Fracking Truck Accidents on the Rise
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a relatively new method of extracting oil from deep underground. This technology has led to a huge oil boom in the Williston Basin (which contains the Bakken formation) as well as several other areas throughout Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. This oil boom, however, is not without a price. There are thousands of semi-trucks needed to transport supplies and goods to and from the area. With an increase of trucks on the road, there is also an increase of truck accidents; often because the drivers are undertrained or fatigued. If you have been in an accident involving a semi-truck, you may be able to file a truck accident lawsuit and collect the compensation that you deserve. Contact a truck accident attorney from Arentz Law Group P.C. today by calling 1-800-305-6000, or by filling out the contact form on this page, to schedule your free case review.
Traffic Deaths in North Dakota
Every day there are fatal vehicle accidents around the country. That is a risk most people are willing to assume when they hit the road. However, most people would rather not take on a semi-truck when they are travelling.
Between the years 2001 and 2005 North Dakota averaged 13 deaths per year involving commercial trucks. After the Bakken Boom started in 2006, that number skyrocketed. By 2012, there were 48 deaths involving busses or large trucks; almost double fatality rate of Wyoming, and 6 times the rate of deaths in California. So why the increase? Because of the sheer number of trucks on the road.
Number of Trucks
Whenever a new well is drilled, there are a lot of trucks needed to get it from nothing, to operational. In fact, it is estimated that 2,000 trucks are needed in the first year alone. In the Bakken there are around 2,500 wells drilled every year; in Texas there may be even more. This surge in oil drilling has caused a surge in the number of trucks coming through the areas.
Take for instance the area near Williston, North Dakota. Before the oil boom there were about 1,400 vehicles driven on a particular stretch of highway each day. Now that number has increased to 14,000. Much of that traffic is semi trucks, and many of those drivers are not properly trained.
Fatal Truck Accidents
Oil companies need to move quickly to get the oil out of the ground and onto the market. Because of this rush they have to hire and train their employees quickly. Much of the time that also means train them inadequately, and get them on the road without proper credentials.
Take for instance the situation of Vilma Marenco. She was driving home after work, nearing her family’s home in Houston, Texas when a truck driver ran a red light. She didn’t survive the crash. The driver, it was later discovered, had no motor carrier license, and he wasn’t properly insured.
Filing Your Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you, or a family member, have been involved in an accident with a semi truck, you need to hire an attorney to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. These companies try to pass off a small settlement as sufficient so they can continue to maximize their profits. The truck accident attorneys at Arentz Law can help you fight back. Schedule your free initial consultation today by calling 1-800-305-6000, or by filling out the contact form on this page.
A truck accident attorney in Southern California can handle your case even if your accident occurred in the Bakken, Texas, or anywhere else in the US.