Over half a million truck accidents occur in the United States every year. Understanding why these accidents occur is necessary to improve road design and prevent future accidents from happening.

Sadly, 72% of fatalities in truck accidents were occupants of other vehicles. If you or anyone you know was involved in an accident with a truck, you should get help from a truck accident lawyer. Victims of accidents in the US are legally entitled to compensation for any damages they suffer.

What we can learn from truck accident statistics

Several organizations in the US, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, publish traffic accident data every year. Here are some of the statistics on truck accidents and what we can learn from them:

55% of fatal accidents happen in rural areas

Fatal collisions happen more often in rural areas due to several reasons, including narrow lanes, low visibility, and varying road conditions. Rural roads are often less crowded, which contributes to truck drivers driving over the speed limit.

The ways to combat this are listed below.

1. Reducing the overall speed limits in rural areas
2. Increasing visibility by clearing vegetation and removing obstacles
3. Adding wildlife crossings at appropriate places
4. Improving road lighting

6.7% of truck accidents involved drunk driving

Unfortunately, drunk driving continues to be a cause for concern. When alcohol or drugs are involved, the liability usually falls on the driver.

Here are a few ideas on preventing drunk driving.

1. Educating drivers on the impact of drunk driving.
2. Implementing no-tolerance policies for drunk driving at truck companies.
3. Strict DUI laws to penalize truck drivers

13% of truck accidents happened in bad weather

Truck drivers are known to have strict deadlines, and this often forces them to drive despite the bad weather.

There are several things that can be done to prevent this. For example, improving trucking company rules so that drivers don’t feel pressured to drive in bad weather. If there were rules in place that prevented truck drivers from driving in bad weather while giving them extra time to deliver their goods, they would not have the need to drive under risky circumstances.

Another factor would be the availability of accurate weather information. For example, if the truck driver knew a storm was headed his way, they could make the decision to pull over at the next truck stop instead of driving to the next town.

Ensuring the truck is adequately equipped reduces the risk of accidents in bad weather, like using snow tires when there’s heavy snowfall.

Educating drivers on handling bad weather and putting strict laws in place ensures that drivers take the right precautions while driving in bad weather.

26.6% of fatal truck accidents were intersection-related

A whopping 26% of truck accidents happened at intersections. This is because trucks have larger blind spots than other vehicles and a bigger turning radius. It also takes some time for a truck to come to a complete stop.

In order to reduce truck accidents, it is essential to improve road and truck design. Educating both truck drivers and drivers of other vehicles is also essential to reducing accidents. Improving the design of intersections also ensures that vehicles have a clear view of each other and stop long enough to see the vehicles on the other side.

Conclusion

Several factors contribute to truck accidents in the US. These accidents can be prevented by implementing the right measures, including improving road design, changing laws surrounding truck drivers, improving working conditions, etc.

Victims of truck accidents need to be aware of their right to compensation. Hiring a truck accident lawyer can ensure that a compensation claim is filed on time and the right procedure is followed.