Truck accidents are all too common. Truckinfo.net estimates that 15.5 million trucks are on the road in the United States and 2 million of them are tractor trailers.
Let’s review truck accident statistics to learn more about when, where and how often they occur.
- The United States Department of Transportation estimates that more than half a million truck accidents occur each year.
- About 5,000 people are killed each year due to a truck accident. The occupant or driver of the car is much more likely to be killed than the truck driver.
- More than half of truck accidents occur in rural areas.
- The majority of truck accidents occur during daylight hours.
- The states with the highest number of truck accidents are California, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
To avoid an accident with a truck keep the following tips in mind:
- Stay out of the blind spots of a truck by avoiding riding immediately behind or right beside the truck. If you are going to pass a truck do it relatively quickly so you aren’t sitting in a blind spot for a significant amount of time.
- Give trucks plenty of space to get on and off the highway. Give them plenty of space to switch lanes.
- Do not cut directly in front of a truck. They have a larger braking distance than a car and may not be able to react quickly enough if they aren’t given the proper amount of space.
Unfortunately even very cautious drivers can find themselves in a car accident. In some cases the truck driver is the cause of the accident. If significant damage to the vehicle and injuries occur the results can be devastating. At Hogan Injury we have experience helping truck accident victims fight for the damages they are entitled to. Contact us to learn how we can help you.