There’s a rising risk on Houston roads and it isn’t only coming from texting drivers—it’s coming from roadway debris. An increasing number of accidents are being attributed to debris on the road, and not all of these accidents are as simple as a cracked windshield or dinged paint job.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were more than 700 debris-related accidents last year. This number represents only those reported to law enforcement. So, in all actuality, there were likely much more.
In Houston, the debris is coming from trucks which don’t have cargo strapped down, from prior accidents, and from construction sites. Debris includes car parts, garbage, and even construction parts.
One driver interviewed by ABC-13 hit a wooden pallet that was in the middle of 45-South, causing about $800 in damage. Another drove over an “8-foot steel, 4-inch pipe with a 14-inch flange on it.” That accident caused vehicle damage and injuries, to the tune of nearly $70,000.
Department of Transportation Spokesperson Danny Perez says drivers aren’t securing their cargo with straps or covering them with tarps. He said people carrying auto parts and furniture, for example, aren’t taking steps to prevent losing the cargo. So, when wind, high speeds, or a big bump in the road jostles the load, these things are likely to be sent airborne or to tumble out.
The Department of Transportation sends between three and five vehicles out each day to look for and clear debris from the roads in the Houston area. They say they spend about $3 million on private contractors to do similar work.
When it comes right down to it, avoiding debris in the roadway is your responsibility. Usually, we see this debris and there’s no way to know for certain where it came from. However, sometimes we see things come off of trucks or other vehicles.
In these cases, get the vehicle’s license plate number. Drivers who lose things on the highway rarely notice until they’ve arrived at their destination.
If you are hit with flying debris from an unsecured load, you’ll want to be able to reach that driver if it causes damage or an accident.
Houston Auto Accident Attorney
When a trucking company or private individual moves something unsecured and it comes loose, or even when a vehicle loses something when it hits a bump, surrounding vehicles are at a serious risk of accident. Often it happens so quickly, you have only a split-second to react.
If you are involved in an accident caused by debris and you know where the debris came from, you could be entitled to compensation. Similarly, if another driver swerves to miss hitting something in the road and they cause an accident, they could be held responsible for your injuries.
At the Law Office of Kevin Krist, we work hard to get justice for people injured in accidents of all kinds. Contact us today at 281-677-3967 for a consultation on your case.
