San Antonio 18-Wheeler & Truck Accident Lawyers

San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers / San Antonio 18-Wheeler & Truck Accident lawyers

If an 18-wheeler hit you in San Antonio, you can file a claim against the driver, the trucking company, and any other party whose negligence caused the crash. Most claims must be filed within two years. The evidence that proves fault, like driver logs and engine data, can be deleted much sooner. A San Antonio truck accident lawyer can preserve that evidence and identify every party that should pay.

In 2024, Bexar County had 2,684 crashes involving commercial vehicles. Those crashes killed 18 people and seriously injured 46, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

Heavy freight traffic on I-35, I-10, I-37, Loop 410, and Loop 1604 means San Antonio drivers share the road with 18-wheelers on almost every commute.

Truck claims work differently from car accident cases. A Texas driver needs only 30/60/25 liability coverage. A for-hire interstate carrier hauling general freight must carry at least $750,000. That larger policy means more money may be available for your medical bills and lost income, if your lawyer proves the driver or trucking company caused the crash.

Hurt in a San Antonio truck crash? Call 1-800-505-1414 or request a free case review.

San Antonio Truck Accident Claims at a Glance

Deadline to file: Usually two years from the crash, or from the date of death in a wrongful death claim. Claims involving a government vehicle or road need written notice within six months, sometimes sooner.
Who can be liable: The driver, the trucking company, cargo loaders and shippers, maintenance shops, and truck or parts manufacturers.
Insurance available: At least $750,000 for a for-hire interstate carrier hauling general freight, compared with $30,000 per person for a typical Texas driver.
Key evidence: ELD logs, engine data, dashcam footage, and inspection and dispatch records. Carriers only have to keep some driver duty records for six months.
If you were partly at fault: You can still recover if you were 50% or less responsible. Your award is reduced by your share.
What it costs: A free case review, and no fee unless we win.
Local office: 7330 San Pedro Ave, Suite 700, San Antonio. English and Spanish.

How Our San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help

Jim Adler & Associates takes the legal work off your plate from the moment you call. Our attorneys investigate the crash, deal with the insurers, and handle every court filing while you focus on recovering.

Sending a Preservation (Spoliation) Letter

Federal rules (49 CFR 395.8) require carriers to keep a driver’s duty logs and supporting documents for only six months. After that, the company can legally destroy them, which makes it much harder to prove the driver was fatigued.

To stop that, we send a preservation letter warning the company that destroying logs, dashcam footage, or engine data can be held against it in court. Keeping that evidence intact is the foundation of a strong case.

Investigating the Trucking Company

We pull the carrier’s federal safety record, prior crashes, driver hiring files, and every insurance policy that may apply. These records can show a pattern of safety violations or careless hiring, which can make the company liable alongside its driver.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a San Antonio Truck Accident?

Responsibility for a truck crash often extends beyond the person behind the wheel.

The truck driver, if they were speeding, distracted, fatigued, or impaired.
The motor carrier, which is responsible for its driver’s mistakes on the job and can also be at fault for schedules that push drivers past legal limits.
Cargo loaders and shippers, when overloaded or unsecured freight contributes to the crash.
Truck or parts manufacturers, through a product liability claim, if a defective brake, tire, or trailer coupling causes the crash.
Other parties, such as another driver whose carelessness set off the crash, or a government entity that neglected a dangerous road. In some cases, a freight broker that hired an unsafe carrier may also share responsibility.

Naming every responsible party matters, because each one usually carries its own insurance policy.

Evidence That Can Prove a Truck Accident Claim

Strong evidence shows who caused the crash and what your case is worth. The trucking company controls much of it, so your lawyer has to demand it quickly.

Electronic logging device (ELD) records show how long the driver had been on duty and behind the wheel.
The truck’s engine control module (black box) records speed and braking in the seconds before impact.
Driver files, inspection reports, and dispatch records can show whether the company ignored safety rules.
Evidence from outside the company matters too: dashcam or traffic camera video, phone records, witness statements, and crash reconstruction.
Your medical records connect the crash to your injuries and show the full extent of the harm.

Federal Trucking Rules That Apply to Your Case

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets safety rules every commercial truck in San Antonio must follow. A violation can be strong evidence of fault. Our Texas 18-wheeler accident lawyers page covers how these rules apply to claims statewide.

Hours of service (49 CFR 395.3): A property-carrying driver can drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They can’t drive after the 14th hour since coming on duty. They need a 30-minute break after 8 total hours of driving. Their weekly on-duty limit is 60 or 70 hours in 7 or 8 days.
Driver qualifications: Each driver must hold a valid commercial driver’s license and a current medical certificate.
Inspections and maintenance (49 CFR Part 396): Carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain their trucks.
Cargo securement: Freight must be secured so it can’t shift or fall.

Texas Laws That Shape a Truck Accident Claim

Federal rules govern how trucks operate. Texas law decides who pays and how the case is tried.

Partial fault: You can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the crash. Your award is reduced by your share of fault. Learn more about comparative fault in Texas.
Commercial vehicle trials: A 2021 Texas law (House Bill 19) lets a trucking company ask the court to split the trial into phases, so the jury decides fault and damages before it hears certain evidence about the company’s conduct. A lawyer who knows these rules builds the case around them from the start.

