The oil and gas industries in Texas are booming. However, as the oil and gas industries in Texas grow, so apparently do the potential for fatal car accidents.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, in 2018 over 1,600 people died in motor vehicle accidents in one of Texas’ five largest oil and gas producing regions. This accounted for around 50% of all fatal traffic accidents in the state. West Texas’ Permian Basin, one of the largest production areas of oil and gas in the United States, saw 485 highway fatalities in 2018, a 20% increase from the number of fatalities in 2017.
In 2017, Texas passed a ban on texting and driving. However, the owner of one Texas trucking company cites distracted driving in the form of cellphone use as the biggest contributor to the region’s motor vehicle accident problem.
However, the Texas Department of Transportation cites speeding as the primary cause of motor vehicle accidents in the state, although distracted driving is a close second. In fact, the car accident rate in Texas continued to go up in the first year following the enactment of the texting and driving ban.
Ultimately, distracted driving is dangerous, and accidents involving oil tankers or other large vehicles are especially dangerous. The combination of the two can easily lead to a car accident that injures or kills another person. When this happens, the accident victim may incur a lot of expenses, including medical expenses, lost wages and loss of enjoyment in life. When this happens, accident victims may want to explore their legal options for compensation, including the possibility of pursuing a personal injury claim if appropriate.