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Commercial Truck Accidents During the Holidays: What You Need to Know

Truck drivers risk accidents during bad holiday weather.
Bad weather during the holiday season can cause serious accidents as commercial truck drivers race to their delivery destinations.

With 36% more vehicles on America’s roads during the holidays, drivers should beware, as commercial trucks are more likely to be involved in accidents during this time of year.

As we’re already in the midst of the holiday shopping frenzy, it is important to understand the dangers of being on the road alongside 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, big rigs, and other commercial trucks that move various items during the holiday season. 

If you are involved in a trucking accident this holiday season, our Corpus Christ truck accident attorney at The Burkett Law Firm can help you pursue compensation for your damages. Let our experienced 18-wheeler lawyers handle your legal case while you focus on recovering and spending quality time with your family. Don’t let a truck accident ruin the holiday season for you and your loved ones.

Texas truck accident fatalities during the holidays

During the holidays, our roads and highways are packed with commercial vehicles transporting millions of items. As shipments and deliveries surge around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, trucks crisscross the nation to transport goods and gifts from one end of the country to another.

And with this increase in holiday ecommerce transport, the number of truck accidents and traffic fatalities also increases, particularly in Texas. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, November and December see more car crash deaths than many other months.

In fact, personal finance website ValuePenguin ranked the most dangerous holidays for drivers in the United States. According to their study, Christmas sees about 231 fatal car crashes per year, while about 245 deadly collisions occur on New Year’s Eve. 

Interestingly, the study determined that Texas accounts for a large percentage of traffic fatalities during the holidays. San Antonio has more car accident deaths than any other city in the nation on Christmas, while Houston was named the country’s “deadliest city” during:

  • Memorial Day Weekend
  • 4th of July Weekend
  • New Year’s
Why do more trucking accidents occur during the holidays?

Sleepy Corpus Christi truck driver risks causing a serious truck accident.
With tighter delivery deadlines during the holidays, trucking companies will push their drivers to the limit, leading to increased risk of truck accidents.

There are several reasons why commercial truck crashes are more likely to occur during the holiday season. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents during the holidays include:

Driver fatigue

As delivery schedules get more demanding during the holiday season, truck drivers are even more likely to sacrifice sleep in order to complete deliveries faster. Many truckers push themselves beyond the limits and become fatigued, which contributes to drowsy driving. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy drivers are twice as likely to make driving errors. 

Tight schedules

As mentioned above, truck drivers face tight deadlines for their shipments during the holiday season. Many trucking companies set unrealistic deadlines for their drivers during the holidays, while others pressure or even encourage employees and independent contractors to violate federal hours-of-service rules to make as many deliveries as possible.

Increased traffic on the road

The holiday season brings more traffic to the road because there are more commercial trucks transporting goods and making deliveries at a time when other drivers are hitting the road to see their families and pick up gifts.

Bad weather

Poor weather conditions contribute to many truck accidents in Corpus Christi and other parts of Texas during the holidays. Weather conditions such as ice, snow, sleet, rain, and others are not uncommon during the winter holiday season.

Lack of truck drivers & comprehensive training

Many trucking companies experience a shortage of drivers during the busy holiday season, which is why they may end up hiring unqualified truck drivers who lack proper training to keep up with the high demand of the holiday season.

Regardless of what caused or contributed to your trucking accident, it is vital to retain a skilled truck accident attorney to help you investigate your case and determine liable parties. With an experienced 18-wheeler lawyer on your side, you may be able to hold the profit-minded trucking company responsible for your injuries. 

How to stay safe and navigate the risks of truck accidents

It is critical to exercise due care and take all reasonable precautions when operating a vehicle this time of year. You can avoid a commercial truck accident by following these safety tips: 

  • Practice defensive driving at all times
  • Install a reliable dash cam to capture important video evidence in the event of an accident
  • Wear a seat belt when driving
  • Avoid lingering in a commercial vehicle’s blind spots
  • Increase your distance (keep in mind that trucks require greater stopping distance)
  • Avoid driving in bad weather conditions
  • Leave earlier and plan your route so that you are not tempted to exceed the speed limit and violate traffic rules to reach your destination

If you or your loved ones suffer an injury in a commercial truck accident in Corpus Christi or other parts of Texas, consult with a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer to protect your rights, preserve evidence, and help you recover the compensation you deserve from all liable parties. Here at The Burkett Law Firm, our Corpus Christi truck accident attorneys are committed to pursuing maximum compensation for our clients. Schedule a free consultation with our results-driven lawyers by calling at (361) 882-8822.