According to the most recent statistics, more than 500,000 commercial truck accidents occur in the United States each year. These accidents can lead to serious personal injuries, extensive property damage, high economic costs, and even loss of life. Most truck accidents happen due to the negligence of one or more drivers involved. Truck crashes tend to occur due to distraction, overloaded cargo or cargo shifting, impairment, speeding, drowsiness, and more. When a truck crash occurs, the cause must be carefully investigated in order to determine who should be held legally responsible.
When we think of commercial trucks, we often associate them with travel on major interstate highways. For most people, trucks are most often encountered in this setting. However, trucks travel across all areas of the United States, including urban and city streets, as well as across sparsely populated rural areas. The cause of truck accidents in each of these areas may be unique and depend on specific circumstances. In this article, we will take a look at the areas where truck accidents are most likely to occur and compare key differences between urban and rural truck accidents.
Here at Burg Simpson, our nationwide truck crash lawyers represent victims and family members who have been involved in commercial truck accidents. If you have suffered damages in a truck crash, give us a call today to see how we can help.
The National Security Council maintains statistics regarding where truck accidents occur. According to the most recent NSC data, 54% of fatal truck accidents happened in rural areas during 2021, compared 45% in urban areas. Approximately 74% of these accidents happened on non-interstate highways while 24% occurred on the interstate. More crashes took place during the daytime hours and during the last six months of the year.
These statistics tell perhaps a surprising story. While we often associate truck accidents with heavily congested urban and interstate areas, most fatal collisions actually happen in rural areas and on non-interstate roadways. Drivers must remain vigilant at all times in order to guard against the possibility of a serious accident.
An important question is raised by these numbers: why do rural accidents occur more often? There are many potential reasons for this statistic. First, rural roads tend to be less busy than urban roads. Truck drivers may have a tendency to relax and take their focus off the road when they are traveling in a rural area. This type of distraction can lead to an accident.
A rural road may also affect driver fatigue. Truck drivers who are operating on long, quiet stretches of rural roadway can become too relaxed which leads to nodding off or losing focus at the wheel. Driver fatigue plays a role in about 13% of all reported truck crashes and the monotony and loneliness of a rural road can certainly contribute to a drowsy driving accident.
In addition to the previous reasons, it is common to speed and violate traffic laws in rural areas. Drivers may feel as though they are more likely to escape detection by speeding on a deserted roadway than if they were traveling on a busy interstate. This type of careless driving can increase the chance of an accident occurring in a rural location.
While fewer truck crashes occur comparatively in urban areas, this does not mean that city streets are any less dangerous. A truck accident can still easily lead to major damages regardless of where it occurs. However, there are circumstances in urban areas that also make them more likely to experience a truck crash.
One of those circumstances is heavy traffic or congestion. Higher volumes of traffic obviously can lead to a greater chance of an injury crash. Having more cars and motorists around means that all drivers must be vigilant and observant in order to avoid an accident. Sudden braking and negligent driving in these areas cause many collisions between trucks and other vehicles.
Another issue unique to urban areas is a higher concentration of people. In an urban area, it is common to encounter pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycle riders in addition to other cars on the road. Urban areas also feature stoplights, crosswalks, and stop signs. A truck driver who is not paying attention can easily run a red light or fail to yield the right of way, resulting in a major collision.
Regardless of whether a truck crash occurs in an urban or rural area, it can lead to life-altering consequences for victims. If you have been involved in a truck accident you could be entitled to various damages, including:
Truck crash cases are complicated and it is important to have them evaluated by an experienced attorney before you speak with an insurance adjuster or other third party.
It is not uncommon for truck accident damages to be well into six figures. In cases of fatal crashes, the number can be even higher. Having an accurate and realistic picture of your case, along with its strengths and weaknesses, is an extremely important piece of information for victims in order to make decisions about their cases. The availability of damages is a key consideration and can be used to leverage a favorable settlement in appropriate cases.
Here at Burg Simpson, our national truck accident lawyers are here for you during your time of need. We will ensure that you receive the benefit of all potential damages in your case. We provide free consultations for all potential clients. Our firm handles most cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that there is no financial obligation until we obtain a recovery on your behalf. To schedule your time to speak with one of our attorneys, please reach out to us using our online intake form or give us a call at (866) 696-1750.
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