Many people feel worried when they see a truck on the road ahead of them or beside them. It would seem sensible to be anxious because trucks are bigger than passenger vehicles.
While a drive in any sized vehicle could cause a crash that results in severe injuries, trucks are bigger and heavier, so they generally cause more damage when they are involved in collisions with smaller trucks and cars.
What do the statistics say?
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that 9% of the country’s road fatalities during 2020 involved trucks. That doesn’t sound too bad, does it? It means 81% of fatal crashes did not involve a truck.
However, you need to remember that most vehicles on the road are not trucks, as they only make up 4% of the total vehicles that travel the nation’s roads. This suggests that trucks are almost twice as deadly as other vehicles overall.
Of additional concern is the fact that 71% of deaths and 68% of injuries in collisions involving a truck and another vehicle affect those who are traveling in smaller vehicles. As a result, your anxiety is somewhat justified.
Understanding just how dangerous trucks can be will hopefully inspire you to make safe, defensive choices when you encounter them on the road. Additionally, knowing how to claim compensation will be critical if a truck injures you or kills a loved one.