Posted on December 20, 2019 to Blog

Because of their sheer size, commercial or large trucks continue to be involved in more accidents than smaller vehicles. Accidents involving a truck have the potential to do harm to truckers, other drivers, bicyclists, and even pedestrians. To give you a better idea of what potential risks to look out for while sharing the road with trucks, here’s a closer look at some of the top 2019 truck accident stats.

Large Truck Fatalities Continue to Rise

According to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2019, the fatality rate of large truck occupants is at a 30-year high. Altogether, there were nearly 5,000 truck-related deaths that occurred within the reporting period covered by the NHTSA, which is a nearly 1 percent increase over the previous year. Truck-related fatalities can be broken down further to include:

• Large truck occupants – 18 percent
• Passengers in other vehicles – 72 percent
• Cyclists, pedestrians, and other non-occupants – 10 percent

Most Truck Accidents Occur on Interstates and in Rural Areas

More than a quarter of all fatal truck accidents for the most recent reporting period occurred on interstates. Also, nearly 60 percent of large-truck fatalities occurred in rural areas. Similar results are seen with data from the Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Non-Fatal Truck Accident Injuries Are on the Rise as Well

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that non-fatal truck accident injuries have increased more than 60 percent since 2009. Head injuries, spine-related injuries, and internal injuries are among the most common types of truck accident injuries sustained.

Driver ‘Non-Performance’ a Top Truck Accident Factor

The Truck Accident Attorney Network reports that most truck-related accidents are due to a lack of performance with regards to paying full attention to the road on the part of the driver. Common factors of this nature include driver fatigue, making illegal maneuvers, inadequate surveillance of the surroundings, driver distractions, and over-the-counter drug use.

According to a large truck crash causation study conducted by FMCSA, nearly 80 percent of trucks have brake-related problems. Additional factors that tend to contribute to truck accidents include:

• Aggressive driving
• Weather and road conditions
• Driver inexperience
• Improper truck maintenance

In response to these stats, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) contends that they do not reflect the total number of vehicles on the road and the number of miles traveled. However, groups like this do stress the importance of investing in technology and training to minimize accidents. If you or someone you love was affected by a truck accident, a personal injury attorney can help you explore your legal options.

Sources:

https://www.trucks.com/2019/10/22/trucking-fatalities-reach-highest-level-30-years/
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts