Published by J.A. Davis & Associates – San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers – Car Accident Injury Representation

I-35 vs. I-37: Which Highway Sees More Bexar County Wrecks?

The car accident lawyers serving San Antonio at J.A. Davis & Associates, LLP have handled Bexar County highway wrecks for more than two decades. In that time, one question comes up repeatedly after a freeway collision: was this stretch of road unusually dangerous, or was it just bad luck? When victims ask about I-35 and I-37 specifically, the answer involves traffic volume, commercial truck density, infrastructure age, and route purpose—not just raw crash counts. Understanding those differences can help you recognize the risks before you drive and know your rights after a San Antonio interstate accident.

Texas crash records maintained by TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS) document every reportable collision on state roadways. Those records consistently show that roadways carrying heavier vehicle volumes—particularly routes shared by passenger cars and heavy commercial trucks—generate more total crashes than lighter-traffic corridors. That pattern holds true across the country, as NHTSA data on fatality rates per vehicle-mile traveled confirms. Applied to San Antonio, it points clearly toward I-35 as the higher-volume, higher-risk corridor compared to I-37.

I-35: The NAFTA Corridor Through Downtown San Antonio

Interstate 35 is not just a San Antonio interstate—it is a continental spine. Running from Laredo at the Mexican border north through San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and beyond into Canada, I-35 carries an enormous share of cross-border freight generated by NAFTA trade relationships. That means a disproportionate number of 18-wheelers, oversized loads, and tanker trucks weaving through urban traffic at all hours. Bexar County highway wrecks on I-35 are driven in large part by that commercial truck volume.

Inside the Loop 410 interchange, I-35 twists through some of the tightest curves of any urban freeway in Texas. The downtown section narrows, exits stack close together, and lane widths tighten—all while carrying tens of thousands of vehicles per day. Long-running construction projects have added concrete barriers, lane shifts, and temporary signage that confuse unfamiliar drivers and compress already-thin shoulders. When a passenger vehicle clips a barrier or a truck driver misses a merge, the consequences are immediate and often serious.

• High truck volume: Cross-border freight keeps commercial vehicles on I-35 around the clock, raising the probability of truck-involved crashes.
• Downtown geometry: Sharp curves and short sight distances between downtown interchanges limit reaction time.
• Active construction zones: Shifting lane configurations and reduced speeds create conflict points where rear-end collisions cluster.
• Interchange density: Spaghetti-style ramps at I-10, I-37, and US-90 force aggressive merges from all directions.

I-37: The Shorter Intra-City Route to the Corpus Christi Coast

Interstate 37 runs roughly 140 miles from downtown San Antonio southeast to Corpus Christi. Inside Bexar County its footprint is much smaller—it exits the metro area relatively quickly—and its daily traffic volumes are generally lower than I-35’s. The route serves regional commuters, recreational drivers heading to the coast, and some industrial traffic tied to the Port of Corpus Christi, but it does not carry the same relentless NAFTA freight load that defines I-35. San Antonio interstate accident reports from I-37 do exist, and the corridor is not without hazard, but the scale of exposure is different.

Where I-37 does create risk is at its northern terminus near downtown, where it merges into the same congested interchange system shared with I-35 and I-10. That junction area sees aggressive lane changes and compressed merge distances that mirror the worst of I-35’s downtown behavior. Drivers who have just left the relative calm of I-37’s southern stretch can be caught off guard by the sudden density change as they approach the city core.

• Lower overall volume: Fewer vehicles per day generally means fewer total collisions on the Bexar County segment.
• Regional mix: A blend of commuter, recreational, and industrial traffic—less dominated by heavy freight than I-35.
• Downtown junction risk: The I-35/I-37/I-10 interchange concentrates hazard at the northern end of the route.

Why Traffic Volume Drives Freeway Crash Frequency

Crash frequency on any roadway is closely tied to vehicle exposure—the number of vehicles traveling a stretch multiplied by the miles they travel. A road carrying three times the daily traffic of a comparable route will, all else being equal, see more total crashes simply because more conflict opportunities occur every hour. I-35’s role as a continental freight corridor means its exposure figure dwarfs I-37’s within Bexar County. That volume gap, combined with downtown geometry and construction activity, is why I-35 is generally associated with a higher number of highway wrecks in Bexar County than I-37.

Common Crash Types on San Antonio Interstates

Whether a freeway collision happens on I-35 or I-37, certain crash types appear repeatedly in the records of Bexar County highway wrecks.

• Rear-end collisions: Stop-and-go traffic in construction zones and at interchange backups causes drivers following too closely to collide with slowing vehicles ahead. These are among the most frequent crash types on urban interstates.
• Lane-change and sideswipe crashes: Multi-lane freeways require constant merging. Blind spots, distraction, and aggressive driving all contribute to sideswipe collisions—especially in transition zones where lanes drop or shift.
• Truck-involved crashes: An 18-wheeler’s stopping distance, wide turns, and cargo weight create catastrophic risk when a collision occurs. If a truck was involved in your San Antonio interstate accident, speak with a San Antonio truck accident lawyer who understands federal FMCSA regulations and carrier liability.
• Work-zone crashes: Construction areas on I-35 generate a distinct category of collisions involving reduced lanes, confused signage, and workers in or near the roadway.

Liability After a Freeway Crash

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule. If you are found partially at fault for a freeway collision, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault—but only eliminated entirely if your share exceeds 50 percent. On busy corridors like I-35, liability can involve multiple parties: a negligent driver, a trucking company that failed to maintain a vehicle, a contractor responsible for an unsafe work zone, or even a government entity whose signal or signage failed. Sorting out who bears what share of responsibility requires evidence gathered quickly—before dashcam footage is overwritten, before witness memories fade, and before vehicles are repaired or destroyed.

An attorney can send preservation letters to trucking companies, request black-box data from commercial vehicles, and obtain TxDOT crash reports and records before they are archived. Victims who wait often lose access to that evidence.

What to Do After a Bexar County Interstate Crash

• Move to safety if possible and call 911 immediately.
• Accept medical evaluation at the scene—adrenaline masks pain, and documented injuries protect your claim.
• Photograph the scene, vehicle positions, skid marks, signage, and any construction zone conditions before vehicles are moved.
• Get the names and contact information of all drivers, passengers, and witnesses.
• Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
• Contact J.A. Davis & Associates as soon as possible—Texas has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims, but evidence disappears far faster.

Talk to J.A. Davis & Associates After a Freeway Wreck

Since 1999, J.A. Davis & Associates, LLP has represented crash victims injured on I-35, I-37, and every other San Antonio interstate and highway in Bexar County. The firm offers a free consultation with no obligation. If you or someone you love was hurt in a highway collision, call (210) 732-1062 today. There are no fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you.