There were 5,837 fatal crash accidents involving large trucks in 2022. So says the National Safety Council, adding the tally was up 1.8% from 2021 and up 49% over the last decade.
The National Safety Council defines large trucks as all commercial and non-commercial medium or heavy trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings exceeding 10,000. According to the organization, large trucks accounted for 6% of all vehicles involved in fatal collisions.
If you’re a motorist and wish to stay safer while traveling the roads and highways, there are things you can do. But before seeing some tips, here are some stats on large-truck accidents.
Statistics on Large Truck Accidents
You might be surprised at the rate of large-truck accidents. Due to their immense size, they can cause a ton of damage if they collide with smaller passenger vehicles on the road.
Over 100,000 Injury-Causing Truck Accidents: According to the National Safety Council, 120,200 large-truck accidents resulting in injuries occurred in 2022. That’s a 2.5% year-over-year increase.
Most Fatalities in Large-Truck Accidents Are Occupants of Other Vehicles: Most fatality victims in large-truck accidents in 2022 were people in other vehicles. They made up 70% of the 5,936 people who died in such accidents in 2022. Other groups who died in large-truck accidents include truck occupants (19%) and pedestrians and bicyclists (11%).
Most Accidents Occur During Daylight Hours: The National Safety Council adds that 61% of the collisions occurred during daylight hours and 4.6% happened in construction zones. It might be surprising to see how many vehicle mishaps happened during daylight hours considering that many accidents across the board occur in low-light conditions.
Tips to Stay Safe on the Road
You can do things to stay safer on the road with large trucks. So, while truck drivers have a role to play, so do you and other operators of smaller passenger vehicles. Here are things you can do.
Be Mindful of Blind Spots: Large trucks have bigger blind spots than drivers of cars, SUVs, vans, and other smaller passenger vehicles. If you can’t see the truck driver in the truck’s side mirror, you can be sure the truck driver can’t see you either. Position yourself where you’re reasonably certain the truck driver can see you. You’ll both be safer that way.
Keep Your Distance: You must also keep a safe distance between your vehicle and large trucks. If you have a habit of tailgating, that’s the worst thing you can do. For one thing, you won’t see what’s going on around you, and the truck driver won’t see you. And if you ram into the back of the large truck, there’s a chance your vehicle will slide beneath the large truck. Remember that these trucks are higher off the ground compared to regular vehicles. So, if you drive a small car, the risk of sliding under the truck in a rear-end collision is possible.
Pass Properly: If you need to pass, do it safely. And don’t dilly-dally or move at a glacial pace like a sloth. You don’t want to be in a truck driver’s blind spot any more than you have to be.
Knowing what to do can keep you safer on the road. No one wants to be involved in a vehicle accident — let alone a large-truck accident. The potential for life-changing injuries is greater if you’re in an accident with a large truck versus a traditional passenger vehicle. If you encounter such a scenario, contact a truck accident lawyer. The legal professional will help you obtain the help you need if an accident leaves you and your vehicle banged up and worse for the wear.
But remember that an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. If you take the right steps, you can lower the risks of problems that require contacting a personal injury attorney.
