Tractor-trailer crashes aren't the same as car crashes. The weight of large trucks and a trailer full of cargo, for example, can max out at 80,000. The sheer force of impact with a passenger vehicle makes the potential injuries from a collision much more significant.
Because of this risk, the law regulates truckers more stringently than it does automobile drivers. To be a big-rig or bus operator, you must first earn a commercial driver’s license. Then you must comply with certain rules such as federal hours of service regulations that outline how long you can drive in a certain day or a given week. Their additional protections are designed to prevent serious truck wrecks. Unfortunately, they're not always successful.
Truck Crashes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area
In 2017, there were 35,635 commercial vehicle collisions in Texas which resulted in 601 deaths, 1,529 suspected serious injuries, 4,845 non-incapacitating injuries, and 8,244 possible injuries.
Here are the most recent commercial vehicle crash statistics for counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area:
| County | Total Crashes | Fatalities | Suspected Serious Injuries | Non-Incapacitating Injuries | Possible Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collin | 622 | 8 | 31 | 88 | 150 |
| Dallas | 3,707 | 35 | 98 | 504 | 1,175 |
| Denton | 882 | 8 | 22 | 86 | 164 |
| Ellis | 285 | 9 | 17 | 55 | 57 |
| Hood | 45 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 11 |
| Hunt | 113 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 24 |
| Johnson | 120 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 13 |
| Kaufman | 156 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 49 |
| Parker | 171 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 18 |
| Rockwall | 125 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 28 |
| Somervell | 19 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Tarrant | 2,198 | 18 | 64 | 206 | 539 |
| Wise | 144 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 19 |
Types of Truck Collisions
Large truck and bus crashes happen in different ways. The specific injuries that result from a truck wreck depend, in part, on the type and angle of the collision. Some different types of truck crashes include:
- Rear-end crashes
- T-bone wrecks (also known as side impact collisions)
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe crashes
- Rollovers
- Jackknife wrecks
- Underride incidents
How the truck collided with your vehicle may be an important part of determining who is legally responsible for the crash.
How Truck Crashes Happen
Big-rig crashes can be the fault of the truck driver, the fleet company, a parts manufacturer, a fleet mechanic, or another entity. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Operator negligence, such as speeding, aggressive driving, distraction, fatigue, or impairment due to drugs or alcohol
- Improper cargo loading
- Lack of employee training or pressure on employees to violate federal standards
- Mechanical problems or faulty maintenance practices
- Malfunctioning or poorly-designed parts, wheels, or couplers
Contact an Experienced Truck Crash Lawyer
You may not have caused the truck wreck, but you're the one suffering from injuries caused by it. And if the incident is the result of someone else's negligence, you have the right to recover damages. Your damages may include compensation for past, current, and future:
- Healthcare costs
- Lost income
- Out of pocket expenses
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
To learn more about protecting your right to recover damages, contact a dedicated truck accident attorney. Samples Ames will make sure you get compensated to the full extent available under the law, and that those reckless individuals caused who caused such a preventable tragedy are held completely responsible and brought to full justice. Contact us online today, or call (469) 466-2600 (Dallas) / (817) 605-1505 (Fort Worth) to schedule your free consultation right away. Remember — you don't pay unless we win
