City of Schertz Truck Accident & Commercial Vehicle Injury Guide

The impact of an 80,000-pound steel machine slamming into your family sedan on I-35 near Schertz isn’t just a traffic accident. It’s a life-altering trauma. In an instant, you’re forced into a fight you never asked for—a fight against a multi-billion dollar trucking company, their army of corporate lawyers, and an insurance adjuster whose only job is to make sure you get paid as little as possible.

You’re likely sitting in a hospital room at a local trauma center or resting at your home in Schertz, wondering how you’ll pay your medical bills and when you’ll be able to work again. The truth is, the trucking company started building its defense before the ambulance even cleared the scene on FM 3009. To protect your future, you need a fighter who knows their playbook.

At Attorney911, led by Ralph Manginello, we’ve spent over 25 years taking on the largest corporations on the planet and winning. We aren’t just personal injury lawyers; we are truck accident specialists. Our team includes a former insurance defense attorney, Lupe Peña, who spent years working inside the system for national insurance firms. He knows exactly how they value claims and precisely which tactics they use to lowball victims in Schertz. We use that insider knowledge to fight for “every dime” our clients deserve, as client Glenda Walker recently shared.

If you’ve been hit by an 18-wheeler, a delivery van, or a corporate fleet vehicle, don’t wait for evidence to disappear. Call us 24/7 at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation.

Why 48 Hours Defines Your Case in Schertz

The clock started ticking the moment that truck hit you. Your case in Schertz depends on evidence that is incredibly fragile. Most people don’t realize that the “black box” data in a semi-truck—the Engine Control Module (ECM)—can be overwritten in as little as 30 days or even sooner if the truck remains in service. Once that data is gone, proving the driver was speeding or failed to brake becomes ten times harder.

Trucking companies in the Schertz area, especially those operating near the massive distribution hubs along I-35, have rapid-response teams. They dispatch investigators to the scene within hours to secure evidence that favors them and “overlook” evidence that favors you.

When you hire Attorney911, we move just as fast. Since 1998, Ralph Manginello has perfected an immediate preservation protocol. Within 24 to 48 hours, we send formal spoliation letters to the trucking company, their insurer, and the cargo owners. This legal notice demands they preserve:

• ECM/Black Box Data: Proving speed, braking, and throttle positions.
• ELD Logs: Proving hours-of-service violations and driver fatigue.
• Dashcam Footage: Providing an unbiased look at the moments before impact.
• Maintenance Records: Exposing worn brakes or thin tires that should have been replaced at a shop in Guadalupe County long before the crash.

Every hour you wait is an hour the trucking company uses to build a wall between you and the compensation you need. Call 888-ATTY-911 now so we can start tearing that wall down.

We Take on the Corporate Giants in Schertz: Walmart, Amazon, and Beyond

Schertz is a primary logistics artery for some of the biggest companies in the world. Between the Amazon fulfillment centers and the heavy flow of Walmart and H-E-B trucks moving through the I-35 and I-10 corridors, you are sharing the road with corporate giants every day.

When a Walmart truck or an Amazon delivery van causes an accident in Schertz, the legal battle is different. These companies are often self-insured for their first several million dollars of liability. This means when they pay you, the money comes directly off their bottom line. They fight hard because they have deep pockets and even deeper legal resources.

The Amazon “Independent Contractor” Trap

If an Amazon van hit you, Amazon will likely point to the fine print and claim the driver wasn’t their employee. They use a system of “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs) to try and shield themselves from liability. We’ve litigated this exact issue. We know how to pierce that shield by showing that Amazon still controls the routes, the delivery quotas, and uses AI cameras like Netradyne to monitor every second of that driver’s behavior. If they control the driver, they should be responsible for the damage that driver causes in our community.

Walmart’s Rapid-Response Defense

Walmart operates over 12,000 trucks, one of the largest private fleets in America. Their defense team is sophisticated. They have their own internal risk management department that is often more aggressive than a standard insurance company. With Ralph Manginello’s 25+ years of experience and Lupe Peña’s background in insurance defense, we know the Walmart playbook. We know they use the Smith System for training, and we know exactly how to prove when their drivers violate those safety protocols.

