Responsibility for a truck accident on I-10 in San Antonio depends on what caused the crash, and it is often not limited to the truck driver alone. Depending on the facts, liability can fall on the driver, the trucking company that employed or contracted with the driver, a cargo loading company, a maintenance provider, a parts manufacturer, or another motorist. Texas also follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so more than one party, including the injured person, can share a percentage of fault. Because commercial trucking is governed by federal safety regulations in addition to Texas law, truck accident claims usually involve more evidence, more potential defendants, and more complexity than a typical car accident case.
Why Liability Is More Complex in a Truck Accident
A car accident usually involves two drivers and two insurance policies. A truck accident on a busy interstate corridor like I-10 through San Antonio often involves several layers of potential responsibility at once. The truck driver may have their own insurance, but the trucking company, the entity that owns the trailer, the business that loaded the cargo, and even a parts manufacturer can each have a separate legal duty that was violated.
Commercial trucks are also subject to federal safety regulations that do not apply to ordinary passenger vehicles, and evidence unique to trucking, such as electronic logging device (ELD) data, dashcam footage, and maintenance records, can shed light on what actually happened. Given the size and weight of commercial trucks, injuries from these crashes also tend to be more severe, which raises the stakes for identifying every party who may be legally responsible.
The Truck Driver’s Responsibility
As with any driver, a truck driver can be held responsible for negligent conduct behind the wheel. Common causes of truck accidents on I-10 in and around San Antonio include:
- Driver fatigue from long hours on the road
- Speeding or driving too fast for heavy traffic or weather conditions
- Distracted driving, including cell phone use
- Following too closely given the truck’s stopping distance
- Unsafe lane changes or merging, particularly near interchanges
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
When a truck driver’s negligence causes a crash, that driver can be held personally liable. In most cases, however, the driver is not the only party with potential exposure.
When the Trucking Company Can Be Held Liable
Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer can be held liable for the negligent acts of an employee committed within the scope of employment. If the truck driver was working for the company at the time of the crash, the trucking company can generally be held responsible for the driver’s negligence.
Trucking companies can also face liability for their own independent negligence, separate from the driver’s conduct, including:
- Negligent hiring, such as failing to properly screen a driver’s licensing, safety record, or background before putting them on the road
- Negligent training and supervision, such as failing to train drivers on hours-of-service rules, cargo securement, or defensive driving
- Negligent retention, such as continuing to employ a driver with a known pattern of violations or a failed drug test
- Failure to enforce federal safety standards, such as allowing scheduling practices that pressure drivers to skip required rest breaks
These theories allow an injured person to pursue the trucking company directly, not just the individual driver.
Other Parties Who May Share Responsibility
Depending on how the crash happened, other parties may also share responsibility:
- Cargo loading companies, if cargo was improperly secured, overloaded, or unevenly distributed in a way that contributed to a rollover or jackknife
- Truck or parts manufacturers, if a defect in the brakes, tires, steering, or trailer coupling played a role in the crash
- Maintenance contractors, if poor upkeep of the truck contributed to a mechanical failure
- Another motorist, if a passenger vehicle’s actions, such as cutting off the truck, contributed to the collision
- The vehicle’s owner, under the theory of negligent entrustment, if the owner knowingly allowed an unlicensed, incompetent, or reckless driver to operate the truck
Texas courts recognize negligent entrustment claims where the owner entrusted a vehicle to a driver the owner knew or should have known was incompetent or reckless, and that driver’s negligence proximately caused the accident, a standard set out by the Texas Supreme Court in Schneider v. Esperanza Transmission Co. (1987). Identifying every party whose conduct contributed to the crash often requires a thorough investigation soon after the accident.
How Shared Fault Affects Your Compensation
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. Under this rule, an injured person can recover compensation as long as their share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. If the injured person is found to be 51 percent or more at fault, they are barred from recovering any damages. If fault is 50 percent or less, compensation is reduced in proportion to that percentage.
In a truck accident case involving multiple defendants, such as the driver, the trucking company, and a cargo loader, fault can be divided among all of the parties involved, including the injured person if applicable. Because trucking companies and their insurers often try to shift blame onto the injured driver to reduce their own exposure, disputes over fault percentages are common in these cases.
Why Federal Trucking Regulations Matter to Your Claim
Interstate commercial trucking is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and violations of federal rules can serve as strong evidence of negligence. Under 49 C.F.R. Part 395, the hours-of-service regulations generally limit property-carrying drivers to:
- 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty
- A 14-hour window from the start of the on-duty period in which driving must stop
- A 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving
- A maximum of 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days, depending on the carrier’s schedule
FMCSA regulations also require most motor carriers to maintain a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance under 49 C.F.R. Part 387, with higher minimums for carriers hauling hazardous materials. When a driver or company violates these federal standards, whether by falsifying logs, skipping required rest, or operating without adequate insurance, that violation can help establish liability in a personal injury claim.
Deadline to File a Claim
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, most personal injury claims arising from a truck accident, including claims against the driver, the trucking company, or other responsible parties, must generally be filed within two years of the date of the crash. Missing this deadline typically results in the court dismissing the case, regardless of how clear the liability may have been.
Because truck accident cases can involve multiple defendants and extensive investigation, including obtaining ELD data and company records that carriers are not required to keep indefinitely, it is generally advisable to begin the claims process well before the two-year deadline approaches.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident on I-10
If you are involved in a truck accident on I-10 in San Antonio, a few steps can help protect your health and your legal options:
- Call 911 to report the crash and request medical attention, even if injuries are not immediately obvious
- Photograph the vehicles, the accident scene, and any visible cargo or trailer damage
- Record the truck’s USDOT number, license plate, and the name of the trucking company if visible
- Get contact and insurance information from the driver, along with witness information
- Avoid admitting fault or making statements about who caused the crash
- Contact an attorney as soon as possible, since evidence such as electronic logging data and dashcam footage can be lost or overwritten if not promptly preserved
Acting quickly can make a meaningful difference in a trucking case, given how much evidence is time-sensitive.
Talk to a San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer
Determining who is responsible for a truck accident on I-10 often requires investigating the driver’s conduct, the trucking company’s practices, and federal safety compliance all at once. The Julio Law Firm, PLLC represents injured drivers and passengers throughout San Antonio, handling truck accident claims and other car accident cases from investigation through resolution, and the firm only gets paid if it recovers compensation for you first.
If you were injured in a truck accident on I-10 in San Antonio, call (512) 551-1502 for a free consultation to discuss who may be responsible for your crash.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal guidance tailored to your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.