truck wrecks

In 2005, 4,009 non-truck occupants were killed in an accident with a large truck; 86,000 were injured. For more detailed statistics on the dangers of larger trucks, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) completed a study of truck wreck causes between 2001 and 2003 called the “Large Truck Crash Causation” study. Based on those statistics, it can be concluded that the result of a collision between a larger truck and a smaller vehicle is often going to be serious injury or death.

More and more tractor trailers, semi-trucks and 18 wheelers are on U.S. roads today, often traveling at dangerously high speeds, with tired drivers, and with cargo weighing as much as 80,000 pounds. Tractor trailers may be hauling too much cargo and even hazardous and toxic materials. Drivers may not have the necessary experience to be driving an eighteen wheel truck. They may be pushed to deliver on tight schedules. Trucks may not be properly reviewed for maintenance needs. All of these factors put you and your family at a higher risk of being involved in an accident with a large truck today than in the past.

The “Large Truck Crash Causation” study by the NHTSA and FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) reviewed 120,000 large truck crashes involving 241,000 total vehicles where injuries directly resulted from the accident. The study was completed from April 2001 to December 2003.The following trends were reported:

  • The most common type of accident occurred when a large truck rear-ended another vehicle – 23% of accidents.
  • 9% of crashes resulted in a fatality.
  • 44, 097 crashes resulted in incapacitating injuries.
  • 7.4% of non-truck vehicles in the crashes contained a fatality compared with only 1.6% of the fatalities being a passenger in a large truck.

Previous NHTSA studies have concluded that approximately twice as many automobile drivers would die in collisions with tractor trailers, semi trucks and eighteen wheel trucks, than in similar accidents involving cars.

The victims of an accident with at tractor trailer, semi truck or 18 wheel truck suffer physically and financially. Physical injuries may include death, loss of limbs, emotional suffering or the loss of a loved one. Financial damages include significant property loss, medical expenses and loss of income. If you have been involved in an accident involving a large truck, there are laws to protect you and compensate you for your loss.

While insurance is designed to cover some of the costs of an accident, it cannot address all of the economic damage that a wreck with a large truck can cause. The insurance company may try to offer you a very small settlement or deny your claim completely. Insurance is a business whose goal is to minimize costs. Trucking companies also want to minimize their liability when one of their tractor trailer drivers has caused an accident.

What causes so many truck wrecks?

Truck accidents can be the result of driver error or improper truck maintenance.

The most common cause of driver error is lack of sleep, which can cause the driver to fall asleep at the wheel. Driver error can also be due to improper training, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and inexperience. Trucking companies that allow unqualified or reckless drivers to operate tractor trailers and semi trucks greatly increase the chances of a truck wreck, making them just as negligent as the drivers themselves.

Improper truck maintenance is most frequently found in the tires or brakes. It is estimated to cost more than $100 per hour to have an eighteen wheel truck out of service. This does not include the losses related to equipment utilization, the cost of the service call and the subsequent customer dissatisfaction. These are all reasons that trucking companies want to keep their tractor trailers in service as much as possible.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a tractor trailer, semi truck or eighteen wheel truck, you will need a skilled truck wreck attorney at work to protect your interests. The trucking company will have their lawyers hard at work to protect their own interests. The insurance companies are protecting their bottom line. Who is protecting you?

Please review our state by state listing of trucking accident attorneys and contact a truck wreck attorney today.

For more information on trucking accidents, please visit our Truck Wrecks Frequently Asked Questions page.

< Back to types of motor vehicle accidents