Truck Accident

Answer 1

A motor vehicle accident can have lasting and tragic consequences. A truck accident can be even more devastating due to the weight and size of the commercial truck. A commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and be more than 75 feet in length. These figures make it easy to understand why a truck accident can result in fatalities and severe injuries. The United States Department of Transportation publishes statistics each year about the number of truck accidents. Statistics show that there are approximately 500,000 truck accidents in the U.S. each year. Approximately 5,000 deaths occur in the U.S. each year due to a commercial truck accident.

In fact, statistics show that 12% of fatalities in the United States are due to commercial truck accidents. Tractor trailer accidents are especially dangerous; The people in the other vehicle are killed 98% of the time. Surprisingly, the driver of the smaller vehicle is At Fault 75% of the time.

Statistics in Texas show that there were approximately 5,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents in this state in 2003. More than 400 of these accidents were due to a commercial or tractor truck accident. This number is actually larger than it was the previous year. Similarly, there were over 2300 fatal accidents in Pennsylvania in 2003. Approximately 213 of these fatal accidents were caused by a commercial truck. Likewise, the state of Florida had more than 4400 fatal accidents in 2003. More than 300 of these accidents involved large trucks. California had the largest number of fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2003;however, the number of deaths caused by a truck accident was just over 300. This figure was not the highest rate in the U.S. in 2003.

Furthermore, most people believe that driving while intoxicated is the number one cause of truck accident fatalities. This is not true. The statistics show that only 1% of fatalities are caused by a drunk truck driver. Driver fatigue is a huge factor in many of these accidents. In fact, 30% of accidents are caused by the driver not getting enough rest.

In conclusion, a truck accident can be a devastating occurrence. Many factors can lead to an accident that has lasting consequences. Drivers of trucks must adhere closely to written federal and state regulations. These regulations are meant to protect the truck driver and others on the road. Failure to adhere to these rules can cause severe problems.