Road safety and fair compensation in Texas truck crashes
Texas prides itself on being America’s economic hub and is home to some of the largest industries in the country. As a result, residents have to share the roads with many trucks.
With that many trucks on the road, there is a need for Texan road users to exercise caution and be ready for the worst-case scenario by ensuring that they are adequately covered for all types of accidents.
What the statistics show
While fatal truck accidents are relatively rare compared to other types of accidents, there is a very high chance of suffering a severe injury or even death in a truck accident. In such situations, consulting an experienced and reputed attorney like Felix Gonzalez can prove invaluable for those seeking justice.
A semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when loaded, making it up to 40 times heavier than a car. According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) data, the number of truck-related fatalities in 2020 was 4,134 throughout America. Of this number, 580 occurred in Texas, making it the state with the highest number of truck accident fatalities.
Many factors contribute to truck accidents, but the leading causes include speeding, faulty equipment, poor servicing records, driver fatigue, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and distracted driving. However, truck drivers are not always to blame for truck accidents. Sometimes, accidents happen due to the actions of other road users.
The supply chain crunch effect
The federal government is particularly strict on the number of hours a driver can be on the road. As a result, drivers must maintain weekly logs of hours spent on the road. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in early 2020, the federal government has relaxed some rules to address the supply chain crunch plaguing the country for quite some time now.
The relaxation of the rules means that drivers can be on the road for more hours, increasing the chances of fatigue and, consequently, accidents. So, you may need to be extra cautious when driving close to a truck.
Even with the country recovering from COVID-19, the logistics sector is still under pressure due to a shortage of truckers. This scenario creates a dangerous situation because most trucking companies and drivers are constantly under pressure to meet deadlines, which means that the prevalence of overworking is pretty high.
Recovering damages after a truck accident
The NHTSA and the Texas Department of Transportation have been quite proactive in sensitizing the public about highway hazards and safety. Unfortunately, not many people pay much attention until it happens to them or someone close to them.
If you have suffered injuries in a truck-related accident, you may need to talk to a truck accident lawyer near you to look into your chances of recovering damages for your injuries. All road accident injury claims are complicated. However, truck accident claims are way more complicated because truck accident-related injuries are usually severe, and the time-sensitive nature of the evidence makes it more difficult to prove negligence in a case.
The earlier you take action, the better
The statute of limitations in Texas runs for two years. But you do not have to wait that long to involve a lawyer in your case. The earlier you get a lawyer on your case, the higher the chances of obtaining some of the most critical evidence required to prove a case, such as black book records, driver logs, and dashcam footage, if the truck in question had one.
Secure fair compensation after a truck accident
Irrespective of the level of compensation you recover for damages, it can never bring back what an accident robs you of, be it the material losses, the impact on health and wages, or the people you love.
However, securing fair compensation can help make life relatively bearable for victims and make the transition to their recovery faster. In order to enhance your chances of success, make sure to consult with an experienced legal professional as soon as possible.
