San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer

After a trucking accident in San Antonio, trucking companies go to work building their case. 

While you're still in the hospital, their investigators are already at the crash scene. Their adjuster calls with practiced concern, wanting a recorded statement "to understand what happened." Every question is designed to build their defense strategy. They have teams of lawyers, investigators, and experts whose only job is protecting corporate assets.

Here's what they won't tell you: how federal trucking regulations could prove their driver violated safety laws, why that electronic logging data might disappear if not preserved immediately, or how much compensation Texas law actually allows for catastrophic injuries. 

As San Antonio truck accident lawyers, we've built our practice around taking on these corporate giants. We know their playbook because we've been dismantling it for years. 

Call us at (210) 941-1301 for a free consultation. Don't let them control the narrative.

Who Do You Want in Your Corner After an 80,000-Pound Collision?

When you are pitted against the legal might of a commercial trucking corporation, your choice of lawyer is one of the most consequential decisions you will make. At Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock, we focus on complex personal injury claims; a significant part of our practice is dedicated to the victims of 18-wheeler and commercial vehicle wrecks.

Our approach is built on direct, personalized attention, starting with a free case review to dissect the details of your accident. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. What does that mean? You pay us nothing unless we win your case.

Our San Antonio office, located at 6243 IH-10 West, Suite 801, San Antonio, TX 78201, easily accessible off the interstate. Founding Partner Michael R. Cowen is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This title signifies a lawyer who has been rigorously tested, vetted by judges and peers, and has proven experience in the courtroom. 

With a history of trying over 100 cases in court, our team’s comfort in the courtroom is a formidable asset, especially in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Our work has even prompted a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation that resulted in a nationwide tire recall.

What Could My San Antonio Truck Accident Claim Be Worth?

No lawyer can promise a specific dollar amount, but we can explain what Texas law allows us to fight for on your behalf. We will always pursue the maximum compensation available. 

Economic Damages: The Bill You Can See

These are the calculable, out-of-pocket financial losses that form the foundation of your claim.

• Medical Expenses: This is not just the ambulance ride and the emergency room bill. It's the hospitalizations, surgeries, prescriptions, rehabilitation, and the projected cost of any future medical care you will need for the rest of your life. 
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: The income you've already lost is only the beginning. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous career, we calculate the lifetime impact on your ability to earn a living. Your financial future has been damaged, and that has a price.
• Property Damage: This covers the obvious cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle. It also includes any other personal property obliterated in the crash, from laptops to child safety seats.

Non-Economic Damages: The Losses You Can't Itemize

Some losses don't come with a receipt, but they are just as real and devastating. Placing a value on this suffering is a central part of what we do.

• Pain and Suffering: This is a legal acknowledgment of the physical agony and emotional distress you have been forced to endure. It recognizes the chronic pain that disrupts your sleep or the simple fact that you can no longer pick up your child without wincing.
• Mental Anguish: This addresses the specific psychological trauma: the anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can follow a violent crash. The emotional wreckage can be as disabling as any physical injury.
• Physical Impairment: This provides compensation for the loss of your ability to perform everyday life activities. It acknowledges the struggle of walking, the inability to participate in hobbies, or the loss of function in a limb.
• Disfigurement: Scars, burns, or amputations leave permanent marks. This element of damages addresses the profound emotional and social consequences of a permanently altered appearance.

Punitive Damages: Punishment for Outrageous Conduct

This is different. Punitive damages (or exemplary damages in Texas) are not meant to compensate you, but to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from similar behavior.

When a trucking company or its driver acts with what Texas law defines as "gross negligence," we can pursue these damages. Gross negligence isn't mere carelessness; it's knowingly taking an extreme risk. 

Where Do Truck Accidents Occur in San Antonio?

The sheer volume of vehicles, a volatile mix of passenger cars and heavy trucks, turns these stretches of highway into high-risk zones.

• Interstate 10 (I-10): As a vital artery crossing the country, I-10 funnels an immense amount of truck traffic through San Antonio. Congestion, endless construction, and complex interchanges make it a frequent stage for disaster.
• Interstate 35 (I-35): This is the spine of the NAFTA corridor, a relentless river of steel moving goods north and south. The points where I-35 merges with Loop 410 or US 281 are notoriously dangerous, with trucks and cars weaving across lanes at disparate speeds.
• Loop 410 & Loop 1604: These loops are the city's circulatory system, but they are also burdened with heavy commercial traffic. High speeds and constant merging create a recipe for high-impact collisions.
• US Highway 281: In areas of rapid development, the interface between old highway and new construction creates a confusing and hazardous environment for all drivers.

