Truck Accident Deaths Went Down, So Why Are Safety Advocates Still Concerned?

New Jersey and Pennsylvania truck crashes are among the most deadly accidents in the area. When an 80,000-pound truck smashes into a smaller vehicle, the outcome is typically catastrophic. The force of the impact tends to be so severe, that death or serious injuries result. If you have been the victim of one of these wrecks, you know firsthand how it can change your life.

In regards to large truck crashes, there is some good news. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the number of truck accident deaths dropped by 20 percent in 2009. In 2009, there were 3,380 people who lost their lives in these accidents. This number was a significant decrease from 2008, which had a reported 4,245 deaths.

Could the 3,380 deaths have been prevented?
The Truck Safety Coalition, a truck safety advocacy group, had a different view on these numbers. “While we are encouraged by the improvement, there were still 3,380 families who suffered the life-shattering loss of a loved one last year. These families could have been spared their pain had proven, known, improvements, such as the use of EOBRs (electronic on-board recorders) and reduced hours of services laws, been implemented,” Daphne Izer, co-founder of Parents Against Tired Truckers (PATT) said.

What can be done?
Safety advocates, including Parents Against Tired Truckers and Citizens for Reliable Safety Highways, have urged Congress and the Department of Transportation to take measures to help prevent truck crashes. Some of their recommendations, which are mentioned in the publication by the Truck Safety Coalition, “Fatal Truck Crashes Down in 2009 but There’s Still Much to Do,” include:

• Improve the hours of service law for truckers
• Require the use of EOBRs, which record the amount of time a vehicle is being driven
• Mandate additional compliance reviews
• Raise the penalties for violations
• Increase entry-level driver training for commercial drivers
• Reduce speed limits for trucks

If you have been hurt in a Pennsylvania or New Jersey truck accident, you need to contact an experienced lawyer for advice. The Philadelphia truck accident attorneys at the law firm of Cooper & Schaffer, LLC may be able to help you. Contact us today by calling 888-545-4755 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of one of our books, Seven Ways to Destroy Your Pennsylvania Personal Injury Case or Seven Ways to Destroy Your New Jersey Personal Injury Case. The insurance company doesn’t want you to read either of these books!