Fewer truckers killed in semi accidents in 2009; number of motorists killed yet to be determined
Fewer truck drivers were killed in accidents involving large trucks in 2009 as the nation recorded the fewest overall accidents since 1950, according to statistics just released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A total of 33,808 were killed on the nation's roads last year, down 9.7 percent from the 37,423 deaths reported in 2008. A total of 33,186 were killed in 1950. Injuries also declined for the 10th straight year, dropping to 2.217 million from the 2.346 million reported in 2008.
The number of truck occupants killed in large trucking accidents declined to 503, from the 682 deaths reported in 2008. That 26 percent decline was the sharpest drop recorded in any accident category; a 16 percent drop in motorcycle fatalities was second. A total of 17,000 truck occupants were injured in trucking accidents in 2009, also a decline of 26 percent from the 23,000 injured in 2008.
Our Georgia semi accident lawyers will be interested to see the breakout of state-by-state accident rates, which will be released in the coming weeks. While a large part of the decline is likely attributable to the downturn in the economy and fewer large trucks on the road, Georgia, and particularly the Atlanta area, remains a dangerous place for trucking accidents.
And truck occupants are the least likely to be injured in a semi accident. In 2008, fewer than 700 of the 4,229 people killed in accidents with large trucks were truck occupants. The vast majority --3,139 -- were occupants of other cars. Those figures have also not yet been released. That same year, 179 large trucks were involving in fatal Georgia trucking accidents. Only California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas recorded more deadly semi accidents.
“Today’s announcement shows that America’s roads are the safest they’ve ever been," U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "But they must be safer. And we will not rest until they are.”
Accidents remain the leading cause of death for those ages 3 to 34, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you are involving in a Georgia trucking accident, contact the Atlanta truck accident lawyers at Finch McCranie LLP for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call (800) 228-9159 or at (404) 658-9070 or contact us through this website.
