As a Texas truck wreck attorney, I know that collisions involving 18 wheeler trucks are perhaps the most deadly auto accidents in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. One of the most common causes of semi crashes is driver fatigue. Professional truck drivers have a hard job. They travel vast distances and are responsible for large, heavy vehicles. But they are constantly under increasing pressure from the trucking companies to drive further, in less time. This is a major hazard to public safety because any time a commercial truck drivers dozes off behind the wheel, it's practically guaranteed that there will be a massive crash resulting in significant property damage and severe personal injuries or fatalities.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has regulations in place to attempt to combat this growing problem of tired truckers which include restricting truckers to spending no more than 11 hours driving in a single 14-hour period. Unfortunately, many of the larger trucking companies consider profits far more important than public safety - or even the safety of their own employees. Drivers are routinely encouraged to ignore the regulations or risk losing their jobs.
At the same time, the US Department of Transport (DOT) is trying to introduce even stricter rules to protect long-distance truckers and other motorists by further limiting the amount of time a driver can be behind the wheel to just 10 hours a day, by ensuring that all drivers take at least one 30-minute breaks every seven hours and one hour break every 14-16 shift, and by limiting drivers to one 34-hour restart in a seven-day period (to include two periods between midnight and 6:00am).
Unfortunately, a number of politicians have come under pressure by big trucking industry lobbyists to oppose these improved restrictions, even though they would almost certainly prevent numerous wrecks and save hundreds of lives each year. Ironically, these politicians complain that the new rules would mean trucking companies would be forced to hire more drivers, despite the fact most politicians are focused on trying to create more jobs. In my opinion, if the new rules can improve highway safety and help create new jobs, then I think it's a perfect solution.
As a North Texas personal injury lawyer, I have helped many individuals and families who have been injured in big rig accidents throughout the DFW area for more than 20 years. If you've been injured in such a wreck, you should not expect to be treated fairly by the trucking company or their insurance adjustors. Call 817-294-1900 today to get a free copy of my book 15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case to help you avoid some of the most common mistakes that injury victims make.
15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case!
One wreck is enough! If someone's carelessness causes you to be seriously injured in a Texas Accident, you must make sure you don't make mistakes that could WRECK your own claim. Any mistakes you make could end up being very costly for you.
15 Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Texas Accident Case!