Reeves County, TX — August 31, 2024, two people were injured following an 18-wheeler rollover accident at around 7:26 p.m. on U.S. 285.
Authorities said in preliminary statements that the accident happened near Orla a few miles south of the New Mexico state line.
Investigators said that two men, ages 27 and 52 were in a Dodge Ram 5500 going southeast along the highway. An 18-wheeler going northwest was reportedly going at unsafe speeds and lost control, causing the truck to overturn onto southbound lanes. As a result, the Dodge crashed with the overturned 18-wheeler. Due to the crash, the 52-year-old was seriously injured while the 27-year-old was moderately injured.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Right now, additional details about the accident are unclear. With authorities claiming the 18-wheeler was going unsafe speeds, though, this all may seem open-and-shut. While I can’t say what all happened here, commercial vehicle wrecks are rarely that simple. It’s important to know not just what went wrong but why it went wrong. People make mistakes, but sometimes those mistakes are a symptom of a larger issue.
For example, trucking companies can create environments where crashes like this are just a matter of time. Many employers expect drivers to meet unreasonable deadlines which all but necessitate reckless driving. If drivers aren’t speeding, driving while distracted, skipping rest breaks, and otherwise cutting every corner they can to appease their bosses, they risk losing their livelihood. Some drivers are able to find jobs at companies that value safe driving. Others end up relenting to the pressure, and they inevitably make mistakes that get people hurt or killed.
I’ve handled hundreds of commercial vehicle accident cases, and these situations are a lot more common than folks realize. It’s one of the reasons I’m always shining a light on commercial truck accidents on this blog. Folks think authorities just charge reckless drivers, and that’s that. But when it comes to actually doing right by victims and families, it’s important to ensure all of the wrongdoers who harmed them actually face the appropriate consequences. That could be a reckless individual, or it could be a whole company who needs to be put on the straight-and-narrow before more people get hurt. Whatever ultimately led to this crash, my hope is steps are being taken to actually get clear evidence and ensure no one is wrongfully let off the hook.
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