If you live in New York, you share the road every day with commercial trucks. So, how common are truck crashes in the US? National crash data show that large-truck crashes are frequent and can turn deadly. In fact, the people who die are usually not in the truck in dangerous truck-related accidents.
Important statistics
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts (2022), there were approximately 503,000 police-reported crashes with large trucks nationwide in 2022. Of those, about 5,279 (1%) were fatal crashes and 114,000 (23%) were injury crashes.
Clearly, large-truck crashes in the United States are common events, and a notable share of them result in injuries. Note that these are not just statistics. These numbers represent thousands of affected people.
Furthermore, fatal truck accidents have increased significantly in recent years. Between 2016 and 2022, fatal crashes involving large trucks or buses increased by 25%. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, the number of large trucks and buses connected to fatal crashes rose by another 2%.
Concerning driver behavior
There are troubling patterns of truck driver behavior that you should know about. In 2022, driver-related factors caused 33% of fatal large truck crashes. Specifically, these are the top five most frequent driver-related factors in deadly crashes:
- Speeding of any kind
- Careless driving
- Inattentive operation
- Improper driving
- Driving without due care
In addition, another concerning statistic reveals that 6% of commercial truck drivers involved in deadly accidents had detectable drugs in their system. Additionally, 5% failed to undergo drug testing. These behaviors clearly violate professional driving standards and endanger everyone sharing the road.
Protecting yourself and your rights
As a result, truck accidents are not rare cases in the United States. Knowing your rights can help protect you under serious circumstances. If you find yourself in a truck accident in New York, do not hesitate to seek legal guidance. Given the documented patterns of truck driver behavior, taking immediate action is essential to protect your rights and secure compensation.