Massive Box Truck Crash Closes I-10 at North Frio Street
Recently, a multi-vehicle accident closed all lanes of I-10 near the North Frio Street exit, after a box truck entered the freeway and cut across all the lanes of traffic. Only the box truck driver was injured, being transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center in “priority one” condition. The accident could have been much worse and caused many more injuries, given how common fatalities are from accidents of this type. If you have been injured, or you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, know that you have some options as to seeking compensation for your medical bills and other harm you have suffered.
Box Trucks Cause Crashes
Box trucks, also known as box vans or cube vans, factor in many types of accidents and can cause significant injury and death. While any large truck can be dangerous on the road, box trucks, in particular, have a higher likelihood of tipping over than, say, a standard 18-wheeler, because their center of gravity is often different. Rollover accidents occur more often in vehicles where the center of gravity is higher because it takes less force to take the vehicle off its wheels. Blind spots are also more of a problem with box trucks than with other types of larger trucks like semis because very often the ‘box’ is too tall or too broad for the driver to see around it.
While Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) statistics do not distinguish between semi-trucks or 18-wheelers and box trucks, there is no mistaking that large trucks are disproportionately more likely to cause fatalities than crashes that only involve normal-sized vehicles. Deaths in truck- or bus-related accidents rose approximately nine percent between 2016 and 2017, but large vehicles of this type make up less than half the number of cars on the road at any given moment.
After Your Accident
If you have been involved in a truck accident, you should seek medical attention first and foremost, but at the same time, it is a good idea to document as much information as possible, for use in the event of a lawsuit. If you believe that your injuries were caused by the negligence of a box truck driver, be aware that you may be able to bring suit against not only the driver, but also possibly against their employer. Texas recognizes a doctrine called vicarious liability, which means that if the employee commits an intentional tort (the civil equivalent of a crime) while ‘within the scope of their employment,’ their employer may be held liable for any damages.
It is also important to keep in mind that you can still recover even if you are held to be partially liable for your own injuries; Texas’ comparative fault rules hold that unless you are found to be more than 51 percent liable, you are able to recover minus your percentage of fault. For example, if you are held to be 30 percent at fault, and you are awarded $100,000 in damages, your total recovery would be $70,000.
Contact a Knowledgeable Attorney Today
While the I-10 crash appears to only have harmed the box truck driver, these types of accidents are quite dangerous and it is important to understand your rights and options if you are injured in one. The dedicated New Braunfels truck accident attorneys at the Bettersworth Law Firm can help guide you through the process of bringing suit if someone else’s negligent or reckless conduct has caused you harm. Contact us today at 888-392-0039 to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.ksat.com/traffic/live-major-crash-on-i-10-downtown-snarls-traffic
https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1501456/gte-southwest-inc-v-bruce/
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/safety/data-and-statistics/452366/ltcbf-2017-early-release-3-13-2019.pdf
