People in California may be more likely to be in fatal accidents involving large trucks than with other types of vehicles. The accident fatality rate for large trucks is nearly three times more than that of other vehicles. In 2017, more than 4,000 people died in accidents involving large trucks, an increase of 28% since 2009. Most of the fatalities were people in other vehicles, but 17% were people in the trucks and 14% were pedestrians or people on bikes or motorcycles.
Advocates have leveled criticism at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for not taking steps to prioritize putting an end to rear-end crashes. Starting in the 1990s, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that the NHTSA mandate forward crash avoidance systems on heavy trucks. However, in the decades since, the NHTSA has not attempted to put forth such a regulation. In 2016, the NTSB released a statement saying many of the accidents could have been prevented or made less serious if there had been safety technology in the vehicles.
Collision warning systems, emergency braking and other safety technology are increasingly a standard part of passenger vehicles, and the auto industry says this will be the case for all of them sold in the United States by 2022. However, the NHTSA says it is still studying safety technology for trucks to determine the best solution.
People who are involved in a truck crash may want to contact a Costa Mesa truck accident injury compensation law firm. Even when a truck accident is not fatal, it can lead to serious injuries. If the truck driver caused the accident, the driver and the company the driver was working for may be responsible for medical expenses and other associated costs.
