Do you ever get nervous driving behind a semi-truck carrying a large load, such as lumber or metal crates? If you do, you are not alone. Many people feel uneasy when they are driving near large trucks shipping cargo. While the vast majority of cargo trucks contain loads that are properly secured, there is always a chance that a mistake results in loose cargo falling into the roadway. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by debris or cargo falling off of a commercial truck, you may be eligible for compensation.

Texas Truckers Must Properly Load and Secure Cargo

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the primary federal agency overseeing the creation and enforcement of safety guidelines for the commercial trucking industry. The FMCSA requires trucks operating in interstate commerce to follow a number of rules regarding the securement of semi-truck cargo. These rules include requirements such as:

• Cargo items must be secured in such a way that items do not shift on or within the vehicle or fall from the vehicle.

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A newspaper article from this past March revealed staggering statistics for Comal County drivers—and it may not stop there. After analyzing car accident statistics on FM 32, it was found that the Comal County portion of this may be more dangerous than its counterparts. According to accident data from the past six years, the number of accidents on this stretch of the roadway increased 60 percent from 2018 to 2019. The curviness of the road, drivers moving at 60mph around the bend, and a lack of guardrails are placing many Comal County drivers at risk.

Although statistics have not yet been released for the entirety of 2020, the National Safety Council (NSC) saw a 6 percent increase in the number of roadway deaths throughout the state of Texas so far this year. While you may think stay-at-home orders would keep people in their homes, freeing up the roads for fewer accidents, the NSC believes these open roads are leading to an increase in reckless driving. Now that things are beginning to open back up, rusty drivers are taking to the roads for the first time in months and careless driving behaviors may continue despite the increase in cars on the road. Whether you are driving down FM 32 in Comal County or navigating other roads throughout Texas, it is crucial that you remain vigilant while driving and be prepared for how you should handle an accident if you find yourself in a collision with another vehicle.