driver. This aggressive, early approach to evidence preservation is one of the most important advantages of hiring a specialized truck accident lawyer immediately after a crash.

Protecting Yourself Around 18-Wheelers in San Antonio

While you cannot control how truck drivers and trucking companies operate, you can reduce your risk on San Antonio roads. Give 18-wheelers extra space, especially on Loop 410 and Loop 1604 where wide turns are frequent. Stay out of the truck’s blind spots — the “no-zones” that extend roughly 20 feet along each side, 20 feet in front, and 30 feet behind the trailer. Use a dashcam to document your drives, which can provide critical evidence if a crash does occur. And if you see a commercial truck driving erratically, weaving between lanes, or traveling at excessive speed, report it to TxDOT or local law enforcement.

If an 18-wheeler crash has already turned your life upside down, do not let the trucking company’s legal team and insurance adjusters control the outcome. J.A. Davis & Associates offers free consultations and handles all truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless the firm recovers compensation for you. Call 210-732-1062 today to speak with a truck accident lawyer who has the specialized knowledge and aggressive approach these cases demand. Do not let big rigs or bigger insurers roll over your rights.