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Trucking fatalities reached an all-time high in 2019

On Behalf of | Nov 10, 2020 | Truck Accidents |

Truck drivers in New York know how dangerous their job can be. The average truck driver drives between 80,000 and 110,000 miles each year. All of that driving, combined with other drivers and dangerous road conditions, can equate to more accidents. Recent years have seen an increase in trucking accidents across the country. In 2019, trucking accidents that caused fatalities reached the highest levels that have been seen in over 30 years.

Trucking accident statistics

In 2019 36,120 accidents involving a large truck. This is a slight decrease from 2018 when 36,560 motor vehicle accidents occurred. Though the total number of accidents decreased, the seriousness of the accidents increased, which resulted in a 1% increase in fatal accidents. In most accidents, other drivers died more often than truck drivers; truck drivers only died in 18% of the crashes. Additionally, the majority of the accidents happened during weekdays when traffic in some areas is at its highest.

Truck drivers must always be aware

Though truck drivers aren’t always responsible for accidents that occur, they can help stop them. Paying attention to the road, never using a cell phone and limiting distractions can help decrease accidents. Truckers should also leave plenty of room between their truck and other cars on the road to help everyone have enough space to stop suddenly if needed.

Those injured in an accident involving a large truck know the devastating injuries that can occur. These accidents often change an individual’s life forever. If a truck driver was negligent while driving their truck and caused an accident, they may be responsible for damages. For example, a driver who was on their phone may have changed lanes suddenly and hit a car. Cell phone records might prove that they were on their phone at the time. Medical and compensatory damages may then be awarded to the accident victims.

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