Truck Accident Statistics

                                                                                         

What most Americans might find staggering are the statistics surrounding truck accidents. The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) provides information about truck accidents. This information is a matter of public record and is very interesting as well as alarming. There are half a million truck accidents on United States highways annually. About 5,000 of these accidents result in one or more fatalities. Out of all of the accident related fatalities across the U.S. annually, trucks accidents account for 12 percent.

Tractor trailer accidents are very common and especially dangerous. The statistics for deaths that are a result of a tractor trailer hitting another vehicle are a staggering 98 percent. Nothing indicates or states that truck drivers are mostly at fault. Believe it or not what statistics do indicate is that 75 percent of truck related accidents are in fact, due to error on the part of the other driver.

The state that has the most number of fatal truck accidents annually is California. In 2003 there were almost 60,000 fatal auto accidents nationwide, almost 5,000 involved big trucks. These findings also indicate that there are more large truck accidents in rural areas than in urban. Further, almost 80 percent of commercial truck accidents occur on the weekend.

The majority of truck accidents are drug and alcohol related. Another very important cause that should never be overlooked is driver fatigue. An estimated 30 percent of trucking accidents are related to driver fatigue. Truck drivers rarely get adequate rest or sleep. When driver fatigue is combined with any drug or alcohol use it is a recipe for disaster.

Truck accident litigation can be complex. There are often multiple parties involved in truck accident lawsuits, everyone from the truck driver to the owner of the trucking company. Attorneys should be consulted immediately after a truck accident to ensure that the legal rights of all parties involved are protected.

About the author:
If you are facing complex legal issues following a trucking accident, the advice of a truck accident attorney is critical. An experienced truck accident lawyer in Iowa can evaluate your case and help you determine the best way to proceed with legal action.

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