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One of the most popular vehicles these days is a pickup truck. It’s great for hauling loads and helping people move. It seems like everyone knows at least one person with a pickup truck. They are especially popular in rural areas and with teenaged boys. However, they do come with their share of risks. One of those risks is allowing people to ride in the bed of your pickup truck.
The dangers of riding in the bed of a pickup truck
Trucks are great, but they can be dangerous. It’s extremely dangerous when passengers are allowed to ride in the bed or cargo area. This is because they are exposed to their surroundings and don’t have seat belts. In fact, hundreds of people die each year as a result of riding in the cargo area of pickup trucks. The most common cause of injuries or deaths is being ejected from the cargo area. This can happen if the truck stops suddenly, hits a bump or takes a turn too sharp. These injuries can happen even if the passenger is sitting down in the bed of the truck. Another cause of serious injuries is exposure to carbon monoxide from exhaust fumes when riding in a covered bed.
Kentucky law
Federal standards require that areas of the vehicles were people are designed to sit must protect them during a crash. The beds of pickup trucks are designed to carry cargo, not people. Thus, truck beds are not designed to provide protection to people in a crash. There are several states that now have restrictions on passengers in the cargo area. Many of the laws are age related. Kentucky does not have any restrictions at this point. However, that doesn’t make it safe to ride in the bed of a truck. With that said, there are situations when riding in the bed or cargo area of trucks is safe. Parades and hayrides are two examples. In both of these situations, the rides are short and slow in a controlled environment.
As a Kentucky Truck Accident Attorney, I know that riding in the back of a pickup truck can be fun, but it’s also dangerous. Please avoid sitting or standing in the back of a moving pickup. Encourage your friends and loved ones to do the same. One false move from the driver or other drivers on the road could cause an accident, and you’d be fully exposed to the crash. Many people die each year from road accidents, please be safe when driving or riding in a truck.
For more information contact the personal injury lawyers in Louisville at The Shafer Law Office today!