No matter the specific circumstances surrounding a motor vehicle collision, these accidents can result in devastating property damage and catastrophic injuries. Serious crashes, however, could likely result in fatalities. When large trucks are involved, the consequences are even more severe.
Ohio is a transportation hub for numerous shipping concerns as well as a direct highway conduit from the East Coast deeper into the Midwest. As such, highways, on-ramps and access roads are generally crowded with 18-wheeler and commercial truck traffic. Unfortunately, when these drivers are negligent or distracted, or the truck’s safety equipment fails, vehicles of this size can simply demolish the smaller cars and passenger trucks they share the road with.
Are there locations where the risk is greater?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recently published an analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2019 study. The data was compiled using the DOT’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System and contained several telling statistics about where and when these large truck crashes occurred.
- 52% of the large truck crashes occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways.
- 32% of the large truck crashes occurred on interstates and freeways.
- 15% of the large truck crashes occurred on minor roads.
- 48% of the large truck crash deaths occurred between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. compared to 30% of the traffic fatalities not involving large trucks during the same time.
- 17% of the large truck crash deaths occurred on Saturday and Sunday compared to 35% of the traffic fatalities not involving large trucks on those same days.
While it runs contrary to conventional thought, truck accidents on a major non-interstate road during the daylight hours Monday through Friday represent the greatest chance of a fatality. Many people worry about truck collisions on highways late at night when a truck driver might be tired or distracted. Motorists must be wary of their surroundings at all times, on all types of roads.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck collision, do not hesitate to discuss your options for monetary compensation with an experienced personal injury attorney.