Yesterday, traffic on some of Houston’s busiest freeways was snarled due to mishaps involving commercial trucks.
Shortly before 1:00 p.m., a trailer carrying roofing materials lost its load on the outbound side of I-10 near Gessner. Traffic was interrupted for more than three hours as motorists were diverted around several lanes that were shut down due to the debris.
On the other side of the city, at about 9:00 a.m. a truck lost its load on the ramp at Highway 59 and I-10 East. Again, the incident interfered with and delayed traffic.
These two episodes highlight once more the risks imposed upon Houstonians by commercial trucks. Though neither incident caused a wreck or injuries, the hazards of lost loads are obvious. Hitting roofing materials or other goods at highway speeds could lead to catastrophic and deadly results.
Trucking provides an invaluable service to the community. And responsible trucking companies regularly deliver their merchandise safely. But those operators and drivers who cut corners endanger everyone who uses the public highways. One essential requirement for the proper transport of goods is adequate securing of the very loads the trucks are paid to haul. Accordingly, trucking companies must form, teach, and enforce safe load securement. In addition, peace officers should continue to patrol and enforce trucking and traffic regulations. Finally, the courts can provide the ultimate means to punish truckers who jeopardize the security of our community by taking shortcuts with safety, and they must compensate the victims that have been injured.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211.