It’s likely you have read or heard stories of trucks being more dangerous than passenger cars. That’s because when they collide with other vehicles, the injuries and damages experienced are catastrophic. What’s even troubling is that truck accidents continue to increase.
How Many Truck Accidents Are There?
According to the National Safety Council, the number of trucks involved in accidents that resulted in injuries increased by 2.5 percent between 2021 and 2022. Fatal truck accidents recorded in the same period rose to 1.8 percent.
Since 2016, truck accidents that resulted in injuries have risen to 18 percent. You’re probably thinking: Why are there many truck accidents every year? In this post, we’ll discuss aspects that contribute to truck crashes and what you should do if you or a loved one are hurt in an accident.
What’s Causing the Increase of Truck Accidents?
A mix of factors influence the upward trend in truck accident rates, including:
Increasing Truck Traffic
A growing population translates to more demand for goods. Plus, today’s consumers don’t want to shop in-store. Instead, they order items online and want them shipped to their home. These two factors have contributed largely to the increase in trucks on the roads.
While more trucks mean timely delivery of goods to various locations, they pose a threat to road safety. Since trucks are large, they create enormous blind spots when there are many on the road. This means the probability of accidents increases.
Employer-required Technology
This is one of the strangest causes of truck accidents as tech is expected to reduce crashes. For example, integrating electronic logging devices in trucks ensures truck drivers stick to the 11-hour driving rule.
An ELD (electronic logging device) logs in hours of work automatically, meaning if you’re even 30 minutes from your destination and clock your 11 hours, you must stop or get fined for an hours-of-service violation. For this reason, some drivers may drive faster or tamper with the ELD so they can drive longer.
Mobile apps are also useful in enhancing communication with dispatchers or report delivery times. But anytime a driver takes their eyes off the road to look at mobile apps, the risk of an accident can increase.
Negligence
Driver negligence is when a driver doesn’t exercise reasonable care when operating their vehicle, resulting in harm (or risk) to others.
Examples of negligent driving include:
- distracted driving
- speeding
- fatigued driving
- driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Driving when texting, calling, or eating, for example, takes away the driver’s attention from the road, increasing the probability of colliding with other road users or objects. Speeding and driving under the influence can make it difficult for truck drivers to stop on time to avoid a crash.
Poor Truck Maintenance
Improper maintenance of trucks is an act of negligence by trucking companies. When trucks don’t undergo regular maintenance, mechanical parts can become faulty, and the risk of trucks being involved in accidents increases. In fact, defects in trucks increase crash risk by 200 percent.
Truck Driver Shortage
There’s a global truck driver shortage, with over three million employment positions for truck drivers unfilled. A trucker shortage means there are fewer trucks available to deliver goods to various locations. To mitigate truck driver shortage, trucking firms opt to hire inexperienced drivers or overload trucks.
When a truck company overlooks poor driving records or fails to verify driver experience, the risk of accidents increases. That’s because inexperienced drivers may mishandle trucks and violate trucking regulations.
Overloading trucks to compensate for driver shortage presents a challenge to drivers, even those with years of experience. Overloaded trucks are difficult to maneuver and are more likely to break down because of tire blowouts and brake failure.
What to do After a Truck Accident?
With the rising number of truck accidents, every road user is at risk of getting into a collision with a semi-truck, tow truck, or other large commercial vehicle. If you’re wondering about what to do when involved in a trucking accident, while there is no cut-and-dry solution, there are a few general guidelines.
First, report the incident to the police and seek medical attention even if you think you’re not injured.
Note insurance adjusters are quick to offer payout for damages caused in the accident, especially if their client was at fault. Avoid talking to them without a legal representative. That said, consult a truck accident lawyer immediately after the crash. Lawyers specializing in truck accidents, like Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo, can evaluate your case and provide legal guidance.
When you have experienced attorneys by your side, you can receive legal advice at every step. You’ll fully understand your legal rights and options so you can make informed decisions. Your attorney can also negotiate for fair compensation while protecting your rights.
Conclusion: Reasons Truck Accidents Are Increasing
Every day trucks collide with other motorists or hit cyclists and pedestrians, leaving us to wonder why such cases are on the rise. Anytime you witness a truck accident, it could be a result of negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, or poor truck maintenance.
Truck driver shortage, high truck traffic, or non-compliance with employer-related technology are other aspects contributing to higher truck accidents. If you’re a victim in a truck accident for any of these reasons, hiring an attorney can help put victims in a better spot for receiving compensation.
