A stretch of U.S. Highway 84 in East Texas has become infamous for being dangerous after many accidents and one fatality involving semi-trucks have occurred. The stretch is known as the Haslem Strip, which has become extremely busy with semi trucks hauling saltwater and other cargo to and from busy oil and gas sites in Texas and Louisiana as the oil industry powers ahead.

The booming industry has led to many new jobs and businesses in the area; however, the abundance of semi trucks has also caused the highways to become unsafe for other drivers.

"If not the most dangerous portion of roadway in the county, it would certainly be right up there with them," a Shelby County constable said, referring to U.S. 84.

The problem is that truck drivers often drive much faster than the 50 mph speed limit that is enforced on the road. But now, after several wrecks, the Texas Department of Transportation is planning to install a traffic light on the road. In addition, local law enforcement said that it will continue to crack down on drivers ignoring the speed limit.

Because of the oil industry's growth in the state, the Texas Department of Public Safety has implemented special task forces to regulate it, and since then, there have been fewer accidents and violations involving oil and gas industrial trucks, the Department said. But the roadways still remain far from safe.

While the oil industry has brought in many jobs and revenue for communities in the eastern part of Texas, it is also important that the semi truck drivers are trained to drive within the speed limits and to follow other traffic rules so that the roads can be safe for all drivers.

If you have been seriously injured in an accident involving a semi-truck, it is possible that you could be entitled to compensation. A personal injury attorney with experience in the area can investigate your case to identify the party responsible for the accident, taking into account the specific legal and regulatory issues within the trucking and oil industries.

Source: KTRE 9, "E. Texas oil boom brings traffic troubles," Donna McCollum, 5/4/2011.