According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, nearly 11 fatal truck accidents occur in the United States each day. This amounts to nearly 4,000 deaths annually. Unfortunately, the problem appears to be worsening rather than getting better. Studies have shown that the number of fatal truck accidents has increased since 2009.
Five Potential Causes for Increased Trucking Accidents
What are some of the potential causes behind the increase in these fatal truck accidents? The following is an overview:
- The trucking industry has been referred to as the backbone of the U.S. economy, which is currently undergoing a period of growth. This growth places increased demands on truck drivers and companies to deliver more goods in less time. Each of these factors could potentially increase the risk of an accident.
- Another potential cause of increased trucking accidents relates to driver fatigue. With more demand placed on truck drivers, some are feeling pressure to work increased hours with fewer breaks—even despite industry regulations. Studies have consistently shown that fatigued drivers are at a significantly increased risk of a truck accident. Unfortunately, reducing the amount of hours that a trucker can legally drive does not always solve the problem. The result is that even more trucks will be on the road if current drivers are more limited in the hours that they can work.
- Some companies may also not do the best job of screening for problem drivers before making hiring decisions. As a result, drivers who lack experience or who exercise poor judgment may be navigating these large vehicles on our roadways, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Another issue that some point to as a cause for the increase in trucking accidents and trucking-related deaths is the slow pace of government officials to force new safety technologies on the trucking industry. According to the American Trucking Association, only about 10 percent of all trucks on the road today contain some kind of active safety technology.
- Some blame is also placed on other motorists on the roadways. Cars and motorcyclists have a responsibility to drive appropriately when sharing the roads with these large vehicles. When passenger vehicles weave dangerously in and out of traffic, for example, the risk of an accident with a large truck increases.
If you were involved in an accident with a large truck, time is of the essence. We encourage you to contact us today for a free consultation at 888-973-2540.
