More Trucks Involved in Fatal Crashes

More trucks involved in fatal crashes

According to federal government statistics, there was a significant increase in the number of large trucks involved in deadly crashes in 2015. The 2015 Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration indicates that 4,050 large trucks, which are those that weigh more than 10,000 pounds, were involved in 3,598 deadly accidents, several of which were in South Carolina. This represents an 8 percent increase over the previous year.

There was also an 8 percent increase in the rate of fatal accidents per 100 million vehicle miles traveled by large trucks, which rose from 1.34 to 1.45. The number of truck occupant fatalities rose by 2 percent from 2014 to 2015, and 89 percent of those who were killed were the drivers.

Most of the fatal accidents took place on rural roads, with 60 percent occurring on them, and only about a quarter of deadly crashes were on interstate highways. About 20 percent of fatal accidents involved a large truck and a pedestrian, cyclist or person on a non-motorized vehicle, while 60 percent of deadly crashes involved a large truck and one other vehicle.

Semi truck accidents can be even more dangerous than crashes involving standard automobiles because of the weight and size of big rigs. These types of collisions can cause catastrophic injuries to occupants of other vehicles, necessitating lengthy periods of expensive medical care. There are a variety of causes of truck accidents, but like car crashes most involve some form of human behavior. A person who has been injured in an accident caused by a truck driver who was drowsy, speeding or distracted may want to have the help of a lawyer in seeking appropriate damages from that at-fault trucker.