Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident or truck accident. But some types of accidents are more dangerous than others – and Utah trucking accidents are some of the deadliest. Large truck crashes usually injure the people traveling cars and passenger trucks, not the other way around. To get a clearer picture of the dangers of truck accidents, let’s take a look at some statistics.
Trucking Accident Statistics in Utah and the United States
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects data on crashes in all 50 states, including Utah. The organization has made some helpful comparisons that demonstrate how Utah trucking accidents compare to trucking accidents in other states. According to the NHTSA, in 2018:
- 4,951 people died in crashes that involved large trucks
- 71% of the fatalities were occupants of other vehicles – not the large truck drivers or large truck passengers
- 77% of these fatal crashes occurred on weekdays
- Only 3% of the drivers of the large trucks in fatal accidents had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher – much lower than drivers of other vehicle types such as motorcycles and passenger cars
- Large truck drivers were less likely to have previous driver’s license suspensions than drivers of other vehicle types involved in fatal crashes
- Large truck drivers involved in fatal crashes were more likely than drivers of other vehicle types to have previous crashes on their driving records
Statistics specific to Utah for 2018 include:
- 9% of large trucks in the state were involved in fatal crashes – some states were as low as 2.4%, while others were as high as 18.8%
- 376 total vehicles were involved in fatal crashes
- 34 of those crashes included a large truck
What Do These Statistics Show Us?
There are a few conclusions we can draw from these statistics:
1. Smaller vehicles in large truck accidents are much more likely to be seriously damaged and occupants injured or killed.
This fact may not be surprising, but it is important to emphasize. Large commercial trucks can weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars. When a large truck crashes into a passenger vehicle, that significant weight difference means the smaller vehicle is on the losing end in the vast majority of crashes.
2. Truck drivers don’t have to be drinking to cause serious injury or death.
Truck drivers are much less likely to have a high blood alcohol concentration than motorcycle riders or car drivers. Whether they are intoxicated or not, the significant mass of their vehicles still causes serious injury or death.
3. Truck drivers tend to have previous crashes on their records.
The stats show that truck drivers are more likely to have crashes on their driving record than other vehicle operators.
Hurt in a Utah Trucking Accident?
Utah trucking accident victims often sustain serious injuries. If your accident left you injured, please give us a call at (801) 845-4577 or fill out our secure online contact form now. If we can determine that the truck driver or trucking company was negligent, we may be able to get you compensation for your injuries.