In raw numbers, trucks do not get into more accidents than passenger vehicles. Federal crash data shows that large trucks are involved in substantially fewer fatal, injury, and property-damage crashes than passenger vehicles. However, collisions involving large trucks can cause much more severe harm because of their size and weight.
When considering if trucks get in more accidents than cars, it is also useful to look beyond total crash counts. The number of vehicles on the road, miles traveled, crash severity, and type of vehicle all affect the comparison.
If you were injured in a commercial truck collision, a West Hollywood truck accident lawyer can review the circumstances and explain your legal options.
Are Truck Accidents More Common Than Car Accidents?
No. National crash data shows that truck accidents are less common than car accidents and other passenger-vehicle crashes when measured by total reported collisions.
Below are some stats from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from 2022 that illustrates the difference:
- Large trucks were involved in 5,279 fatal crashes, compared with 33,406 fatal crashes involving passenger vehicles.
- Large trucks were involved in about 114,000 injury crashes, compared with about 1.45 million involving passenger vehicles.
- Large trucks were involved in about 384,000 property-damage-only crashes, compared with about 3.65 million involving passenger vehicles.
The comparison reflects a major difference in how many vehicles are on the road. In 2022, there were about 14.3 million registered large trucks compared with approximately 258.5 million registered passenger vehicles.
Federal data defines a large truck as one with a gross vehicle weight rating above 10,000 pounds. The passenger-vehicle category includes passenger cars as well as pickups, vans, and SUVs, so federal statistics are broader than a strict truck-versus-sedan comparison.
How Do Truck Accident Rates Compare With Car Accident Rates?
Total crashes tell only part of the story because large trucks and passenger vehicles travel different numbers of miles each year. Looking at crash involvement per vehicle mile traveled provides another useful comparison.
In 2022, FMCSA reported approximately:
- 34.5 large-truck injury crashes per 100 million large-truck vehicle miles traveled.
- 51.2 passenger-vehicle injury crashes per 100 million passenger-vehicle miles traveled.
- 115.9 large-truck property-damage crashes per 100 million large-truck vehicle miles traveled.
- 129.3 passenger-vehicle property-damage crashes per 100 million passenger-vehicle miles traveled.
These figures do not mean that every truck or passenger vehicle has the same crash risk. Driver behavior, road conditions, traffic, vehicle condition, route, and other circumstances can affect the likelihood of an individual collision.
Why are Truck Accidents More Severe Than Car Accidents?
Although truck crashes happen less often than car crashes in overall numbers, the consequences can be much more severe. A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, and large trucks may weigh 20 to 30 times more than passenger vehicles.
That size difference affects the force transferred during a collision. Large trucks also have longer stopping distances, larger blind spots, and wider turning paths than most passenger vehicles.
The 2022 fatality data shows how heavily other road users can be affected. Of the 5,936 people killed in large-truck crashes that year, more than 4,100 were drivers or passengers in other motor vehicles. Fewer than 1,100 were occupants of the large trucks themselves.
What Makes Truck Crashes Different From Car Crashes?
Beyond severity, truck collisions often require a different type of investigation. Commercial carriers may be subject to federal safety regulations addressing driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, inspections, and other operating requirements.
A truck crash may also involve several people or businesses with potential legal responsibility. Depending on what caused the collision, these may include:
- The truck driver.
- The trucking or motor-carrier company.
- The owner of the tractor or trailer.
- A maintenance or repair company.
- A business responsible for loading or securing cargo.
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer.
Responsibility depends on the evidence. The presence of a commercial truck does not automatically make the driver or trucking company liable.
What are Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Many truck crashes involve the same unsafe behaviors seen in passenger-vehicle collisions. Others involve risks associated specifically with operating a large commercial vehicle.
Possible causes include:
- Speeding or driving too fast for road and weather conditions.
- Distracted driving.
- Driver fatigue.
- Following another vehicle too closely.
- Unsafe lane changes.
- Failure to account for large blind spots.
- Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo.
- Inadequate vehicle inspection or maintenance.
- Brake or tire problems.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
A collision can also have more than one cause. For example, a driver may be traveling too fast while defective brakes or poorly secured cargo make it harder to avoid the crash.
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How is Fault Determined After a Truck Accident?
Determining fault requires examining how the collision happened and whether one or more parties failed to use reasonable care. Investigators may review the crash scene, vehicle damage, witness accounts, electronic data, and records held by the trucking company.
Evidence may include:
- Police reports.
- Photos and video from the collision scene.
- Dashcam or surveillance footage.
- Electronic logging device records.
- Electronic control module data.
- Driver qualification and training records.
- Inspection and maintenance records.
- Dispatch communications.
- Cargo and loading records.
- Witness statements.
Some of this evidence may remain in the possession of the motor carrier or another business. Taking steps to preserve it early can be especially helpful after a serious commercial truck collision.
How Can a Lawyer Help With a Truck Accident Claim?
A lawyer can investigate the collision, request trucking records, identify potentially liable parties, and evaluate how the available evidence supports your claim. This can be particularly useful when several companies were involved in operating, maintaining, or loading the truck.
An attorney can also document your medical expenses, lost income, future financial losses, and other legally recoverable damages. If an insurer disputes liability or the extent of your injuries, your lawyer can respond with evidence supporting your position.
Because some commercial trucking records are retained for limited periods, contacting an attorney sooner can also provide more time to identify and preserve relevant evidence.
Talk to Omega Law Group About Your Truck Accident
If you were injured in a collision with a commercial truck, Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys can review the circumstances and explain your options under California law. We have more than 20 experienced attorneys serving personal injury clients and provide individualized attention throughout the claims process.
We offer free consultations, and our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis. We are also available 24/7 to receive calls from prospective clients and can assist clients in Spanish.
Contact Omega Law Group to tell us what happened and discuss the next steps for your truck accident claim.
