Over the last couple of years there is no doubt that there has been a large rise in the number of accidents involving trucks on the road. In fact evidence of this can be seen from the number of injury claims which truck accident attorneys are processing, which is certainly at all-time highs. So what exactly is it that is causing this spike in injury claims, when vehicles are using technology to be better and safer than ever before?
These are just some of the reasons why we are seeing such a rise.
Increase In Shipping Through Road Transportation
One of the clearest reasons as to why we are seeing more accidents which do involve trucks is that there are just so many more of them on the road. If we look at the likes of online shopping, this has greatly lead to the increase in distribution around the country. Commercial trucking actually makes up around 80% of all domestic freight transportation, and there has never been more trucks on the road than there is right now.
Aging Vehicles On The Road
Another dangerous factor in this rise is the fact that there are so many aging trucks on the road, which have not been well maintained. When we consider just how many miles these trucks do in a single year, it stands to reason that a poorly maintained truck which has been in service for over a decade, is likely to carry with it a very real risk. Newer trucks may be fitted with all kinds of safety features, but the older trucks rely on great maintenance in order to be fully operational. We see all too often that the reason for truck accidents is a poorly maintained vehicle.
Drivers Breaking Laws To Earn
Despite the fact that there is a law in place to stop drivers from being behind the wheel of a truck for more than 11 hours in a 24 hour cycle, we are still seeing drivers break this limit. The result of this is drivers who are fatigued, and end up causing accidents as a result. The reason why drivers push to work more hours is to add to their income, but they are risking more than money when they do so.
Lack of New Drivers
Trucking companies have been outspoken about the difficulties which they face in finding new drivers. In fact that average age of truck drivers has rise each year since 2010, and the average age is currently 54 years old. Quite why the younger generation aren’t interested in driving trucks is unclear. This however contributes to many factors which have seen a rise in accidents. Complacent driving, an inability to adapt to new technology, lack of staff which pushes drivers to the limits and also young drivers who have been given jobs when they perhaps wouldn’t have been 15 years ago when there was more choice.
These are just some of the reasons why we are seeing a rise in trucking accidents and injury claims as a result.