Grand Prairie Commercial Truck Accidents and Legal Resources

Comprehensive Information and Legal Options for Grand Prairie, TX Commercial Truck Accident Victims

Texas and Grand Prairie have one of the highest numbers of commercial truck accidents and fatalities in the nation

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas had 3,773 motor-vehicle fatalities in 2016, resulting in an economic loss of $38,600,000,000. And included in this number is the number of crashes and fatalities involving commercial vehicles. In 2016 just in Dallas County alone, there were 32 fatalities and 3,882 crashes involving commercial vehicles, many of which are semi trucks.

What are some causes of the high number of commercial truck accidents in Grand Prairie and Dallas County?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some of the reasons that commercial truck crashes are such a problem in Grand Prairie include:

• Driver related physical factors  like alcohol use, illegal drug use, over-the-counter medication, and prescription medication use; 
• Driver fatigue;
• Illness;
• Driver related recognition factors like inattention and onversation; 
• Driver related decision factors like following too closely and misjudgment of gap distance to other vehicle;
• Speeding and aggressive driving.

What is being done to improve the safety of motorists sharing the roads with commercial trucks in Grand Prairie?

The Texas Department of Insurance offers safety training programs and publications that offer much-needed information on how both commercial truck drivers and other motorists can improve safety on Grand Prairie roadways. These materials discuss:

Defensive driving;

Driving and merging collision prevention;

Driving in fog and rain;

Parking lot and railroad-crossing safety;

How to avoid drowsy and distracted driving.

After a commercial truck collision, get information from the Grand Prairie first responders

When a semi truck collision involves serious injuries, the Grand Prairie Police Department, the Grand Prairie Fire and Rescue Department, and the Texas Highway Patrol typically respond to the accident scene and will complete collision reports that your personal injury attorney will need to launch a claim.

Why do commercial trucks pose such a danger on Grand Prairie roads?

While Grand Prairie roads did not make the recent list of the top 13 most dangerous roads for truckers, it's clear that commercial trucks pose a significant danger to truck drivers and motorists on DeSoto roads and freeways. According to a recent article on Trucks.com, some reasons the commercial truck industry poses danger include:

• Increased reliance on trucking to transport goods is putting more truck drivers on the road, with higher incident rates for accidents and driver deaths,
• Because of the way drivers’ compensation is structured, they’re often asked to choose between productivity and safety.
• Long hours, low pay and tough working conditions contribute to high turnover and puts inexperienced drivers on the road.
• The lack of National Highway Transportation Safety Administration standards for crashworthiness of heavy-duty trucks plays a role in fatality rates.
• The size and weight of a commercial truck causes significant damage to smaller vehicles in a crash.

After a semi truck crash in Grand Prairie, get your records and bills from the region's hospitals and clinics

The major hospitals and clinics in the Grand Prairie area include:

Texas General Hospital;

Medical City ER Grand Prairie.

When your treatment is complete, your personal injury lawyer will need copies of your medical records and bills to launch a semi truck crash claim.

If you have been injured in a collision involving a commercial truck, you will need an experienced Grand Prairie accident attorney to help

No matter how much we improve safety in the commercial trucking industry, truck accidents will continue to happen. When a less serious crash happens, often someone can manage the insurance claim without help. When a serious injury accident happens, or when a fatality occurs, it is crucial to get help from an experienced Mullen & Mullen lawyer.