Tractor-trailer trucks are being made larger and heavier than ever before. While these vehicles allow trucks to carry more cargo with the same fuel output, they also pose a larger danger to Texas residents.
Normal-sized tractor-trailer trucks are dangerous enough. Roughly 1 out of every 8 fatal accidents in the U.S. is caused by an 18-wheeler, even though these trucks are vastly outnumbered by other vehicles.
Now, trucks are being made with oversized or even double trailers. These trucks carry more weight and speed to Houston truck accidents, increasing the chances that other people involved in the crash will be seriously injured or killed.
The statistics regarding large tractor-trailer truck accidents are clear:
Double-trailer trucks are 32 percent more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than single-trailer trucks.
Double-trailer trucks are 200 percent more likely to be involved in interstate highway crashes than single-trailer trucks.
Double-trailer trucks have more safety risks per vehicle mile traveled than single-trailer trucks.
Larger trucks benefit the trucking companies. They get to send more cargo with each cab, thus reducing costs in drivers, fuel, and engine maintenance. However, the added risk of Houston truck accidents should also play a prominent role in this debate.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a wreck with an 18-wheeler, it is important that you contact a Houston truck accident lawyer. An experienced attorney may be able to help you recover damages from the accident, but proceeding without one puts you at the mercy of insurance companies.
Call our Houston truck accident lawyers as soon as possible for a free consultation about your case. We are based in Houston TX, and represent truck & car accident victims around southeast Texas.