With more and more 18-wheeler trucks on the roadways in San Antonio, and south Texas, it comes as no surprise why road accidents involving big rigs occur almost every day. The experienced truck accident lawyers, and 18 wheeler accident lawyers at Barrus Injury Lawyers have put together a list of 10 facts involving truck accidents that can help keep you safe. We hope this guide helps keep you safe and alert while on the road.
- Statistics from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that 12 percent of fatal traffic collisions in 2011 involved some kind of large commercial truck. It should be mentioned that more than 3,700 fatalities on U.S. roads in 2011 were attributed to tractor-trailer trucks and other similar big rigs.
- Between 2004 and 2008, it’s estimated that the average number of annual accidents involving tractor trailers dropped to 3,500 from a high of 5,000 average annual incidents in previous years. However, Texas still sees the highest numbers of deadly heavy truck accidents. And with Texas’ oil and gas industry continuing to grow, and San Antonio’s position as a premier port for exports and imports, it’s unlikely these accidents will decline any time soon.
- Big rigs hauling trailers are by far the most common type of truck behind fatal traffic incidents, accounting for more than 60 percent of collisions involving heavy trucks.
- Federal law mandates that heavy trucks can only carry a maximum load of 40 tons (80,000 pounds). However, we know for a fact that some trucks and the trucking companies behind them knowingly exceed this limit to deliver more goods in a single trip, all in the name of maximizing profits. However, the heavier the truck, the less maneuverable it becomes, making it hard to swerve and stop on the road. This makes it even more of a danger to motorists.
- The majority of deaths involving heavy trucks involve the passengers hit by trucks, and not the truck drivers and passengers. It’s estimated that at least 70 percent of fatalities are passengers and drivers in ordinary motor vehicles. Truck drivers and passengers account for 17 percent, while pedestrians and cyclists account for 11 percent of deaths.
- In 2011, heavy commercial trucks were involved in only 8 percent of fatal traffic collisions. However, their massive size relative to other motor vehicles has made them the culprit behind 12 percent of all traffic fatalities in the same year.
- For what it’s worth, big rigs rarely cause damage to property and injuries only. But that matters little, as most accidents involving them result in deaths.
- In 2011, over 70 percent of deadly truck accidents happened due to the truck crashed into another motor vehicle.
- 10 to 15 percent of tanker truck accidents involve a rollover incident
- While substance abuse and DUIs are rarely a factor in accidents involving heavy commercial trucks, 11 percent of wrecks are attributed to lane violations caused by reckless driving, and fatigue on the part of the driver. 6 percent of wrecks were partially caused by the driver having a lack of attention while on the road.
If you’re frequently on the road in the San Antonio, or Eagle Ford Shale area, it’s important that you know your rights should you ever be involved in an accident with a large commercial truck. Know what to do when building a personal injury claim by calling the legal team at Barrus Injury Lawyers. Call us now at (210) 593-8709 to set an appointment for a free, no-obligation consultation, or click here to contact us.
References:
- Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents (TIFA) report from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute
- Trucks involved in Fatal Accidents Factbook 2008, published by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics in March 2014
Our San Antonio personal injury law firm has experience with a wide variety of cases, if you need a car accident lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, bus accident lawyer, dog bite lawyer, wrongful death lawyer, medical malpractice lawyer, or a slip and fall lawyer, contact us today.
