How Common are Truck Accidents in California?
If you are like most drivers in California, you might find it unnerving to drive near large commercial trucks.
There is a good reason for this: trucking companies should look out for public safety, but trucks are still responsible for more than their share of serious injuries.
So, how common are commercial vehicle crashes in California?
Our experienced Los Angeles truck accident lawyer provides an overview of the latest data from state and federal regulators.
California Truck Accidents: An Overview of the Data
There are About 28,000 Truck Accidents Reported in California Each Year
According to statistics provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there are about 28,000 crashes involving large trucks reported in California each year.
The severity of the accidents varies—from minor fender benders to devastating wrecks. In 2017, OTS said that there were more than 9,500 people injured, and 359 died in truck accidents in California.
Truck Accidents are More Likely to Result in Catastrophic Injuries or Fatalities
Because of their size, a large truck is an inherent safety hazard. When truck accidents do occur, the consequences can be catastrophic. According to data published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), more than 4,000 Americans die in truck accidents every year.
To put the severity of these crashes into perspective, the FMCSA notes that large trucks, involved in only 2 percent of all traffic accidents reported in the United States, are involved in about 12 percent of fatal collisions.
The Vast Majority of Traffic Accidents Could Have Been Prevented
Truck accidents happen for a wide range of reasons, the vast majority of them could and should have been preventable.
Proper safety precautions save lives. Researchers from the federal government published the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS)—a project made up of a comprehensive analysis of 120,000 truck accidents.
Of the truck accidents studied, the safety researchers assessed that 87 percent of them happened because of driver error—either on the part of the truck or another motorist.
Another 10 percent of truck accidents occur because of a problem with the vehicle, usually the lack of proper maintenance. Only three percent of truck accidents blamed so-called ‘environmental factors'. This includes things like poor road conditions and wild animals.
Get Help From Our Los Angeles, CA Truck Accident Lawyer Right Away
At Starpoint LC, Attorneys at Law, our California truck accident attorneys fight to protect the rights of injured victims.
If you or your loved one got hurt in a tractor-trailer accident, we can help. We help victims recover the full financial compensation you deserve.
To request a free, no-obligation review of your truck accident claim, please contact our law firm today. With an office in Los Angeles, we represent injured victims throughout Southern California, including in Orange County, Ventura County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.
Aidin Ghavimi
Aidin is a partner at Starpoint LC, Attorneys at Law, and focuses on personal injury and employment law cases in and around Southern California. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the Loyola School of Law and his Bachelor’s from USC. Aidin’s primary goal is to bring justice to his clients and to ensure they are able to move on with their lives after a serious injury.
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