Large Truck and Semi Truck Accident Statistics

According to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), large trucks are involved in 8 percent of all fatal crashes and in 4 percent of crashes where injuries and/or property damage occurred, but no fatalities. Consequently, while large trucks are less likely than cars to be involved in accidents overall, they are more likely to be involved in fatalities than car accidents are. Typically, the fatality rate for large trucks accidents is 2.5 fatalities per million accidents; whereas car accidents account for 1.5 fatalities per million accidents.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Several factors contribute to most large truck and semi-truck accidents.

1. Alcohol and Drugs. Penalties for drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol when driving a large truck are less lenient than those for drivers of passenger cars. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations requires a blood alcohol limit of zero, and truck drivers are not allowed to consume any alcohol within four hours of going on duty. With regard to drugs, while illegal drugs are obviously forbidden, large truck drivers also have prohibitions against the consumption of any drug which can affect driving, even when the drug is prescribed by a doctor.

2. Equipment Safety. Federal regulations require that all commercial trucks be well maintained in good working order, with specific requirements relating to parking (hand) brakes service brakes (including trailer brake connections), tires, wheels, and rims, horns, windshield wipers, rear-view mirrors, lights and reflectors, steering systems, and coupling systems.

3. Load. Drivers must ensure that loads are safe before a trip is started; also they must inspect their loads after their first 50 miles of travel, and each 150 miles thereafter.

4. Training. Drivers must be able to prove a clean driving record at hire, and must maintain awareness of changes in traffic laws.

5. Driver Fatigue. Drivers must not drive for more than 11 cumulative hours, following 10 consecutive hours of being off duty, or for any period after the 14th hour on duty. They may not be on duty for 60 hours during a period of seven consecutive days, or for 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. And, truck drivers must have had 34 or more consecutive off-duty hours before a new seven- or eight-day work period begins.

For more information on large truck and semi truck accident lawsuits as well as slip and fall accidents, defective products / product liability lawsuits, medical malpractice lawsuits, wrongful death lawsuits, and car and auto accident lawsuits, it is important to speak with our team of personal injury / auto accident attorneys in Kansas City, Missouri.