Expert says trucking industry policies contribute to accidents | The Law Offices of Tyler & Peery

On Behalf of | Sep 4, 2015 | Truck Accidents |

If you watch the local news or read the newspaper, you may have noticed
the regularity with which accidents involving big rig trucks are reported.
You may also be familiar with the tragic truck crash in New Jersey in
which comedian Tracy Morgan was injured and several other people were
killed. But truck accidents occur with shocking frequency across the country and Texas is no exception.

A recent Op-Ed penned by a former executive of the American Trucking Associations
expressed a deep dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in
the trucking industry. In stating his case, the executive cites the following:

  • This year, more people will be fatally injured in truck-involved accidents
    than have been killed in the past 45 years in domestic commercial airline crashes.
  • The number of fatalities in truck-involved accidents increased by 17 percent
    between the years 2009 and 2013.
  • In 2013, the year of the most recent data, 3,964 people died in truck-involved
    accidents.

The executive mentions other disturbing statistics, but he also calls out
the trucking industry and Congress for contributing to the problem. He
writes that Congress is coddling the trucking industry and is even considering
acting in its behest to roll back regulations that were put in place to
increase truck safety. For example, Congress is looking at increasing
the number of hours a driver can spend behind the wheel from 70 to 82 per week.

It is hard to believe the disregard that Congress and the trucking industry
appear to have for the safety of American citizens who use the roads.
The executive suggests that as things move forward, we can expect the
accidents to continue.

If you or a family member are harmed in an accident with a big rig truck
and you wish to pursue compensation for medical expenses and damages,
an experienced Texas personal injury attorney may be able to help. Truck
accidents may have a number of liable parties and the attorney could work
toward getting you the fair settlement you deserve.
Contact us today!

Source: New York Times, “The Trucks Are Killing Us,” Howard Abramson, Aug. 21, 2015