Higher percentage of truck accidents lead to deaths than car crashes

Australian Business

October 02, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When you get behind the wheel of a car, there are many factors your must consider while traveling to your destination. In addition to maintaining a safe speed and obeying other traffic laws, you must also contend with the actions of other motorists on the road. Of course, there is no guarantee that other drivers will be as cautious as you would like. This risk is most severe when the other motorist is driving a large truck, as the difference in size between your vehicles will put you at greater risk.

In fact, truck accidents lead to more fatalities than car crashes each year, according to the American Trucking Association. In 2009, approximately 1 percent of all large truck collisions led to at least one fatality. During the same period, only around 0.5 percent of all car accidents resulted in a fatality.

During 2009, large truck accidents caused a total of 3,380 deaths in the United States. Those most at risk of being killed in such a collision were individuals inside the other vehicle involved in the crash -- such individuals accounted for 76 percent of the fatalities. In comparison, truck drivers or other individuals inside the large truck accounted for just 15 percent of the fatalities that year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also reported that truck accidents account for a significant portion of all traffic fatalities in the United States. According to the NHTSA, in 2008, one out of every nine deaths caused by a traffic incident was the result of a large truck crash.

In addition to causing a disproportionate number of traffic fatalities, truck accidents also lead to a large number of personal injuries each year. Based on data from the NHTSA, truck accidents led to approximately 90,000 people sustaining personal injuries in 2008.

Avoid severe truck accidents in Illinois

Truck accidents are also a serious concern on the roads in Illinois. In 2011, there were over 281,780 motor vehicle accidents in Illinois. In total, 918 people were killed in Illinois as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Of those fatalities, 93 people died in collisions involving a large truck. As in the rest of the country, the majority of those killed were inside the other vehicle involved in the crash. In fact, just 15 of the fatalities caused by large truck accidents were individuals inside the truck --74 were people inside the other vehicle.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a dangerous truck accident in Illinois, take action to protect yourself. Seek the counsel of a qualified personal injury attorney to ensure your rights are protected.

Article provided by Jamie M. Trapp & Associates Visit us at www.trapplaw.com

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