Facts & Insight: Corpus Christi Truck Accidents
Every year, tens of thousands of lives are turned upside down as a result of trucking accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 4,807 fatalities and 74,001 injuries caused by large truck accidents across the United States in 2023. In total, 168,174 large trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds were involved in traffic collisions. Texas alone saw 697 fatalities and 11,264 injuries, the highest in the country.
To learn more about large truck accidents, their causes, and your rights, review the following:
You can also contact a Corpus Christi truck accident attorney at our firm for a free consultation. We're here to discuss your unique situation, questions, and how we can help.
Trucking Risks in the Corpus Christi Area
Corpus Christi's roads carry far more than commuter traffic. As the seat of Nueces County and home to one of the nation's busiest ports, the city sees an extraordinary mix of heavy commercial vehicles every single day. Long-haul 18-wheelers deliver consumer goods across South Texas. Tanker trucks transport crude oil, chemicals, and refined products to and from local plants and refineries. Oilfield service vehicles stream in from the Eagle Ford Shale, hauling sand, water, and drilling equipment. On top of this, fleets for major carriers like UPS, FedEx, and Old Dominion move freight into and out of the region's distribution centers. Together, these trucks are a constant presence in the region.
Truck Traffic & the Port of Corpus Christi
The Port of Corpus Christi is one of the nation's deepest and most productive ports. In 2023 alone, the Port of Corpus Christi handled a record 203 million tons of cargo, including over 126 million tons of crude oil. That volume means a steady stream of tanker trucks, flatbeds, and container rigs moving in and out of the port on US-181, SH-286, and I-37. The June 2025 opening of the New Harbor Bridge has improved access, but also introduced complex interchange zones that can pose new risks as freight and commuter traffic mix.
For residents and visitors on these corridors, dealing with truck traffic is a constant reality, but that doesn't make it any less serious. When companies fail to properly train drivers, do not maintain their vehicles, or violate trucking regulations related to hours-of-service, weight limits, and other standards, serious collisions may result.
Oilfield & Energy-Related Trucking in South Texas
Beyond port traffic, Corpus Christi sees substantial truck activity tied to the oil and gas industry—especially given its proximity to the Eagle Ford Shale. Oilfield service trucks hauling water, fracking sand, drilling equipment, and hazardous materials flow through the city from nearby well sites and facilities, often using rural feeder roads ill-equipped for constant traffic, large commercial vehicles, and heavy loads.
When oilfield vehicles are involved in truck accidents in Corpus Christi, the results can be catastrophic. Fatigue, load shifting, brake failure, improperly secured cargo, and other hazards place everyone on the road at risk.
Hazmat & Refinery Trucking in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi is also a hub for refineries and petrochemical plants, which means local roads see a steady flow of hazmat trucks carrying gasoline, diesel, chemicals, and liquified natural gas. Carriers serving Valero, Citgo, and Flint Hills Resources routinely move hazardous loads through neighborhoods and along SH-358 and Navigation Boulevard. These routes are particularly dangerous: a single mistake with a tanker carrying volatile cargo can cause a fire, explosion, or multi-vehicle crash with devastating consequences.
UPS Truck Accident Attorneys in Corpus Christi
UPS, one of the largest logistics companies, has seen significant scrutiny due to its safety record. According to data from the FMCSA's Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System, UPS was involved in 67 fatal accidents and 1,053 injury accidents from April 2020 to April 2022. With a vast fleet of 134,070 vehicles and 127,017 drivers who covered approximately 3.33 billion miles in 2020 alone, these numbers reflect both the scale of UPS's operations and the critical importance of safety measures within such a large network.
The company’s injury accident rate stands at 0.158 accidents per million vehicle miles traveled, positioning UPS among the higher accident rates in the trucking industry. This statistic highlights the challenges that come with managing a massive fleet and shows why it's crucial to have strong safety protocols and ongoing training for drivers to reduce risks. If you're involved in an accident with a UPS truck, involving an experienced truck accident attorney can be a game-changer, helping you navigate these complicated situations with confidence.
Find out how often trucking companies get into accidents on the FMCSA website.
Corpus Christi FedEx Truck Accident Lawyers
FedEx, another major player in the logistics and transportation industry, has a significant presence on the road. This comes with a noteworthy number of accidents. According to SAFER System data, FedEx Ground reported the highest number of fatal truck accidents nationwide with 80 fatalities and 911 injury accidents recorded from April 2020 to April 2022. With a fleet of 101,975 vehicles and 124,527 drivers, FedEx Ground traveled approximately 3.24 billion miles in 2021.
As a large and intricately structured company, FedEx is a formidable opponent for a victim of a trucking accident. It takes a firm with the resources and skill to face off against teams of lawyers and investigators who will try to do everything in their power to limit victims' recoveries. Arnold & Itkin is such a firm. We've faced off against some of the biggest and most well-funded companies, negotiating settlements and winning verdicts that have changed our clients' lives.