Whether it’s a FedEx Ground contractor, a UPS union driver, or a Sysco food distribution truck heading to a local restaurant, we have the federal court admission and the proven track record to hold them accountable. We’ve gone toe-to-toe with Fortune 500 corporations like BP and recovered multi-million dollar settlements for families just like yours.

18-Wheeler Accident Types and Physics of Destruction

A fully loaded 18-wheeler passing through Schertz weighs up to 80,000 pounds. Your car weights about 4,000. That’s a 20-to-1 weight mismatch. The physics are simple: when those two vehicles collide, the force is devastating, and the occupants of the smaller vehicle pay the price.

Jackknife Accidents on I-35

A jackknife occurs when a truck’s drive wheels lock up, causing the trailer to swing out like an open pocketknife. In the congested traffic of Schertz, a jackknifing trailer can sweep across four lanes of I-35, leaving cars behind it with nowhere to go. These are often caused by improper braking or a driver entering a curve too fast for the load weight. We analyze the 49 CFR § 393.48 brake regulations to prove the equipment was faulty or the driver was negligent.

High-Speed Rear-End Collisions

A loaded semi traveling at 65 mph needs the length of nearly two football fields to come to a complete stop. When a fatigued driver or one distracted by their dispatch device fails to notice traffic slowing near the Schertz Parkway exit, the resulting rear-end collision often causes underride—where your car slides beneath the truck’s trailer. This is often fatal, and the injuries for survivors, like traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage, are catastrophic.

Blind Spot and Wide-Turn “Squeeze” Manuals

Trucks have massive “No-Zones” on all four sides. If a driver changes lanes on I-35 without properly checking their right-side mirrors, they can crush a smaller vehicle against a concrete barrier. Similarly, in the tighter turn areas of Schertz’s industrial zones, a truck swinging wide can trap a car in what we call a “squeeze play.” These accidents are 100% preventable if the driver follows the safe driving rules mandated by 49 CFR Part 392.

Tire Blowouts and Maintenance Neglect

We often see “road gators”—shredded tire tread—along the highways in Guadalupe County. While many drivers think a blowout is “just an accident,” it is frequently a sign of maintenance neglect. Federal regulation 49 CFR § 393.75 sets strict tread depth requirements. If a trucking company was running retreads in the Texas heat or ignored thin tread to save a few dollars, they are liable for the loss of control that follows a blowout.

Every Liable Party: Following the Money to Maximize Your Recovery

Most general practice lawyers will just sue the driver and the trucking company. That is a mistake that could cost you millions. At Attorney911, we investigate the entire chain of command. In a complex truck accident, there can be up to 16 different liable parties. The more negligent parties we identify, the more insurance policies we can “stack” to cover your catastrophic medical bills and lifetime care.

We investigate every possible defendant, including:

• The Trucking Company (Carrier): For negligent hiring, training, and supervision.
• The Cargo Shipper: If they overloaded the truck, making it impossible to stop in time.
• The Loading Company: If improperly secured cargo shifted, causing a rollover.
• The Freight Broker: For hiring a “cheap” carrier with a documented history of safety violations.
• The Maintenance Shop: If they signed off on an inspection for a truck with failing brakes.
• Corporate Parent Companies: Holding brands like Amazon or Coca-Cola accountable for the schedules that pressure drivers to speed.

In the Schertz area, we also look closely at Oilfield Operators. If you were hit by a water truck or a sand hauler serving the Eagle Ford Shale, the oil company that hired that contractor may be liable for creating the unsafe conditions that led to your crash.

Catastrophic Injuries and the Cost of a Life Changed

We understand that you aren’t just a case file. As client Chad Harris said, “You are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.” When you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury, you need more than a settlement; you need a life care plan.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A TBI can range from a concussion to a permanent vegetative state. Even “mild” brain injuries can leave you with memory loss, personality changes, and the inability to concentrate at work. We’ve recovered settlements ranging from $1.5 million to over $9.8 million for brain injury victims. We work with neurologists and neuropsychologists to prove exactly how the impact in Schertz rewired your future.

Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis

A spinal cord injury is one of the most expensive medical conditions a human can face. The lifetime cost of care for a quadriplegic can exceed $5 million. We don’t just look at today’s bills; we calculate every wheelchair replacement, every home modification, and every hour of nursing care you will need for the next 40 years. Our firm has secured settlements in the $4.7 million to $25.8 million range for paralyzing injuries.

Amputations and Severe Burns

The crushing forces of an 18-wheeler wreck or the explosion of a crude oil tanker in the oil patch often lead to leg amputations or 3rd-degree burns. These injuries require multiple surgeries and years of painful rehabilitation. We’ve recovered $1.9 million to over $8.6 million for clients who have lost limbs, ensuring they have the best prosthetics and resources available.

Proving Negligence through FMCSA Regulations

The trucking industry is one of the most regulated in the world. When a truck hits you in Schertz, it’s rarely just “bad luck.” It’s usually because someone broke a federal law. We use the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations to prove the trucking company’s guilt.

• 49 CFR Part 395 (Hours of Service): This is the most common violation. Drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving. If a driver was on the road for 16 hours trying to meet a delivery window at an Amazon fulfillment center, they were driving fatigued. Fatigue affects reaction time as much as alcohol does.
• 49 CFR Part 391 (Driver Qualification): We subpoena the driver’s “Qualification File.” Often, we find the driver had a history of DUIs, health issues that should have disqualified them from a medical certificate, or lacked the proper CDL endorsements.
• 49 CFR Part 396 (Inspection and Maintenance): Trucking companies must systematically inspect and maintain their fleets. If we find that a truck was allowed to leave a yard in San Antonio with “out-of-service” defects, we have a clear path to proving negligence.

Since 1998, Ralph Manginello has been using these regulations to hold companies accountable in federal court. We don’t just say they were careless; we prove they were criminal in their disregard for the safety of Schertz families.

Commercial Insurance: Why These Cases Are Multi-Million Dollar Claims

A typical car accident in Texas involves a $30,000 insurance policy. In an 18-wheeler case, $30,000 wouldn’t even cover your first day in the ICU. Because trucks are so dangerous, federal law (49 CFR Part 387) mandates much higher insurance minimums:

• General Freight: $750,000 minimum.
• Oil and Equipment: $1,000,000 minimum.
• Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT): $5,000,000 minimum.

But these are only the minimums. Most major carriers moving through Schertz carry “towers” of insurance—excess and umbrella policies that can reach $50 million or $100 million. Accessing this money is not easy. Insurance companies don’t pay multi-million dollar settlements to lawyers who only handle car crashes. They pay when they are staring down a trial-ready team like Attorney911. We prepare every case as if it’s going to a jury, which is exactly why we get the results our clients need.

The Manginello Advantage: We Know Their Playbook

When you choose a law firm in the Schertz area, you are choosing your representative to the world. You need someone with the power to take on billionaire corporations and the heart to treat you like family.

• 25+ Years of Front-Line Experience: Ralph Manginello has been in the courtroom since 1998. He is admitted to federal court and has litigation experience against giants like BP, Walmart, and Amazon.
• The Former Defense Advantage: Associate attorney Lupe Peña used to represent the very insurance companies we are suing now. He knows their valuation software, their negotiation “caps,” and when they are bluffing about their policy limits.
• No Win, No Fee: You pay us absolutely nothing upfront. We finance the entire investigation—the expert engineers, the medical illustrators, and the accident reconstructionists. We only get paid if we recover money for you.
• Hablamos Español: Lupe Peña provides direct, fluent Spanish representation to our community in Schertz. No interpreters, no barriers. LLame al 1-888-ATTY-911.

As client Donald Wilcox described his experience: “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.” Don’t let another law firm tell you your case is too difficult. Let us take a look.

Frequently Asked Questions for Schertz Truck Accident Victims

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Schertz?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, in trucking cases, you cannot wait two years. Evidence like the truck’s electronic logs and black box data can be lost in weeks. We recommend calling us within 48 hours to preserve your rights.

What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?
This is the most common defense used by companies like Amazon and FedEx Ground. They want to avoid paying for your injuries by distancing themselves from the driver. We specialize in “piercing the corporate veil” and showing that these drivers are employees in everything but name, allowing us to pursue the parent company’s massive insurance policies.

