In 2003, Texas led the nation in fatal truck accidents with 438 semi truck fatalities. Because of the border Texas shares with Mexico, a substantial amount of international trade is transported using semi trucks on Texas roads. The sheer size of the state of Texas also means that a significant portion of cross-continental trade within the U.S. passes through our interstate system.
As traffic across our borders and country grows, so does the potential for deadly accidents. The tragic statistics continue to increase, and the relationship between semi trucks and fatalities has become even more apparent. Large trucks, including semis, killed 468 people on Texas roads in 2004.
Beyond the rise in traffic, other factors that account for this growing trend include the size and weight of the semis. When a 26,000 pound vehicle collides with a small passenger car weighing barely 4,000 pounds, it’s no surprise that the occupants of the passenger car will bear the brunt of any injuries. Obstructed visibility and swinging trailers also compromise the ability of a semi truck driver to control the vehicle, leaving more room for fatal accidents.
What is even more troubling is the tendency for trucking companies to pressure their drivers into logging more hours than federal regulations allow, pushing them past the point of exhaustion and causing many drivers to fall asleep at the wheel. A semi truck with a drowsy driver is minutes away from causing countless fatalities on the highway, yet it happens more often than many trucking companies will admit.
If your life has been shattered by a semi truck fatality, nothing can erase the pain of your loss. However, when such a tragedy occurs as the result of driver negligence or dangerous trucking company policies, those responsible must be held accountable. Legal action is not only your right, but it may be necessary to ensure the parties involved in your semi accident do not cause further fatalities.
Barry & Loewy LLP focuses in truck accident cases. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a trucking accident, please contact the truck accident attorneys of Barry & Loewy LLP today.
For more information on trucking accidents in Texas, please review our:
Trucking Accidents page
Trucking Accidents Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs)
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please fill out our online Vehicle Accident Evaluation Form.
|
|
|
|
|
