Whether you call them 18-wheelers, big rigs, tractor trucks, tractor-trailers, or simply large trucks, accidents involving commercial vehicles tend to result in catastrophic and life-threatening injuries for passengers of other vehicles. A passenger vehicle is easily demolished by the size and weight of an 18-wheeler, which is why thousands of people are killed and injured in 18-wheeler accidents each year. Even though commercial trucks are heavily regulated, federal regulations and laws do not prevent the negligence and carelessness that leads to large truck accidents.
What Factors Are Involved in Large Truck Accidents?
While poor weather conditions and hazardous road conditions can be factors in truck accidents, many large truck accidents are the result of a person or company’s negligence and wrongdoing. Some of the common causes of trucking accidents include:
- Distracted Driving — Distracted driving continues to be a common factor in many truck accidents. Texting while driving, eating, watching videos, using cell phones, checking emails, and programming truck controls are just a few of the distractions that can lead to an 18-wheeler accident. Any activity that causes the truck driver’s eyes or focus to leave the road can be a potentially deadly distraction.
- Truck Driver Fatigue — Federal regulations limit the number of hours a truck driver can operate a vehicle without breaks or rest. Hours of service regulations are designed to prevent drowsy and fatigued driving. However, long-distance truck drivers are often encouraged to drive beyond safe limits to adhere to unrealistic deadlines. The result is truck drivers whose coordination, reaction time, and concentration are impaired because they are tired.
- Impaired Driving — Drugs and alcohol are other factors that can lead to large truck accidents. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can also impair a driver’s ability to operate a large truck safely.
- Inexperienced Truck Drivers — Driving a large truck requires significant training and skill. Drivers who have not had the proper training can be dangerous on the road. An inexperienced or improperly trained truck driver may not know how to handle various situations to avoid collisions. They may take unnecessary risks that can lead to a crash.
- Defective Trucks and Improperly Maintained Trucks — Commercial vehicles require constant maintenance to operate safely. If any system or part of the truck is defective, worn, or broken, the truck driver could lose control of the vehicle, thereby causing a crash. Trucking companies and truck drivers should check trucks and monitor recalls ensuring that vehicles are safe.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo — Shippers must be careful when loading cargo to ensure that the cargo does not shift during transit. Cargo that shifts or trucks that are overloaded can rollover. Overloaded trucks can also be more difficult to stop in an emergency.
- Traffic Infractions and Reckless Driving — Reckless driving encompasses a variety of traffic infractions. Speeding, tailgating, running red lights, failing to yield the right of way, and unsafe passing are all examples of reckless driving. Breaking traffic laws is another common cause of 18-wheeler accidents.
Other factors may also contribute to the cause of a large truck accident. Determining the cause of the accident is crucial for identifying the party or parties liable for damages. A Houston truck accident attorney performs a thorough accident investigation to gather evidence that proves fault and liability. Multiple parties may be liable for an 18-wheeler accident, including truck drivers, trucking companies, government entities, shippers, truck manufacturers, and repair shops.
What Should You Do After an 18-Wheeler Accident?
As with all other traffic accidents, call 911 immediately to report the crash. In most cases, a large truck accident results in traumatic injuries. Accident victims are often unable to document the accident scene by taking photographs and gathering contact information from eyewitnesses. Therefore, it is important to contact a Houston truck accident attorney as soon as possible after a large truck accident.
An attorney can act quickly to preserve evidence, such as the information on the truck’s black box, truck driver logs, and maintenance records. An experienced truck accident attorney in Houston can also contact the necessary accident experts required to investigate a commercial truck accident. Commercial truck accidents are complex and difficult to investigate. It is best to hire a Texas truck accident attorney who has experience handling these types of traffic accident claims.
Large Truck Accident Statistics
According to the NHTSA, the number of fatalities in large truck accidents increased by nine percent from 2016 to 2017. Some key truck accident statistics include:
- 4,761 people died in 2017 in large truck accidents in the United States
- 82 percent of the people who died in truck accidents in 2017 were occupants of other vehicles or non-occupants (bicyclists, pedestrians, etc.)
- From 2008 through 2017, there was a 12 percent increase in the number of fatalities from large truck accidents
- Texas had the largest number of large trucks involved in fatal accidents in 2017
- The largest number of truck occupants and other occupants killed in large truck accidents in 2017 was in Texas
- In 2017, 24,818 tractor-trailers or semi-trailers were involved in traffic crashes in Texas. There were 433 trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2017.
- In 2018, 26,417 tractor-trailers or semi-trailers were involved in traffic crashes in Texas. There were 465 trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2018.
Contact a Houston Truck Accident Attorney for More Information
The Weycer Law Firm assists individuals and families who have sustained injuries and losses because of an accident with an 18-wheeler. For a free consultation, call (713) 668-4545. You may also use the chat feature on our website for information 24/7.
