Undefeated Texas 18 Wheeler Truck Accident Lawyers
Large truck wrecks are the leading cause of all oilfield accidents. But the truth is, oilfield truck accidents have never been more dangerous than they are today — not just for oil and gas workers, but for everyone who shares the road with these big rigs.
In Texas, nearly a quarter of all fatal truck accidents occur near an oil field. The state’s five largest energy sectors, including the Permian Basin and Barnett Shale, saw 78,000 accidents and 1,072 fatalities in 2022, per a Texas Department of Transportation report. And for each death, thousands more are senselessly injured, typically for reasons that are entirely preventable.
The Common Causes of Oilfield Truck Accidents
Oilfield trucks, semis, and tankers haul highly-flammable crude oil and gas or heavy cargo such as sand, water, or equipment that requires extra care behind the wheel. When a driver fails to put safety first, the result can be catastrophic. Tragically, this is all too often the case.
Though oilfield truck accidents may happen for any number of reasons, it’s been our experience that most common causes of such collisions could — and should — have been prevented by the driver and their employers in the first place, including:
Driver Negligence
A truck driver is considered negligent when their failure to operate their rig safely and responsibly causes another person serious injury or harm. Driver negligence includes distracted driving, speeding, and impairment, which are the three leading causes of all fatal truck accidents.
Distracted driving: Any activity that causes a driver to take their eyes and attention away from the road, such as reaching for a phone, texting, eating while driving, or even looking at a billboard, can significantly hinder a driver’s reaction time and increase their risk of collision. Distracted truck drivers are also more likely to run traffic lights and stop signs or drift out of their lane. Sadly, distracted driving among truckers is so rampant, it’s considered an epidemic and may contribute to as many as 70% of all large truck accidents, according to one study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Speeding: For oil companies, time is money, and drivers commonly speed to rush a job or try to make an impossible deadline. As a result, speeding causes most truck crashes in oil-producing regions. Though you might think otherwise, speeding is also linked to driver distraction, with one study showing that drivers on a phone were more likely to be going more than 10 mph over the speed limit. No matter the reason, when a driver goes in excess of the posted speed limit, they put other lives at risk. Those in a passenger vehicle are far more likely to bear the brunt of a high-speed impact with a large truck and to sustain life-altering injuries, while a truck driver may walk away unscathed.
Impairment: Accounting for nearly 5.2% of deadly collisions involving large trucks and 18-wheelers, impairment not only refers to drivers who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but also those who may be fatigued. A study by AAA and the National Safety Council showed a fatigued driver is just as impaired as a drunk driver with a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of .10. Drug and alcohol use has been shown to impair cognitive function and distance perception, and slow response time.
Long Hours
Oil and gas production operates around the clock and so do oilfield trucks — with safety on the back burner. Companies operating the oilfields often place unrealistic expectations on truck drivers to meet deadlines no matter what, resulting in long hours and violations of federal or state trucking regulations intended to keep fatigued drivers off the road. They simply don’t care.
Fatigue decreases a driver’s reaction time, impairs judgment, and increases the likelihood that a driver will fall asleep at the wheel. With most oilfield truck drivers working irregular shifts or 12-hours at a time, it’s little wonder that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control cites fatigued driving as a leading cause of crashes in the oil and gas industry.
Poor Maintenance
The upkeep on an oilfield truck is far more demanding than most 18-wheelers on the highway. Because they are constantly being put to work, oilfield trucks experience considerable wear and tear. But operators who put profits over safety will keep these trucks in service even when they are well overdue for maintenance and repairs.
Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical breakdowns can cause a driver to easily lose control of their rig. Additionally, harsh off-road terrain and the poor road conditions in the oil patch can also increase the likelihood of these incidents.
Negligent Hiring
In recent years, Texas oilfield production has grown exponentially, but there haven’t been enough qualified drivers to keep up with demand. A chronic shortage of experienced truck drivers has led drilling companies to hire just about anyone they can.
Inexperienced truckers, including drivers who have never driven a truck before and receive no training, are often given the keys to an 80,000 pound big rig anyways. These drivers are often lured by six-figure wages but lack the know-how to safely navigate unfamiliar highways or to operate their vehicle. With so many unskilled drivers on the road, we continue to see an unprecedented surge in truck and 18-wheeler accidents.
Dangerous Highways
The roads and highways that act as a conduit for oilfields are some of the deadliest in the country. Nearly 3,500 people suffered serious injuries in accidents along the rural roadways in Texas’s energy-producing regions in 2022, according to TxDOT.
Many of these two-lane roads are ill-equipped to handle the tens of thousands of semi-trucks, oil tankers, and other vehicles traversing them day and night to supply the oilfields. As a result, the level of activity has created hazardous road conditions, including congestion, blown out tires, and large sinkholes, that make driving even more dangerous. Odessa-Midland residents even refer to one such route, U.S. 285, as “Death Highway.”
As infrastructure improvement projects such as TxDOT’s Permian Promise attempt to catch up with the oil boom, drivers in these treacherous regions now face yet another hazard — roadway construction.
Common Oilfield Truck Accident Injuries
Oilfield truck accidents are not like other truck collisions. Along with being much larger and heavier than other vehicles, oilfield tankers carrying highly-flammable crude oil or gas can increase the risk of a fire or explosion upon impact. And with thousands of oilfield trucks congesting roadways in oil-producing regions, it’s also far more likely that catastrophic wrecks will involve more than one large commercial motor vehicle.
Sadly, those driving or riding in a passenger vehicle are far more likely to sustain the most significant injuries or fatalities when these accidents occur.
Common injuries sustained during an accident with an oilfield truck may include:
- Burn injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Fractures and broken bones
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
- Amputations
In the most serious case, innocent motorists or passengers may have been killed. In most states, including Texas, surviving family members have the right to hold the negligent parties accountable with a wrongful death lawsuit. This will never make up for your loss, but it can ensure your family is cared for in your loved one’s absence.
What To Do If You Were Injured
If you or a loved one were injured in an oilfield truck accident, time is not on your side. You need to take action immediately to protect your rights because the insurers of the oil and gas operator or trucking company will already be working overtime to place the blame on you and to pay as little as possible for the harm they’ve caused.
Following these immediate steps can mean the difference between recovering a large settlement or pennies on the dollar:
- Call 911 and give the police your statement. A crash report can serve as valuable evidence in your case.
- Get examined at the ER even if you don’t think you’re seriously injured. Shock can often mask symptoms and undiagnosed injuries can lead to long term problems.
- Gather as much evidence as possible at the scene. Note the names and contact information of any witnesses and take pictures or video if you are able.
- NEVER speculate about fault with police, your own insurers, or anyone else.
- NEVER talk to an oil and gas company or trucking company’s insurers, who will call you after the accident hoping to “make things right” (they won’t). NEVER SIGN anything they send you.
- Contact our Undefeated Texas Truck Accident Lawyers to protect your rights before the trucking company starts getting rid of the evidence you need to prove they are at fault.
Undefeated Oilfield Truck Accident Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consult
With Billions won and the #1 Largest Recoveries in Texas, our undefeated oilfield truck accident lawyers have repeatedly demonstrated that we don’t just win for our clients and their families – we set records.
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed in an oilfield truck or 18-wheeler accident, call 1-888-603-3636, chat with us through our website, or send us a confidential email through our Contact Form.
We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights and options, and provide you with the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.