March 7, 2023 | Personal Injury, Truck Accidents
Missouri is a state with a significant amount of commercial truck traffic. The state’s location in the middle of the country makes it an important transportation hub for goods moving to and from different regions.
Unfortunately, with this increased traffic comes an increased risk of truck accidents. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at some of the latest statistics on truck accidents in Missouri.
As personal injury attorneys in St. Louis, we have seen firsthand the damage truck accidents in Missouri can cause. Commercial vehicles will continue to dominate the roads, and we know the importance of keeping both preparing for the dangers they present and what it takes to hold both the truck drivers and their employees accountable.
For more information, you can also review our Truck Accident Statistics for the entire United States.
Truck accidents can have devastating consequences for those involved. Due to their size and weight, commercial trucks can cause significant damage to other vehicles, property, and infrastructure. In addition, injuries sustained in truck accidents are often more severe than those in passenger vehicle accidents due to the force of impact.
Truck accidents can also have a significant economic impact. The cost of medical treatment, property damage, and lost wages can quickly add up, not just for those involved in the accident but for society. In addition, traffic delays caused by truck accidents can result in lost productivity and increased transportation costs.
The Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are our two primary sources for accumulating this data. We did see slight differences in some of their data, but for the most part, they remained the same.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), there were 15,005 total truck accidents in 2022. This is a slight decrease from 2021 when there were 15,792 automobile accidents involving commercial vehicles and large trucks.
As you can see, the number of automobile accidents in Missouri involving commercial vehicles has remained consistent over the past five years.
In fact, the data shows the numbers have remained consistent all the way back to 2002 (the earliest data Missouri State Highway Patrol has available). In 2002, 16,724 commercial truck accidents were reported, compared to 15,005 in 2022.
In 2022, there were 119 fatalities due to truck accidents in Missouri, an 8.46% decrease from 2021 when there were 130 fatalities.
Luckily, there has been a steep decline in the total number of truck accident fatalities in Missouri when comparing 2002 to 2022. In 2002, statistics show there were over 180 deaths caused by automobile crashes involving commercial vehicles and large delivery trucks.
Like fatalities, the number of injuries caused by automobile accidents involving large trucks has also declined over the past twenty years. The 2,756 injuries sustained in 2022 were 773 less than the 3,529 sustained in the year 2002.
While the total number of crashes has remained relatively consistent over the past twenty years, there is a positive regarding the number of injuries sustained.
From 2002 – 2006, the average number of injuries sustained due to automobile accidents involving commercial trucks or delivery vehicles was around 3,300. Over the past five years (2018 – 2022), that number has decreased to around 2,700.
The cause of this decrease is likely due to passenger vehicles becoming more safe and capable of withstanding accidents more effectively.
When considering commercial vehicles, most people think of large semi-trucks and 18-wheelers.
Due to their size and the speeds at which they frequently travel, it should come as no surprise that the highest number of truck accident fatalities involved tractor-trailers with one unit.
In 2022, 65 truck accident fatalities involved a tractor-trailer with one unit, while Single Unit Trucks with 2 Axles and 6 Tires attributed to the second most fatalities with 23.
It will probably come as no surprise that the number of types of vehicles that caused the most deaths correlates with the number of injuries sustained. Injuries sustained in commercial vehicle accidents
Single-unit tractor-trailers caused the highest number of personal injuries while Single Unit Trucks with 2 Axles and 6 Tires were responsible for the second highest.
The highest number of truck accident deaths (11) in Missouri occurred between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. All of the other time frames remained consistent.
However, the timeframe responsible for the highest number of accidents was between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. There were 1,229 truck accidents to occur during this time in 2022.
There are a seemingly unlimited number of factors that can contribute to an accident involving a commercial vehicle. The Missouri State Highway Patrol categorized the contributing factors into a handful of groups and outlined the statistics below.
Not listed on the graph is a “None” category which had the highest number of fatalities (5,892) and total accidents (just over 8,000). The second highest should come as no surprise as improper lane changing is one of the most common causes for all types of automobile accidents.
The next truck accident statistic we wanted to share was regarding the number of accidents and fatalities in each Missouri County.
St. Louis County and St. Louis city county, two of the most populated counties in the State of Missouri ranked first and third, respectively. In 2022, St. Louis County was responsible for 2,462 total truck accidents while Jackson County was second with 1,729.
Truck accidents can have a significant economic impact on both individuals and society as a whole. The cost of medical treatment, property damage, and lost wages can quickly add up, not just for those involved in the accident but for society as a whole.
In addition, traffic delays caused by truck accidents can result in lost productivity and increased transportation costs.
It is important to report truck accidents to the proper authorities, such as your local police department of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, as soon as possible.
This helps ensure that the accident scene is properly documented and that any necessary medical attention and vehicle repairs are provided.
It can also aid in the investigation of the accident, which may be important in determining liability and preventing similar accidents in the future.
To prevent truck accidents, it is important for both truck drivers and passenger vehicle drivers to follow traffic laws and exercise caution on the road. Truck drivers should receive proper training and ensure that their vehicles are regularly maintained to prevent malfunctions.
Passenger vehicle drivers should avoid driving in a truck’s blind spots, maintain a safe following distance, and avoid sudden lane changes or turns in front of trucks.
Our team of personal injury lawyers and Missouri Truck Accident attorneys can help you navigate the difficult process that follows an automobile accident involving a semi-truck, delivery van, or any other commercial vehicle.
We recommend contacting us for a free consultation to review your case.
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