Study: Over 1,600 Traffic Fatalities In Major Texas Oil Regions in a Single Year
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently released a study on crash statistics in Texas’s five primary oil and natural gas producing regions: over 194,000 crashes with 7,422 serious injuries and 1,614 deaths. The personal injury lawyers at Wyatt Law Firm have dealt with many automobile and commercial trucking accident cases from this region.
Not only do elevated accident numbers in this region stem from West Texas oilfield traffic, but vehicles traveling to and from the oil fields cause serious accidents in other parts of the state.
Causes of Accidents in the Oil Patch
West Texas is at a higher accident risk because:
- The roads are clogged with traffic that they were not built to handle
- There are more trucks per capita on these roads than in any other part of Texas (the traffic on these roads is disproportionately semi-trucks)
- The road conditions are poor because of all the wear and tear on these highways
- These are rural roads that lack many safety features and precautions that you would find in urban area
This profitable area of West Texas, called the Permian Basin, contains rich deposits of petroleum, natural gas, and potassium. Business surged tremendously within the past few years, and so has the number of truck crashes.
The largest counties in the 17 county Permian Basin are:
- Midland
- Ector
- Eddy
- Howard
These counties all have elevated accident rates, which have caused serious injuries.
The Permian Basin Is Booming, but at a Cost
In 2021, 44 percent of the country’s oil production came from the Permian Basin. At any given time, more than 500 rigs operate in the Permian Basin. The rise of shale oil drilling has only made this area more crowded, as it is an equipment-intensive type of oil drilling. Large commercial traffic increases or decreases depending on the overall demand for oil.
Nevertheless, the economic boom has also plagued the region with deadly consequences, especially on roads like Route 285.
Oil companies bring many benefits to the Texas economy, including well-paying jobs. However, the industry also causes hazardous collateral consequences, such as raising the danger to other drivers on the state’s roads. This risk falls on the residents of the area and those passing through who do not always share in the other benefits of the oil industry. Unfortunately, the residents are the ones who must contend with dangerous trucks and careless drivers.
Why Are There So Many Oil Field Transportation Accidents?
What makes the Permian Basin, Midland, Odessa, and Eagle Ford Shale regions so vulnerable to accidents? There are far more car accidents per capita in the oil field area compared to other parts of Texas. Counties in the Permian Basin, for example, have some of the highest fatal DWI statistics in Texas, resembling those of far larger cities like Houston and San Antonio.
The reason is that many accidents in the region involve drivers who are not local. They are in the area for business or are transporting equipment or hauling oil and gas. The oil industry requires a lot of logistical support, much of which large trucks provide. These drivers may be in unfamiliar territory and not know where they are going.
At the hub of all the commotion, the cities of Odessa and Midland have experienced massive increases in traffic and traffic-related deaths. The primary veins of the oil industry – I-20 and US 285 – have crash statistics that attract national attention. Locals have dubbed Route 285 as “Death Highway.”
Deaths on these roads rise and fall depending on the price of oil, and the recent boom of oil production in the Permian Basin has fueled the steady energy-related expansion.
There is talk of widening I-20 and taking other safety-related measures, but for now, this road remains a veritable death trap. Some surveys show that more than one in every ten Texas accident fatalities happens in the Permian Basin, even though the population in these areas is very low.
The Rate of Car Accidents Increases with Oil Production
When oil production is responding to surging demand and prices, there is more truck traffic in the state. Traffic deaths in the area dropped in 2020 when oil production fell because of the pandemic.
Now that oil prices are nearing an all-time high, you can expect serious traffic accidents in the Texas oil patch to increase as oil companies produce more to maximize their profits. Regrettably, residents have no control over the amount of dangerous traffic on their roads.
The Dangers of Rural Roads in Texas
Rural roads tend to be more dangerous than you might think. One of the reasons is drivers take far more chances when they think that there is less traffic around. In addition, they may be less familiar with the road and its conditions. Rural roads can give a false sense that it’s ok to speed on them, and reckless driving is a problem in rural areas too.
Rural roads become dangerous when they have more truck traffic, as is the case in the oil regions of Texas. When road conditions are poor and there is limited visibility, the chances of a catastrophic accident increase.
Surprisingly, more than half of our nation’s traffic fatalities happen on rural roads. The fatality rate on rural roads per 100,000 miles traveled is more than double than in cities despite a growing shift toward urbanization. Texas ranks in the upper third of the country in the traffic fatalities on rural roads.
How the Truck Driver Shortage Makes Things Worse
There is a truck driver shortage across America. This hits the oil industry particularly hard because it relies on tankers to take oil and gas from refineries and heavy trucks to supply the oil patch.
Tankers and other trucks that transport chemicals are even more difficult to drive, and they require a special license. Trucking companies and other businesses that need truck drivers are struggling to fill job openings, and the problem has gotten far worse during the pandemic. The truck driving workforce is getting older, and many experienced drivers retired. The replacements for veteran truck drivers are often operators who do not know how to handle the challenging conditions found in a Texas oil field.
As the prosperity of an oil boom entices inexperienced drivers to fill the labor shortage, the West Texas oilfield traffic increases. 18-wheeler and commercial vehicle accidents have skyrocketed with the proliferation of new drilling sites.
These drivers understand that time is money, and the lucrative business prompts drivers to speed, drive while fatigued, and drive aggressively. Local law enforcement agencies have also expressed concerns over increased incidents of commercial trucker intoxication.
Truck Drivers Are Under a Great Deal of Pressure
Employers put truckers who drive in the oil fields under a lot of pressure. Current shortages require that deliveries reach their destination quickly. Time matters in the oil drilling and production industry. When a rig has a technical issue, the drillers need parts immediately to keep production going. Finished products like crude oil cannot sit because of high storage costs.
