There is no doubt trucks serve a very useful purpose in the world, transporting products and goods around our highways, particularly in Texas. Unfortunately, trucking accidents can be quite serious and can result in injury or even death. People who have been involved in a truck accident frequently seek out a truck accident lawyer in Houston to help negotiate, fight, and win a lawsuit against the trucking company. Below, let’s examine some of the most common reasons for trucking accidents.
- Poorly Maintained Vehicles
TX lends itself to long, open highways that are stocked full of trucks. If these large, powerful machines are poorly maintained it quickly creates a dangerous situation on the road. One of the most common reasons for truck accidents are worn tires. If tires become thin or lose their traction they can easily rupture, causing a dangerous situation for the truck driver and those around the truck. Flying debris from tires can damage fellow cars on the roadway. Additionally, tires without proper tread can lead to accidents if the roads are wet, snowy, or icy. Poorly maintain braking systems on trucks can also lead to accidents if a large truck, carrying a heavy load, cannot adequately slow down or stop.
- Driver Error
Truck driving is a demanding career that requires the utmost concentration. Drivers spend long hours on the road, and often, trucking companies push the legal limits of how long a driver is able to drive within a day. Tired or distracted truck drivers can lead to driving errors causing accidents. Drivers can take turns too tightly, misjudge curves in the roads, or have slow reaction times.
- Bad Weather
Regardless of where you drive in TX, there can be a range of weather conditions truck drivers must contend with. Heavy rains can create dangerous roads that carry the risk of hydroplaning. Couple this with truck drivers that may not have adequate tires to handle tough weather conditions and a truck can easily go out of control. In more recent years, parts of TX have seen hail and even snow. These changing weather conditions make truck accidents more likely. Trucks can easily slide or jackknife in the highway causing a dangerous accident.
- Improperly Balanced Load
Large trucks are designed to transport heavy loads to their final destination. Often, with particularly heavy or awkward loads, the load is not properly balanced along the axils of the truck. When a load is not evenly distributed along the trailer, it makes the chances of a rollover accident increase. If a truck is going around a bend or curve in the road with an improperly balanced load, it can easily flip. A flipped truck poses a severe injury risk to other cars in the surrounding area.
While trucks are certainly necessary to today’s world, trucks can become dangerous on the road. Texas, with its sprawling highway systems, sees thousands of trucking accidents every year. If you are a victim of an accident, it might be time to seek out legal help and contact a truck accident lawyer in Houston, TX. With proper legal guidance and advice, you can help fight and win the case against any trucking accident.
