Truck Accidents

The trucking industry plays a key role in transporting goods across the US. Nearly 70% of all consumer goods and essentials are carried by large trucks to their final destinations. This means that on average, large trucks are putting in more miles than passenger vehicles, especially on interstates and other major roadways. While the trucking business is lucrative, it is a dangerous industry that’s tarnished by many accidents and fatal crashes.  

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s latest reports, there were 415,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2020. Of those crashes, 101,000 caused injuries and 4,444 were fatal accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that of the large truck-involved fatalities in 2021, 68% of the accident victims were either in a passenger vehicle, walking, or riding a bicycle or motorcycle. In the 2021 fatal crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 97% of the deaths were occupants of the passenger vehicles. Large trucks were involved in 11% of all motor vehicle crash deaths in the US in 2021.

When a large truck is in an accident with a passenger vehicle or motorcycle, the latter almost always loses. Larger trucks and 18-wheelers often weigh 20 to 30 times more than passenger vehicles. They are taller, which increases the chance of a rollover accident. Trucks also have higher ground clearance than other cars, meaning that lower-riding vehicles can slide under truck trailers – severely injuring or even killing the passengers.

Most truck accidents happen on interstates, highways, and on rural roadways. As a motorist, you need to be aware of large trucks and be proactive about your safety. But, even taking all these precautions, accidents do still happen. When they do, it’s essential to have an experienced personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable about state and federal trucking laws and experienced in dealing with trucking companies and their insurers.