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FMSCA releases 2014 crash data

On Behalf of | May 4, 2016 | Truck Accidents |

A collision with a large truck on a West Virginia road can result in serious injuries that are sometimes fatal. The Federal Motor Carrier has released its report covering 2014 commercial vehicle crashes, and it shows that while fatal accidents were down from the previous year, the number of crashes that caused injuries that were not fatal increased.

According to the FMCSA, 3,744 trucks were involved in accidents that proved fatal in 2014, a 5 percent decrease from the previous year. In 2014, police reported about 411,000 crashes that involved large trucks. Regarding fatal crashes, 61 percent occurred on country roads, while accidents on urban or rural interstate highways accounted for 26 percent.

The president of a trucking trade association noted that large truck crashes dropped by 39 percent between 2004 and 2014. The group is using the data release to once again advocate for a nationwide 65 mph speed limit for heavy trucks. It also urges the use of devices that limit speed in large trucks.

The report released by the FMCSA stated that driver-related factors contributed to fatal crashes in 34 percent of truck accidents. Five percent of the number of truck drivers in the fatal crashes were under 25, and 56 percent were over 66 years of age. In total, 3,697 truck drivers were involved in crashes that resulted in at least one fatality.

Big rig accidents can cause catastrophic injuries to those who are in other vehicles, and sometimes they prove to be fatal. If it can be determined that the accident was caused by a truck driver who was speeding, distracted or otherwise negligent, the surviving family members of those who were killed may want to have the assistance of an attorney in seeking appropriate compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.