Diego: Hi Jason, it seems like there are always accidents with 18 wheelers these days. It’s kind of scary. Why are there so many?
Jason: Yes Diego, Texas does have a lot of 18 wheeler accidents. In fact, we lead the nation in the number of accidents involving large trucks.
Diego: Why do you suppose that is?
Jason: A number of factors can impact these numbers. Whenever there is a shortage on truck drivers, trucking companies may put more pressure and demands on their existing drivers to meet deadlines – even if it means violating laws regarding how many hours they can be on the road at a time.
Diego: So you’re saying that they are overworked and that’s causing the accidents?
Jason: Drivers who are tired tend to make more mistakes. So yes, this can be one of the reasons for 18-wheeler accidents. But even if they are alert, sometimes they push through bad weather conditions such as ice, fog, and really strong rains to meet a deadline.
Diego: That’s terrible. And what about all the drilling activity down here? That seems to have brought a lot more truckers to our area.
Jason: Yes, that is true. San Antonio is one of the hubs for more than 80 oil companies. Truck accidents began to rise steadily here in South Texas in 2015 as the number of commercial trucks in the area increased.
Diego: What is sad is that these accidents cause a lot of deaths. I’m scared to get on the road sometimes.
Jason: Unfortunately, given the weight and size of these vehicles, they can be very dangerous if they are involved in an accident. US Highway 83 that runs from McAllen to the Rio Grande Valley has been ranked as one of the most dangerous roads in Texas for the last 5 years due to the number of traffic fatalities.
Diego: Is there anything we can do about this?
Jason: There are rules and guidelines that trucking companies are expected to follow. If a semi-truck driver causes an accident, we can hold that driver and his company accountable for their actions by filing a lawsuit. However, many of these companies have teams of lawyers who work to minimize their liability.
Diego: Well how do you beat them?
Jason: If you or someone you know is in an accident with an 18-wheeler, the best thing you can do is hire an experienced attorney with a track record of winning against these companies. Lawyers who do fight aggressively against the trucking company and win will gladly share this information with you. You can see my record of recent verdicts and settlements on my website.
Diego: Thank you, Jason!
DeSouza Law firm is a leading personal injury firm representing accident victims throughout Texas.
If you’ve been injured by a car, truck, 18-wheeler, company vehicle, or in the oilfield, call Jason DeSouza personally today at 210-591-9777 or 361-799-2222 or visit the firm online at https://jfdlawfirm.com.