Common Injury Risks on San Antonio Highways

The traffic on any major highway in San Antonio can become dangerous in a split second. A distracted driver, bad weather, or a sudden blowout can turn a routine commute into a catastrophic accident that leaves drivers and passengers with long-lasting injuries.

Let's take a look at some common injuries and risks on busy San Antonio highways.

Why Do the Same San Antonio Highways Keep Seeing Serious Crashes?

Millions of drivers commute along San Antonio’s busy highways each year. But some highways in San Antonio see these problems turn into serious crashes more often than others, and that's not an accident. It comes down to how the road is built, how much traffic it carries, and how fast that traffic moves.

At Ali Law Group, our car accident attorneys see the same patterns show up again and again, whether it's a rear-end crash on I-35 or a side-impact collision at a Loop 410 interchange. If you want the full data on how often these crashes happen citywide, take a look at our post on San Antonio's crash statistics.

What Injuries Come From High-Speed Rear-End Crashes on I-35?

Interstate 35 carries fast, heavy traffic through San Antonio. When that traffic suddenly slows for congestion or an earlier accident, rear-end collisions are one of the most common results. These crashes often cause whiplash, since the sudden forward and backward motion strains the neck even at a moderate speed.

They can also cause traumatic brain injuries. You don't have to hit your head on anything for that to happen. The whipping motion of the crash alone can move the brain inside the skull hard enough to cause damage. Our post on traumatic brain injuries and their silent consequences goes into more detail on why these injuries are so often missed in the days after a crash.

How Are Crashes at Loop 410 Interchanges Different From Crashes on a Straight Highway?

Loop 410 is built around merges and interchanges, not long straight stretches, and that changes the kind of crash that tends to happen there. Instead of a rear-end impact, a common pattern on 410 is a side-impact or T-bone crash, where one vehicle is struck from the side while merging or navigating an interchange.

That kind of impact sends force directly into the side of the body instead of the back of the neck, which is why side-impact crashes are more often linked to rib fractures, chest injuries, and shoulder injuries. Texas law allows you to pursue compensation for these injuries the same way as any other crash, and recognizing the pattern early can help your doctor and your lawyer connect the injury to how the crash actually happened.

What Should You Do If You're Hurt on a San Antonio Highway?

Whatever kind of crash you were in, the first steps are the same. See a doctor even if you feel mostly fine, since some of these injuries, especially traumatic brain injuries, don't show clear symptoms right away. Document the type of crash and the location as specifically as you can, since where and how the crash happened can matter later.

Try to note details like which lane you were in, whether you were merging, and whether the area was under construction. Those specifics can help explain how the crash happened later on. If a spinal injury is part of what you're dealing with, our spinal cord injury attorneys can walk you through what that claim typically involves.

At Ali Law Group, a free case evaluation is a straightforward way to lay out what happened and find out what Texas law allows you to pursue. There's no cost and no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything on that first call. It's simply a chance to walk through what happened and get a clearer picture of where you stand.