Trucking Company Negligence Puts Waco Drivers at Risk

August 30th, 2017

Truck accidents occur every day on the roads of Waco, putting the lives of everyone on the roadway in jeopardy. If you have been injured in a truck accident, an experienced Waco truck accident attorney will protect your right to be compensated for any and all injuries you have sustained.

The Prevalence of Truck Accidents on American Roads

According to CNBC, fatal truck crashes have been on the rise since 2009. Truck driving is also a dangerous job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, in 2015, more than 25% of all workplace fatalities in America occurred within the trucking industry. There are many reasons for this disturbing trend. Some of the most concerning include:

  • Pay structure: Because truck drivers are often paid by the mile, rather than by the hour, they are forced to choose between productivity and safety. Trucks.com reports that new regulations are addressing this problem by requiring the installation of electronic logging devices. This will allow federal regulators to view tamper-proof electronic data, instead of relying on paper logs maintained by the truck driver himself.  
  • Turnover: Long hours, low pay and tough working conditions have caused turnover among truck drivers to remain near 100%. This means that truck drivers on the roadway are almost always inexperienced.
  • Problem drivers:  The turnover rate among truck drivers also means that trucking companies do not always thoroughly screen for problematic drivers – especially those with a history of trucking and traffic violations.

Why Hasn’t This Problem Been Addressed?

In most other industries, this many deaths would attract national attention. Unfortunately, fatal truck accidents are often scattered in small numbers all across the country, and do not often receive significant media coverage. Accidents like those involving actor Tracy Morgan are the exception. CNN reports that the National Transit Safety Board discovered that the driver of the truck which rear-ended Morgan’s limo bus had not slept in the twenty-eight hours prior to the accident.

In contrast to the little public attention truck accidents receive, the trucking industry has powerful lobbyists in Washington D.C. These are professionals whose only job is to prevent Congress from regulating the trucking industry. Until there is an increase in public awareness, it seems that the government will continue to cater to the trucking industry rather than to the American public.

How Waco Drivers Can Protect Themselves From Truck Accidents

Below is a list of many driver behaviors which can reduce the chances of being involved in a truck accident:

  • Allow plenty of distance between your vehicle and any nearby big rigs. Large, heavy vehicles require greater stopping distance than small or lighter vehicles.
  • Make sure your vehicle can be seen by truck drivers. Trucks have large blind spots, which can make it difficult for drivers to see smaller vehicles around them. Use your horn and headlights as necessary to make your presence known.
  • Watch for swaying, swerving or any other pattern which indicates the driver might not have complete control of the truck. This is a particular problem for tanker trucks, as liquid cargo creates a “sloshing” effect with powerful momentum.

We know that these accidents cannot always be avoided. If you are the victim of a truck accident, Chad Jones Law is ready to help you get the justice that you deserve. Call 1-800-64-JONES to schedule your free case consultation today!