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Why Are Big Rig Truck Accidents So Much Deadlier?

Truck driving jobs are readily available throughout much of the United States and they are often well-paying jobs – that’s the good news. The bad news is that these are often more dangerous jobs than people realize. Read on to learn why being a truck driver can be so dangerous. If you are injured in a truck accident, please reach out to The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000. We can start with a free legal consultation so that you know what your options are.

The stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics may surprise you

Many are shocked to learn just how dangerous it can be to drive a big rig. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who driver trucks have higher rates of injury and illness than almost all other professionals. Of course, they also have a much higher chance of dying in a traffic related accident than the average citizen. Just in one year, nearly 4,000 people were killed and another 110,000+ people were injured in accidents with large tractor-trailer trucks.

Why are tractor-trailer drivers so much more likely to be in accidents?

Part of the reason that truck drivers are more likely to be in accidents is simply because they are on the road more hours than the average person. When they are working full time, they are often driving and loading / unloading materials for 14 hours in a row, day after day. This type of overexertion can lead to fatigue, drowsy driving, and other issues that can lead to deadly highway crashes.

The trucks themselves can often be part of the problem too. Consider that they are very large and they weigh 100x what an average car may weigh. With this type of size they have large blind spots and with this type of weight they take a long time to stop.

Truckers themselves may drive while distracted by maps, communication devices, and others. Some drivers are simply not safe to be on the roads. They may black out, collapse, or have another major health problem while they are behind the wheel of their truck. For this reason, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been cracking down on drivers who are unfit to have their jobs.

How much more dangerous are trucks?

The NHTSA’s most recent study shows that trucks are much more likely to be involved in fatal multi-vehicle accidents compared to fatal single-vehicle crashes. This means that while a car can get into an accident and kill the driver, when a truck gets into an accident, it typically kills more than just the driver. These numbers are on the rise too: Consider that these accidents are 15%+ higher last year than the year before.

If you have been injured in a truck accident then we urge you to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 as soon as possible. We can begin with a free legal consultation so that you know what your options are. Call today!