According to the latest statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatalities in truck accidents increased by 4 percent over the last reported year and injuries in truck accidents rose 18 percent. Nearly 104,000 people suffered injuries in truck crashes in 2012 – the most recently reported year of data.
Of those 104,000 injured people:
- 73 percent were drivers or passengers of other vehicles.
- 24 percent were occupants of the semi-trucks.
- 3 percent were not in a vehicle such as cyclists, pedestrians or bystanders.
Of the 3,971 reported truck accident fatalities:
- 73 percent were drivers or passengers of other vehicles.
- 18 percent were occupants of the truck involved.
- 10 percent were not in a vehicle.
The danger of large truck accidents is made clear by these statistics. Occupants of other vehicles are almost three times as likely to suffer injury or death than a truck driver in an accident involving a large truck.
Keeping these alarming statistics in mind, here are some tips on what you can do to hopefully minimize risk to yourself and your loved ones while sharing the road with trucks:
- Leave extra space when following or passing a truck.
- Practice safe driving in inclement weather.
- Avoid driving long distances at night.
- Do not assume the driver of the truck can see you when passing.
- Do not cut a truck off.
- Make your intended movements known by signaling before turning.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, please call our lawyers in Seattle today at (206) 622-1100 to schedule your free consultation. Buckley & Associates, Attorneys at Law, serve clients in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington.
