Truck accident fatalities in Franklin County
During the five years starting in 2009 and ending with 2013, there were 38 fatalities in accidents involving large trucks in Franklin County.
Motor vehicle accidents are a sad reality of life that every Ohioan must face. However, that does not mean that victims should be left to fend for themselves. People injured due to someone else’s negligence deserve compensation and help. When an accident claims the life of a victim, it is the surviving family members who require such assistance.
This is true for all collisions, including those involving large trucks. These crashes claim the lives of too many people in Ohio. Examples include the case in which a man was changing a flat tire on a stretch of the Ohio Turnpike when he was hit and killed by an oncoming semi truck. According to Cleveland.com, the truck driver faced vehicular manslaughter charges for the incident.
Another truck accident fatality occurred on Highway 30 when a truck driver ran into the back of an ambulance. The ambulance was on the scene of a prior crash when it was hit. The trucker actually died in this accident after his rig burst into flames.
Truck fatalities too frequent
The loss of one life is too many but the number of people who die on Ohio roads after truck crashes is even worse. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show a startling number of these deaths. The state’s fatality counts ranged between 114 and 152 from 2009 and 2013.
Franklin County was the site of 38 deaths during that timeframe. Neighboring counties also experienced losses, though not as many as Franklin County. In Licking and Delaware Counties, truck accident deaths numbered 17 and 16, respectively. Madison County lost seven lives while Fairfield, Union and Pickaway Counties saw four people each die during those five years.
Tackling impairment and driver fatigue
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been trying to find ways to attack impaired driving and fatigue among truckers. According to the Commercial Carrier Journal, early 2016 is the planned launch of a new database that will change many of the processes for pre-hire screening of drivers. The goal is to have a better window into which drivers have potential impairment issues or violations.
An unpopular Hours of Service rule change enacted originally in 2013 was put aside by Congress pending further research notes Supply Chain Digest. The change was intended to reduce driver fatigue. JOC.com reports that the research has been done and a report will be issued in the coming months.
Action is always needed
Ohio residents who are impacted by large truck accidents should not simply sit back idly. Contacting a lawyer after an accident should be done in order to understand what compensation options exist.