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Commercial trucks are a necessary part of our world, yet they can make driving on our roadways more dangerous.
We see quite a few 18-wheelers in the Houston area because it is one of the major hubs for transporting goods across the country.
Truck accidents can cause severe injuries and fatalities. In 2018, 3,639 traffic deaths occurred in Texas. A person was killed in a traffic accident about every two and a half hours. A person was hurt in an accident every two minutes, and a reportable crash happened every minute, on average.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) collects data from crashes across the state and compiles the information into reports. In 2018, 37,515 total crashes involved commercial vehicles in Texas. Six hundred-eleven people died because of a commercial vehicle crash, and thousands suffered injuries. One thousand three hundred sixty-seven people reported serious injuries as the result of a collision with a commercial vehicle. Texas is one state with the most truck crash fatalities.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also provides reports that include data for large truck and bus crashes in the United States. The most recent Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts report is from 2017. 
The report shows there were approximately 450,000 reported crashes that involved large trucks, and 4,657 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in the United States. Fatal truck crashes were more likely to occur on Interstate highways and rural roads.
Most of the fatal truck crashes occurred on weekdays, Monday through Friday. The majority of fatalities occur to occupants of the other vehicles, not to the occupants of the large trucks.
Trucks are common on our Texas roadways. You will likely drive near a truck at some point almost every time you get behind the wheel. It is essential to drive defensively and take special precautions when you drive near trucks.
Some factors can make trucks more dangerous than other vehicles, such as their size and weight.
If you see a truck driving in an unsafe manner, report it to the police. Try to obtain the license plate number and other information only if it is safe to do so.
Do not follow the truck or speed up to the vehicle. Instead, slow down and move away from the truck.
If you are hurt in an accident with a truck, it is critical to act quickly to obtain legal guidance.
Trucking companies have access to data; you will need to prove negligence. You may have compensation for your injuries from the negligent driver or trucking company.
Call the best lawyer for a truck accident as soon as possible to discuss the details of your injuries.
Call us for a FREE injury accident consultation!
Related Articles:
Trucking Industry Analysis by Examining Related Financial Statistics
The NHTSA and Keeping Commercial Vehicle Accident Statistics about Texas