Texas Trucking Crash Lawyer – Texas Trucking Accident Attorney 18 Wheeler Accident Settlements
If you or a loved one have been injured in an 18 wheeler trucking accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a semi truck crash, you have important legal rights. You may be entitled to financial compensation. Call us today to get the facts. Call us today Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 for a free, no obligation consultation.
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18 Wheeler Accident Statistics
Truck accidents are often very serious. They involve large vehicles that frequently travel at high speeds, which can result in severe injuries and property damage. An 18 wheeler accident can be devastating, and fatalities are not uncommon. Some of the related statistics may also be surprising.
Did you know…?
Thankfully, the total number of crashes and fatalities due to large trucks has been declining in recent years. However, large trucks are still frequently involved in serious and often fatal accidents.
- According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were over 400,000 reported crashes that involve large trucks in 2014.
- Those accidents resulted in over 85,000 injuries, which includes 3,424 deaths.
- Most fatal large trucks crashes involve two vehicles.
- Most fatal accidents occurred on rural roads, and approximately one-quarter of crashes occurred on Interstate highways.
- Most crashes occurred during the week, and only roughly 20 percent of accidents occurred at night.
- In 2014, there were 10.7 fatalities due to large trucks per one million Americans. This was a one percent increase from 2010, even though overall fatalities are down.
- The vast majority of 18 wheeler accidents are property damage only accidents.
- Hazardous materials were released from the cargo department of a large truck in roughly 12 percent of accidents, most of which were flammable liquids.
- Over half of large truck accidents involve a truck tractor pulling just one semi-trailer; double semi-trailer accidents only accounted for two percent of all fatal crashes for 2013.
- Most semi drivers who are involved in fatal accidents are between the ages of 25 and 65.
- Truck driver fatalities make up only a small portion of the fatalities for truck accidents; most fatalities are other drivers or passengers involved in the crash.
Causes of 18 Wheeler Accidents
The FMCSA also tracks various potential causes of 18 wheeler accidents. Like regular auto accidents, large truck accidents can be due to a variety of factors, both internal and external. The single most common cause of large truck accidents is driver error. It accounts for 87 percent of all large truck accidents. Ten percent of truck accidents are due to problems with the vehicle, such as the tires or the brakes. Only three percent of accidents are due to the outside environment.
One of the most common errors is that the large truck leaves its travel lane, whether it is into another lane or off the road. Another common error is that the truck is traveling too fast for the conditions. This could be due to the weather or other poor road conditions or because of cargo shift or truck system problems. The third most common event may surprise you—rear-ending another vehicle occurs in over 20 percent of 18 wheeler accidents.