A Phoenixville man was killed and another hospitalized in a tractor-trailer crash in Worcester Township in Montgomery County on Wednesday. A tractor-trailer collided with a pickup truck driven by the Phoenixville man. That same day, an out-of-control truck crashed into an American Legion building near Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Earlier in the week three people from Georgia were killed in a fiery crash on Interstate 81 near Chambersburg. State troopers reported the crash was the result of a two-vehicle crash between a car and an SUV in the southbound lane of I-81. WNEP TV reported another fatal accident that day in Wayne County, Pa. A mother and son were killed in a crash along Route 590 in Salem Township. Several vehicles were involved in the collision that killed the mother and son along this stretch of roadway that is referred to in the Hamlin Highway. On Sunday, a single car crash in Dauphin County, Pa took the life of a 41-year-old man.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 32,719 traffic fatalities in the United States in 2013. There were 1,208 traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania in that year, more than 3 traffic-related deaths per day in this state. The NHTSA reported that in 2013, 3,964 people were killed and 95,000 injured in crashes involving large trucks. 71% of those killed in large-truck crashes were occupants of other vehicles.
Business Insider published a report by the Auto Insurance Center of what causes most fatal crashes in each state. The report was based on a study of the NHTSA FARS Accident Reporting System. In most states, failure to stay in your lane led to the highest number of fatal truck crashes. Reasons for drifting from a lane could include anything from distracted driving to driving under the influence or speeding and weaving between lanes. In Pennsylvania, the cause of many fatal accidents was driving on the wrong side of the road. This was the only state in which this was the top cause of fatal accidents and something that should really be further studied and addressed. Other top causes of fatal accidents included failure to yield the right of way, reckless or careless driving, not adjusting to road surface or obstruction, operating without required equipment and improper turning. Road rage was also a cause in several states, as well as failure to obey traffic signs.
Distracted driving may be leading to many of the causes of traffic accidents mentioned above. Distracted driving, combined with speeding and other reckless driving, is leading to many fatal car and truck accidents across the country. The car and truck accident lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli in Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre would like to encourage everyone to drive safely and distraction-free at all times. Your safe driving can help save lives.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car or truck crash, call the law firm of Fellerman & Ciarimboli today for a free attorney consultation. Call our Philadelphia accident attorneys at 215-575-9237 or to speak to Wilkes-Barre car or truck accident attorney, call 570-714-HURT. We have won millions in verdicts and settlements for the victims of car and truck accidents.