If you were harmed in any type of collision with an 18-wheeler, tanker truck, or other commercial vehicle, call our Corpus Christi truck accident attorneys for help: (888) 493-1629.
The Underlying Cause of Trucking Accidents
The trucking industry has made it a standard practice to take new drivers and churn them through a grueling, overly demanding system that causes people to drive themselves into an early grave. Using a pay scheme that only rewards truck drivers for the miles they drive, companies leave drivers unpaid for the vital non-driving work they do.
- Self-inspection
- Rig inspections at weigh-ins
- Waiting for loading and unloading
- Planning routes
- Getting a full night of rest before any drive
- Rig maintenance (independent contractors)
As a result, drivers are forced to drive long hours without breaks in order to "make the miles," leading to increased accident rates. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that 1 in 4 crashes happen after 17+ hours of driving without a break. These practices contribute directly to unsafe roads and vehicle accident fatalities. Of the thousands of truck accident fatalities that occur every year, around 700 of them are truck drivers themselves.
Our Corpus Christi truck accident lawyers know that everyone—from those in cars to those driving trucks—is placed at risk by industry practices.
- Box truck crashes
- Flatbed truck accidents
- Garbage truck accidents
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
- Tanker truck crashes
- Tow truck collisions
- Commercial vehicle crashes
Industry veterans even instruct new drivers with an "unofficial" curriculum that encourages them to use underhanded or deceptive tactics to get around federal trucking regulations. For instance, it's common practice for drivers to keep two hours-of-service logbooks, allowing them to always have a logbook that appears compliant with the law while allowing them to drive for several hours longer than is safe.
Recommended Reading:
Common Semi-Truck Accident Injuries
Because semi-trucks are so large and heavy, they can cause catastrophic damage to other vehicles. The people in these vehicles may experience injuries that alter the course of their lives or leave their families without loved ones. Specific truck accident injuries will vary depending on the vehicles involved, the location of impact, how fast the truck and the other vehicle were traveling, and a number of other factors.
The injuries experienced in a Corpus Christi truck accident may include:
- Severe burns
- Head trauma
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
Some injuries are not physical in nature. A person who has been in a serious semi-truck crash may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, insomnia, depression, and other psychological trauma.
Medical Facilities for Truck Accident Survivors in Corpus Christi
Survivors of truck accidents in Corpus Christi may be transported to CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Shoreline, the city’s Level II trauma center equipped to treat severe brain, spine, and burn injuries. Corpus Christi Medical Center – Bay Area also provides advanced emergency and surgical care, while pediatric cases may be treated at Driscoll Children’s Hospital, a leading facility for young patients in South Texas. For those facing long recoveries, rehabilitation programs are available at facilities such as the CHRISTUS Spohn Rehabilitation Hospital and outpatient therapy centers across Nueces County.
These resources play a critical role in helping survivors rebuild, though the costs of care can be overwhelming—making full accountability from at-fault trucking companies essential.
Liability for a Corpus Christi Truck Accident
There are multiple parties that may be liable (legally responsible) for causing a trucking accident. A truck driver may be responsible for reckless or impaired driving. The trucking company could be accountable for poor hiring practices, lack of training, or pushing drivers past safe limits. A shipping contractor might be to blame for overloading or improperly securing cargo, and in some cases, a manufacturer can be held liable for defective truck parts that fail on the road.
Because more than one party may be responsible, investigations and cases related to these collisions can be particularly complex. In Corpus Christi, that responsibility often extends beyond the individual driver. Major carriers like UPS, FedEx, Old Dominion Freight Line, and XPO Logistics operate heavily in the region, moving freight along I-37, US-181, and SH-44. The area’s refineries—including Valero, Citgo, and Flint Hills Resources—depend on fleets of tanker trucks and contracted haulers to transport crude oil, gasoline, and chemicals through the city and into the Port of Corpus Christi.
Oilfield service companies also contribute to the truck traffic, running water haulers, sand trucks, and vacuum trucks from Eagle Ford Shale sites into Nueces County. With such a high concentration of commercial vehicles, any lapse in safety—from failing to maintain a truck to pressuring drivers into longer shifts—can have catastrophic consequences.
Other potentially liable parties may include freight brokers and shipping contractors who cut corners on cargo loading, or third-party maintenance providers who perform inadequate inspections and repairs. In some crashes involving the port, liability may also reach the logistics companies managing truck movements in and out of terminal yards. Each of these entities has a duty to prioritize safety, and when they don’t, they can and should be held accountable.
Liability in your case can be revealed after a thorough investigation. This may include cataloging and reviewing physical evidence, gathering witness testimony, reviewing police reports, obtaining black box information from the truck, and more. It takes resources and access to experts in various fields to accomplish this, but our firm is up to the task.
By working with investigators and accident reconstruction specialists, our Corpus Christi truck accident firm can work to determine what caused a crash and who’s liable.
