An 18-wheeler carrying liquor bottles burst into flames shortly after 1:45 PM on Saturday, March 13th. It happened on I 10 & Probandt near the Roosevelt Ave in San Antonio. The driver of the big rig told officials that after the crash, she smelled something and heard a pop. When she opened the door to her cab, she saw the fire. She tried to put out the fire with her extinguisher, but it was too late. The flames were out of control.
Firefighters arrived just in time and extinguished fire just before it spread to the load of alcohol the truck was carrying. Had the fire reached this area, it could have been a lot worse. Fortunately, the driver was not injured. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash.
The driver of the 18-wheeler told officials that earlier that day, she had been driving through construction and felt a struggle on the highway. She said that she had recently had some work done on her rear brakes. Authorities determined that the cause of the accident was in fact, a problem with the brakes.
It is not clear at this time how or why the brakes failed. It could have been the result of a defect in the design, improper maintenance, improper repair, or even a manufacturing defect. Fortunately for its driver, and for other drivers on the road the damage was minimal. If the vehicle had crashed into passenger vehicles or if the liquor bottles ignited, lives could have potentially been lost.
Could this accident have been prevented? It is the responsibility of the semi-truck driver and the company that owns the vehicle to regularly inspect this truck along with any other trucks in their fleet. Allowing this truck on the road with faulty brakes puts the life of its driver and the lives of anyone else it encounters in jeopardy. This accident could have been a lot worse.
Accidents involving 18 wheelers are often very serious. In fact, Texas is one of the leading states for fatalities involving big rigs. Victims of these types of accidents should seek legal counsel before negotiating compensation. You can easily find an attorney that won’t charge anything upfront. And, because attorneys are more experienced at dealing with the companies’ insurance, it improves your chances of receiving the full and fair compensation you deserve.
DeSouza Law Firm is a leading personal injury firm representing accident victims throughout Texas.
If you’ve been injured by a car, truck, 18-wheeler, company vehicle, or in the oilfield, call DeSouza Injury Lawyers today at 361-799-2222 or visit the firm online at https://jfdlawfirm.com/.