Truck accident deaths hit a 30-year high in 2018

As we continue to monitor the number of truck accidents, injuries and fatalities in 2020, it is worth looking back at past years to see what the trends look like. Doing that is concerning, though, because the fatalities were only on the rise and actually hit a 30-year high.

In 2018, the most recent year for which these reports have come out, they showed that 885 people in large trucks passed away after getting involved in accidents. When compared to 2017, it was only an increase of 1%, but that was still significant because it was the highest single-year number seen since 1988. That year, a total of 911 individuals passed away in large trucks as drivers or passengers.

As you may expect, these numbers also correspond to the deaths for those not in semi-trucks. The total deaths from these accidents hit 4,678 in 2018. In 2017, a total of 4,369 people died. So, just like with the occupants of the large trucks, others involved in the accidents saw their fatality totals climb by about 1%.

All of this is concerning not just because of the loss of life, but because of the trends. The roads used to be getting safer every year. You could argue that vehicles have more built-in safety systems now than they ever have before. For most vehicles, you’d certainly be right. These changes are supposed to keep people safe, but the deaths are climbing instead.

Have you lost a loved one in an accident caused by a semi driver? It may be wise to look into your rights to compensation during this tragic time.