The accident involved a minivan and resulted in about 200 gallons of diesel fuel spilling onto the highway. Not only does the extreme weight of semi trucks pose a serious threat to motorists, but significant amounts of fuel increase the risk of fire. Hauling other hazardous materials may present additional risks. A personal injury lawyer in Houston or Katy should always be consulted after an accident with a truck or other commercial vehicle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 380,000 accidents involving large trucks occurred in 2008, injuring 90,000 and killed 4,229. While trucks account for only 4 percent of all vehicles on the road -- and 7 percent of miles traveled -- accidents involving large commercial trucks accounted for 11 percent of all traffic fatalities.
A HazMat crew was called to the scene and all lanes were blocked between Highway 225 and Manchester Street. The closure lasted several hours.
Trucks have taken to the road in increasing numbers during the last decade. In 1998, 7.7 million trucks drove just under 200 million miles. By 2008, more than 9 million tractor trailers traveled 227 million miles on the nation's highways.
Typically, those seriously injured or killed in a crash with a large truck are occupants of other vehicles, or non-occupants such as bicyclists and pedestrians. Of the 4,229 killed, fewer than one-fifth (677) were truck occupants. Of the 90,000 injured, only about one-fourth (23,000) were occupants of a large truck.
Texas leads the nation in fatal trucking accidents, with 421 in 2008. California was the only other state to record more than 300 fatalities, when it recorded 304.
Katy Accident Lawyer Joe Stephens, a personal injury trial law specialist, offers free consultations to accident victims in the Houston area. You may also request your free copy of Attorney Stephens' books, the Texas Accident Bible, A Survivor's Legal Guide and Hiring the Right Attorney. Call today at 713-224-0000 or <a href="http://www.joestephenslaw.com/contact.html">contact us through this website</a>.
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