Large trucks are an essential part of Texas’ economy. Truck drivers traverse across the entire country, bringing goods from all over. While these vehicles and drivers might serve an important function, they also pose a serious threat. Large truck accidents are life altering and, in some cases, even life ending.

In accidents involving large trucks and smaller passenger vehicles, victims in the smaller vehicles are much more likely to suffer fatal injuries. Part of the problem is that tractor trailers simply weigh more than cars — a lot more. The average large truck weighs as much as 30 times more than passenger vehicles. Sadly, several issues could result in these massive vehicles causing a serious accident.

Poorly maintained equipment

Trucking companies are supposed to ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained and free of defects. Unfortunately, defective equipment is a common factor in large truck accidents. Brake defects factor into an astounding 42% of all investigated trucking accidents. A single defect can increase the risk of a crash by 200%.

It is always a good feeling to walk into a store and find the exact product you were looking for, but you might not think much about how it got there. However, you have probably had the experience of driving near a large truck. Large trucks travel back and forth across the country each and every day, delivering goods and consumer products. Unfortunately, getting products to stores is not always safe. Large truck accidents are responsible for thousands of deaths every year.

In 2018 alone, large truck accidents caused 4,136 fatalities. In two vehicle accidents that only involved large trucks and passenger vehicles, drivers and occupants in passenger vehicles accounted for 96% of deaths. Large trucks also caused 22% of all passenger vehicle deaths in multi-vehicle accidents.

What is a large truck?

Large trucks are also referred to as 18-wheelers or tractor trailers. An example is a tractor truck that is pulling one or more trailers. Large trucks can also be single unit vehicles. These trucks often weigh upwards of 10,000 pounds.

Commercial trucks play an important role in our economy. They are large and heavy because they transport goods and products across the country, but they are also capable of inflicting serious damage in the event of an accident. Because they are so much bigger and heavier that other types of vehicles, they are capable of inflicting grave damage.

If you are the victim of a truck accident in Texas, you know first hand how destructive accidents involving semitrailers can be. You may also know how overwhelming the aftermath is, and how difficult it can be to pick up the pieces and move forward. As a truck accident victim, you may have grounds to pursue financial compensation through a civil claim filed against the liable party.

Common questions about these accidents

As a Texas driver, you are aware that large trucks are everywhere on the road. Semitrailers are a critical part of the economy, and they are responsible for transporting goods and products from one place to another. Due to their heavy weight and the sheer size of these vehicles, you also know they can cause significant damage when involved in an accident.

In order to make the roads safer and decrease the chance of an accident, there are both state and federal laws in place that determine how these vehicles operate. There are strict guidelines for the number of consecutive hours truckers can drive and how frequently they must rest. There is some question regarding the efficacy of these regulations and whether they actually make the roads safer for motorists.

Do current regulations hurt or help?

Trucks are important to the Texas economy and the American economy as a whole, but there are strict regulations regarding how long a person can be behind the wheel of one of these vehicles. When a truck driver experiences fatigue, he or she is more likely to cause an accident.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has put regulations in place that limit how many subsequent hours a trucker can drive. Despite regulations, many truckers and trucking companies ignore these standards and continue to drive past the allotted number of hours. This comes from pressure to deliver loads faster and secure payment upon delivery.

Regulations regarding hours of service