Fatal 18-Wheeler and Tractor-Trailer Crashes in Balcones Heights: What Families Need to Know

You’re reading this because someone you love didn’t come home from a drive through Balcones Heights or the surrounding San Antonio area. A fully loaded 18-wheeler traveling on I-10, I-35, or Loop 410 crossed into your family’s path, and in an instant, everything changed. The Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) recorded 48,522 crashes in Bexar County last year—one every 11 minutes—and 205 of them were fatal. When the commercial vehicle involved is an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer, the physics of the impact often leave little chance for survival.

We’ve represented families in Bexar County and across Texas in these cases since 1998. Ralph Manginello, our managing partner, has spent 27 years holding trucking companies accountable in courtrooms from the Bexar County Courthouse to the Southern District of Texas. Lupe Peña, our associate attorney, worked for years at a national insurance defense firm, learning firsthand how carriers value claims—and how they try to minimize them. We know the corridors where these crashes happen most often, the carriers that run them, and the federal safety rules those carriers are supposed to follow. Most importantly, we know what your family needs to do in the first 48 hours to protect your rights before evidence disappears.

The Reality of a Tractor-Trailer Crash in Balcones Heights

Balcones Heights sits at the intersection of I-10 and I-35, two of the busiest freight corridors in the United States. I-10 carries east-west traffic between El Paso, San Antonio, and Houston, while I-35 is the NAFTA superhighway connecting Laredo to Dallas-Fort Worth. Loop 410 circles San Antonio, moving commercial traffic to and from the Port of San Antonio, Kelly Field, and the city’s major distribution hubs. These roads are essential to Texas’s economy, but they’re also where the most catastrophic crashes occur.

In 2024, Bexar County saw 205 fatal crashes, and commercial vehicles were involved in a disproportionate number of them. The Texas Department of Transportation’s data shows that while trucks make up only 4% of registered vehicles in Texas, they’re involved in 11% of all fatal crashes. On I-10 between San Antonio and Seguin, for example, rear-end collisions involving tractor-trailers are a daily risk, particularly during morning and evening rush hours when commuter traffic mixes with freight. On I-35 north of Balcones Heights, jackknife crashes are common during sudden weather changes—like the flash floods that hit the Hill Country or the rare ice events that paralyze Texas highways.

When a crash happens, the carrier’s first call isn’t to your family. It’s to their rapid-response team, a group of adjusters, investigators, and lawyers trained to control the narrative. They’ll show up at the scene, take statements, and start building a case against you before you’ve even had time to process what happened. Their goal? To shift blame, minimize injuries, and settle for the lowest possible amount. We’ve seen it happen in cases across Texas, from the Permian Basin to the Houston Ship Channel. That’s why the first 48 hours are critical.

What Texas Law Gives Your Family After a Fatal Truck Crash

Texas law provides two distinct claims for families after a fatal crash: a wrongful death claim and a survival action. These are separate legal tracks, each with its own damages and its own two-year deadline under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.

Wrongful Death Claim (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.001 et seq.)

This claim belongs to the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased. Under § 71.004, each of these family members holds an independent claim for:

Pecuniary loss: The financial support the deceased would have provided (lost wages, benefits, inheritance).
Mental anguish: The emotional pain and suffering caused by the loss.
Loss of companionship and society: The intangible value of the relationship (parent-child, spouse-spouse).
Loss of inheritance: What the deceased would have saved and passed on if they had lived a full life.

For example, if your spouse was killed in a crash on I-10 near Balcones Heights, you have a claim for the income they would have earned, the emotional toll of their loss, and the companionship you’ve lost. If your parent was killed, you and your siblings each have a claim for the support and guidance they provided.

Survival Action (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.021)

This claim belongs to the estate of the deceased and covers the pain and suffering your loved one endured between the moment of injury and death. It includes:

Physical pain: The conscious suffering before death.
Mental anguish: The fear, anxiety, or distress experienced.
Medical expenses: The cost of emergency care, hospitalization, and any treatment before death.

In one case we handled, a client’s father was trapped in his vehicle for 20 minutes after a rear-end collision with a tractor-trailer on Loop 410. The survival action allowed the family to recover for his pain during those 20 minutes, even though he didn’t survive.

The Two-Year Clock Starts Now

Under § 16.003, you have exactly two years from the date of the fatal injury to file both the wrongful death claim and the survival action. The clock doesn’t stop for grief, for funeral arrangements, or for the carrier’s delay tactics. Once it runs out, your case is barred forever. We’ve seen families lose their rights because they waited too long, thinking they had more time. The carrier’s insurer is counting on that.