The Anatomy of a San Antonio Truck Wreck

Beyond location, specific conditions amplify the risk.

• Congestion and Bottlenecks: Rush hour traffic creates seas of brake lights. A fully-loaded truck requires a much longer stopping distance than a car, making stop-and-go conditions ripe for devastating rear-end collisions.
• Construction Zones: These zones are chaotic at all times. Narrowed lanes, sudden shifts, and temporary barriers demand total focus. 
• Entry and Exit Ramps: Merging requires a delicate dance between drivers. When one of those dancers is an 80,000-pound truck, a misstep can be fatal.

Urban Dangers: Beyond the Interstate

Major city arteries like Culebra Road, Bandera Road, and Military Drive carry their own risks. These streets, lined with industrial parks and distribution centers, force large trucks into close quarters with smaller vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

What are the Types of Trucking Accidents in San Antonio? 

There are many types of truck accidents we frequently see:

• Jackknife Accidents: When a truck’s trailer swings out to a 90-degree angle from the cab, it sweeps across lanes like a scythe. This is often triggered by sudden braking or taking a curve too fast.
• Underride Accidents: Among the most lethal crashes, these happen when a car slides underneath the side or rear of a trailer. The car’s safety features are rendered useless, often leading to catastrophic head and upper body injuries.
• Rollover Accidents: With their high center of gravity, trucks are prone to rolling, crushing smaller vehicles and spilling hazardous cargo across the highway.
• Lost Load Accidents: Improperly secured cargo becomes high-speed debris, creating an instant and deadly obstacle course for other drivers. This is a clear sign of negligence.
• Tire Blowouts: A sudden tire failure can cause a driver to lose all control. A proper investigation often reveals a history of poor maintenance or defective parts.
• Rear-End Collisions: A distracted or fatigued truck driver who fails to account for the truck's immense stopping distance can obliterate a car in stopped or slowing traffic.

What are the Most Common Trucking Accident Injuries

Truck accidents don't just cause fender benders - they destroy lives. The force of an 80,000-pound truck hitting a regular car creates injuries so severe that victims and their families face years of medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing pain. 

Here are some of the most common truck accident injuries we see:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): From concussions with insidious, lingering effects to profound brain damage that erases personality and function.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can mean a life of paralysis—paraplegia or quadriplegia—and complete dependence on others for care.
• Internal Injuries: The blunt force trauma can rupture organs, cause massive internal bleeding, and lead to life-threatening complications that are not always immediately visible.
• Complex Fractures: Bones are not just broken; they are shattered, requiring multiple surgeries, metal plates and screws, and grueling rehabilitation.
• Amputations: The crushing force can destroy a limb, either in the crash itself or leading to the surgical necessity of amputation.
• Severe Burns: If fuel tanks rupture, a fire can inflict horrific burns, leading to disfigurement, excruciating pain, and a constant battle against infection.
• Wrongful Death: In the most tragic cases, the accident is fatal. We help families pursue wrongful death claims to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Key Legal Terms You Might Here After your San Antonio Truck Crash

The Insurance Company’s Playbook After a San Antonio Truck Wreck

Their primary function is not to ensure you are made whole or that your recovery is smooth. Their core objective is to protect their company’s financial interests by minimizing, delaying, or outright denying your claim. They have a well-rehearsed, systematic playbook designed to achieve this.

Tactic #1: The Recorded Statement Trap. Their Words, Your Peril.

They will push for your recorded version of events, often very soon after the accident. You're likely still shaken, possibly on pain medication, and definitely not thinking with the strategic clarity of a legal professional.

• Instead of: Giving a detailed, off-the-cuff statement.
• Try: "I'm currently focusing on my medical treatment and am not in a position to provide a detailed statement. My attorney will be in contact with you."

Tactic #2: The Lowball Offer – Quick Cash for Your Entire Future.

They might dangle what seems like a substantial sum of money as a quick settlement. This happens before the full extent of your injuries, the necessity for future medical treatments, or the long-term impact on your earning capacity is truly known. It might appear tempting, especially when medical bills are piling up and income is lost. It is almost never what your case is genuinely worth. They are buying your future for pennies on the dollar.

Remember This: Accepting an early settlement offer almost invariably means signing a release. This document legally forfeits your right to any future compensation related to the accident, even if your condition worsens or you discover you need another surgery months down the road. The case is closed.

The Trucking Company Has Their Legal Team, You Need Yours

Their accident response team mobilized while you were being loaded into an ambulance. It’s time to fight back. Call our San Antonio truck accident lawyers today.

At Cowen | Rodriguez | Peacock, we've been leveling this playing field for years. Call us at (210) 941-1301 today for a free consultation.