Every day, commercial drivers transport goods and people across the country. While the drivers complete most of these trips without incident, there are occasional accidents that can lead to fatalities. What are the causes of these accidents, and how can they be prevented?
While there are many potential causes for these accidents, some factors are more common than others. In this post, we’ll look at the most common causes of fatalities involving commercial vehicles.
Truck crash analysis
The Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety at Louisiana State University collects and analyzes crash reports from various agencies throughout the state. In 2020, Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) were involved in 88 accidents involving fatalities, a decrease from the previous three years.
The primary causes of those fatal accidents include:
- Careless operation
- Failure to yield
- Exceeding speed limit
- Improper parking
- Following too closely
It’s also significant to note that 45.5% of these fatal crashes occurred along the infamous 10/12 Corridor.
Some of the challenges truck drivers face may contribute to these accidents. Truck driver shortage, hours of service, delivery delays, bad health, stress, bad weather conditions, and lack of sleep all affect a truck driver’s ability to navigate the road safely.
You should always be a defensive driver, especially when sharing the road with commercial truck drivers. Pay attention to your surroundings, maintain a safe distance from the vehicles in front of you, and don’t drive distracted.
If you have lost a loved one in an accident involving a CMV, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can replace the loss of life, a settlement can assist with final expenses and replace lost income.
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