Texas Trucking Companies Putting Unsafe and Illegal Drivers on the Roads
Posted by
RLF StaffJanuary 30, 2008 6:32 AMTexas trucking companies often gamble on putting unsafe and even illegal drivers on Dallas highways. Often, they hire illegal immigrants who have trouble reading road signs and communicating with employers, police and emergency crews. Texas trucking companies have also been known to hire felons, alcoholics and drug addicts because many background checks are not completed or rushed through. These types of people are dangerous behind the wheel of any motor vehicle, but many end up driving multi-ton 18 wheelers on the Dallas freeways.
About 500 people are killed each year and nearly 10,000 are injured in accidents involving large trucks. When these accidents happen, it's common for the trucking company to defend their drivers and place blame on the other drivers no matter what the evidence shows. The increasing number of big rigs on Texas highways make it more and more difficult for police to keep track of the thousands of licensed and unlicensed semi truck drivers in Texas which lets many illegal drivers slip through the cracks and get behind the wheel.
Often, the punishment for drivers and companies involved in negligent truck accidents is a compliance review. Although a compliance review can lead to a company being forced out of business, they often get the opportunity to correct errors with little to no punishment or reason to maintain safe drivers and vehicles.
However, when state officials can't or won't do anything to correct the problems of semi truck companies, victims and their families have one method of recourse - filing a lawsuit against the driver and/or the trucking company. Unfortunately many victims do not know of this option and the negligent drivers and companies can get away with little more than a slap on the wrist. When lawsuits are filed, victims are often compensated for medical bills, property damage, lost wages and pain and suffering. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, victims can recieve thousands to millions of dollars.