Almost every driver will be involved in a car accident at some point in their life. Some collisions are minor, but others cause devastating injuries that change everything — the way you move, the way you work, and the way you provide for your family. When a wreck leaves you or someone you love dealing with serious harm, understanding the type of accident you were in and how fault applies to that specific crash becomes essential to recovering the compensation you deserve. Our San Antonio car accident lawyers at J.A. Davis Injury Lawyers have handled every kind of motor vehicle collision that occurs on Texas roads, and we know how to build a case around the unique circumstances of each one.
The numbers paint a grim picture. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that more than 40,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes across the United States in 2023, making traffic accidents the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 1 and 34. Here in Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation recorded a reportable crash every 57 seconds in 2024, with one person killed every two hours and seven minutes. San Antonio alone sees more than 39,000 collisions a year, and our McAllen car accident lawyers handle cases throughout Hidalgo County, where the Texas Department of Transportation documented over 16,000 crashes in 2024.
No matter what type of wreck you were in, our personal injury lawyers at J.A. Davis Injury Lawyers offer free, confidential consultations so you can learn your rights without spending a dime. Call us today and let our team review the details of your case.
Rear-end accidents are the most common type of car crash on American roads, accounting for roughly 29 percent of all motor vehicle collisions according to the NHTSA. These wrecks happen when a trailing vehicle strikes the car ahead, usually because the following driver failed to brake in time, was distracted, or was tailgating. Texas traffic law requires every driver to maintain a safe following distance, which means the rear driver is almost always presumed to be at fault in these crashes.
Do not let the phrase "fender bender" fool you into thinking rear-end accidents are harmless. Whiplash, herniated discs, concussions, and soft tissue injuries are extremely common in rear-end collisions, and these injuries frequently do not produce symptoms until hours or days after the impact. Even a low-speed rear-end hit can generate enough force to cause chronic neck and back pain that lingers for months or years. Insurance companies love to minimize rear-end claims, but our lawyers know how to document the full scope of these injuries and hold the at-fault driver's insurer accountable for every dollar owed.
Side-impact collisions, sometimes called T-bone accidents or broadside crashes, make up approximately 28 percent of all motor vehicle accidents in the United States. These wrecks occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, typically at intersections where one driver ran a red light, failed to yield, or ignored a stop sign. Sideswipe accidents, where two vehicles traveling in the same or opposite directions make lateral contact, fall into this category as well and frequently happen during unsafe lane changes on highways and multi-lane roads.
Side-impact crashes are among the most dangerous types of collisions because the side panels of a vehicle offer far less structural protection than the front or rear crumple zones. Occupants on the struck side absorb a tremendous amount of force, and injuries tend to be severe — broken ribs, pelvic fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and internal organ damage are all common. Determining fault in a side-impact wreck can be complicated, especially when both drivers claim they had the right of way. Our lawyers work with accident reconstruction experts who analyze physical evidence, traffic signal timing, skid marks, and vehicle damage patterns to establish exactly who caused the crash and build a case that holds up under scrutiny.
Head-on crashes account for only about 2 percent of all motor vehicle accidents, but they produce a disproportionate share of fatal and catastrophic injuries. When two vehicles collide front to front, the combined speed of both vehicles multiplies the force of impact. A head-on crash between two cars traveling at 45 miles per hour creates the same destructive energy as hitting a concrete wall at 90 miles per hour. The results are often catastrophic — spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain damage, crushed limbs, and death.
Head-on collisions typically happen when a driver crosses the center line into oncoming traffic. The most common causes are drowsy driving, impaired driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, and wrong-way entry onto a highway or one-way street. The driver who crossed into the opposing lane is almost always at fault, and these cases often involve substantial insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits because the injuries are so severe. Our lawyers have represented families devastated by head-on crashes, and we pursue maximum compensation because the victims of these wrecks face medical expenses and life changes that no settlement offer from an insurance company can fully undo.
Rollover accidents occur when a vehicle tips onto its side or flips completely over during a crash. These wrecks account for roughly 2 percent of all U.S. motor vehicle collisions but are responsible for a significantly higher percentage of fatalities because the forces involved are extreme. Taller vehicles with a higher center of gravity, such as SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, are far more susceptible to rollovers than sedans and smaller cars.
Rollovers can result from sharp turns at excessive speed, overcorrection during a swerve, tire blowouts, and collisions with other vehicles or road hazards. In some cases, the design of the vehicle itself contributes to the rollover. If a manufacturer sold a vehicle with a known stability defect or failed to meet federal safety standards, that manufacturer can be held liable through a product liability claim in addition to the negligence claim against the at-fault driver. Our lawyers investigate every angle of a rollover case because multiple liable parties can mean multiple sources of compensation for the victim.
Run-off-road crashes happen when a vehicle leaves the travel lane and strikes a ditch, guardrail, tree, utility pole, or other fixed object. These single-vehicle accidents account for approximately 16 percent of all crashes nationwide and are frequently caused by distracted driving, fatigue, overcorrection, and hazardous road conditions. While the driver who left the road may appear to be solely responsible, that is not always the case. If another vehicle forced you off the road by cutting into your lane or merging unsafely, that driver bears liability for your injuries even if they never made physical contact with your car.
Dangerous road design, poor maintenance, missing guardrails, inadequate signage, and unaddressed drainage issues can also contribute to run-off-road crashes. In those situations, the government entity responsible for maintaining the roadway may share fault. Filing a claim against a city, county, or state agency involves strict notice requirements and shortened deadlines under the Texas Tort Claims Act, which makes having experienced lawyers on your side critical from the very beginning.
No matter what kind of wreck you were in, the insurance company's goal stays the same: pay as little as possible and close your file. Adjusters will downplay your injuries, question the severity of the crash, and push you to accept a settlement that does not come close to covering your actual losses. Our lawyers at J.A. Davis Injury Lawyers deal with these tactics every day. We gather evidence, document your injuries thoroughly, communicate directly with the insurance company on your behalf, and fight for every dollar of compensation you are owed for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
Call our San Antonio office at 210-732-1062 or our McAllen office at 956-994-0565 for a free, confidential consultation. Let our team review the facts of your accident and show you what a strong legal strategy looks like when experienced personal injury lawyers are standing behind you.
