Texas Leads in Fatal Truck Crashes

Approximately 13% of all truck crash fatalities in 2019 occurred in the state of Texas. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that Texas is the home of more fatal truck accidents than any other state in the country.

Texas leads the country in trucking accidents. The Texas Department of Transportation reported the following in 2020:

• 7,342 non-incapacitating injuries
• 1,245 serious injuries
• 581 fatalities
• 513 fatal commercial vehicle crashes in the state of Texas

Texas is a large state with more than 3,200 miles of interstate highways on which trucks travel every day. The state is also a major hub for the oil and gas industry. Many drivers must transport oil and gas across the state. These drivers haul hazardous materials that are flammable and toxic. When one of these tanker trucks is involved in a collision, the damage can be so great that even homes or businesses near the crash site can be damaged.

Injuries and Semi-Truck Accidents

Passenger cars and large trucks are often involved in automobile accidents. The size differential between a passenger car and a large truck means that the driver and passenger in the smaller vehicle often suffer serious bodily injuries.

Many passenger vehicles weigh 5,000 pounds or less. Most large transport trucks weigh approximately 80,000 pounds. Fatalities often result during these crashes, and it is mostly drivers and passengers in small vehicles that can die in these catastrophic collisions.

These large trucks also cannot immediately stop when the driver presses the brakes. Several accidents involving large trucks occur because the driver could not immediately stop and avoid striking another vehicle.

What Causes Large Truck Accidents in Texas?

Trucking accidents in Texas are caused by many different factors. Severe weather can increase the risk of an accident occurring on a major highway. Distracted driving is also an important factor to consider when assessing the causes of large truck accidents in Texas.

Faulty evasive action is one reason so many trucking accidents occur in Texas. Faulty evasive action takes place when a truck driver tries to avoid an accident or reacts too late in an attempt to not collide with another motor vehicle. These accidents often occur due to distracted driving and truck drivers not paying attention to their surroundings.

Inattentive driving is also another cause of trucking accidents in Texas. Texting on a mobile phone, changing a radio station, and eating food can all cause inattentive driving. Truck drivers must be extremely vigilant when they drive because their large vehicles can cause catastrophic accidents.

Truck drivers may violate safety rules by driving beyond the hours permitted or not performing regular safety inspections. Also, improper lane changes can trap unsuspecting motorists if a small car is in the truck driver’s blind spot.

When truck drivers fail to yield the right of way, this can cause fatal collisions. Truck drivers are responsible for their own safety, and they must use the tools they learn when they acquire their commercial licenses.

Speak with a Plano Truck Accident Attorney

The law firm of Joel M. Vecchio, P.C., handles complex truck accident claims, including those for wrongful death after fatal crashes. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and to learn how we can help.