Smith County, TX — October 27, 2022, 22-year-old Matthew Saucedo was injured in a crash with an 18-wheeler on State Highway 31 in Smith County.

Authorities say the incident happened around 7:00 p.m. on Highway 31 at Farm to Market Road 737. Preliminary investigation suggests a Peterbilt semi-truck was towing a trailer south on FM 757 when it stopped at the highway intersection. Reports indicate the truck driver failed to yield to Saucedo's westbound Ford Taurus as it continued south and the car hit the semi-trailer.

Saucedo suffered serious injuries in the collision. The truck driver was unhurt.,

No further information is currently available.

Commentary on Matthew Saucedo Accident in Smith County

If police got the details of this crash right most probably feel the truck driver is pretty much indisputably at fault here. It seems like his failure to yield to the oncoming car was the key factor in the young driver's injuries, and folks might think there's little else to say or learn before the trucker and his employer make their apologies and try to set things right.

That may seem reasonable on paper, but crashes involving commercial vehicles are rarely so simple to resolve. It's always important to investigate them carefully and round up all the facts--not only to ensure everyone knows the real story, but also because those facts and the evidence supporting them are usually needed to hold the right parties accountable and get help for the people that need it.

Experience has taught me that most trucking companies will fight tooth and nail against accepting liability; that could mean blaming anything and everything but their driver for the damage or just dragging their feet until it's too late to file, but they have no shortage of tricks and tactics to get off and stay off the hot seat. Click below to read more about some obstacles a truck accident victim is likely to face, as well as what may be needed to overcome them.