How Common Are Truck Crashes?
Sharing the roadway with commercial trucks is a common source of anxiety for drivers of passenger vehicles. Their immense size and momentum make them dangerous in traffic, and statistics indicate that drivers involved in commercial truck accidents are at a high risk of injury or death. Almost one-third of large truck accidents in the United States in 2019 resulted in injuries to at least one person.
Understanding the common risk factors involved in truck crashes can help you stay safer on the road. A commercial truck accident attorney from Brian Hodgkiss Injury Law can help you collect evidence to support your claim and negotiate with liable parties to get you maximum compensation.
How Common Are Commercial Truck Crashes?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 510,000 police-reported large truck accidents in the United States in 2019. Of those crashes, about 1% (4,479) involved at least one fatality, and about 29% (114,000) involved injuries to at least one person.
While these statistics apply to the United States as a whole, Wisconsin also experiences a significant number of truck crashes each year. According to the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 5,921 large truck crashes in Wisconsin in 2020, down from 8,134 in 2019. There were 61 deaths and 1,287 injuries due to truck accidents in Wisconsin in 2020.
Common Elements of Truck Crashes
One of the biggest factors in commercial truck crashes is location. In 2019, 57% of fatal truck accidents in the United States occurred on rural roads, while 25% happened on an interstate highway.
The day of the week also has a strong correlation with truck accidents. Of all truck accidents in the United States in 2019, 86% of them took place during the work week (Monday through Friday).
Driving at night also puts drivers at an elevated risk of being involved in a commercial truck accident. Despite far less traffic during nighttime, 36% of all fatal truck accidents in the United States in 2019 occurred between 6:00 p.m and 6:00 a.m.
Common Causes of Commercial Truck Crashes
FMCSA data lists brake problems as the leading cause of truck accidents. Since commercial trucks weigh more than passenger vehicles, they are much more difficult to slow or stop at driving speeds. This puts a lot of pressure on the truck’s brakes, and even a minor malfunction can lead to a deadly accident.
According to the FMCSA, unsafe speed was the fourth most common cause of truck accidents. In 2020, 29% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents involved speeding. If excessive speed is combined with poor road conditions, the outcome is often fatal. In fact, speeding was involved in 42% of all fatal accidents on icy roads in 2020.
Yet another factor that often causes truck crashes is drug and alcohol use. In 2020, the FMCSA reported that truck drivers failed 2,170 drug tests and 105 alcohol tests after being involved in an accident. Even certain prescription drugs (opioids and benzodiazepines) can impair a driver enough to cause an accident.
Hiring a Lawyer With Experience in Truck Crash Cases
Being involved in any type of accident is frightening, and truck accidents are no exception. You may be eligible for substantial financial compensation if you are injured due to an accident.
Unfortunately, trucking insurance companies are notoriously aggressive and well-funded, so they will fight hard to keep you from getting the compensation you deserve.
There are many legal factors involved in a truck accident. Individual states have varying requirements for filing a civil suit and different compensatory and punitive damage laws. This can get even more confusing, considering most truck drivers operate out-of-state consistently, and their parent company or insurance company may be based in a different state.
There may also be multiple liable parties, including the driver, the driver’s employer, maintenance companies, and manufacturers. The damages applicable to your case will depend on several variables, including the extent of your injuries.
With so many complex variables at play, choosing an attorney with a thorough understanding of the applicable laws is vital.
Contact Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
After being involved in a truck accident, it is essential that you choose a Green Bay semi-truck crash lawyer with extensive experience and knowledge in commercial trucking accidents. The attorneys at Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers have a deep understanding of the complexities of trucking accidents and can fight to get you what you deserve.
Call Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation if you were involved in an accident with a commercial truck.