Large truck accident statistics in the U.S.

Every year, large truck accidents happen on highways in Georgia and throughout the U.S. These accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or deaths. An accident may happen if a driver of a passenger vehicle fails to take extra caution when driving near a large truck or if certain circumstances cause the truck driver to lose control of the vehicle. Repercussions of large truck-related wrecks may be more severe in nature than consequences of a wreck between two passenger cars due to the large, heavy structure of trucks. Even minor errors made on the roadway could cause major damage to an individual who collides with a commercial vehicle.

A division of the U.S. Department of Transportation has indicated that large truck accidents may take place more frequently than people might realize. There were 333,000 traffic accidents that involved a commercial vehicle in 2012. That same year, large truck accidents resulted in 3,921 people killed and 104,000 people injured. Of these fatalities, 73 percent were people in other cars, 18 percent were people in large trucks and 10 percent were pedestrians and those outside of cars.

The numbers have not shown a decrease in automobile accidents of this nature. In fact, statistics actually showed an 18 percent increase in large truck-related accident injuries in 2012. One of the major issues surrounding an accident with a large truck is that it is more likely that multiple drivers will be involved in the wreck as opposed to just one.

Large truck accidents could happen because of speed, inadequate lights, driver fatigue, reckless driving or a number of other causes. A person who has been involved in an accident with a large truck might hire a lawyer to help determine if negligence was a factor. If so, the victim or their family may be able to recover compensation for any accident-related damages.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Large Trucks,” Accessed Jan. 21, 2015