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Statistics can clarify what we already believe or highlight facts and trends we may have had no idea existed. Semi-truck accident statistics are no exception. They are a jarring reminder that we share the road with vehicles capable of inflicting life-changing injuries in just a split-second.

Truck accident statistics show in particular the lethal differences between accidents involving cars and those involving commercial trucks, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The weight, mass, and often-dangerous cargo of a truck all contribute to make them the most dangerous road companions we have.

Commercial truck accident statistics can take a while to compile, as they involve extensive research and data collection. This article utilizes the freshest data to provide you with a picture of the risks and hazards associated with large truck accidents.

Fried Goldberg doesn’t want you to become a statistic. Our truck accident lawyers have compiled the data and facts related to semi-truck accidents in hopes that they’ll help you to avoid unsafe situations. Contact us at (866) 543-8685 if you need assistance with a truck accident lawsuit.

Nearly 70% of America’s resources are transported by trucks. These resources account for $671 billion worth of goods annually. The U.S. trucking industry is one of the largest in the world, and the sheer number of trucks helps to create a multitude of jobs as well.

Approximately 15.5 million trucks operate in the U.S., two million of which are tractor-trailers. Just about 8.9 million people are employed in truck-related jobs, with 3.5 million of them being drivers.

However, the large number of trucks on the road and the vast distances they operate across make trucking hazards a daily risk for drivers across the nation. Knowing how, when, and where trucking accidents happen could help you avoid being part of a crash that seriously injures you.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reported on the following truck accident trends for 2016 to 2017:

• The number of trucks and buses involved in fatal crashes increased by 8%
• Large truck crashes increased by 5% (from 102,000 to 107,00)
• The number of large trucks involved in property damage only crashes increased by 3% (from 351,000 to 363,000)

Additionally, the number of large trucks and buses involved in fatal crashes increased in 2017 by 42% from its low of 3,432 in 2009.

In many cases, it is the driver of the passenger vehicle, not the truck driver that is killed or injured due to the size difference between the vehicles. Thus, large commercial trucks continue to present major safety risks to other drivers on the road.

2017 driver-related causes of fatal truck accidents include:

• Speeding 6.5%
• Distraction or inattention (cell phone, eating, etc.) 5.7%
• Failure to yield the right of way 4.5%
• Impairment (fatigue, alcohol, illness, etc.) 4.0%
• Careless driving 4.0%

The daunting size and mass of most trucks make them much more likely than cars to cause fatalities in an accident. Truck accident statistics highlighting the factors behind most fatalities can help you avoid situations in which fatal crashes are most common. Consider the following: 

• 450,000 crashes were reported in 2017, and 4,237 of them involved fatalities
• 57% of fatal truck crashes occurred on rural roads, and 27% occurred on interstate highways
• 83% of fatal crashes occurred on weekdays
• 30% of fatal work zone crashes involved at least one truck

Truck accident statistics from 2017 indicate that large trucks (trucks with a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds) were involved in 4,657 fatal crashes, 56,422 crashes that caused injuries, and 102,973 crashes that required towaways.

Many trucks also carry hazardous cargo that makes accidents involving them even more dangerous. Hazardous materials were present on 3% of trucks in fatal crashes and 2.4% of trucks in non-fatal crashes. These materials were released from the truck in 16% of fatal and non-fatal crashes. Flammable liquids like gas and oil accounted for 63% of the releases in fatal crashes and 45% of the releases in non-fatal crashes.

When hazardous materials are involved, an accident situation can become even more dangerous. They can create risks for explosions, fires, and chemical exposure, leading to burns and other serious injuries.

We can’t urge you enough to take precautions around trucks on the road, as any crash involving trucks is one that may be much harder to walk away from – for multiple reasons.

It’s not uncommon for truck drivers to escape trucking accidents relatively unscathed while the passengers of the car they hit suffer catastrophic injuries. Worse, the number of people injured or killed in truck accidents normally exceeds the total number of accidents because more than one person is often occupying the other car involved in the crash.

In 2017, large truck crashes resulted in:

• 148,000 persons injured
• 4,291 vehicle occupants killed
• 470 non-motorists killed (pedestrians, cyclists, other)

The majority of fatalities — 82% — were not occupants of the large truck.

Passengers of the other motor vehicle involved in truck crashes bear the brunt of the damage in most cases. While the size of most trucks makes this statistic unsurprising, it is still a jarring reminder of how dangerous truck crashes can be and the importance of taking steps to avoid them.

No matter how careful you are, a reckless truck driver can cause a crash that devastates your family. Commercial truck accident statistics paint a picture of how frequent and dangerous truck crashes can be.

The truck accident lawyers at Fried Goldberg have dedicated ourselves to helping victims of trucking accidents for more than 100 combined years, and we literally wrote the book on truck accident laws and litigation. Our legal team has consistently won verdicts and settled cases for millions of dollars, and we will fight to do the same for you.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a truck crash, contact a Fried Goldberg trucking accident attorney at (866) 543-8685 for a consultation, at no cost and with no obligation.

95% of our practice is devoted strictly to lawsuits on behalf of semi-truck accident victims. When you’ve been in a truck crash, we are the ones you should call.

Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2017 (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)  (U.S. Department of Transportation)

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study – Analysis Brief | FMCSA

Death by Forklift is Really the PITs(Occupational Health & Safety)

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