In Alabama (and across the United States), the rate of deadly commercial truck crashes continues to increase. Cars, drivers and highways are all safer. The rate of most accidents, injuries and deaths is decreasing. Yet, the rate of deadly large truck crashes continues to increase. Why? Why are we seeing more deadly large truck crashes? How can we reduce the number of needless injuries and deaths on our highways? How can we prevent wrongful deaths on our highways? In this slideshow, we discuss the causes of the disturbing trend in commercial truck accident deaths.

1. DEADLY TRUCK CRASHES
CONTINUE TO INCREASE
Blackwell Law Firm (2020)

2. COMMERCIAL TRUCK CRASH
DEATH RATES CONTINUE TO
CLIMB

4. According to recent National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
data, deaths are at their highest level
in more than 30 years. In 2019, large
truck crash deaths increased for the
fourth consecutive year.
Blackwell Law Firm (2020)

5. WHY ARE BIG TRUCK
CRASH DEATH RATES
INCREASING?

7. DRIVER SHORTAGES PUT
PRESSURE ON CURRENT
DRIVERS TO TAKE MORE
ROUTES AND DRIVE
MORE MILES.
DRIVER SHORTAGES PUT
PRESSURE ON
COMPANIES TO
OVERLOOK DRIVER
SAFETY CONCERNS.
Blackwell Law Firm (2020)

11. MANY QUALIFIED TRUCK
DRIVERS ARE NEARING
RETIREMENT AGE. SOME LABOR
STATISTICS INDICATE THE
AVERAGE AGE OF COMMERCIAL
DRIVERS IS 55.
AGING DRIVERS BRING VALUABLE
EXPERIENCE. HOWEVER, AGING
DRIVERS ALSO BRING
INCREASING HEALTH CONCERNS.
AS OLDER DRIVERS RETIRE, THE
CURRENT DRIVER SHORTAGE
WILL WORSEN.
Blackwell Law Firm (2020)

14. Health issues such as obesity, diabetes and
sleep apnea, impact driver concentration,
driver fatigue and driver reaction times.

16. Cell phones are NOT
the only distractive
electronic device in
many large trucks.

20. The number of big trucks continues to increase. We
have a huge safety problem when the increasing
number of trucks is coupled with other factors such
as poor driver health, greater driver distractions
and increasing driver shortages.
Blackwell Law Firm (2020)

23. Longer routes increase stress and fatigue on
drivers. Longer routes lead to greater isolation
and poorer health choices for drivers.

26. What do I
mean by failed
oversight?
Our regulatory agencies are
corrupted by industry influence.
Industry lobbyists work to prevent
or delay important safety
improvements or requirements.
Blackwell Law Firm (2020)

27. We should focus on growing a safe and
healthy workforce. We should focus on
requiring basic safety equipment that has
proven effective. Our loved ones deserve
safe roadways. Safety should be our top
priority.
Blackwell Law Firm (2020)

29. BLACKWELL LAW FIRM
120 Holmes Ave NE #401
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 261-1315
http://www.blackwell-attorneys.com/