According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 30 driver deaths per million vehicle registrations from 2011 to 2014. Kentucky motorists might be surprised to learn that trucks and SUVs actually performed better than the industry average. Pickup trucks had an average of 26 deaths per million registrations while SUVs had an average of 21 per million registrations.
Minivans had the lowest rate with 19 deaths per million registrations while passenger vehicles had 39 per million registrations. Toyota pickup trucks were rated the best in their category while other vehicles such as the Audi Q7 didn’t record a single fatality. The Tacoma was among the best in the small pickup category while the Tundra was among the best in the large pickup category.
While Toyota was among the safety leaders according to the IIHS report, Nissan vehicles did not fare as well. The Frontier Crew Cab two wheel drive short bed had 42 deaths per million vehicles registered, which was the worst in its category. The Titan Crew Cab short bed four wheel drive had 72 deaths per million vehicles registered, which was the worst in any category. Overall, there was a 7 percent increase in traffic fatalities in 2015 to more than 35,000 according to the IIHS.
Individuals who are hurt in truck accidents may desire to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person who caused the crash. It may be possible to win compensation to pay for medical bills, recoup lost wages and potentially recover lost future earnings. Punitive and other types of damages may also be available assuming an injured victim is able to show that the accident was caused by the negligence of another person or entity. Physical evidence and witness testimony may help to demonstrate fault.