In 2017 there were 4,761 people killed in crashes involving large trucks according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Truck Fatalities Increasing
Fatalities in crashes involving large trucks increased by 9.0 percent from 4,369 in 2016 to 4,761 in 2017. Over a 10-year period there was a 1
2% increase in the total number of people killed in large-truck crashes, from 4,245 fatalities in 2008 to 4,761 fatalities in 2017. Of the fatalities in 2017:
72 percent (3,450) were occupants of other vehicles
18 percent (841) were occupants of large trucks
10 percent (470) were nonoccupants (pedestrians, cyclists, etc.).
From 2016 to 2017 there was a 9% increase in the number of occupants of other vehicles killed, and a 1-percent decrease in the number of nonoccupants killed. This is the highest number of other occupants killed in the most recent 10-year period (2008 to 2017), and the second highest number of nonoccupants killed in that 10-year period.
Lack of Safety Features
One contributing factor is the lack of safety features in big rig trucks.
As technology advances, passenger cars have become safer, thanks to automated braking systems, blind spot monitoring, and additional airbags. Yet, large trucks are only beginning to get those safety systems.
“We’re pleased to see the overall traffic crash figures on public roads decrease, but we remain concerned about the increases in truck deaths, pedestrian deaths and cyclists’ fatalities,” said Jason Levine, executive director for the Center for Auto Safety.
Levine wants safety officials to conduct more studies into why deaths are rising in those three areas even as they fall overall.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, the lawyers at Kimmel, Carter, Roman, Peltz, & O’Neill are here to help.
