Commercial truck accidents will always be a common occurrence on streets and highways in Maryland. Even when everyone on the road puts safety first, some collisions prove impossible to avoid. Other times, a truck driver’s blatant negligence might lead to a crash. Most worrisome are the trends that developed in 2021. The statistics reveal a deadly year that may repeat in 2022 and beyond.
Government data about truck crashes proves concerning
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains detailed logs of traffic accidents in the United States. The NHTSA noted that fatal truck crashes saw a 13% increase in 2021 from 2020. Overall fatal traffic accidents increased by 10.5%, another grim figure.
Details point to 5,601 deaths involving large commercial and noncommercial trucks. The risks of catastrophic and fatal injuries increase significantly when a truck weighs more than 10,000 lbs. Such mass and weight could inflict enormous harm on a smaller vehicle.
Safety and collision reductions
No one can say for sure they can prevent an accident from happening. However, those who follow smart safety steps might reduce the potential for catastrophic injuries or fatalities. The decision to wear a safety belt likely saved countless lives. The same could be true about safety-conscious drivers who do not commit moving violations.
Speeding played a role in many truck accidents, as do other moving violations. Tailgating and failing to signal before a lane change may prove to be devastating decisions.
Intoxicated driving causes numerous crashes, and many drivers face multiple criminal charges after a DUI-related accident. Alcohol and illegal drugs are not the only culprits, as even legitimately prescribed or OTC medicine might cause impairments.
Truck drivers and their employers might face negligence lawsuits after an accident. Anyone whose improper or illegal behavior contributed to a crash might not escape civil consequences.