Who pays my medical bills while my case is pending?
The trucking company’s insurance will not pay your bills as they come in; they only pay at the end of the case. However, we can help. We work with a network of vetted, high-quality medical providers in the Schertz and San Antonio areas who can treat you under a “Letter of Protection.” This means you get the surgery or treatment you need now, and the provider is paid once we win your settlement.

How much is a “fair” settlement for a truck accident?
A fair settlement is one that covers every single dime of your medical bills (past and future), your total lost income, the loss of your future earning potential, and provides significant compensation for your physical pain, mental anguish, and loss of quality of life. In cases of gross negligence, we also pursue punitive damages to punish the company. “Fair” to an insurance company is much lower than “fair” to us.

Is TBI common even if I didn’t hit my head?
Absolutely. The violent back-and-forth motion of a truck impact can cause “shearing” of the brain fibers even without a direct strike to the head. If you are experiencing headaches, irritability, or memory problems after a crash in Schertz, you may have a traumatic brain injury that requires immediate neuro-specialist care.

Reach Out to Schertz’s Commercial Vehicle Specialists Today

Your life changed in an instant on an Schertz highway because a trucking company decided to cut corners or a driver decided their schedule was more important than your safety. You’ve been through enough trauma. Let us handle the fight.

We are available 24/7. When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you aren’t just getting an answering service; you are getting a team of legal emergency specialists. We will deploy investigators to Schertz today, send preservation letters to the trucking firm tonight, and have you in front of a specialist doctor as soon as tomorrow.

You are not just a client. To Ralph Manginello and the team at Attorney911, you are family. Let’s start the fight for your recovery today.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911 for your free consultation. Hablamos Español.

A Message to our Schertz Neighbors

We know the roads you drive. We know the danger of the I-35 stretch through Schertz and Cibolo. We know how the oilfield trucks from the south create a gauntlet for local families. Our offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont allow us to serve truck accident victims across the entire state of Texas with the resources of a big firm and the personal touch of a boutique practice.

When you’ve been hurt by an 80,000-pound machine, you don’t need a lawyer who handles “all types” of cases. You need an 18-wheeler specialist. You need Attorney911.

Attorney911 | Powerful & Proven | Legal Emergency Lawyers™
1-888-ATTY-911

Deep Dive: Trucking Safety and Industry Realities

To understand why truck accidents happen so frequently in Schertz, you have to understand the pressures of the modern trucking industry. The “Just-in-Time” delivery model used by major retailers means that every minute a truck is not moving is a minute the company is losing money.

The Real Cause of Fatigue

FMCSA Part 395 exists for a reason, but many drivers are incentivized to violate it. If a driver is paid by the mile, they only make money when the wheels are turning. This creates a dangerous incentive to “falsify logs”—a practice so common in the industry it’s sometimes called “comic books” instead of logbooks. With the implementation of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) in 2017, it’s harder to lie, but drivers still find ways to “manually override” their status or use personal conveyance exceptions to keep driving while they should be resting. We dig into the raw telematics data to find these hidden lies.

Maintenance vs. Profit

The average cost to operate a semi-truck is about $1.80 to $2.00 per mile. Maintenance is one of the highest variable costs. When a small fleet is struggling to stay profitable, the first thing they cut is often preventative maintenance. They wait an extra 5,000 miles for a brake job. They run tires until they are dangerously thin. In the Schertz area, where the road surface temperature can reach 150 degrees, a neglected tire isn’t just a risk—it’s a ticking time bomb.

Negligent Hiring and the “Driver Shortage”

You’ve seen the “Drivers Wanted” signs on the back of every trailer. The industry is desperate for drivers, and that desperation leads to dangerous hiring decisions. Companies often “clean” a driver’s record or ignore previous safety violations just to get a body behind the wheel. We’ve seen cases where drivers were put on the road after failing multiple drug tests at previous companies because the new employer didn’t bother to check their “Clearinghouse” record.

At Attorney911, we don’t just look at the crash; we look at the culture. If a company has a culture of “speed over safety,” that is a corporate negligence claim that can lead to punitive damages. We’ve seen jury verdicts across the country reach $100 million or even $1 billion because juries are tired of trucking companies treating human lives as a cost of doing business.

