Truck Accident

Truck accident statistics

The NHTSA, in association with the NCSA ( National Center for Statistics & Analysis), published in 2005 their annual Traffic Safety Facts report on large truck accident injuries in the U.S. According to their compiled data for 2003:

• One out of nine traffic fatalities in 2003 resulted from a collision involving a large truck.

• 457,000 large trucks (gross weight greater than 10,000 pounds) were involved in an accident; 4,669 trucks were involved in a fatal crash.

• 4,986 people died in truck accidents, which comprised 12% of all accident fatalities in 2003.

• There were 122,000 truck accident injuries.

• Large trucks accounted for 8% of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes

• In 2003, 78% of the people killed in truck accidents were drivers of the other vehicle; only 15% of the people who die in truck accident are the truck drivers.

• 75% of injuries were occupants of the other vehicle, 22% were truckers.

• Large trucks are much more likely to be involved in a fatal multiple-vehicle crash – as opposed to a fatal single vehicle crash – than were passenger vehicles (84% of all large trucks involved in fatal crashes compared with 62% of all passenger vehicles).

• 27% of all truck drivers involved in a fatal crash had at least one prior speeding conviction, compared with a relatively low 19% of passenger car drivers.

• In Alabama there were 1,387 vehicles in fatal accidents in 2003, 148 (roughly 10%) of which involved a large truck.

The Facts Explained

What do all these facts and statistics mean to you, the conscientious and safe driver? If you come away with one understanding of this report it should be this: exercise the most extreme cautionwhen sharing the road with trucks and always be aware of what trucks are doing around you. If a truck driver is tailgating you or following too closely, change lanes as soon as safely possible or allow the truck to pass you. Give trucks around you ample room to maneuver and do not get too close to a truck’s rear – in 2003 trucks were 2.7 times as likely as any other vehicle to be hit in the back in fatal crashes.

1. Auto Accident
2. Aviation Accident
3. Brain Injury
4. Class Actions
5. Defective Building Design
6. Defective Highway Design
7. Defective Medical Device
8. Defective Product
9. Drug Injuries
10. Environmental
11. Fire & Burn Injury
12. Motorcycle Accident
13. Nursing Home Abuse
14. Ortho Evra®
15. Premises Liability / Slip & Fall
16. Truck Accident
17. Workers Compensation
18. Wrongful Death

Attorneys, please complete the following form to be contacted by Cory, Watson, Crowder and DeGaris Attorneys at Law.

Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris, P.C.
2131 Magnolia Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: 800-852-6299
Local Phone: (205) 328-2200
Fax: (205) 324-7896