Unfortunately, trucking accidents are a common occurrence with 18-wheel tractor-trailers and other large vehicles a common presence on Texas roadways. Trucking might be something of a necessary evil – but Texans should not have to worry about the likelihood of a serious truck crash. Better safety practices could help the trucking industry cut down on the more than 200,000 crashes that occur every year throughout the United States.
This post will present some common factors that play a role in many of these trucking accidents.
- Although there are dramatically more cars on the road than trucks, truckers cause around 40 percent of all fatal crashes.
- The majority of trucking accidents happen under the best conditions: clear weather, broad daylight and dry pavement.
- Four out of five fatal truck crashes kill the driver or passengers in the other car.
- Massive semi-trucks like 18-wheelers involve numerous hazards that smaller vehicles do not – for example, trucks have large blind spots and are less maneuverable.
- Truckers often underestimate the amount of room they have in which to make a lane change. This often causes trailers to crash into other cars.
According to a trucking industry organization, these and other factors involved in driving a large truck resulted in some ominous advice for other motorists: “the best defensive driving technique when dealing with large vehicles is to stay away from them.”
Of course, this is rarely possible on America’s truck-filled highways. If an accident does occur, victims are entitled to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help them determine which of these common trucking problems was involved.
Source: National Traffic Safety Institute, “Truck Safety Tips”