Despite Increased Regulation, Truck Accident Fatalities Increase

February 13, 2013 (Press-News.org) Despite Increased Regulation, Truck Accident Fatalities Increase

Article provided by Gelber & O'Connell, LLC
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When you are driving down the road, there is always a chance that you could be involved in an accident. Regardless of how safely you drive, other motorists may not do the same, making an accident inevitable. Perhaps you console yourself by thinking that if such an accident occurred, it would likely be a fender-bender with little damage and few injuries.

However, if the other vehicle in the crash happens to be an 18-wheeler, the scenario changes completely. In this case, the likelihood of serious injury or death increases dramatically. To help minimize the possibility of this situation, federal and state officials, such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), have drafted many rules and regulations over the years with the aim of protecting motorists and truck drivers from truck accidents.

Recently, such regulations have changed how long a truck driver may continue to drive without a rest break. Recent regulations have also encouraged drivers to maintain their health, as out-of-shape drivers may not get sufficient rest before going on duty.

Despite their attempt to create safer roads through regulation, the number of deaths caused by truck accidents has remained fairly steady for the past ten years, much to the dismay of the regulating agencies. Recent data confirms that the regulations have seemingly had little to no effect--at least as far as truck driver safety is concerned.

According to accident data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,686 people died in truck accidents during 2010. In 2011, NHTSA data shows that 3,757 people died--an increase of 1.9 percent. This marks the second consecutive year in which the fatality rate has increased.

A significant percentage of the increased number of trucking accidents were single-vehicle accidents--meaning that only the truck was involved. In 2010, 339 truck drivers were killed in single-vehicle accidents. In 2011, that number rose about 19 percent to 403. Oddly enough, in multi-vehicle accidents, slightly fewer people in other vehicles were killed in 2011 than 2010--2,767 and 2,695 respectively.

Experts attribute the increase in truck driver fatalities to the recovering economy. As the economy improves, more truckers, many of whom are inexperienced in driving a truck, take to the roads.

Consult an attorney

Due to their size, trucks pose a significant danger to smaller vehicles on the road. Although there are regulations in place that are intended to protect motorists, some truckers, often under pressure from trucking companies to meet their deadlines, do not comply. As a result, serious accidents can happen.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can assess your case and work to get you the compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering to which you are entitled.