Oilfield truck drivers may end up starting late because labor and supply crunches keep them from getting out on the road to reach their destinations on time. Drivers then try to make up lost time by speeding. Truck drivers also have restrictions on the amount of time they can be behind the wheel, which can encourage some drivers to break the law and exceed the speed limit.
The Dangers of Speeding Truck Drivers
Speeding truck drivers pose the following dangers to other drivers:
- Since trucks are so large and weigh 80,000 pounds fully loaded, they take far longer to stop than other vehicles. Speeding costs a driver valuable time and braking distance to slow the vehicle or come to a stop
- Speeding trucks are far more likely to experience rollover accidents because the driver can make an error in steering
- A heavy tractor-trailer is far more likely to lose control when it is exceeding a safe speed
- Drivers are less likely to respond to changing highway conditions due to weather or traffic
Trucks Have a Higher Risk of Rolling Over
One major risk for the trucks that travel the oil patch roads is a rollover accident. This danger increases with tanker trucks. Truck rollovers can happen when a driver oversteers or the cargo shifts inside the trailer. Tucks that drive fast over roads that are in bad condition also increase the likelihood of a truck rollover.
Tankers present a high rollover risk because liquid cargo can slosh around and suddenly shift the center of gravity. This danger is even higher when the tanker is not fully loaded. Tanker rollover accidents are incredibly dangerous because the truck carries highly volatile and flammable substances. Rollovers can cause explosions or cause the truck to catch fire leading to injuries and fatalities.
Inexperienced commercial drivers and heavy tractor-trailers combined with roads that are not designed to handle the traffic is a recipe for a disastrous rollover accident.
Roads in the Oil Patch Are in Terrible Condition
One of the problems that the oil industry causes in Texas is dilapidated roads. Heavy trucks regularly traveling over the same roads over and over again will break down the concrete and asphalt. The state government does not invest the money necessary to keep these roads in good repair, leading to dangerous highways and thoroughfares in oil-producing areas.
In the words of the Texas Department of Transportation, “heavy energy sector traffic has affected Texas highways and bridges.”
Challenging road conditions make it harder for everyone to drive in these regions. For example, truck drivers do not always take the necessary care to safely drive on roads in poor condition. Additionally, the government is slow to fix and repair roads so they continue to deteriorate.
The Dangers of Poor Roadway Conditions in Rural Areas
Part of the problem is that roads in the oil-producing areas are rural highways, and no one intended these roads to carry the traffic they see now. The government does not make the investments necessary to provide the infrastructure to keep up with the soaring truck traffic in the area.
Part of the problem is that the state profits wildly off of the oil industry, but it leaves it up to the counties to pay the bills. Road repair for rural roads comes out of the county budgets, and they claim that they are not receiving the necessary money from the state.
The heavy equipment that travels over the road can cause:
- Potholes
- Cracked asphalt
- Splintering shoulders
The Texas Legislature continues to talk about the problem, but they have not made any significant moves to repair roads in the Permian Basin that have been damaged by heavy equipment and 18-wheelers.
Suing the Government for Poor Road Conditions
You may sue the government if poor road conditions were the cause of your accident. The government has a legal obligation to maintain roads in reasonably safe conditions. Although they are not legally responsible for every single crack and pothole on the highway, agencies can face lawsuits if they delay maintenance or repair of very poor conditions and a worn roadway causes of your accident. You need a lawyer who knows the different rules for suing a government entity in Texas.
Other Defendants in Your Motor Vehicle Accident
When you suffer injuries in an accident with a negligent truck driver or any other careless motorist in the Texas oil patch, you deserve financial compensation. In addition to your injuries, passengers in your vehicle will need to prove that someone else was responsible for their injuries.
At-fault parties may include:
- Another driver (including a truck driver)
- The driver’s employer
- The truck’s manufacturer
- The cargo loader
- The government that is responsible for maintaining the road
Suing a Company for Your Accident Injuries
Your car accident damages can result in a large settlement check, depending on the extent of your injuries. If you sustained injuries or a loved one was killed in a truck accident, you can file a lawsuit against the truck driver’s employer. Tanker truck companies and other heavy semi-truck owners generally have large insurance policies to protect them when their drivers injure other people. The coverage limits on these policies can be very high. If they are not enough to cover your injuries, you can go after the trucking company’s assets and accounts.
The flip side is that these accidents can be very complex. Your 18-wheeler accident lawyer will need to perform an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the accident and gather the evidence that you need to prove liability.
Your lawyer will engage in comprehensive negotiations so you can settle your auto accident claim. If negotiations break down, your lawyer can file a lawsuit against the party at faut. When claims have a higher dollar value, they can take longer to settle because there is more room for a difference in opinion between you and the insurance company. Vehicle crashes involving oilfield truck drivers are typically difficult and complex. You need extensive proof of your past and future damages as well as evidence of your pain and suffering to negotiate a fair settlement.
The automobile and trucking accident lawyers at Wyatt Law Firm have the experience and the skills necessary to maximize your compensation.
Although TxDOT and other government agencies initiated highway construction projects and safe driving campaigns to alleviate some of these problems, the booming oil market and demand for commercial truck drivers will unfortunately continue to encourage dangerous driving. We anticipate that this problem will only worsen in the coming years, as high oil prices drive more oil production, and cause more deadly crashes.
If you or a loved one has been affected by an 18-wheeler or commercial automobile accident in the Permian Basin, in the Odessa-Midland area, or in the Eagle Ford Shale region, call Wyatt Law Firm at (210) 340-5550 for a free consultation.
Our personal injury lawyers seek maximum compensation for people throughout Texas and the nation, including San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Laredo, and Corpus Christi. We will fight for you. You do not need to pay us upfront for our services, nor will we send you bills during your case. You pay us nothing unless we recover damages for you.