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Most fatal commercial truck crashes don’t occur on interstates

On Behalf of | Jul 21, 2024 | Truck Accidents

Situated in the country’s heartland, Missouri gets considerable commercial truck traffic on its roads, bringing products of every kind from one part of the U.S. to another. Over 9% of fatal vehicle crashes in our state involve large trucks (those over 10,000 pounds), according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

It would be natural to assume that the majority of these fatal crashes occur on interstates and highways. That’s where most of us encounter commercial trucks, and those are generally the fastest, most direct routes between points. 

In fact, nearly three-quarters of these fatal crashes occur on non-interstate roads, and over half are on rural roads. That’s according to 2022 data from NHTSA. Not surprisingly, most of those killed are in the smaller vehicles involved in the commercial truck collisions.

Rural roads have unique dangers

It might seem logical that more fatalities would occur on interstates and highways where speed limits are higher and there’s considerable traffic. However, rural roads have their own unique dangers – particularly for large vehicles. There’s less room for cars and other vehicles to go around commercial trucks since there are often only one or two lanes going in the same direction. That leads to a lot of passing, which can be especially dangerous around a truck.

Further, speeding is a problem. In fact, it’s often easier to speed on a road with little or no traffic – and hard to stop if a driver encounters a truck (or vice versa). 

Getting medical aid can take time

Injuries are more likely to be fatal in rural crashes because the nearest hospital or fire station may be miles away. If it’s in the middle of winter, rural roads may be less likely to be cleared than interstates are. Just getting to and from a crash scene can be a challenge for first responders.

While most commercial truckers try to avoid rural roads, it’s often necessary to use them to pick up and deliver produce and other goods. That means motorists often have to co-exist with commercial trucks. If you or a loved one has been injured or worse in a commercial truck crash – no matter where it occurred – you may find yourself dealing with a large trucking company and other parties who may try to do everything they can to shift the blame. That’s why it’s crucial to have experienced legal guidance to protect your right to justice and compensation.