The Federal Regulations the Carrier Is Supposed to Follow

Commercial trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, set the standards for everything from driver qualifications to vehicle maintenance. When a carrier violates these rules, it’s not just negligence—it’s negligence per se under Texas law, meaning the violation itself is proof of fault.

Hours of Service (49 C.F.R. Part 395)

The FMCSR limits how long a commercial driver can be on duty. For property-carrying drivers (like those hauling freight for Walmart, Amazon, or Sysco), the rules are:

11-hour driving limit: After 10 consecutive hours off duty, a driver can drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour duty window.
30-minute break: Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
60/70-hour limit: Drivers can’t drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days.

These rules exist because fatigue is a leading cause of truck crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drowsy driving is a factor in 13% of all large-truck crashes. In one case we handled, a driver for a major carrier falsified his electronic logging device (ELD) to hide the fact that he’d been on duty for 28 hours straight. The crash happened at 3 a.m. on I-35 near New Braunfels, and the driver admitted in his deposition that he’d been awake since the previous morning. The carrier settled the case before trial, but not before we exposed their pattern of ignoring hours-of-service violations.

Driver Qualification (49 C.F.R. Part 391)

Before a carrier can put a driver behind the wheel, they must verify that the driver is qualified. This includes:

Commercial driver’s license (CDL): The driver must hold the appropriate class of CDL for the vehicle they’re operating.
Medical certification: The driver must pass a physical exam and obtain a medical examiner’s certificate.
Background check: The carrier must review the driver’s employment history, including any prior crashes or violations.
Drug and alcohol testing: Drivers must pass pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol tests.

In one case, we discovered that a carrier hired a driver with a suspended CDL and a history of DUI convictions. The driver caused a fatal crash on I-10 near Seguin, and the carrier’s negligent hiring became a key part of our case.

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection (49 C.F.R. Part 396)

Carriers are required to inspect, repair, and maintain their vehicles. This includes:

Pre-trip inspections: Drivers must inspect their vehicle before every trip, checking brakes, tires, lights, and other critical systems.
Periodic inspections: Vehicles must undergo a thorough inspection at least once a year.
Repairs: Any defects found during inspections must be repaired before the vehicle is put back in service.

In a case we handled in Bexar County, a brake failure caused a tractor-trailer to rear-end a family’s vehicle on Loop 410. Our investigation revealed that the carrier had ignored multiple maintenance reports warning of brake issues. The case settled for a confidential amount, but the carrier’s gross negligence in ignoring the warnings was a key factor.

Cargo Securement (49 C.F.R. Part 393, Subpart I)

Improperly secured cargo is a leading cause of truck crashes. The FMCSR sets strict rules for how cargo must be loaded and secured, including:

Weight limits: Cargo must be distributed to prevent overloading.
Tie-downs: Cargo must be secured with enough tie-downs to prevent shifting or falling.
Special rules for hazardous materials: Additional requirements apply to tankers carrying fuel, chemicals, or other hazardous materials.

In one case, a flatbed hauling steel coils lost its load on I-35 near San Marcos, causing a multi-vehicle pileup. Our investigation showed that the carrier had used insufficient tie-downs, and the crash was entirely preventable.

The Investigation We Begin Within 48 Hours

The carrier’s rapid-response team starts working the moment a crash happens. Their goal is to control the evidence, shift blame, and minimize their liability. Our goal is to preserve the evidence before it disappears and build a case that holds them accountable.

Step 1: Send the Preservation Letter

Within hours of taking your case, we send a preservation letter to the carrier, the broker, the shipper, and any third-party telematics providers. The letter demands that they preserve all evidence related to the crash, including:

Electronic logging device (ELD) data: The ELD records the driver’s hours of service, including driving time, on-duty time, and off-duty time.
Electronic control module (ECM) data: The ECM, or “black box,” records data like speed, braking, and engine performance in the moments before the crash.
Dashcam footage: Many commercial vehicles are equipped with forward-facing and driver-facing cameras.
Dispatch records: These show the driver’s route, schedule, and any communications with the carrier.
Maintenance records: These show whether the vehicle was properly inspected and repaired.
Driver qualification file: This includes the driver’s CDL, medical certificate, employment history, and drug/alcohol test results.
Post-accident drug and alcohol test results: Under 49 C.F.R. § 382.303, carriers must test drivers for drugs and alcohol after a fatal crash.

