Statistics for Truck Accidents in The United States

May 18, 2022 | Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Truck Accidents

The Dangers of Commercial Trucks

Commercial trucks play a vital role in the United States’ economy.

Each day, 18-wheelers deliver countless items that bring consumers their products and help businesses run more efficiently.

Nowadays, speed is essential. Consumers and businesses both want their goods as quickly as possible.

As experts in truck accident law, we must constantly review statistics, facts, and data for motor vehicle accidents involving semi-trucks. When clients come to us after they were involved in a truck accident while driving their personal car, truck, or motorcycle, we know there are important factors to analyze in order to determine who is at fault.

Commercial truck drivers carry a lot of responsibility when they get behind the wheel of a truck that size, and unfortunately, many times they also face strenuous working conditions. They must meet strict deadlines while also driving long shifts. Combining that with poor road conditions, inexperienced drivers, or a mechanically flawed machine can lead to devastating results.

As personal injury attorneys, it is our job to help our clients receive fair compensation when they are involved in a trucking collision.  Because of this, we have certain statistics and facts that we refer to when analyzing a crash site and building our case.

The data below was compiled from reports created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Important truck accident statistics

• The United States Department of Transportation allows truckers to drive a maximum of 11 hours per day. This equates to 77 hours per week driving on the road.
• Fully-loaded 18-wheelers can require up to 30% greater stopping distance
• In 2018, there were around 499,000 automobile accidents involving large trucks in the United States
• From those accidents, approximately  107,000 injuries were recorded
• 4,119 people died in commercial truck accidents in 2019
• In two-vehicle accidents involving sem-trucks, 2,132 (nearly 97%) of those killed in truck accidents in 2019 were occupants of the other vehicles involved in the accident
• Car accidents involving large trucks accounted for 11% of fatal automobile accidents in the United States in 2019
• 1979 was the deadliest year involving truck crashes where 6,539 deaths were caused
• 98% of commercial truck accidents result in at least 1 death
• Trucking accidents cause an average of about $60,000 in damage
• Driver fatigue is the primary contributor for about 30% of truck accidents

Semi-Truck accidents by state

State	Fatal Crashes
Alabama	85
Alaska	4
Arizona	83
Arkansas	75
California	320
Colorado	80
Connecticut	20
Delaware	13
District of Columbia	0
Florida	275
Georgia	195
Hawaii	6
Idaho	44
Illinois	126
Indiana	119
Iowa	63
Kansas	71
Kentucky	75
Louisiana	89
Maine	23
Maryland	46
Massachusetts	27
Michigan	76
Minnesota	59
Mississippi	93
Missouri	104
Montana	19
Nebraska	37
Nevada	35
NewHampshire	12
New Jersey	52
New Mexico	54
New York	112
North Carolina	138
North Dakota	21
Ohio	143
Oklahoma	120
Oregon	51
Pennsylvania	157
Rhode Island	7
South Carolina	83
South Dakota	15
Tennessee	121
Texas	556
Utah	34
Vermont	7
Virginia	88
Washington	73
West Virginia	41
Wisconsin	73
Wyoming	17

Related: Fatal Commerical Truck Accident Statistics

Commercial truck accidents by the speed limit

Speed Limit	Number of Fatalities	Percent of Fatalities
25 mph or Less	122	0.029
30 - 35 mph	281	0.066
40 - 45 mph	599	0.141
50 - 55 mph	1401	0.331
60 - 65 mph	875	0.207
70 - 75 mph	787	0.186
80 - 85 mph	30	0.007
No Statutory Limit	49	0.012

Related: What Causes a Commercial Truck Accident?

Large truck accidents by year

Year	People Injured in Truck Accidents
1997	157000
1998	156000
1999	176000
2000	166000
2001	153000
2002	158000
2003	150000
2004	145000
2005	136000
2006	126000
2007	124000
2008	113000
2009	93000
2010	106000
2011	112000
2012	126000
2013	133000
2014	132000
2015	138000
2016*	168000
2017*	170000

Key factors that cause truck accidents include:

• Truck drivers driving to fast in order to meet a deadline
• Inexperienced drivers operating the truck
• Inexperienced drivers operating other vehicles
• Dangerous weather conditions
• Truck drivers falling asleep due to long driving periods
• And countless other circumstances

While this is a key marketing tool for delivery services that operate in the trucking industry, it is also a key factor in truck accidents.

Semi-trucks sheer power and weight make them one of the deadliest weapons on the road. Even an accident at a slow speed can cause devastating results.

How much does a semi-truck weigh?

The average weight of a semi-truck is around 80,000 pounds and usually weigh 30-35 times more than the average car, however, different factors can cause this number to vary. The weight of a commercial truck depends on several things:

The length of the truck:
The average length of a semi-truck is between 71 and 73 feet (this includes both the cab and the trailer).

The amount/weight of cargo the truck is transporting:
The average weight of a semi-truck’s load is between 70,000 and 80,000 pounds.

The state in which the truck is operating:
Different states allow different maximum load capacity for commercial trucks. South Dakota, the state that allows the most weight to be transported, allows up to 171,000 pounds to be delivered on non-interstate roads.

How Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help

You can visit our Missouri Truck Accident Statistics for more information specific to the State of Missouri.

As truck accident attorneys in St. Louis we have dealt with many automobile accidents involving semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other commercial trucks. We have seen the catastrophic damages that are the result of these massive vehicles colliding with consumer vehicles. If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial trucking accident contact us to find out your options!