San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in a San Antonio truck accident? These crashes are devastating, and the road to recovery can feel overwhelming when you’re dealing with medical bills, lost income, and painful injuries all at once. Trucking companies and their insurers have experienced legal teams working to protect them from the moment a crash occurs. You deserve someone fighting just as hard for you.
At The Patel Firm, our San Antonio truck accident lawyers know how to take on the big carriers and the insurance giants, and we’re here to help you pursue fair compensation. We’re available 24/7 and respond quickly to calls, messages, and emails.
Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you in a free, no-obligation consultation. There’s no fee unless we win your case.
How Our San Antonio Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help with Your Claim
At The Patel Firm, we know that the days and weeks following a serious truck accident are among the most difficult a person can face. That’s why our San Antonio attorneys take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle. That client-first philosophy has allowed us to build a reputation for results and to recover millions of dollars for injury victims throughout Texas.
Some of our past results for truck accident victims include:
- $1.6 million for an 18-wheeler collision
- $1.5 million for a commercial vehicle accident
- $1.3 million for a tractor-trailer crash
Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes, but they do reflect our commitment to providing diligent legal representation throughout the claims process. We keep our clients informed, remain available around the clock, and work to achieve the best possible recoveries, whether through settlement negotiations or at trial. You’ll never feel like just a case number when you work with us.
With hundreds of five-star reviews, clients praise The Patel Firm for our timely communication, professionalism, and caring attention. Here’s what Joseph R. had to say about his experience:
“This is a wonderful law firm that has treated me like family, and at times, better than my own family. Every time I had concerns, even frustrations, about how my case was progressing, they were always responsive to me and helped alleviate my worries by guiding me through the process, which can be arduous and confusing for some, including me.”
Why Truck Accidents in San Antonio Are Different
Truck accidents are not just bigger versions of car accidents. Truck accident cases are fundamentally different matters that require a very different legal approach.
Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When a crash occurs, even a smaller car with the best safety features will still struggle to protect its occupants from severe or catastrophic injuries.
In addition, truck accident cases involve a complex web of state and federal regulations that govern everything from driver hours to vehicle maintenance requirements. Furthermore, trucking companies and their insurers typically have experienced legal teams ready to respond the moment a crash occurs.
Finally, commercial trucks are also insured by large policies, which means injury payouts can be substantial, and the parties involved fight hard to minimize what they owe. The lawyers at The Patel Firm understand the unique demands of truck accident cases and can develop a strategy to build a persuasive claim based on your specific circumstances.
Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Bexar County
Whether a truck collision happens on I-35, Loop 410, or any other busy San Antonio corridor, there’s almost always some form of negligence at the root of it.
Some of the most common causes of San Antonio truck accidents include:
- Truck driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Impaired driving
- Failure to adjust to the conditions
- Improper cargo loading
- Unsecured loads
- Poor truck maintenance
- Defective truck parts or equipment
- Lack of driver training or qualification
- Negligent hiring
- Poor road maintenance
- Unsafe road design
Who Could Be Responsible for an 18-Wheeler Wreck?
Multiple parties could share responsibility for a truck crash. A thorough investigation is often necessary to identify everyone who contributed to the collision and hold them accountable.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The cargo loading company
- The truck’s owner (if different from the driver or trucking company)
- The truck or parts manufacturer
- A maintenance or repair company
- A third-party logistics company
- Another driver
- A government entity responsible for road maintenance
How Truck Accident Lawyers Investigate San Antonio Trucking Cases
A strong truck accident claim starts with a thorough investigation, and time is a critical factor. Evidence in these cases, including black box data, driver logs, and surveillance footage, can disappear quickly. Our attorneys move quickly to preserve that evidence and build the strongest possible case.
We work with accident reconstruction experts to determine causation and examine whether any federal safety violations occurred. We also review trucking company records and dig into maintenance logs and driver qualification files for relevant information. Every detail matters when you’re up against a well-funded trucking company and its insurer, and our legal team leaves nothing to chance.
What Compensation Could I Recover?
With a successful truck accident claim, you can recover money for both your personal and financial losses. The full value of your claim will depend on the specific facts of your situation. However, Texas law allows you to seek compensation for a wide range of losses, including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage costs
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death-related losses (for fatal truck accidents)
Types of Trucking Injuries We Handle
Our big rig accident lawyers in San Antonio have helped clients throughout Texas recover compensation for a wide range of truck accident injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Severe burns
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Facial and dental injuries
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological trauma
- Wrongful death
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I’m Partly at Fault?
Yes. Texas law allows you to recover compensation even if you bear some responsibility for a crash, as long as you are less than 51 percent at fault. However, your payout will be reduced in proportion to your assigned percentage of fault. For example, if a court decided you were 20 percent at fault, your maximum recovery would decrease by 20 percent.
Insurance companies are well aware of this rule, and they often use it aggressively to shift blame onto victims and minimize payouts. An experienced San Antonio truck accident lawyer can push back against those tactics to protect the full value of your claim.
Truck Accident FAQ
Truck accident cases raise many questions, and we want you to have the answers you need. Here are responses to some of the concerns we hear most often from our clients.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in San Antonio?
Texas law generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, courts will almost certainly bar your claim, regardless of how strong it might be.
Two years may sound like a long time, but it can go by faster than you might expect, especially when you factor in the time needed to investigate the crash and build a compelling case. Some circumstances can shorten the filing window further, so it’s always best to consult an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to learn the deadline for your case.
What if I can’t afford to hire a commercial vehicle wreck lawyer in San Antonio?
At The Patel Firm, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to getting quality legal help after a serious truck accident. That’s why we handle truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay us nothing upfront to get started on your case and never owe us anything out of pocket. If we recover compensation for you, our fees are deducted from that recovery at an agreed-upon percentage. If we don’t win, we don’t get paid.
What should I do immediately after a big rig accident?
If possible, start by documenting as much as you can while still at the accident scene. Photograph the vehicles involved, the road conditions, and any visible injuries. Collect contact information from the truck driver and any witnesses.
Next, get medical care right away, even if your injuries seem minor. Prompt treatment protects your health and creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the crash.
Save as much relevant documentation as possible. This includes medical bills from any crash-related treatments, vehicle repair estimates, and proof of any income you lose during your recovery.
Be careful about what you say to others about the crash. Don’t admit fault, don’t speculate about what happened, and don’t give any statements to insurance adjusters until you have legal representation. Never post about the accident or your injuries on social media.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney can handle all communications with the other side for you and protect your rights from start to finish.
Talk to a San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer Today
You don’t have to face the aftermath of a commercial truck accident alone. The San Antonio 18-wheeler accident attorneys at The Patel Firm are here to handle all the legal details while you focus on your recovery. Contact our semi-truck accident law firm today to get started with your free consultation.