Transfer trailers are dangerous when they drive on the road due to their sheer size. Because of their size, transfer trailers are harder to operate, which is why a special license is required in Texas to prove that those who drive them are skilled at operating the vehicle. As a larger vehicle, the skilled driver must drive more cautiously than regular car drivers. In turn, other drivers must also carefully drive around the transfer trucks. One recent tragedy has resulted in wrongful death litigation.
The Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation has been sued because one of its trucks is supposedly responsible for the death of a Texas woman. The transfer truck allegedly either stopped his truck or he slowed down so much as to hinder normal traffic flow on U.S. Highway 271. The woman was unable to stop in time to keep from hitting him, and she died from injuries from the crash and resulting fire.
The driver has been accused of several charges. He is accused of negligence because of his slow, impeding speed, driving at an unsafe speed, distracted driving and failure to signal. He is also charged with violations to the trailer itself including failure to clean and inspect his trailer’s reflective tape and failure to activate hazard lights.
The woman’s estate is filing a wrongful death lawsuit for sustaining several damages. These damages include but are not limited to pain and mental anguish, burial expenses and punitive damages. If the investigations into the crash prove that the driver is guilty of any of the charges against him, the woman’s estate could be entitled to compensation for some if not all of the damages they seek.
Source: The Southeast Texas Record, “Pilgrim’s Pride sued after driver stops on highway and causes deadly collision,” Michelle Keahey, June 24, 2013