Protecting Your Rights After Averitt Express Accidents

Based in Tennessee, Averitt Express Inc is a trucking company that sends thousands of different vehicles across the country. Per a report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in June of 2018, the company was cited for more than 1,300 violations over a two year period. 

These violations varied from maintenance problems and unsecure cargo to the release of hazardous materials. In that same period, the company’s trucks were in 420 crashes that caused 144 injuries and 12 deaths. 

In June of 2021, we still see hundreds of violations ranging from unsafe driving to driver fitness. When drivers and shipping companies ignore the duty of care we all owe each other on the road, it often results in severe injuries for others. 

When drivers experience Averitt Express accidents due to this negligence, it is essential to hold the negligent parties accountable. If you sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision with a commercial vehicle, contact the auto accident attorneys at AP Law Group. 

Averitt Express, Inc. is a major name in the trucking industry. The company works with over 5,400 drivers with over 4,500 vehicles on the road. Back in 2018, its drivers traveled an incredible 385,121,318 miles across the highways and freeways of the United States. 

While Averitt isn’t the largest transportation company in the country, it shares a sizable chunk of the market. Moreover, the company accounts for numerous severe and fatal collisions every year. 

In the two-year period prior to December 2019, the company’s trucks were involved in 413 collisions. Among these, there were 130 injuries and 9 deaths. 

Averitt Express Accidents: What Vehicles Are on the Ground?

Earlier, we referenced the FMCSA. This government agency works to reduce the number of collisions, injuries, and deaths that involve buses and large trucks. Working within the Department of Transportation, it regulates the trucking industry in the United States. 

One aspect of its mission is to gather information on trucking companies, storing it in a program called SAFER. This information is available to the public, so you have access to general information about the safety records of trucking companies.

With a total of 20,490 trucks on U.S. roads, Averitt’s drivers travel across the country with general freight, commodities, intermodal containers, and hazardous materials. 

The company owns three different forms of vehicles. Here’s a breakdown on their fleet.

• Trailers – 15,444
• Straight trucks – 44
• Truck tractors – 5,002

Interpreting Safety Data

As we examine the safety data from the FMCSA, we gain insight into Averitt Express accidents. Unfortunately, Averitt drivers have been involved in a staggering number of accidents over the years, trending upwards from 2012 to 2019 and only slowly lowering in recent years. 

With these trends in mind and with an examination of their SAFER report, it seems clear that the drivers Averitt works with have a pattern of poor decision making. Oftentimes, truck drivers maintain extremely tight deadlines. This means they cut corners as they try to put more time on the road. 

Typically, drivers work long hours in order to meet these deadlines and make better pay. However, this often results in driver fatigue, distracted driving, and poor vehicle maintenance. Moreover, it is the responsibility of trucking companies to regularly inspect and address safety concerns. Additionally, it must ensure its drivers maintain accurate logs of their hours to avoid overwork. 

Throughout the trucking industry, companies are notorious for enforcing tight deadlines over safety. In some cases, they even encourage employed and independent truckers to falsify their logs. By doing so, the drivers work longer hours and arrive at the destination earlier. 

However, this is an incredibly dangerous practice. Long hours lead to fatigue, and studies show that fatigue has a similar impact to decision-making and reaction time as marijuana or alcohol. 

Additionally, keeping an 18-wheeler out of service in order to perform maintenance and inspections proves costly to truck drivers and trucking companies. 

With one less vehicle out on the road, that’s less money for the company. As such, the trucking industry has a pattern of behavior of foregoing maintenance. In fact, it’s not uncommon for trucks to fail federally mandated inspections. 

Protection for Texans Injured in Averitt Express Accidents

Averitt Express accidents, like any other trucking accident, have great potential for terrible injuries. Oftentimes, these cases are complex and difficult to navigate. As Houston truck accident attorneys, we strive to help injured Texans hold the liable accountable. 

Unfortunately, liability often isn’t clear in the trucking industry. While some truck drivers are employees of companies, others act as independent truckers. In order to maximize your settlement, our attorneys work diligently to investigate your case and determine all liable parties. 

In certain claims, companies and drivers share liability. For instance, the truck driver, company, and maintenance staff might all share blame for the accident if a poorly maintained company vehicle caused your accident. 

With this in mind, it’s clear why you need a Houston Averitt Express truck accident attorney to act as your advocate. When we work with truck accident victims, we perform a thorough investigation of your case and work to maximize your settlement. 

At AP Law Group, we are your advocates against trucking companies and insurance providers. We offer personalized attention and aggressive representation to our clients because we understand the devastation that comes from commercial vehicle collisions. 

With access to experts and legal resources, we work to establish the liability in your claim and hold all liable parties accountable. As we investigate your case, we handle all communications and negotiations. Let us bear the weight of your case as you focus on your recovery. 

Contact our team today to schedule a free case evaluation with our Houston truck accident attorneys. Learn more about your legal options following Averitt Express accidents and see what we can do to help you fight for your future. 

At AP Law Group, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless and until we win your case. Schedule your free consultation now.