Types of Compensation Available
A person who has been injured in a truck accident may be able to recover compensation from the at-fault party (or parties). This is meant to help them rebuild to where their lives were before the accident occurred and may include economic damages and non-economic damages to cover every loss, expense, and injury they experienced.
Compensation in a Corpus Christi truck accident case may include:
- Medical bills, including hospitalization, medication, medical supplies, and more
- Ongoing treatment and care, such as physical therapy or assistive devices
- Lost earnings, wages, and benefits, including loss of future earnings
- Emotional trauma, such as pain, suffering, and mental anguish
In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded as a penalty to the at-fault party for particularly egregious acts of negligence or wrongdoing that caused a truck accident. Punitive damages also serve to make an example of the defendant to discourage others from doing the same. Recovering a fair settlement or award may not be able to prevent an accident from occurring in the first place, but it can serve to make a difference by holding the responsible parties accountable and giving survivors and families a way to face stable and secure futures.
Proven Truck Accident Results in Corpus Christi & Beyond
When truck accident survivors in Corpus Christi need answers, Arnold & Itkin delivers. We've gone toe-to-toe with the nation's largest trucking companies and secured record-setting results that have changed lives. From a $90 million settlement for a truck driver burned in a plant explosion to a $35.5 million recovery for a family injured in a trucking accident, our team has repeatedly proven that we can win even in the most complex, high-stakes cases.
One of our proudest victories came when attorneys Kurt Arnold, Caj Boatright, and Roland Christensen secured a $59.5 million settlement for two Texas farmworkers struck by an 18-wheeler. By pushing the case to trial in less than a year, we forced the defendants to settle just before the trial began—ensuring our clients would have lifelong medical care and financial security despite their devastating injuries.
But our results aren't just measured in numbers—they're measured in the relief our clients feel when they know their future is secure. As truck accident survivors Maribel and Priscelda explained, what set Arnold & Itkin apart was not only our courtroom skill but the respect and care we showed throughout their case:
“They talked to us like we were people. We had tons of questions, and they answered every single one. Since we settled the case with Arnold & Itkin, I feel like my future's looking brighter.”
These outcomes and client stories are why Arnold & Itkin is consistently recognized among the nation's best. Our attorneys have been honored by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Lawdragon's 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Forbes, and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. Both Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin are members of The Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in the country.
No matter how powerful the opposition—whether a national carrier, oil and gas industry giant, or multibillion-dollar corporation—we fight until our clients have the answers, justice, and compensation they deserve. And we win.
About Corpus Christi, TX
Located in South Texas, Corpus Christi is located on the coast and is the county seat of Nueces County. Its name means “Body of Christ” in Latin, named by an explorer from Spain who discovered the area on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The area acted as a trading post during the Mexican-American War and was the site of a key battle during the Civil War.
Today, Corpus Christi is a bustling city with an economy that spans many sectors, from chemical and petroleum manufacturing to aerospace and aviation. Corpus Christi is home to numerous neighborhoods and suburbs. Some of these neighborhoods include Bayside, South Side, North Beach, Mustang Island, and Gardendale. Key suburbs include Portland and Robstown. The main ways in and out of Corpus Christi are by air (the Corpus Christi International Airport) and highway. Texas State Highway 44 connects the city to Laredo and southwestern Texas, while Interstate 37 and Interstate 69E connect Corpus Christi to Victoria and Brownsville. Within the city, commuters can get around via public transportation on 28 bus routes controlled by the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority.
The major highways in the Corpus Christi area are:
- U.S. Highway 77
- U.S. Highway 181
- Interstate 37
- Interstate 69E
- Texas State Highway 35
- Texas State Highway 44
- Texas State Highway 286
- Texas State Highway 357
- Texas State Highway 358
- Texas State Highway 361
Freight comes into Corpus Christi from San Antonio through the Union Pacific Railroad. Domestic and international goods come through the Port of Corpus Christi, which is the fifth largest port in the United States. The Harbor Bridge and the John F. Kennedy Causeway provide access to Corpus Christi as well.
Corpus Christi Links & Info
Get a Free Consultation with Our Corpus Christi Trucking Lawyers
Arnold & Itkin's job is simple: we help people get their lives back after life-shattering accidents. Our trucking attorneys have won billions of dollars for our clients, helping them get medical care, keep their homes, feed their families, and replace their present and future income. Every case begins with one phone call (or online form).
If our Corpus Christi truck accident lawyers can help you, we'll cover the cost of your case from start to finish, no matter how long it takes. We pay for court fees, expert witnesses, accident reconstruction—whatever is necessary to make your case as strong as possible. We even advance our fee so our clients never pay a single penny out of pocket. If you win your case, our firm receives an agreed-upon portion of it to pay for the case costs. If you don't, you'll still owe nothing.
When negligence changes lives, our Corpus Christi truck accident lawyers demand answers. Call (888) 493-1629 for a free consultation to discuss your case and how we can help.
