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Some of the most serious crashes on the road in Colorado involve collisions between large commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. In such cases, the occupants of the car are far more likely to face the prospect of major or even fatal injuries. Big rigs are 20-30 times heavier than passenger cars, with much greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller cars getting the brunt of the impact and being dragged under the truck.
According to U.S. Department of Transportation data, 4,316 people died in large truck crashes across the U.S. in 2018. In two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger car, more than ninety percent of the fatalities were occupants of the car!
The statistics are alarming, but most truck-car crashes are preventable. No one can alter the behavior or all other drivers on the road, but below we discuss the top causes for such crashes and steps you can take, as a defensive driver, to reduce your chances of being involved in a horrific collision
A Disturbing Trend
For many years, increased regulation and tougher requirements in the trucking industry were credited with playing a significant role in reducing the number and severity of truck accidents. By 2009, the mortality figures were less than half of what they’d been 30 years earlier. But over the past decade, the trend has gone in the opposite direction; the number of fatal crashes involving large trucks or buses jumped 45 percent between 2009 and 2018.
Why? Several factors appear to have played a part in the increase in fatal crashes, including the presence of more trucks on the road, driving millions of more miles each year. Many long-haul truckers are paid by the mile, so there are pressures for them to be out on the road as much as possible. Although federal regulations limit the number of hours they can actually be behind the wheel every week, even those who scrupulously follow the rules can end up putting in many more hours on non-driving tasks, such as waiting to unload their trailer or maintaining the vehicle. The result is long hours, high stress, and the prospect of sleep deprivation.
The Causes Behind Truck Crashes
The federal government collects massive data related to the events and details of motor vehicle crashes, but many of the studies deal only indirectly with questions of crash causation and fault. Still, there is enough data compiled to zero in on five factors that appear to be the leading causes of truck accidents resulting in serious injuries:
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
Of course, not every truck-car crash in Colorado is the result of defective equipment or driver error. The driving habits of those operating passenger cars also play a role. Trucks of all kinds should be approached with care in any traffic situation, whether it’s a delivery van in your neighborhood or an 18-wheeler on the highway. Too often, motorists don’t make allowances for the fundamental differences in the way trucks operate, from braking capability (a loaded tractor-trailer can take up to 40 percent longer than a car to stop) to general maneuverability.
Give truckers a wide berth—and a break. Don’t lurk in the “no-see zone,” the areas beside or behind a truck where the driver has little or no visibility. Don’t change lanes abruptly in front of a truck. Don’t underestimate the speed (or overestimate the braking ability) of an oncoming rig when turning left at an intersection. Share the road, and everybody in Colorado has a better chance of getting home safely.
THE BIG TRUCK LAWYERS AT FDAZAR
For more than thirty years the attorneys at Franklin D. Azar & Associates have helped thousands of injured people obtain complete and timely compensation for their losses. Our proven track record and expertise have allowed us to grow into the largest personal injury law firm in Colorado, with offices in Denver, Aurora, Thornton, Fort Collins, Greeley, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. If you’ve been injured in a bus, car, truck, bicycle, or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
Please call the truck accident attorneys at FDAzar day or night at 855-648-5817, or contact us here for a free consultation and no-obligation evaluation of your case.
