Indiana Truck Accident Statistics

There are about 1,000 injury accidents and 100 fatalities associated with commercial trucks each year in Indiana.

In 1999, 4,921 truck crashes in Indiana resulted in 583 injuries and seven deaths. In the last eight years, fatal truck accidents have increased 15 percent annually.

If you were hurt in a truck accident in the state of Indiana, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact a truck accident attorney immediately after a crash if you suspect that a commercial truck was responsible for your injuries.

Indiana Truck Accidents On The Rise

Statistics prove that accidents involving commercial trucks are increasing each year in Indiana. Some numbers that demonstrate this point:

4,921 truck crashes occurred in the state of Indiana between 1998 and 1999

583 people were injured as a result of these accidents

7 people died as a result of the crashes

Between 2010 and 2011, there was an increase in commercial vehicles injury accidents. These numbers include larger trucks required to register with the U.S. Department of Transportation, including semi-trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks, cement mixers, and fuel tankers.

2,548 injury accidents occurred in 2010

2,651 injury accidents occurred in 2011

There was also an increase in fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles between these same years. These larger trucks are especially dangerous to smaller passenger vehicles when they are not operated safely.

These crashes include the following:

1,157 fatalities in 2010

1,234 fatalities in 2011

The increase in truck accidents with injuries and fatalities has prompted Indiana lawmakers to call for increased penalties against truck drivers who operate their commercial vehicles negligently.

Currently, there is a fine of $500 for driving a commercial vehicle that has an out-of-date DOT inspection sticker. There is also a fine of $1,000 for driving without the required medical certification on file with the DOT.

Indiana Truck Accident Statistics On The Rise

According to Indiana State Police sergeant Dave Bursten, about 1,000 injury accidents and 100 fatalities are associated with commercial trucks each year.

In 1999, 4,921 truck crashes in Indiana resulted in 583 injuries and seven deaths. Fatal truck accidents have increased 15 percent annually in the last eight years. These numbers are alarming because vehicle manufacturers are constantly improving techniques to make their vehicles safer for passengers. Commercial trucks must also adhere to stricter safety practices than civilian vehicles, so the increase in accidents is even more significant.

The truck stopping distance (the distance it takes a commercial vehicle to come to a complete stop) is also an important factor to consider in increasing fatal truck crashes and for every 20 miles per hour speed reduction, stopping distance doubles.

Another important statistic regarding Indiana truck accidents: 40 percent of tractor-trailers involved in fatal truck accidents were either jackknifed or overturned.

Indiana Truck Accidents At The Highest Risk

Tractor-trailers are the most dangerous commercial vehicle on the road because they require more stopping distance than any other vehicle. While you may not think about it often, tractor-trailers are about 13 feet longer than 65 percent of all passenger cars. They also weigh between 28 to 44 times more than the average passenger vehicle.

Tractor-trailers are also at high risk for causing truck accidents because they often weigh between 80,000 and 90,000 pounds. While commercial trucks can weave in and out of lanes, it takes longer for them to respond to changing conditions on the road with their much longer stopping distances.

Sudarsan
Sudarsan
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