Undefeated Midland Truck Accident Lawyers
Sparsely populated Reeves County, Texas, has been named the most dangerous county in the nation when it comes to fatal truck and 18-wheeler crashes, particularly oilfield truck accidents.
In fact, according to data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, well over half of the fatal motor vehicle crashes – 56.5 percent – reported in Reeves County in 2021 involved heavy trucks with a gross weight of over 10,000 lbs.
That’s well ahead of the national average of 9.3 percent.
Oilfield Truck Traffic Contributes to Reeves County Crash Rate
Why is Reeves County such an outlier compared to the rest of the country?
While fewer than 15,000 people reside there, the convergence of two major interstates, I-10 and I-20, brings thousands of trucks and 18-wheelers through Reeves County every year. And because Reeves sits in the heart of the Permian Basin, a considerable number of oilfield trucks are constantly transporting supplies and materials to and from drill sites – virtually around the clock.
Not surprisingly, four other Permian Basin counties joined Reeves among the top 10 counties in the nation with the highest rates of fatal truck and 18-wheeler crashes:
- Lea County, New Mexico, ranked third, at 44.1 percent.
- Howard County, Texas, ranked third, at 43.6 percent.
- Midland County, Texas, ranked 7th, at 36.3 percent.
- Eddy County, New Mexico, ranked 9, at 33.8 percent.
Permian Basin Truck Accidents Twice as Likely to Prove Fatal
The Permian Basin has long been notorious for dangerous roads and highways.
In fact, according to a recent study commissioned by the Permian Road Safety Coalition, West Texas motor vehicle crashes are twice as likely to prove deadly as those occurring in the rest of the state. During the four-year period covered by the study:
- Over half of all West Texas crashes involved heavy trucks, 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles
- Nearly 15 out of every 1,000 motor vehicle accidents involved at least one fatality compared to just seven per 1,000 for all of Texas.
- The rate of fatal multivehicle crashes was three times higher in West Texas compared to the rest of the state.
Unfortunately, the multi-lane highways typical of cities like Houston and Dallas are much less common in the Permian, even though overall traffic density in places like Midland and Odessa is comparable. As a result, many of the roads used by oilfield trucks and other big rigs transporting equipment and materials throughout West Texas are largely rural and remain single-lane, leaving them poorly suited to the needs of the oil and gas sector.
Texas Oil Producing Regions Account for 1 in 4 Fatal Crashes
Unfortunately, the consequences of deadly oilfield truck accidents extend well beyond the Permian.
Just last year, in fact, data from the Texas Department of Transportation indicated that the state’s five major oil-producing regions accounted for more than 25% of the fatal Texas traffic accidents in 2022:
- Permian Basin: 26,031 crashes, 394 deaths, and 889 serious injuries.
- Barnett Shale: 20,776 crashes, 280 deaths, and 1,036 serious injuries.
- Eagle Ford Shale: 13,71 crashes, 186 deaths, and 590 serious injuries.
- Anadarko Basin: 635 crashes, 4 deaths, and 32 serious injuries.
- Haynesville/Bossier Shale: 17,594 crashes, 208 deaths, and 948 serious injuries.
TxDOT cited excessive speed and distracted driving as major contributors to the high accident rates in Texas’s energy regions. But It also doesn’t help that oilfield companies are increasingly turning to younger, less experienced drivers to make up for a severe shortage of experienced truckers. All too often, these novice truckers must work demanding schedules and long, irregular shifts that leave them burnt out, fatigued, and at risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
Undefeated Midland Truck Accident Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 Today for a Free Consult
Our Undefeated Midland Truck Accident Lawyers have recovered Billions for our clients, including record-breaking verdicts and settlements on behalf of truck and 18-wheeler accident victims across Texas and throughout the United States
If you or a loved one were hurt in a West Texas truck crash or other commercial trucking accident, please call 1-888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a cent unless we win your case.
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
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