Pedro Barrios Injured in Truck Accident on El Gato Rd in Laredo, TX
Laredo, TX — July 12, 2022, 51-year-old Pedro Barrios was injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer on El Gato Road in Laredo.
According to reports the incident happened around 9:00 a.m. on El Gato near Auburn Road. Preliminary investigation suggests a Kenworth semi-truck was towing a trailer east on the roadway as Barrios rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle west on the other side of the road.
Reports say the truck driver overshot his turn, so he reversed a short distance and then started to turn left. While turning the truck entered the path of the motorcycle and the two collided in the roadway.
Barrios suffered serious injuries in the crash and was airlifted to a regional hospital. The truck driver was unhurt and was cited for failure to yield.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Cory Gilbert Accident in Chambers County
It sounds from reports like the truck driver failed to yield and caused this crash, but neither he nor his employer are required to agree with police. Long experience in this field has taught me they're more likely to say something else was more directly responsible for the crash and the victim's injuries. They might point fingers at bad sightlines (the truck driver told investigators he only saw the motorcycle "at the last second"), sudden and mysterious vehicle problems, or the motorcyclist himself as the true cause of the damage.
I don't say that due to some chip on my shoulder about the trucking industry. However, I can say--without exaggeration--that in decades of working on commercial vehicle crashes I have encountered only one firm that admitted responsibility without a fuss, then set about making things right. The overwhelming majority of them did everything they could to put hurdles in the way and protect their assets rather than help the victim.
The details of truck crashes may vary, but it's almost universally true that victims and families should expect resistance if they seek help afterward. Preparing for that means gathering abundant clear evidence of what happened, but that can be tough as they struggle just to get back on their feet. I often recommend they get help from independent investigators to round up the needed proof. Armed with what those experts find, many people are able to hold the right parties accountable for the damage done.
