How Many Truck Accidents Per Year?
How Many Truck Accidents Are Caused Each Year?
Despite the increased awareness of the importance of sharing our nation’s roads and highways with cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians, there are still a significant number of accidents each year that involve large trucks. This is especially true when truck drivers fail to follow traffic laws and regulations, which can result in serious accidents and injuries.
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Fortunately, there are certain steps that can be taken to avoid getting into a big rig accident in the first place. One way to do this is to educate yourself about how these large vehicles operate, what causes them to cause accidents and how to stay safe on the road.
1.What Are the Major Causes of a Truck Crash?
The main cause of a large rig crash is usually the collision with another vehicle. However, there are other factors that can lead to a crash, including unexpected road hazards and driver fatigue.
Unexpected road hazards are responsible for causing one-third of all crashes. They can be a simple issue such as potholes or missing maintenance hole covers, or more complex ones such as poor signage. These issues can sway the weight of your truck, cause it to roll over or otherwise become unstable, and eventually lead to injury and even death.
2. The Fatalities of Truck Accidents Are Rising.
A study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revealed that in 2019, more than 4,100 people died as a result of large rig accidents. This number has continued to rise over the years, and it is largely due to reckless driving habits.
3.Sleep Deprivation Is a Major Cause of Truck Crash Injuries.
The number of truck crashes caused by sleep deprivation is estimated to be around 100,000 per year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drowsy truck drivers are often more likely to make unsafe lane changes or ignore speed limits and other important safety precautions.
4.Truck Accidents Are Most Common in the Morning and Afternoon.
During the morning and afternoon, large trucks are most likely to be on the road. This is because they are on their way to work and need to travel long distances. These truck drivers are also under a lot of pressure to get deliveries out to their destinations as quickly as possible, which can lead to mistakes and faulty driving habits.
5.Aggressive Driving Is a Large Contributor to Truck Accidents.
Overall, 5% of all truck accidents are caused by aggressive driving. This includes speeding, swerving, tailgating, displaying anger, lane blocking and honking unnecessarily.
6.The Drivers Aren’t Taking Proper Care of Their Vehicles
Although many truck drivers do take proper care of their vehicle, they are sometimes not fully aware of what they are doing behind the wheel. They may not have enough experience to control their vehicle properly or they may not be adequately trained to drive a big rig safely.
If you are a victim of a truck accident, it is crucial to know your rights and options for compensation. An experienced lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options for seeking financial damages for your losses.