FMCSA reports increase in fatal truck crashes in 2016

Unfortunately, large truck accidents are all too frequent in South Carolina. Drivers who have become wary around commercial trucks and buses should know about a report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that reveals an increase in fatal large truck accidents from 2015 to 2016.

The year 2016 saw 4,317 large truck-related accident fatalities, a 3 percent increase from the 4,094 fatalities of the previous year. In 2016, 772 were large-truck occupants. This is compared to 665 in the previous year. At the same time, the large-truck involvement rate remained at a steady 1.46 for every 100 million miles traveled.

The American Trucking Associations states that the past two decades have seen a positive trend in truck safety as new measures and technology have helped to reduce injury and fatality rates. However, the number of non-fatal crashes in 2016 saw a significant jump from 83,000 to 104,000. Another important piece of data is that 2016 saw more registered trucks on the road — 11.5 million compared to 11.2 million in 2015.

Speeding and distracted or inattentive driving, either on the trucker’s part or the passenger vehicle driver’s part, were the top causes of fatal and non-fatal crashes. Roughly 2 percent of truck drivers were found with a BAC over .08 percent, compared to 20 percent of passenger vehicle drivers.

When filing a truck accident claim, a victim will need to show just how the other driver was negligent. With a lawyer, however, the client may have access to a network of professionals who can do just this. For example, investigators could check the work log, in-cab cameras and police reports. This evidence could then be used to establish a solid case.