During this time of uncertainty, we can all agree upon one thing – toilet paper is scarce. The COVID-19 outbreak has led people to hoard toilet paper causing shortages all over the world – from Australia to the U.S. And, shelter-in-place guidelines are causing people to panic-buy, not only toilet paper, but paper towels, hand-sanitizers and cleaning supplies. Therefore, a recent tractor-trailer accident made big headlines for the precious commodity it was carrying.
According to Atlanta’s WSB News and Talk Radio 95.5, a tractor-trailer accident in Texas left “scorched and burned” toilet paper along Interstate 20 on Wednesday, April 1. “Police said the driver of the tractor-trailer fell asleep and lost control of his rig, KXAS reported,” says WSB. The accident even made viral headlines with one post reading, “No April Fools’ joke! A Semi carrying industrial size toilet paper overturned and caught fire WB I-20 at I-45 in Dallas. The driver is ok.”
Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of tractor-trailer accidents. According to U.S. News & World Report, “Current regulations limit long-haul truck drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty time period. Drivers must have had 10 consecutive hours off duty before on-duty time starts again. Additionally, truckers who are going to be driving for more than eight hours must take a 30-minute break before reaching the eight-hour mark.”
The Texas truck driver was planning to stop in Dallas before the accident occurred. The article did not state whether or not the driver had exceeded driving regulations. Luckily no one was injured.
HS Law
If you have questions regarding a truck accident, contact HS Law today. The first consultation is absolutely free. At HS Law, our trucking lawyers were former defense attorneys who specialized representing truck drivers, trucking companies, and their insurers. For years, it was our job to minimize (and in some occasions eliminate) the injured person’s recovery. We know the other side’s playbook. It gives us a tremendous advantage in representing you after a trucking accident. Call 404-400-1175 to discuss your options.
