Heavy Machinery a Danger on Texas Highways
A cement truck killed the driver of a small car in a tragic accident on Tuesday. The fatal accident occurred on CR 210 in Anna, a tiny town north of McKinney. The cement mixer was travelling eastbound when the driver drifted off the shoulder of the highway. He over corrected and crossed the median into the westbound lane, slamming into the car and pinning it against a tree.
The motorist died at the scene. Of course, the driver of the cement mixer sustained no injuries.
This terrible collision highlights the dangers of sharing the road with heavy equipment. Construction trucks weigh substantially more and are much larger than cars and are built to withstand rough terrain. These qualities make them prefect for the conditions on a construction site, but extremely dangerous on the road.
Laws of Physics Not On Driver’s Side in an Accident With One
An empty mixer generally weighs about 26,000 lbs. When its mixer is filled, that number increases significantly. Concrete weighs 3,000 to 4,000 lbs. per cubic yard for light to normal varieties. A full mixer might contain about 10 cubic yards of concrete, packing on 40,000 additional pounds to the mixer for a total weight of 66,000 lbs.
At 4,000 pounds, an average sedan weighs about one-sixteenth the weight of a mixer.
The laws of physics prevail when a heavier, longer vehicle crashes into a lighter, smaller one. This holds true even if the two automobiles are a compact car and a midsize sedan. Put a delivery van, bus, tractor-trailer, construction equipment or other heavy vehicle up against a car and the occupants don’t stand a chance.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a test pitting mini cars against midsize cars. In all types of accidents with heavier, longer vehicles, the occupants of the lighter, smaller cars were at a disadvantage; the greater the disparity in weight and length, the worse the outcome for the occupants of the smaller, lighter vehicle.
The heavier weight produces more force on the smaller vehicle. In addition, the distance from the point of impact to the interior cabin affects how bad injuries are, with a shorter distance resulting in worse injuries.
What this Means to You
Heavy trucks are a staple on Texas roadways due to our oil production, construction projects, agricultural operations and transport of goods. But these trucks could be made safer if our state and federal lawmakers pushed for stronger regulations of the drivers and the trucks themselves.
That is why Berenson Injury Law supports strict regulation of heavy equipment on our public roads. We are handling several cases where they were mishandled and seriously injured and even killed motorists.
If you were injured in an accident with a large truck, our firm understands the physics of the crash, which gives us an edge in proving the nature and extent of your damages. Schedule a consultation at our Dallas-Fort Worth law office. Your case evaluation is free and confidential.