According to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of trucker fatalities related to large truck accidents is on the rise.
For example, in 2018, the last year for which final statistics are available, 885 people died while in the cab or a large truck.
This is the highest number in over 30 years, that is, since the late 1980s. The 2018 number marked only a 1% increase, or about 9 deaths, which mean that 2017’s number was high as well.
It is important to remember that while the focus is often on collisions which involve trucks striking smaller vehicles and injuring their occupants, truck drivers themselves can be the innocent victims of truck accidents as well.
Other truck accidents are also on the rise
Unfortunately, the number of overall fatalities from truck accidents has also been increasing. In 2018, almost 4,680 people died in a truck accident, which represented a 1% increase from 2017.
This is the 4th year in a row the number of deaths related to truck accidents increased, even as the number of traffic fatalities has declined in recent years with respect to most other types of accidents.
The number of pedestrians killed in truck accidents in 2018 was particularly disturbing, as it represented an increase of 13% over 2017’s number.
Those who cause truck accidents should be held accountable
Truck accidents happen for a number of reasons which are entirely preventable. For instances, many drivers cause accidents by speeding, following too closely, or engaging in other careless and often illegal driving habits.
Other times, truckers are distracted or too tired to operate a vehicle safely, even though state and federal rules are in place to make sure drivers are alert and awake.
In these cases, victims or their families may be able to recover compensation for their losses from all responsible parties.