Your Path Forward: From Hospital to Restoration

If you are reading this, you are likely in the hardest phase of your life. The clinical terms—fractures, herniations, lesions—don’t describe the reality of your day-to-day pain. They don’t describe the sound of the crunching metal on I-35 that you can’t stop hearing when you close your eyes.

We cannot change what happened to you on that highway in Schertz. But we can change what happens next. A multi-million dollar settlement provides more than just money; it provides options. It provides the best medical specialists in the country. It provides a home that is modified for your needs. It provides a college fund for your children so they don’t lose their future because you lost your ability to work.

We have recovered over $50 million for Texas families by being relentless. We don’t take “no” for an answer from insurance adjusters, and we don’t buckle when corporate lawyers try to bury us in paperwork. As client Angel Walle noted, we “solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.”

The trucking company has already made its first move. Make yours. Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911.

Essential Checklist After a Truck Crash in Guadalupe County

1. Call 911: Ensure a Schertz police officer or Guadalupe County Sheriff’s deputy creates a formal accident report. This is the foundation of your claim.
2. Identify the DOT Number: Every commercial truck must have its Department of Transportation number on the door. This is the fingerprint that allows us to find their safety history.
3. Take Photos of the Scene: Photograph the tire marks, the position of the vehicles, and especially any “gouge” marks in the asphalt. These are critical for accident reconstruction.
4. Do Not Sign Anything: The trucking company may offer you a “quick check” for a few thousand dollars while you are in the hospital. Signing this check often releases them from ALL future liability. Don’t sign your rights away.
5. Get a Neurological Exam: Truck crash forces are high-energy events. If you have any dizziness, confusion, or “brain fog,” demand a neurological consult.
6. Call Ralph Manginello: Put 25+ years of experience in your corner before the evidence is gone. 888-ATTY-911.

You are not alone in this fight. The team at Attorney911 is ready to stand with you. Whether you are in Schertz, Selma, Cibolo, or New Braunfels, we are your local trucking accident advocates.

Attorney911 | 1-888-ATTY-911 | Your First Responder in a Legal Emergency.

Liable Parties and the “Deep Pockets” Strategy

In a Schertz 18-wheeler case, there is a complex web of liability that an inexperienced lawyer will almost always miss. For example, consider a crash involving a truck hauling refrigerated produce to a local grocery chain. The driver might be an owner-operator. The tractor might be leased from Ryder or Penske. The trailer might be owned by a third-party logistics firm. The cargo might be owned by a multinational produce company.

Why does this matter to you?
Because under the “joint and several liability” rules in many jurisdictions, we can hold EVERY one of those companies responsible for your injuries. If the driver only has $750,000 in insurance, but the cargo owner has a $50 million corporate umbrella policy, we find the evidence to connect that cargo owner to the negligence. Was the load too heavy? Did the produce company hire a carrier with a “conditional” safety rating to save money? That is negligent hiring, and it opens up the “deep pockets” necessary to cover your lifetime care.

We dig deeper. We don’t just look for a settlement; we look for JUSTICE. And in the American legal system, justice for a catastrophic injury is measured in fair, full, and maximum compensation.

Attorney911 | 888-ATTY-911 | 24/7 National Trucking Litigation

Summary of Potential Recoveries in Schertz Trucking Cases

Note: Every case is unique. These ranges are based on previous Attorney911 litigation results and industry benchmarks. Your recovery will depend on the specific facts of your case and the insurance available.

Don’t settle for a law firm that treats you like a number. Choose the firm that treats you like family. Choose Attorney911.

Ready to Fight? Let’s Go.

The insurance adjusters are calling. The medical bills are piling up. The trucking company is waiting for you to make a mistake.

Don’t wait. Call Ralph Manginello and the Attorney911 team at 1-888-ATTY-911.

We offer remote consultations, hospital visits in Schertz, and we are ready to move today. Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña ahora. 1-888-288-9911.

Attorney911 | The Manginello Law Firm
Your Schertz 18-Wheeler Accident Authority
1-888-ATTY-911