According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the majority of deaths occurring in traffic accidents that involve large trucks are suffered by motorists of passenger cars, motorcycles, or other smaller vehicles. Unfortunately, no vehicle stands much of a chance against a big rig.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), “4,008 people died in truck accidents in 2008, with only 15% of those deaths being attributed to large truck occupants. The remaining 85% of deaths afflicted motorists in smaller passenger cars, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.” Furthermore, “97% of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck in 2008 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.” Needless to say, even the most experienced driver cannot compete with the immense power of semi-tractor trailers and other large trucks.
Drivers of large trucks have an obligation to exhibit safe driving practices at all times. Negligent behavior is responsible for the vast majority of traffic accidents involving large trucks. Sadly, this negligence is entirely preventable.
If you have been injured in a traffic accident with a large truck, or if a loved one was killed in a truck accident, you’ll need a skilled truck accident attorney on your side to examine the details surrounding the accident in order to help determine whether or not a trucker’s negligence played a determining factor in causing the injury or wrongful death. At Page Law, our Missouri truck accident wrongful death lawyers have the experience necessary to successfully litigate your wrongful death truck accident case. Call our skilled St. Louis tractor trailer accident lawyers today at 866-620-5757 for a free consultation.
Source article: http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2008/largetrucks.html
