A lot of drivers fear semi trucks, and with good reason. Due to the size difference in the vehicles, an accident involving a truck puts the other driver in significant danger.
It’s also worth pointing out that this fear could be rooted in the fact that truck accidents have been rising in this decade. The odds of being hurt or killed are trending in the opposite direction of most accident statistics, which tend to fall over time.
Why is this? Truck accidents are linked to numerous factors, from driver fatigue to distracted driving to impaired driving. However, some studies have found another culprit, one you wouldn’t typically think of first, but which does make a lot of sense.
The economy.
When the recession was in full swing back in 2009, there were only 2,983 accidents involving trucks. Just 3,380 people passed away. That may sound like a fair amount, but it’s the lowest total on record.
The economy has rebounded since 2009, though, increasing the need for commercial driving. Truck accident stats have risen right along with it. For instance, in 2013, there were a total of 3,541 crashes, and 3,964 people were killed. In merely a four-year span, that’s a total increase of 17.3 percent, and that’s just looking at deadly accidents — not the thousands of accidents that leave people with serious injuries.
Most people hope that the economic rise will continue, but the downside is that trucking accidents would likely keep increasing at the same time. Drivers and passengers who are injured must know if they have a right to financial compensation.
Source: Huffington Post, “Trucks Are Getting More Dangerous And Drivers Are Falling Asleep At The Wheel. Thank Congress.,” Michael McAuliff, accessed Sep. 08, 2017
