Getting into a traffic accident with a commercial 18 wheeler truck can be devastating. Imagine a wreck with a car or truck close in size to your own vehicle. Now, add several thousand pounds to the other vehicle. Your car or truck weighs somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds. A typical 18 wheeler, loaded, weighs about 80,000 pounds. If you’re involved in an accident with a commercial truck, you’ll need to enlist the aid of a Houston 18 wheeler accident attorney.

Getting into an accident with a commercial truck is rarely as simple or (relatively) painless as a normal fender bender with another private automobile driver. Because injuries and fatalities are much more likely when a vehicle of that size is involved, simply working through your insurance company and the trucking company’s insurance company will not get you the amount of compensation that you want and need.

Fortunately, truck drivers have to pass a series of tests and certifications to get their commercial licenses. Because an accident could mean losing their licenses and, therefore, losing their means of income, truck drivers tend to be very careful on the road. Their radio systems keep them informed of accidents and obstructions ahead of them. In fact, when you’re driving, you should pay attention to how truckers are driving to prepare yourself for what may be ahead of you.

However, as rare as trucking accidents are, they are still very serious when they do occur. In 2001, commercial truck wrecks accounted for over 130,000 injuries and over 5,300 fatalities in the United States. If you are unfortunate enough to get into an accident with a commercial truck, you need to talk with a Houston 18 wheeler accident attorney like Kirkendall Dwyer LLP. A Houston 18 wheeler accident attorney will help you know your rights and get the compensation that you deserve.