18-Wheeler Accidents on the Decline in 2008
18-Wheeler Accidents on the Decline by San Antonio 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
According to preliminary data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large truck, bus and 18-wheeler accidents and fatality accidents appear to largely be trending downward from their 2006 numbers.
| SAFETY OUTCOMES | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Rate of Fatalities Involving Large Trucks and Buses (per 100 million total VMT)* |
0.177 | 0.169** | *** |
| • Total Fatalities Involving Large Trucks and Buses |
5,347 | 5,116 | 4,525** |
| Fatalities Involving Large Trucks | 5,027 | 4,822 | 4,229** |
| Fatalities Involving Single-Unit Trucks |
1,339 | 1,300 | 1,159** |
| Fatalities Involving Combination-Unit Trucks |
3,776 | 3,633 | 3,151** |
| Fatalities Involving Buses**** | 337 | 325 | 307** |
| • Rate of Injuries Involving Large Trucks and Buses (per 100 million total VMT) |
4.17 | 4.09** | *** |
| • Total Injuries Involving Large Trucks and Buses |
126,000 | 124,000 | 113,000 |
| Injuries Involving Large Trucks | 106,000 | 101,000 | 90,000 |
| Injuries Involving Buses | 21,000 | 24,000 | 24,000 |
| • Total VMT (millions; includes trucks, buses, and passenger vehicles) |
3,014,371 | 3,029,822** | *** |
| Large Truck VMT | 222,513 | 226,963** | *** |
| Bus VMT | 6,783 | 6,976** | *** |
| *Fatality Rate Formula: Fatality rate = [(Number of fatalities involving large trucks and buses / Total VMT) x 100]. |
**Preliminary. ***Data not available. |
| ****Includes all occupants and nonoccupants killed in all bus crashes. Note: Individual subtotals may not add to totals due to the potential for double counting (e.g., fatalities or injuries in a truck-bus crash). Sources: NHTSA, fatalities and injuries; FHWA, vehicle miles traveled (VMT). |
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This is encouraging data. However, as is clear, these vehicles continue to be involved in many serious accidents across the nation. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large truck-related highway fatalities totaled 4,229 in 2008. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an 18-wheeler accident, large truck accident, bus accident or tractor-trailer accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all claimants are protected.
