The Exponential Rise of Truck Accidents Should Worry Us All

The United States of America has more recently begun to experience a worrying upturn in the frequency of truck accidents and we should all start paying closer attention. Here’s why…

According to Greg Baumgartner, who is a Houston 18 wheeler accident lawyer, says accidents involving trucks are often fatal—resulting in damages, loss of property and lives. This is because a truck is usually larger and heavier than a regular vehicle. So, getting a truck to stop in instances such as brake failure and other similar occurrences is very difficult (sometimes impossible). On average, a fully loaded truck’s weight is about 80,000 pounds, while that of a common vehicle is approximately 5000 pounds. Obviously, any accidents involving these two vehicles poses a very huge threat to the regular vehicle and its passengers. 

Researching into the impact of truck accidents in the US, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently released a report on the frequency of deadly truck accidents. The number of recorded big truck accidents that occurred last year truly makes for some grim reading.  

Considering Texas as a typical example, according to FMCSA records across all US states, Texas—the second-biggest state in the US—records the highest rate of casualties resulting from big truck accidents with about 484 incidences. Apart from its size being a reason for the high rate of incidences, Texas has about 3200 miles of interstate highways which implies that it has heavier big truck traffic than most of the other states.

As a result of this high rate of incidences, trucking companies, as well as drivers, are being monitored and regulated by the state (Texas) and the department of transportation through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Drivers and Trucking Companies Have Responsibilities…

Even though steps are being taken in Texas and states across the US, trucking companies and truckers also have responsibilities to carry out. Such as…

Drivers should give detailed daily reports of every truck fault (major or minor) and every repair should be done in a timely manner.

Companies should properly regulate truck activities, so that drivers should only work within the confines of their prescribed working hours. Drivers who exceed their working hours should be punished if discovered.

Drivers should maintain their trucks in conditions fit for transit. They should pay keen attention to every vehicular detail no matter how negligible it may seem. 

If truck companies take these responsibilities seriously, we should start to see a reduction in big truck accidents.