In one case, a carrier claimed that the ELD data was “lost” after a crash on I-10. We filed a spoliation motion, arguing that the carrier had intentionally destroyed evidence. The judge agreed and instructed the jury to assume the missing data would have been unfavorable to the carrier. The case settled shortly after.

Step 2: Pull the Carrier’s Safety Records

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains a Safety Measurement System (SMS) that tracks carriers’ compliance with federal regulations. The SMS scores carriers in seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs):

Unsafe Driving: Speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes.
Hours-of-Service Compliance: Violations of the hours-of-service rules.
Driver Fitness: Unqualified drivers, improper licensing.
Controlled Substances/Alcohol: Drug and alcohol violations.
Vehicle Maintenance: Unsafe vehicles, improper inspections.
Hazardous Materials Compliance: Violations of hazmat regulations.
Crash Indicator: History of preventable crashes.

We pull the carrier’s SMS profile to see if they have a pattern of violations in any of these areas. In one case, we discovered that a carrier had a 98% violation rate in the Hours-of-Service BASIC, meaning nearly every inspection found a violation. This pattern of negligence became a key part of our case.

Step 3: Subpoena the Evidence

If the carrier refuses to turn over evidence voluntarily, we subpoena it. This includes:

ELD and ECM data downloads: We hire experts to analyze the data and determine whether the driver was speeding, fatigued, or otherwise negligent.
Driver logs: Even if the ELD data is missing, drivers are required to keep paper logs as a backup.
Cell phone records: We subpoena the driver’s phone records to see if they were texting or using their phone at the time of the crash.
Surveillance footage: We obtain footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and toll road systems (like TxTag) to reconstruct the crash.

In a case we handled in Bexar County, toll road records showed that the driver had been speeding for miles before the crash. The carrier’s insurer initially denied the claim, but after we presented the toll road data, they settled for a confidential amount.

Step 4: Hire Experts

We work with a team of experts to build your case, including:

Accident reconstructionists: These experts analyze the physical evidence (skid marks, vehicle damage, road conditions) to determine how the crash happened.
Medical experts: These experts review your loved one’s medical records to determine the cause of death and the extent of their pain and suffering.
Economic experts: These experts calculate the financial impact of the loss, including lost wages, benefits, and future earning capacity.
Life-care planners: For catastrophic injury cases, these experts develop a plan for the victim’s future medical and care needs.

In one case, our accident reconstructionist determined that a driver had been traveling at 75 mph in a 60 mph zone on I-35. The carrier’s insurer argued that the crash was unavoidable, but our expert’s testimony proved otherwise.

The Defendants Beyond the Driver

In a tractor-trailer crash, the driver is rarely the only defendant. The carrier, the broker, the shipper, and even the manufacturer of the truck or its parts may share liability. We pursue every responsible party to maximize your recovery.

The Motor Carrier

The carrier is liable for the driver’s negligence under the doctrine of respondeat superior (Latin for “let the master answer”). This means that if the driver was acting within the course and scope of their employment at the time of the crash, the carrier is responsible.

But we don’t stop there. We also pursue the carrier for direct negligence, including:

Negligent hiring: Hiring a driver with a history of crashes, DUI convictions, or other red flags.
Negligent training: Failing to properly train the driver on federal regulations, defensive driving, or other critical skills.
Negligent supervision: Failing to monitor the driver’s compliance with hours-of-service rules, drug/alcohol testing, or other safety requirements.
Negligent retention: Keeping a driver on the road after they’ve been involved in preventable crashes or committed violations.

In one case, we discovered that a carrier had hired a driver with multiple prior DUI convictions. The driver caused a fatal crash on I-10, and the carrier’s negligent hiring became a key part of our case.

The Freight Broker

Brokers arrange loads for carriers, but they have a duty to vet the carriers they hire. Under cases like Miller v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (9th Cir. 2020), brokers can be held liable for negligent selection if they hire a carrier with a poor safety record.

In one case, we sued a broker that had hired a carrier with a history of hours-of-service violations. The broker argued that they weren’t responsible for the carrier’s actions, but the court ruled that they had a duty to vet the carrier’s safety record.

The Shipper

Shippers are responsible for how cargo is loaded and secured. If a shipper directs an unsafe loading sequence or fails to properly secure cargo, they can be held liable for any resulting crashes.

