Carabin Shaw is one of the leading personal injury law firms in Austin and Texas. They have extensive experience in car accident cases, focusing on securing compensation for clients that reflects the full extent of their medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Specialization: Personal injury, truck accidents, car accidents, wrongful death, 18-wheeler accidents.
Why choose them? Carabin Shaw Law Firm offers a complimentary initial consultation, and their team is recognized for aggressively advocating for their clients' rights.
I-35 Car Accidents in Austin – Lawyers Who Handle Freeway Crash Claims
Interstate 35 through Austin is arguably the most dangerous stretch of highway in Central Texas. The combination of massive traffic volumes, ongoing construction, merging ramps, and aggressive driving makes I-35 a constant source of serious car accidents. If you have been injured in an I-35 crash in Austin, you need lawyers who understand the unique dynamics of freeway accidents and have the experience to take on complex claims. Austin car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw have represented countless victims of I-35 collisions and fight aggressively for the compensation their clients deserve.
Drivers who commute through Austin know that I-35 is a daily gamble. The corridor from Round Rock through downtown Austin and south to San Marcos is plagued by bottleneck after bottleneck, made worse by the massive I-35 expansion project that has narrowed lanes, shifted traffic patterns, and created confusing detours. Experienced car accident attorneys in Austin at Carabin Shaw understand how these conditions contribute to crashes and know how to use that knowledge to build strong cases for their clients.
If you have been hurt in a car wreck on I-35 in Austin, car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw are ready to investigate your crash and fight for full compensation. Call today for a free consultation.
Why I-35 Through Austin Is So Dangerous
I-35 was originally designed to handle far fewer vehicles than it carries today. Austin's explosive population growth has overwhelmed the highway's capacity, creating chronic congestion that stretches for miles during peak hours. The upper and lower deck system through central Austin adds confusion, as drivers unfamiliar with the layout make last-second lane changes and exits. Merging points where Highway 183, Highway 290, and MoPac feed into I-35 create additional turbulence in the traffic flow.
The ongoing I-35 expansion project, while necessary for the city's long-term transportation needs, has created years of construction zone hazards. Narrowed lanes, concrete barriers, shifted entries and exits, reduced speed limits that many drivers ignore, and abrupt lane changes through work zones all increase the risk of crashes. Accident rates in construction zones are significantly higher than on normal highway segments.
Common Types of I-35 Car Accidents in Austin
Rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of crash on I-35 through Austin. The constant stop-and-go nature of the traffic means that drivers who are distracted, following too closely, or not paying attention to brake lights ahead of them cause chain-reaction crashes that can involve multiple vehicles. At highway speeds, these rear-end crashes can cause severe whiplash, disc injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
Sideswipe accidents happen when drivers change lanes without checking blind spots or merge aggressively. Lane-change crashes are especially common in construction zones where lane markings are temporary and confusing. Multi-vehicle pileups occur when a single crash triggers a chain reaction in heavy traffic, with vehicles at the rear of the pileup often struck at full speed by drivers who had no time to react.
Construction Zone Accidents and Liability
Texas law imposes enhanced penalties for traffic violations committed in active construction zones, and the negligence of a driver who causes a wreck in a work zone may be viewed more seriously by a jury. However, the construction company itself may also bear partial liability if their traffic control measures, signage, lane markings, or work zone layout were inadequate or confusing. When poor work zone design contributes to a crash, lawyers can pursue claims against the construction company and the government entity that contracted the work.
Proving construction zone liability requires careful investigation of the work zone setup, signage placement, and compliance with TxDOT standards for temporary traffic control. Lawyers at Carabin Shaw have experience handling these claims and know how to identify construction-related factors that contributed to the crash.
Multi-Vehicle Pileups on I-35
Multi-vehicle pileups are among the most dangerous and legally complex types of I-35 accidents. When dense traffic is suddenly forced to stop — because of a crash ahead, debris in the road, or a sudden downpour — the vehicles at the rear may not have time to react. The resulting chain reaction can involve dozens of vehicles and produce a tangled web of liability where multiple drivers share fault.
Sorting out liability in a multi-vehicle pileup requires detailed accident reconstruction, analysis of dashcam and surveillance footage, and careful review of witness statements. Each driver's insurance company will try to shift blame to the others, making it essential to have lawyers who can navigate these complex disputes and pursue claims against every responsible party.
Evidence Collection After an I-35 Crash
Freeway accident scenes are often cleared quickly to restore traffic flow, which means that physical evidence can disappear rapidly. Traffic monitoring cameras operated by TxDOT and the City of Austin may have captured footage of the crash. Dashcam recordings from other vehicles provide valuable evidence. Construction zone cameras may also have recorded the accident. Your lawyers will move quickly to identify and preserve all available video evidence before it is overwritten or deleted.
Event data recorders in newer vehicles capture pre-crash data including speed, braking, and steering inputs. Cell phone records can prove whether the at-fault driver was using their phone at the time of the crash. Accident reconstruction experts analyze all available evidence to create a detailed model of how the collision occurred and who bears responsibility.
Carabin Shaw Fights for I-35 Crash Victims in Austin
If you have been injured in a car wreck on I-35 in Austin, Carabin Shaw's car accident lawyers have the experience and resources to handle your case from investigation through resolution. They understand the specific hazards of I-35, the complexities of construction zone and multi-vehicle claims, and the aggressive tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts on freeway crash cases. Contact Carabin Shaw today for a free consultation.
