According to statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT), 3031 crashes involving commercial vehicles occurred in Texas, during January 2021. The number of wrecks represents a 20% reduction in crashes from January 2020.
44 people died as a result of the January 2021 commercial vehicle crashes, while 96 sustained serious injuries. An additional 239 people required hospitalization for less serious injuries, on top of another 359 suspected injuries. A total of 642 people died or sustained as a result of these commercial vehicle collisions.
Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants. The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and are taller with greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles underriding trucks in crashes.
Truck braking capability can be a factor in truck crashes. Loaded tractor-trailers take 20-40 percent farther than cars to stop, and the discrepancy is greater on wet and slippery roads or with poorly maintained brakes. Truck driver fatigue also is a known crash risk. Drivers of large trucks are allowed by federal hours-of-service regulations to drive up to 11 hours at a stretch. Surveys indicate that many drivers violate the regulations and work longer than permitted.
Seeking compensation for an injury you or a loved one suffered through no fault of your own is not greed–it’s how our justice system works. McGuire Injury Law proudly represents those individuals involved in automobile crashes.
We handle tractor-trailer and automobile crashes on a contingency basis, meaning there is no up-front cost to you and you only pay if we obtain a recovery. Call us today for a free consultation.
