Bridges connect communities across Houston and throughout Texas, but when one fails, the results can be catastrophic. A bridge collapse can happen suddenly, leaving drivers, passengers, and pedestrians facing life-threatening injuries or even death. These accidents are rare but devastating, raising important questions about what went wrong and who should be held accountable.
While some collapses are linked to aging infrastructure, others happen because of poor maintenance, design flaws, or unexpected external forces. Understanding the causes of bridge failures is crucial for protecting victims’ rights and seeking justice after a tragedy.
Structural Defects and Design Flaws
When engineers design bridges, they are incredibly careful to ensure that the structure can withstand daily use. Still, as is true of anyone, their calculations are not always perfect. Sometimes, flaws in the design or construction process lead to failures, which can cause a bridge to collapse unexpectedly while loaded down with hundreds of commuters.
The collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minnesota serves as a stark reminder of these dangers. Inadequate load capacity related to a design flaw led to the bridge falling apart, taking 111 vehicles with it. The event was the cause of 13 deaths and another 145 reported injuries.
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Poor Maintenance and Deterioration
There are hundreds of aging bridges across the country.
Over time, they can deteriorate due to:
- Rust and corrosion
- Erosion around the base or foundation
- Cracks in concrete supports
- Falling expansion joints and cables
Unfortunately, cost and resource limitations have made it difficult to address these inadequacies in a timely manner.
Overloaded or Excessive Weight
Though the I-35W bridge collapse was chalked up to an overloading issue, investigators determined that errors during the design of the structure prevented it from withstanding the weight of the vehicles traveling across it. Over time, these overages wore down the infrastructure and led to the collapse.
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Natural Disasters
Weather can take a toll on infrastructure, especially in a state like Texas. Heavy flooding, hurricanes, and high winds can all erode supports or wash away foundations. Events such as Hurricane Harvey showed how flooding can expose vulnerabilities in bridges and roads across the Houston region.
Sudden temperature changes may also expand and contract structural materials, causing stress fractures.
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Construction Accidents or Collisions
When most people think about a bridge failing, they likely assume that the structure is decades old, and though that is often the case, bridges can also fail as they are being built.
In August 2025, an under-construction Chinese railway bridge collapsed when a steel cable unexpectedly snapped. So far, 12 workers have been killed, and at least four others have not been found since.
Preventing Bridge Collapses
Preventing these tragedies requires diligence throughout the design, construction, and maintenance phases of the asset’s lifecycle. Recognizing the risks of bridge failures and proactively addressing warning signs are the best ways to protect people from these tragic events.
What to Do After a Bridge Collapse
Dealing with the aftermath of a bridge collapse can be overwhelming due to the complex medical and legal processes involved. When a bridge collapses, it can lead to crushing injuries, lifelong consequences for victims, and even death.
Couple that with a likely extensive discovery process to contested liability, and there is no shortage of barriers standing between victims and justice. The key to justice is to seek medical treatment right away and document everything while allowing investigators to determine whether negligence was a factor.
Contact the Houston Personal Injury Attorneys at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you’ve been injured in a bridge collapse, Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help.
For more information, contact the Houston personal injury law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
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About the Author
Attorney Brian White is the founding partner of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers in Houston, TX. A graduate of Texas A&M University and South Texas College of Law, he is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law — a distinction held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys, with years of experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, maritime injuries, wrongful death, and more. He is dedicated to thorough preparation, strong advocacy, and helping accident victims secure the compensation they deserve.
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