Over the decades, pickup trucks have been getting larger. They’re still being used in similar ways, but the trucks themselves are much more massive than they were in the 70s or 80s.
Researchers have begun to study this phenomenon, and they have found that these pickup trucks directly correlate to a rise in fatalities on the road. These oversized trucks are literally taking lives every single day. And one of the areas where fatalities have increased the most is in pedestrian accidents.
Fatality rates
One study looked at the number of pedestrians who passed away in motor vehicle accidents in 2021, finding that there were 7,342 such deaths. This was a massive 13% increase, and it also marked the highest level of pedestrian fatalities since all the way back in 1981.
A similar thing happened with cyclists. There were 985 cyclist fatalities in 2021, which was the highest that had been recorded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 1975. This was also a 5% increase from 2020.
Why does this happen?
There are numerous reasons why trucks cause more pedestrian accidents. For one thing, having a tall, blunt front end makes runover accidents more likely. Additionally, these massive trucks are harder to drive due to their large blind spots and their unwieldy nature in traffic. Many pedestrian accidents happen when pickup truck drivers simply do not see those pedestrians – until they hit them.
Have you lost a loved one due to a negligent pickup truck driver? Be sure you know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, lost earnings and more.