The year 2020 saw a major increase in the total number of truck accident fatalities in Georgia. This rise was also reflected in other states across the U.S. The total number of fatalities due to truck accidents recorded in 2020 was 4,014. This was 28% higher than the number of fatalities noted in 2009. Fallout from these crashes is still being felt.
Large trucks are a hazard to other vehicles
Truck accidents in 2020 affected a wide variety of victims. Fifteen percent of the people who were killed were occupants of these large trucks, and 68% of the people killed were listed as occupants of cars and other types of passenger vehicles. 16 percent were listed as pedestrians or riders of bicycles or motorcycles. Only 1% were not listed in one of these categories.
Collisions involving two or more vehicles, one of which was a large commercial truck, were especially fatal, and 97% of people killed in crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck in 2020 were occupying the passenger vehicle. Ten percent of all deaths due to motor vehicle crashes were recorded as the result of a collision with a large truck.
The most common causes of truck accidents
There are many factors that can lead to fatal truck accidents. A shipper may load up a truck far in excess of their normal cargo weight in order to get supplies to an area much faster. This can lead to a serious weight imbalance that can cause a truck to tip over or lose their cargo.
Many truckers are working longer hours in a bid to complete more jobs and make more money. They may be driving while under the influence of certain drugs that help keep them awake. This can lead to errors that can cause accidents.