When it comes to the safety of truck drivers on the road, the state of Indiana raises concerns as it ranks as the seventh most dangerous place for truck accidents in the United States.
Thanks to data that was analyzed by Georgia personal injury law firm, T. Madden & Associates, we now know which states states are the most dangerous for truck accidents.
NHTSA’s Criteria
Before we explore the rankings, it’s crucial to understand the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), defines large trucks as any commercial or non-commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds, excluding buses and motor homes.
The Most Dangerous States for Truck Drivers
Below are the the Top Five Most Dangerous States for Truck Accidents based on information collected from a number of sources.
1. Wyoming
Wyoming takes the unfortunate lead as the most dangerous state for large truck drivers. While there were only 1,058 truck accidents in 2023, there were 6.3 fatalities per 100,000 residents.
2. Arkansas
Arkansas follows as the second most dangerous state for truck drivers. While it had more than double the number of truck accidents in 2023, the number of fatalities were significantly lower at 3.16 per 100,000 residents.
3. Missouri
Missouri secures the third spot, with 5,450 truck accidents with 2.05 fatalities per 100,000 residents.
4. Louisiana
Louisiana takes fourth place, with a total percentage of 2.27 fatalities per 100,000 residents, and 3,691 total truck accidents.
5. Georgia
Georgia rests in the number five spot with 8,826 total accidents, and 1.84 fatalities per 100,000 residents.
Indiana is the 7th Most Dangerous State for Truck Accidents
During 2023 alone, there were a staggering 5,235 crashes. That equates to a rate of 76.51 incidents and 1.78 fatalities per 100,000 Hoosier residents. The study points out heavy traffic routes like I-65 and I-74, along with aging infrastructure, and the extreme weather weather fluctuations of the state as the culprits for hazardous roadways.
Additionally, during periods of high-risk travel like the winter holidays, icy roads, and poor visibility factor into the risks of being on Indiana roads…