In a case we handled, a shipper loaded a flatbed with steel coils in a way that made the vehicle unstable. The coils shifted during transit, causing the truck to jackknife on I-35. We sued the shipper for negligent loading, and the case settled for a confidential amount.

The Manufacturer

If a defect in the truck or its parts caused the crash, the manufacturer can be held liable under product liability law. This includes defects in:

Brakes: Brake failure is a leading cause of truck crashes.
Tires: Tire blowouts can cause a driver to lose control.
Steering systems: Defective steering can make it impossible to avoid a crash.
Underride guards: These are designed to prevent cars from sliding under the trailer in a rear-end collision.

In one case, a defective brake system caused a tractor-trailer to rear-end a family’s vehicle on Loop 410. We sued the manufacturer for product liability, and the case settled for a confidential amount.

Government Entities (Texas Tort Claims Act)

If a government vehicle (like a TxDOT truck or a city garbage truck) was involved in the crash, or if poor road design or maintenance contributed to the crash, the government entity may share liability. The Texas Tort Claims Act (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 101) allows lawsuits against government entities, but there are strict rules:

Notice requirement: You must file a notice of claim within six months of the crash.
Damages cap: The government’s liability is capped at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for municipalities, or $500,000 per person and $1 million per occurrence for state agencies.

In one case, a poorly maintained guardrail on I-35 failed to stop a tractor-trailer from leaving the roadway. We sued TxDOT under the Texas Tort Claims Act, and the case settled for the maximum allowed under the damages cap.

How Texas Pattern Jury Charges Submit Damages to a Bexar County Jury

If your case goes to trial, the jury won’t decide the case based on emotion or sympathy. They’ll answer specific questions submitted under the Texas Pattern Jury Charges (PJC). These questions determine liability and damages, and they’re based on Texas law and the evidence we present.

PJC 27.1: General Negligence

This question asks whether the defendant was negligent and whether that negligence was a proximate cause of the crash. For example:

“Was the defendant negligent in failing to maintain a proper lookout, and was that failure a proximate cause of the crash?”

If the jury answers “yes,” they move on to damages.

PJC 27.2: Negligence Per Se

If the carrier violated a federal regulation (like the hours-of-service rules or the vehicle maintenance requirements), the jury can find negligence per se. This means the violation itself is proof of negligence. For example:

“Did the defendant violate 49 C.F.R. § 395.3 by allowing the driver to exceed the 11-hour driving limit, and was that violation a proximate cause of the crash?”

PJC 5.1: Gross Negligence

If the carrier’s conduct was particularly reckless, the jury can find gross negligence. This is the standard for awarding exemplary (punitive) damages under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41. For example:

“Did the defendant act with gross negligence by knowingly allowing the driver to operate the vehicle while fatigued, and was that gross negligence a proximate cause of the crash?”

Damages Questions

The jury will answer separate questions for each category of damages, including:

Past medical expenses: The cost of medical care from the crash to the trial.
Future medical expenses: The cost of future medical care, calculated by a life-care planner.
Past physical pain and mental anguish: The pain and suffering your loved one endured before death.
Future physical pain and mental anguish: For survival actions, the pain and suffering your loved one would have endured if they had survived.
Physical impairment: The loss of enjoyment of life caused by the injuries.
Disfigurement: The physical scars or other visible effects of the injuries.
Loss of earning capacity: The income your loved one would have earned if they had survived.
Exemplary damages: If the jury finds gross negligence, they can award exemplary damages to punish the carrier and deter future misconduct.

In one case, a Bexar County jury awarded $5 million in damages for a family whose loved one was killed in a crash caused by a fatigued driver. The carrier had falsified the driver’s logs, and the jury found gross negligence, awarding an additional $2 million in exemplary damages.

The Defense Playbook in Balcones Heights Trucking Cases—and Our Answer

The carrier’s defense lawyers have a script, and they’ve used it in courtrooms across Texas. We’ve seen it before, and we know how to counter it.

Tactic 1: Quick Lowball Settlement

What they do: The adjuster calls within days of the crash and offers a small settlement, hoping you’ll accept before you realize the full extent of your damages.

Our answer: First offers are always a fraction of what your case is worth. We never advise a client to sign a release in the first 96 hours. We calculate the full value of your damages—including future medical needs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering—before we respond.

Tactic 2: Recorded Statement Trap

What they do: The adjuster asks for a “quick recorded statement for our files.” The questions are designed to make you minimize your injuries or admit fault.