Common Causes of San Antonio Truck Accidents

Truck crashes in San Antonio usually trace back to a handful of causes:

Driver fatigue on long hauls
Speeding and following too closely
Unsafe lane changes at busy interchanges on I-35, I-10, and Loop 410
Distraction from phones or dispatch devices
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Overloaded or poorly secured cargo
Tire blowouts, brake failures, and skipped maintenance
Inadequate driver training

Common Injuries in San Antonio 18-Wheeler Crashes

Because of a truck’s size and weight, 18-wheeler crashes often cause severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, burns, broken bones, internal organ damage, and amputations.

Many of these injuries need ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, or lifelong support. Your lawyer has to prove what your recovery will really cost, not just the bills you’ve received so far.

When a truck crash takes a life, Texas law allows the spouse, children, or parents to file a wrongful death claim for the income, guidance, and emotional support they lost.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Depending on your case, you may be able to recover:

Medical bills and future care, including surgery and rehabilitation
Lost wages and lost earning capacity
Pain and suffering and mental anguish
Physical impairment and disfigurement
Vehicle repair or replacement
Lost support and companionship through a wrongful death claim, if you lost a loved one

What Is the Average Settlement for an 18-Wheeler Accident?

There’s no reliable average, because truck claims range from modest settlements to multimillion-dollar verdicts. What your claim is worth depends on:

How severe and permanent your injuries are
Your medical costs and future treatment needs
Whether you can return to work or earn the same income
How strong the evidence is
How many parties share responsibility
How much insurance coverage is available
Whether the case goes to trial

Our team can estimate a realistic range once we have your records.

Want to know what your truck accident claim is worth? Call 1-800-505-1414 or get a free case review.

What To Do After a Semi-Truck Accident in San Antonio

Get medical care, even if nothing hurts. Internal bleeding and brain injuries can take hours to show symptoms.
Call 911 so San Antonio police or the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office documents the crash in a report.
Photograph the truck’s identifying numbers: the USDOT number on the cab door, the trailer number, and the company name. The carrier may be a different company than the one painted on the trailer.
Note any hazard placards. They show whether the truck carried hazardous materials, which come with stricter federal rules and higher insurance minimums.
Watch for a trucking company response team. Carriers often send investigators or adjusters to the scene or the hospital within hours. You can decline their questions and paperwork.
Leave your vehicle as it is. Its own data recorder and damage patterns can be strong evidence.
Request your CR-3 crash report through TxDOT’s online system once it’s available, usually within about 10 days.
Call a San Antonio truck accident lawyer quickly, so they can send a preservation letter before ELD and dashcam data is overwritten.

For a fuller checklist, read what to do after a truck accident in Texas.

Truck Accidents in San Antonio and Bexar County

San Antonio sits on one of the busiest freight routes in the country. I-35 carries truck traffic north from the Laredo border crossing toward Austin and Dallas, and I-10 runs east to Houston and west to El Paso. Loop 410, Loop 1604, I-37, and US-281 carry that traffic around and through the city.

Seriously injured crash victims are often taken to University Hospital or Brooke Army Medical Center, the area’s Level I trauma centers. Truck injury lawsuits arising here are typically filed in Bexar County courts.

Our San Antonio office at 7330 San Pedro Ave, Suite 700, handles truck cases across the city and surrounding counties. You can work with our team in English or Spanish.

Why Choose Jim Adler for a San Antonio Truck Accident Case?

There’s a reason Texans call Jim Adler The Texas Hammer®. For more than 30 years, he and his team have taken on trucking companies and their insurers, recovering more than $1 billion for injured clients.

Some of our truck accident results include:

$26 million for the families of two young women killed when a hydroplaning tractor-trailer crossed into oncoming traffic
$16 million for the family of a college student killed when an 18-wheeler crossed multiple lanes at high speed and struck her car on an interstate shoulder

Every case is different, and past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome in yours.

Our fee comes only from what we recover for you. If we don’t win, you don’t pay a fee.

Talk to a San Antonio truck accident lawyer today. Call 1-800-505-1414 or request a free case review.

San Antonio Truck Accident FAQs

How long do I have to sue after a truck accident in Texas?

In most cases, Texas gives you two years from the crash to file a lawsuit. If a loved one died, the two years generally start on the date of death. Claims involving a city, county, or state vehicle or road require written notice within six months, and some cities require notice sooner. Read our guide to the Texas statute of limitations.

Should I talk to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster?

It’s better to let your lawyer handle those conversations. Adjusters work for the trucking company, and what you say can be used to reduce your claim.

What if I was partly at fault for the crash?

You can still recover compensation if you were 50% or less at fault, but your award is reduced by your share. Learn more about how fault works in Texas.

What if I was on the job when the truck hit me?

If your employer carries workers’ compensation, it may cover part of your medical bills and lost wages. You may also be able to file a separate claim against the trucking company for pain and suffering, which workers’ comp doesn’t pay. If your employer doesn’t carry workers’ comp, you may be able to sue your employer directly. Our work injury attorneys can walk you through your options.

You pay no fee unless we win. Call Jim Adler & Associates at 1-800-505-1414 or request a free case review.