San Antonio Driver Fatigue—A Hidden Danger on Our Highways
San Antonio’s highways are some of the busiest freight corridors in the country. I-35, I-10, Loop 410, and Loop 1604 see thousands of commercial trucks daily, many hauling freight across Texas and beyond. While these 18-wheelers are essential for our economy, they also pose enormous risks when drivers are fatigued.
Truck driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of serious and fatal accidents in Bexar County. Long shifts, pressure from trucking companies, and insufficient rest create a perfect storm where tired drivers operate massive vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds. For everyday motorists, that fatigue can mean life-changing injuries or wrongful death.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a fatigue-related wreck, you need a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer near me who understands both federal trucking laws and local San Antonio crash patterns. At Ried Pecina Trial Lawyers, we fight for victims across Bexar County and South Texas.
Why Truck Driver Fatigue Is So Dangerous
Fatigue impacts the brain in the same way as alcohol. In fact, studies show that being awake for 18 hours impairs driving as much as a blood alcohol concentration of .05%, and staying awake for 24 hours equals .10% BAC—well over Texas’ legal limit.
When a truck driver is fatigued, they:
- React more slowly – making it harder to stop in time on congested highways like I-35.
- Misjudge speed and distance – leading to unsafe lane changes or tailgating.
- Lose focus – missing critical cues like brake lights or traffic signals.
- Fall asleep at the wheel – even for a few seconds, which at highway speeds can send an 18-wheeler across multiple lanes.
Because commercial trucks are so heavy, even small errors can cause chain-reaction crashes, multi-vehicle pileups, and catastrophic injuries. That’s why proving fatigue is a key focus for any truck wreck lawyer near me.
Federal and Texas Rules on Truck Driver Hours
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates truck drivers’ hours through Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules designed to limit fatigue. Key requirements include:
- 11-hour maximum driving limit after 10 hours off duty.
- 14-hour work window from the time a driver comes on duty.
- Mandatory 30-minute breaks after 8 hours of driving.
- 60/70-hour weekly limits, depending on the schedule.
Unfortunately, these rules are often ignored. Many trucking companies demand deliveries that are impossible without breaking HOS regulations. Drivers may falsify logbooks or manipulate electronic logging devices (ELDs) to hide violations.
An experienced truck accident attorney near me knows how to obtain ELD data, dispatch records, and GPS logs to prove a driver was on the road too long and too tired to be safe.
Signs a Truck Crash Was Caused by Fatigue
Not every trucking crash will have an obvious explanation. But fatigue-related wrecks often leave clear red flags, such as:
- Drifting between lanes before the crash.
- No skid marks, showing the driver never braked.
- Nighttime or early-morning collisions, when drowsiness peaks.
- Suspiciously “perfect” logbooks that don’t reflect real driving.
- Company safety violations, especially repeat HOS breaches.
If these signs appear, a skilled truck injury lawyer near me can build a strong case that fatigue caused the wreck and hold the trucking company responsible.
Local Risks in San Antonio and Bexar County
Truck driver fatigue doesn’t affect all roads equally. In San Antonio, some routes are more dangerous because of heavy truck traffic, long stretches of monotonous driving, and frequent bottlenecks:
- I-35 Corridor – A nonstop freight artery from Laredo to Dallas, notorious for fatigued long-haul drivers.
- I-10 through downtown – High congestion, construction zones, and sudden lane shifts make drowsy driving deadly.
- Loop 410 and Loop 1604 – Major commuter routes where tired truckers often cause rear-end pileups.
- Rural Bexar County highways – Quiet stretches outside the city increase the risk of drivers nodding off.
Understanding these risks helps a truck injury law firm near me pinpoint where and why fatigue-related crashes happen most often.
How a Truck Crash Lawyer Near Me Proves Fatigue
Proving fatigue requires more than assumptions. At Ried Pecina Trial Lawyers, we dig into every detail to uncover the truth. Our investigations may include:
- Electronic logging device (ELD) records showing hours of service.
- Cell phone data to reveal dispatch pressure or late-night texts.
- Black box data (ECM/EDR) tracking speed, braking, and hours.
- Surveillance and eyewitness testimony from truck stops and weigh stations.
- Expert witnesses in sleep medicine and trucking safety.
- Company safety records proving a culture of ignoring fatigue risks.
This evidence allows us to show juries—and insurance companies—that fatigue directly caused the wreck.
FAQ: Truck Driver Fatigue in San Antonio
How common is fatigue in truck accidents?
The FMCSA estimates that 13% of truck crashes involve fatigue. In Bexar County, the percentage may be higher because of long-haul freight traffic.
Can trucking companies be held responsible?
Yes. If a company forced unrealistic schedules, ignored HOS laws, or failed to monitor drivers, they can share liability.
What injuries are common in fatigue-related truck crashes?
Victims often suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, burns, and wrongful death.
Why hire a truck crash lawyer near me instead of a general injury attorney?
Truck cases require knowledge of federal regulations, complex insurance layers, and company liability. A dedicated truck accident law firm near me has the resources to take on large trucking companies.
Call a San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me
Fatigued truck drivers put everyone on San Antonio’s roads at risk. If you or a loved one has been injured, don’t fight the trucking company alone.
At Ried Pecina Trial Lawyers, we know how to prove fatigue and hold negligent drivers and companies accountable. Call (210) 893-0000 today for a free consultation with an experienced truck crash lawyer near me.
We serve clients throughout San Antonio, Bexar County, and South Texas. No fees unless we win. Hablamos Español.
