Semi-trucks are a common sight on American roadways these days. They are responsible for the transport of a significant portion of goods around the nation. The trucking industry also helps a great number of other industries thrive.
However, tractor trailers still often pose a risk to other motorists. Their size compared to other smaller passenger vehicles means that a crash is more likely to prove fatal. We’ve written an in depth article on how truck wrecks differ from car crashes to explain the details.
If you or someone you care about has been in a crash with one here in Georgia, you know this all too well. Recently, researchers discovered an increase in the number of fatal truck accidents, and now the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants to determine why this is happening. They hope that their findings will help keep the public safe.
Why Is This Study Needed?
The FMCSA says that records for truck accidents from the most recent three years that statistics are available, from 2016 to 2018, show a troubling trend. The number of fatal truck crashes went up by 5.7%. This may not seem like a large number, but the FMCSA hopes that if it tackles this issue now, it can prevent more deaths. Representatives say that they can use the results to redesign trucks or implement safety measures.
Back at the end of 2017, the FMCSA began requiring most trucks to utilize electronic logging devices. Representatives of the FMCSA meant for ELDs to promote safer driving practices. After a full year of use, they found that crash fatalities involving all kinds of drivers dropped, but crashes involving commercial trucks went up by almost a full percentage point. Coupling this data with the other data from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association, the FMCSA realized it had to act.
What Will the Study Look At?
The study will examine a few different points to determine the causes of truck accidents. It will find the trends in large truck crashes and determine what the related causes and contributing factors may be. Those findings will be used to create safety improvements, both in new policies and programs.
This isn’t the first time that the FMCSA has examined truck crashes, and it likely won’t be the last time. The unfortunate fact is that truck accidents can happen to anyone at any time, even with safety advancements in place.
Getting Help From A Truck Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a crash involving a semi-truck, you have legal options to seek compensation for the damages suffered. Call an Atlanta truck accident attorney at the McArthur Law Firm today to explore your options.
