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Fatal Accident Increase from Oil Boom a Cause for TX Drivers’ Concern

Swiss_army_accident_simulationOver the last year, our Texas truck crash lawyers have been covering the rapid rise in fatal accident numbers due to the Texas oil boom, especially in relation to the Eagle Ford Shale development. But the upswing in fatal crash numbers is troubling in the Basin area as well. Fatal accident reports out of Midland, Odessa, and Lubbock show up more and more frequently on the radar.

The Basin area, while less densely populated than some other areas of Texas nonetheless contains some very heavily trafficked roads like Highway 349, I-20, and FM 1788 that are all prone to congestion and major accidents.

A recent report from KWES indicates that six Basin counties (Andrews, Ector, Howard, Martin, Midland, and Ward) are seeing numbers similar to those of McMullen County in the Eagle Ford Shale Development. Our Texas truck crash lawyers emphasize that McMullen County has shown some of the largest increases in accident numbers since the shale oil boom really took off in that region.

A Look at the Alarming Numbers Heralding the Rise in Fatal Accidents in the Basin

  • 2007: 59 fatal crashes killing 65 people in the six Basin counties of Andrews, Ector, Howard, Martin, Midland, and Ward. 23 fatal accidents occurred in each of Ector and Midland Counties, 6 in Howard County, 5 in Andrews County, and 2 in Ward County.
  • 2011: 77 fatal crashes killing 86 people in the six featured Basin counties. For instance, 12 fatal accidents occurred in Andrews County, 5 in Ward County, and 5 in Martin County.
  • 2012, the less than 10 months so far: 70 fatal accidents killing 87 people in the six Basin counties at issue here.

Officials point out that a large proportion of the accidents are single-vehicle roadway departure accidents. Such accidents are characteristic of driver fatigue, a big problem also in the Eagle Ford Shale development where oil company drivers work extremely long hours. The Midland Odessa Transportation Alliance states that the number of injury accidents hasincreased 17%. And in fatal accidents, there are more often multiple fatalities then in the past.

Our Texas truck crash lawyers note that 2012 still has two more months to run. These two months include the busy holiday period, which historically throughout Texas sees an upswing in fatal accidents from drunken driving.

Some of the Safety Improvements being Made to Reduce Fatal Accident Numbers

  • More rumble strips are being installed to alert drivers to impending road departures
  • New signal lights are going up at busy intersections
  • Flashing beacons are being installed at other intersections that won’t receive full signal lights
  • Some highways being widened to contain more lanes
  • Placing improved 8-foot shoulders along some highway areas (Source: Geena Martinez, KWES Newswest 9, 10/28/12)

Compare the Rising Trend in Basin Fatal Accidents to the Upswing in Fatal Crashes in the Eagle Ford Shale Oil and Gas Development

Read the in-depth examination of the issue by clicking on this article by our Texas truck crash lawyers.