Guiding You Through Your Important Legal Needs

  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Car Accidents
  4.  » Commercial truck accident statistics

Commercial truck accident statistics

Pennsylvania residents are understandably mindful when they are sharing the road with a commercial truck. These vehicles are integral to the economy, deliver goods and services and provide jobs. However, when they are on the road, the fear of being in an accident with one is very real. Since they are so large, travel great distances and are operated at such high speed, an accident with a commercial vehicle can cause injuries and fatalities. People who are hurt or lose a loved one in a commercial vehicle accident should know the steps they must take to attempt to receive compensation in a lawsuit.

Recently revealed statistics indicate that there was a reduction in all categories of road fatalities, except for large trucks. The numbers come from analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In its research, the NHTSA found that there were 673 fewer fatalities in highway crashes in 2017 when compared to 2016. However, with large trucks, there was a 9 percent rise in that same timeframe. “Large trucks” are defined as vehicles that surpass 10,000 pounds.

There was a rise of 5.8 percent in fatalities with tractor-trailer combinations. For single-unit straight trucks, there was a rise of 18.7 percent in fatalities after accidents. 4,761 people died in large truck accidents in 2017. This was a rise of 392 from the prior year. Overall, there were 37,133 deaths in road accidents. Every category experienced a reduction in fatalities except for large trucks and SUVs, which rose by 3 percent.

Early estimates for the first six months of 2018 indicate that there is an ongoing reduction in fatalities. Thus far, it is 3.1 percent lower than in 2017. This does not mean that various issues that contribute to a fatal accident are no longer problematic. Truckers can be especially prone to speeding, distracted driving, negligence and other dangerous behaviors because of the time they spend on the road and the proclivity to try to multitask.

Being in an auto accident is bad enough, but when it involves a large truck the aftereffects can impact a person and their family for a long time. Medical expenses, lost wages and permanent damage can result. When there is a fatality, the family will need to come to accept what happened in a personal, emotional and financial way. The investigation into a commercial truck accident is vital toward pursuing compensation in a legal filing.