How to Protect Yourself from the Consequences of 18-wheeler Accidents —On and Off the Road

A certified Urban Main Street City, Longview was designated a “Certified Retirement Community” and one of the “Top 100 Best Cities for Young People” in the same year.  Its economy is reportedly booming—in fact, the only things growing as fast as Longview’s industries (like the East Texas oil field) are its shopping centers.  However, the continued growth of both city aspects can make for a few challenges and concerns when it comes time to hit the roads.

What difference does growth make?

A growing population that is intermixed with a growing social/entertainment/shopping district means more and more people are going to be on the roads.  Since, multiple US highways, state highways, and freeways run into, if not through, the city, this increase in traffic isn’t exactly an unforeseen turn of events—although these growths in combination with the growth of an industry like East Texas Oil might be.

While the fact that the two forms of growth coincide aren’t exactly a dilemma (in fact, the growing population is more than probably a direct result of the economic boost that is generated by these growing forms of industry), the situation they generate on the roads is a bit problematic, to say the least.

Increased industry, including the growth and development of the East Texas Oil Fields, means more and more big rigs and 18-wheelers are going to be on the roads, and the intermixing of 18-wheelers with increased traffic can make for much more serious (and dangerous) driving conditions.

What risks are posed by the increased presence of 18-wheelers?

Big rigs and 18-wheelers bring the risks and hazards of driving to a much larger scale.  For the most part, 18-wheelers are involved in accidents for the same reasons smaller vehicles are; they, too, are susceptible to mechanical failures, improper driver training, and reckless driving.  However, the conditions under which 18-wheelers are operated are a little bit different.

Semi-trucks are maintained by the companies that own them—not by their drivers—and in a lot of cases, routine maintenance checks become out a bit lax in their scheduling.  Further, 18-wheelers are hired to run long hauls, which mean the drivers are often pushing themselves to make deliveries on time rather than stopping to take breaks or even to sleep.  In fact, most accidents involving big rigs are caused by driver fatigue, and almost 20% of the truckers polled on the subject admitted to falling asleep at the wheel at least once in the three months prior to the survey.

According to the US Department of Transportation, nearly 400,000 large commercial vehicle accidents occur each year in the US, which means that one in every ten accidents involves an 18-wheeler (or another similar big rig).  More than 100,000 of these accidents result in serious injury, and more than 4,000 are fatal.  Texas sees one of the highest volumes of trucking traffic of any other state, making its towns and cities, including Longview, particularly vulnerable to 18-wheeler accidents.

How can we help?

Here at Tefteller Law, we may not be able to prevent you from getting in an accident, but our personal injury attorneys in Longview can help protect you from the consequences of that 18-wheeler accident.  We want to ensure that all your legal rights are exercised, especially when you have to go up against not just the driver of the truck, but also the entire company and its legal force.  We, Tefteller Law are here to protect your rights, so you don’t have to worry about being run down by the company as well.