Heavier 18 Wheelers Could Be Coming to Texas

As road fatalities decrease across the country, they continue to increase here in Texas.

Texas currently leads the nation in accidents involving large trucks due to the increase in gas drilling throughout the state. Large trucks and commercial vehicles have crowded our roadways and things could be getting worse. Thanks to proposed national legislation, 18 wheelers could be getting bigger and heavier. The new law would allow these huge trucks to operate with twin 33-foot trailers, which is up from the current federal limit of two 28-foot trailers and adds another 10 feet per truck.
Those who favor the proposal contend that larger trucks would mean fewer trucks on the roads overall, which would mean fewer accidents and a more environmentally friendly atmosphere since fewer trucks would discharge fewer harmful emissions. Those who disagree say that the bigger trucks will be harder to handle and harder to stop, which will lead to more accidents and more severe injuries. In addition, those heavier trucks on the road will mean more wear and tear on highways, which will result in worse roads and more tax dollars being spent on highway repairs.

The number of deaths involving huge truck accidents in Texas by far outnumbers all other states. Whether or not there is new legislation concerning the size of the 18-wheelers, there is a heavy risk of accidents on the Texas highways. If you have been involved in a collision with an 18 wheeler or commercial vehicle, you need the services of an experienced truck accident lawyer. Call the Austin truck accident attorneys at TK Injury Lawyers at 512-910-2000 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.