What Are the Fatality Rates in Truck Accidents?

March 28, 2019 | Truck Accidents

Thousands of truck accidents happen every year. Whether due to negligent behavior or factors such as bad weather and truck defects, the effects that are left behind after a truck accident remain the same; injuries, fatalities, and financial damages. The fatality rate in truck accidents is the lowest it has been in nearly ten years, but it remains higher than it should be. If you or a loved one has suffered harmful or fatal injuries in a truck accident, it’s crucial to take action and consult an attorney about the crash. An experienced attorney can help get justice for your case and ensure that the negligent driver is held accountable.

Most Common Causes of Truck Accident Fatalities

More often than not, the injured party in a truck accident is a passenger vehicle occupant. In 2017, 68% of large truck accident fatalities were passenger vehicle occupants, while only 17% were truck occupants. Most accidents are generally preventable and caused by human error, so why is the number of fatalities for passenger vehicle occupants still so high? Truck drivers are required to strictly adhere to federal commercial vehicle regulations. If a truck driver violates a regulation, they could face consequences such as suspension or loss of their CDL license, fines and jail time depending on the severity of the crash. Yet still, the most common causes of fatal truck accidents include:

What If My Family Member Dies in a Fatal Truck Accident?

If you lost a family member in a fatal truck accident, you could be eligible to recover compensation for your loved one’s suffering. It’s never easy to lose a loved one, but it can be especially difficult when another driver’s negligence is the cause. If you are ready to get justice for your family member’s death, an experienced lawyer can offer guidance for your case. Spouses, children, parents, and other connections that have a personal relationship with a person killed in an accident have the right to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party.

A wrongful death claim can recover damages such as property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The elements of a wrongful death claim are proof of death, evidence of the other driver’s negligence, and proof that family members have experienced lost wages because of their loved one’s death. When filing an insurance claim, an attorney will establish a connection between the truck driver’s negligence and your loved one’s death and use this evidence to support your wrongful death claim.

Annual Truck Accident Fatality Rates

In the past ten years, truck accident fatality rates have dropped by 7%, but between 2015-2016, the number of large trucks involved in accidents increased by 3%. In 2017, 4,102 people were killed in large truck accidents, and according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatality rate in truck accidents is roughly 1 in every 10 highway crashes.

It’s understandably difficult to file a claim for a family member’s death, but with a knowledgeable lawyer by your side, the process can be made easier to deal with. A lawyer can preserve details from the accident, protect your loved ones’ rights, and ensure that you and your family are taken care of during this difficult time.

Consult an Attorney About Your Fatal Truck Accident Case Today

When a loved one dies in a fatal truck accident, it can be emotionally and physically painful to deal with. The last thing that you and your family probably feel like doing is talking to the responsible truck driver and their insurance company. Hiring an experienced attorney to represent your loved ones’ case provides a mediator between you and the other party and allows you to avoid talking to them directly. Your lawyer can negotiate with the other party’s insurance company for an acceptable settlement on your behalf and provide you with regular updates along the way to put your mind at ease.

If you need a lawyer to represent your loved ones’ fatal truck accident case, contact the Dixon Injury Firm today. Our attorneys offer free consultations, are available 24/7 to answer questions, and will do everything in their power to recover compensation for your loved one’s wrongful death.