12 Disturbing Truck Accident Statistics

Most often, you hear about car accidents, but trucks are also involved in accidents. Some of these incidents end up with little to no casualties, while others are fatal for one or all parties involved.

The worst part is that a truck crashing into a smaller car will make the passengers of the small vehicle more vulnerable considering that trucks are so big and heavy.

There are some disturbing statistics when it comes to truck accidents and before you decide to pursue a career as a truck driver, you should be aware of these statistics.

1. 97% of Deaths Occur in Passenger Vehicles

According to statistics, when it comes to the deaths resulting from a truck accident, people in passenger vehicles die more often. 97% of these deaths are of passenger vehicle occupants, and that is tragic.

Over the last decade, the numbers haven’t changed much, as casualties happen in a proportion of 98% for passenger cars.

2. 4% of Fatal Collisions Include Hazardous Cargo

Truck drivers have a large responsibility when carrying hazardous cargo, and being part of a bad collision surely makes things worse. Drivers have to be careful, so the liquids don’t end up causing a fire or explosion.

4% of the large trucks involved in accidents carry hazardous cargo, so the risk is there.

3. About 130,000 People Get Injured in Truck Accidents

Since trucks are so massive, approximately 130,000 people deal with severe injuries like neck or back injuries, broken bones, spinal cord damage, internal bleeding, and others.

Urgent medical care is needed and sometimes it even gets to surgery. In such cases, things get quite costly, so people end up looking for lawyers.

Only recently, a crash happened in Augusta a cash happened in Augusta between a pick-up truck and three tractor-trailers, and one person got injured. In such a case, the injured person can use the services of a truck accident lawyer to get compensation.

4. 4,136 People Died in Truck Accidents in 2018

Back in 2018, 4,136 people died in truck accidents. Out of them, 16% were truck drivers and 67% were people from passenger vehicles.

5. Males Account for 97% of Truck Driver Casualties

Statistics show that in 2018, 97% of the large truck driver fatalities were inflicted on men. So, male drivers lose their lives the most when driving trucks. This may also be due to the fact that only 5.8% of the U.S. truck drivers are women, putting more men at risk.

6. Truck Accidents Increased a Lot Over the Years

Back in 2009, 3,147 people ended up dying as a result of vehicle crashes that involved trucks. But the numbers grew a lot since then. In 2017, there were 4,102 deaths happening in the same manner. Since the lowest point in 2009, the number of deaths boosted by 52%.

7. Big Rig Accidents Mostly Consist of Collisions with Another Vehicle

Usually, when a large truck is involved in an accident, it is because it collided with another vehicle. Statistics show that 74% of all crashes include fatal collisions with a vehicle, and that big rig accidents usually result in fatal collisions with other cars in 81% of every injury case and 76% of all cases involving property damage.

8. 51% Of Tractor-Trailer Deaths Involved Drivers Who Wore Seatbelts

According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 30% of truck driver deaths included a driver that wasn’t wearing a seatbelt in comparison to 43% of drivers in passenger vehicles. Meanwhile, 51% of fatally injured truck drivers were wearing seatbelts.  

9. Many People in Passenger Vehicles Die When Hit in the Front by a Truck

Statistics show that about 31% of the occupants of passenger vehicles end up dying as a result of being hit in the front by a large truck. Meanwhile, 25% die when they are hit from the side by a truck, whereas only 5% die when their vehicle is hit in the back.

11. Work Zone Accidents Are Increasing

Case report data shows that up to 12% of injury cases and up to 30% of fatal crashes happening in work zones included trucks.

12. Truck Issues Cause Most of the Accidents

The most common reason for truck accidents is truck defects. This may include problems with the wheels, tires, or brakes.

13. More Than Half of the Accident Happen on Major Roads

A report from 2017 shows that 52% of large truck-related accidents happen on major roads. 32% of the accidents happen on freeways and interstates, and 15% happen on minor roads.

Final Thoughts

Being a truck driver can be very challenging and risky. So, if you want to become a truck driver, use these statistics as a reminder to be very careful on the roads and take all safety measures. Drive safe!