Our answer: That statement will be used against you later. Never give a recorded statement without your attorney present. We handle all communications with the carrier so you don’t have to.

Tactic 3: Comparative Negligence

What they do: They argue that you were partially at fault—maybe you were speeding, or you didn’t wear a seatbelt, or you changed lanes suddenly.

Our answer: Texas follows modified comparative negligence under Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Even if you were 50% at fault, you can still recover. We anticipate this attack and develop evidence that pushes fault back where it belongs—on the carrier.

Tactic 4: Pre-Existing Condition

What they do: They argue that your loved one’s injuries existed before the crash, so the carrier isn’t responsible.

Our answer: The eggshell skull doctrine says the defendant takes the plaintiff as they find them. If a pre-existing condition was worsened by the crash, the carrier is liable for the aggravation. We work with medical experts to prove the difference between pre-existing conditions and crash-related injuries.

Tactic 5: Delayed Treatment Defense

What they do: They argue that if you didn’t see a doctor right away, your injuries must not be serious.

Our answer: Adrenaline masks pain. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms can take days or weeks to appear. Delayed treatment doesn’t mean no injury—and we have the medical evidence to prove it.

Tactic 6: Spoliation (Evidence Destruction)

What they do: They “lose” ELD data, dashcam footage, or maintenance records before we can get them.

Our answer: We send preservation letters within 24 hours of taking your case. Every black box record, every ELD log, every maintenance file—we lock it down before they can “accidentally” delete it. If they destroy evidence, we file a spoliation motion and ask the judge to instruct the jury to assume the missing evidence would have been unfavorable to the carrier.

Tactic 7: IME Doctor Selection

What they do: They send you to an “independent” medical examiner (IME) who finds that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim.

Our answer: Lupe Peña hired these doctors when he worked for insurance defense firms. He knows the panel. We counter with the opinions of your treating physicians and independent experts the carrier can’t impeach.

Tactic 8: Surveillance

What they do: Investigators follow you and photograph you doing anything that looks “normal.”

Our answer: Lupe’s insider quote: “Insurance companies take innocent activity out of context. They freeze one frame and ignore ten minutes of struggling before and after.” We expose this in deposition and show the jury the full context.

Tactic 9: Delay Tactics

What they do: They drag the case out, hoping you’ll run out of money and accept a low settlement.

Our answer: We file the lawsuit early to force discovery. We set depositions. We make the carrier carry the cost of delay. If they want to play the waiting game, we’re ready.

Tactic 10: Drowning You in Paperwork

What they do: They bury you in massive discovery requests designed to overwhelm you.

Our answer: We staff the case appropriately and use motion practice to limit overbroad discovery while preserving every record we need.

The Two-Year Clock Under § 16.003

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 gives you two years from the date of the fatal injury to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The clock starts the day of the crash—not the day of the funeral, not the day of the autopsy report, not the day the carrier’s insurer stops returning your calls. Once it runs out, your case is barred forever.

We’ve seen families lose their rights because they waited too long, thinking they had more time. The carrier’s insurer is counting on that. They know the statute of limitations, and they’re hoping you don’t.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

If you miss the two-year deadline, the carrier’s insurer will file a motion to dismiss your case. The judge will have no choice but to grant it. Even if the carrier was clearly at fault, even if your loved one’s death was devastating, the law is the law. The case will be over, and the carrier will walk away.

Exceptions to the Two-Year Rule

There are a few narrow exceptions, but they’re rare:

Discovery Rule: If you couldn’t have discovered the injury or its cause until after the two-year period, the clock may start later. This is most common in medical malpractice cases, not truck crashes.
Defendant’s Absence: If the defendant leaves Texas, the clock may be tolled (paused) until they return.
Mental Incapacity: If the plaintiff is mentally incapacitated, the clock may be tolled until the incapacity ends.
Fraudulent Concealment: If the defendant actively hid evidence, the clock may be tolled.

These exceptions are fact-specific and difficult to prove. The safest course is to assume the two-year clock applies and act accordingly.

What You Can Do Now

The first step is to call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free case evaluation. In 15 minutes, we can tell you:

Whether you have a valid wrongful death claim.
Who the liable parties are (driver, carrier, broker, shipper, manufacturer, government entity).
What evidence we need to preserve.
What your case may be worth.

There’s no obligation, and we never charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you. You may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses, but we’ll explain all of that upfront.

