The Large Number Of Trucking Accidents In Texas
The increased commercial truck traffic on all major Texas interstates and highways
as well as the truck traffic on rural roads to the oil and gas drilling sites in the Houston area in particular means trucking accidents are bound to increase. Houston is considered one of the busiest thoroughfares as a primary shipping route and with almost 6 million residents in the Houston metroplex, many Houston residents will end up needing the services of an experienced truck accident lawyer.
A recent study by the American Trucking Association estimates that the United States will need over a hundred thousand additional truck drivers by the year 2014. This relative shortage of truck drivers will compound the challenge of truck safety and the oil drilling boom will continue to increase commercial truck traffic in the Houston and surrounding areas. Nationwide, a full quarter of all trucking accidents occur on Interstates and when you take all factors into consideration Houston ranks at the top of the list for the number of 18-wheeler accidents, many resulting in fatalities. Some trucking facts include:
In 2008 there were 421 fatalities involving large commercial trucks, a number which was down to 284 fatalities by 2010.
Overall, the number of accidents involving trucks has increased, with over 15,000 crashes in 2010.
A full fifteen percent of the total number of Houston truck collisions result in serious injury.
Nationwide there were 3,675 trucking-related deaths in 2010 meaning Houston accounted for a fairly large percentage of the total.
One-fifth of all
Texas trucking accidents are rear collisions while two-thirds involve a frontal collision between a large commercial truck and a passenger vehicle.
What Caused Your Trucking Accident?
Truckers often get behind the wheel of their truck while fatigued simply because if they are not driving they are not making money. The trucking company has little interest in making sure the driver is properly rested since they too are only making money when the trucks wheels are spinning. Some of the more common factors involved in trucking accidents include:
Driver fatigue
Driver inattention
Driver distraction
Reckless driving behavior or excessive speed on the part of the truck driver
An intoxicated driver
Trucking company negligence in hiring practices
Improperly secured loads
Falsified logbooks resulting in too many hours on the road
Poor safety or training programs by trucking companies
Defective tires or brakes
Poor truck maintenance
Failure to comply with trucking regulations
Mechanical defects
Inexperienced truck drivers
The Potentially Tragic Consequences of Falsified Logbooks
Federal regulations have become much stricter in the past couple of years regarding the number of hours drivers of 18-wheelers are allowed to remain behind the wheel before they must stop and rest. Despite these regulations, many truck drivers continue to regularly drive more hours than allowed, and far longer than is safe. The average number of miles driven by long-distance truckers is 2500 per week yet many routinely drive more than that amount, putting the safety of all those around them at risk.
Truckers may falsify logbooks for many reasons: clients want their deliveries yesterday, the trucking company wants to continue to increase their financial bottom line and even the family of the trucker may be putting pressure on the driver to drive more hours because they need the increased paycheck to get by. There are over 200,000 logbook violations actually discovered every year, so it is hard to imagine how many violations actually occur. The physical and mental intensity required to drive a large commercial truck for hours at a stretch is huge and in some cases trucks are loaded with hazardous chemicals, increasing the risks to other drivers.
Those who are victims of a trucking accident in Houstonand those numbers are sure to increase--must contact a reputable and experienced
truck accident lawyer who will look out for their rights and take on the many potential defendants in the trucking accident. Your 18-wheeler truck accident attorney must have a clear understanding of federal regulations and plenty of experience defending those who have been injured in a trucking accident.
Tags: texas truck accident attorney, texas truck accident attorneys,texas truck accident lawyer, texas truck accident lawyers, traffic accident, houston personal injury, houston personal injury attorneys, injury claims lawyer
by: Sullo and Sullo Staff Writer
Some Styles Of Nike Lebron 10 That You Cant Ignore Bathing Room Concepts Have Gone From Stark To Stupendous All That You Needed To Know About Safavieh Traditional Rugs Chaussures Timberland: Battre Les Prix Grow Mushrooms For Retail Market Leather - Dcor Your Office With Appropriate Furnitures Batteria Hp Compaq 6730s Big Broadband In Gas - Will It Survive?.. Buffalo Ny Limo - United You Benefit Catch Fast Cash Advance Directly Lets Together Enlighten Steps To Follow When Installing A Drainage System Bosch Kts 520 Piwis Es