Do you find yourself becoming uneasy when encountering large commercial trucks on the roadway? If the answer is yes, it would be for good reason.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a study and found that there are 450,000 trucking related accidents in the U.S. each year. Due to long travel days for multiple days on end, it is not uncommon for many of these drivers to become fatigued at the wheel. As a result, other drivers often pay the price. Of the 5,000 deaths a year in these truck related accidents, 74% of the fatalities fall upon the passenger drivers and not the truck drivers themselves.
What Causes Texas Truck Accidents?
Why is the number of truck accidents so high? What causes these truck accidents? For one thing, the weight of commercial trucks greatly outnumber the weight of regular passenger vehicles. To compare, the average weight of a truck is 80,000 pounds at its maximum, while regular vehicles weigh around 3,400 pounds. Consequently, commercial trucks are much more likely to cause devastating damage to smaller vehicles. In addition, the size of commercial trucks and their weight causes the time it takes to slow down and even stop much greater. Lastly, trucks transporting hazardous material or flammable liquid result in a higher probability of greater danger in the event of a collision.
How Can You Protect Yourself From Being The Victim Of A Texas Truck Accident?
As much as drivers may wish to avoid trucks on the roadway, the probability of successfully avoiding them is slim. There are, however, a few ways to protect yourself while sharing the roadway with these large semi trucks in order to prevent a Texas truck accident. Do your best to avoid cutting off semi-trucks while sharing the roadway. It takes them much longer to slow down or even react safely due to their size. Try to refrain from distracted driving for the same reason. Avoid remaining in their blindspots along the sides of their trailers. Many semis will have imaging printed on the trailer notifying drivers where their blind spots are located. Being mindful of these things will make the roadways much safer for you and semi drivers both.
David Hart, the founder of The Hart Law Firm, is one of six attorneys in the state of Texas certified in Trucking Accident Law.Have You Been Injured In A Texas Truck Accident?
If you've been injured in a truck accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident injury attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Colleyville office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.