How Attorney 911 Approaches Your Balcones Heights Case

We don’t just handle trucking cases—we specialize in them. Ralph Manginello has been representing truck crash victims since 1998, and Lupe Peña’s background in insurance defense gives us an insider’s view of how carriers value claims. We know the tactics they use, and we know how to counter them.

Step 1: Preserve the Evidence

Within 24 hours of taking your case, we send preservation letters to the carrier, the broker, the shipper, and any third-party telematics providers. We demand that they preserve:

ELD and ECM data: The electronic logs and black box records that show the driver’s hours of service and the vehicle’s speed and braking.
Dashcam footage: Forward-facing and driver-facing cameras.
Dispatch records: The driver’s route, schedule, and communications with the carrier.
Maintenance records: Proof that the vehicle was properly inspected and repaired.
Driver qualification file: The driver’s CDL, medical certificate, employment history, and drug/alcohol test results.
Post-accident drug and alcohol test results: Required under federal law after a fatal crash.

We also pull the carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile to see if they have a pattern of violations.

Step 2: Investigate the Crash

We work with accident reconstructionists to determine how the crash happened. They analyze:

Skid marks: To estimate the vehicles’ speeds.
Vehicle damage: To determine the point of impact and the force of the collision.
Road conditions: To see if weather, construction, or poor road design contributed to the crash.
Witness statements: To corroborate the physical evidence.

We also subpoena cell phone records, toll road data, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses.

Step 3: Identify All Liable Parties

We don’t just sue the driver. We sue everyone whose negligence contributed to the crash, including:

The motor carrier: For negligent hiring, training, supervision, or retention.
The freight broker: For negligent selection of an unsafe carrier.
The shipper: For negligent loading or unsafe cargo securement.
The manufacturer: For defective brakes, tires, or other parts.
Government entities: For poor road design or maintenance (under the Texas Tort Claims Act).

Step 4: Calculate Your Damages

We work with medical experts, economic experts, and life-care planners to calculate the full value of your claim, including:

Medical expenses: Past and future.
Lost earning capacity: The income your loved one would have earned if they had survived.
Pain and suffering: The physical and emotional toll of the crash.
Loss of companionship and society: The value of the relationship you’ve lost.
Exemplary damages: If the carrier’s conduct was grossly negligent, we pursue punitive damages to punish them and deter future misconduct.

Step 5: Negotiate or Litigate

Most cases settle out of court, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. We:

File the lawsuit: Before the two-year statute of limitations expires.
Conduct discovery: We depose the driver, the safety director, and other key witnesses. We request documents and inspect the vehicle.
Mediate: We work with a neutral mediator to try to reach a fair settlement.
Go to trial: If the carrier refuses to offer a fair settlement, we take the case to a Bexar County jury.

Our Track Record

We’ve recovered millions of dollars for families in Texas truck crash cases, including:

$5+ million for a client who suffered a brain injury with vision loss when a log dropped on him at a logging company.
$3.8+ million for a client whose leg was injured in a car accident, leading to a partial amputation due to staff infections during treatment.
$2+ million for a client who injured his back while lifting cargo on a ship (maritime Jones Act case).
Multi-million dollar settlements for families in trucking-related wrongful death cases.

Every case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. But we fight aggressively for every client, and we’re not afraid to take on the biggest trucking companies in the country.

What This Means for Your Family

If your loved one was killed in a crash with a tractor-trailer in Balcones Heights or the surrounding San Antonio area, you have legal rights. Texas law gives you two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit, but the clock is ticking. The carrier’s insurer is already working to minimize your claim, and evidence is disappearing every day.

We can help. We’ve been doing this for 27 years, and we know how to hold trucking companies accountable. We’ll preserve the evidence, identify all liable parties, and fight for the full compensation your family deserves.

Next Steps

Call us at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free case evaluation. We’re available 24/7.
Don’t talk to the carrier’s insurer without your attorney present.
Don’t sign anything—not a release, not a settlement offer, not a recorded statement.
Focus on your family. We’ll handle the legal fight.

Hablamos Español

Si su familia perdió a un ser querido en un accidente con un camión de carga en Balcones Heights o San Antonio, el reloj legal ya está corriendo. La ley de Texas otorga dos años desde la fecha de la lesión fatal para presentar una demanda por homicidio culposo. Atendemos a las familias en español, desde la primera llamada hasta la última audiencia en el tribunal del condado donde se presente el caso. Lo que el transportista quiere es que usted espere.

This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Contact Attorney 911 for a free consultation about your specific situation.