Trucks play a vital role in the U.S. economy, transporting goods and raw materials locally and across long distances. Unfortunately, they also present a collision risk due to their large size, long stopping distance and the fact that truck drivers often work long hours and are susceptible to driver fatigue.
Forbes Advisor combed through data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other resources with other commercial truck accident statistics to determine the extent of the risk that trucks present.
These truck accident statistics shed light on accident dangers affecting every motorist on the road.
Key Truck Accident Statistics
These key truck accident statistics clarify the rate of truck accidents.
In 2021, There Were Over Half a Million Large Truck Accidents Across the U.S.
Incidents with large trucks are frighteningly common. In 2021 alone, a total of 523,796 large truck accidents occurred across the United States.1 A year prior there were 415,444 incidents.2
The good news is the majority of truck accidents do not result in fatalities or even in injuries. A total of 310,000 of the collisions in 2020 involved property damage alone.2
Unfortunately, the bad news is, that still means 101,000 truck crashes caused injury over the course of that year with another 4,444 causing fatalities.2 Truck drivers and the companies that employ them may be held liable when a crash occurs and victims should do the necessary research to choose a truck accident lawyer if they or their loved ones were impacted by a crash.
Large Truck Accidents Increased by 26% From 2020 to 2021
The 523,796 incidents involving large trucks in 2021 is a substantial increase from 2020 when just 415,444 truck-related incidents occurred. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns in 2020 may have contributed to a reduction in truck-related collision incidents in 2020.2 With most of the country loosening coronavirus-related restrictions in 2021 and beyond, it is not surprising there were more crashes. There were more trucks and other motorists on the road.
Semi-Trailer Trucks Are Most Likely to Be Involved in a Fatal Accident
Truck accident statistics demonstrate that semi-trailers were more likely to become involved in deadly accidents than other types of trucks.
A semi-trailer is defined as a truck and trailer combination without a front axle. This type of vehicle accounted for 53% of all fatal collisions involving large trucks according to semi truck accident statistics provided by the FMCSA.2
Hazardous Cargo Was Carried in Less Than 1% of Truck Accidents
Trucks transport all types of goods and raw materials, including some hazardous cargo. Trucks transporting dangerous products are referred to as hazmat trucks. There are special regulations applicable to these vehicles under the FMCSA.
In part because of tighter safety rules, collisions involving hazmat trucks were not as common as crashes with other large trucks. Just 0.64% of the 415,444 collisions involved hazardous material according to the FMCSA’s truck accident statistics 2021 data.2
Fatal Truck Accidents Are Most Likely to Occur in Rural Areas
Fatal truck collisions can happen anywhere, but they are more common in certain areas than others. In particular, rural areas are a high-risk location. They were the site of 55% of fatal truck accidents compared with just 45% in urban areas.1
Rural areas present myriad risks to drivers. Dark country roads can enhance driver fatigue, truck drivers are more likely to speed in less congested areas and roads are often laid out in more complicated ways in rural locations.
Differing road conditions, and differing regulations in various locations, make it important for collision victims to speak with a lawyer familiar with the area where a crash occurred.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accident statistics show that while accidents can happen for many reasons, there are some common behaviors that increase the risk of a collision. Here’s what motorists need to know about common causes of truck crashes.
6.7% of Large Truck Accidents Involved Drunk Driving or Driver Intoxication.
Commercial drivers are subject to stricter blood alcohol content (BAC) limits than the general public and can face suspension or loss of their commercial license when arrested for impaired driving.
Unfortunately, this does not mean there are no intoxicated truckers on the road. In 2020, 3.9% and 2.8% of large truck drivers involved in a truck crash had a BAC of 0.01% or higher and 0.08% or higher, respectively.2
13% of Large Truck Accidents Involved Bad Weather Conditions.
Bad weather impacts visibility, and snow, ice and slick roads can impact control of a vehicle.
While winter weather can be especially high risk, and even conditions such as wind and rain increase the likelihood of a crash.
Despite the dangers bad weather presents, the majority (78.3%) of large truck accidents involving property damage in 2020 occurred during dry weather. Just 13.5% happened during wet weather. And among crashes involving only property damage, 72.5% happened during clear weather and 14.5% when it was cloudy out.2
The disproportionate number of collisions when the weather is good can be explained by the fact there are often more truckers on the road when conditions are favorable, and those truckers often exercise less vigilance.
79.6% of Large Truck Accidents Occurred in the Daytime
Track accident statistics show collisions are far more common during daylight hours. A total of 79.6% of truck crashes occurred in the daytime compared with just 20.4% at night.2
This could be explained by driver preference to operate their vehicles during daylight hours, as well as Federal Motor Carrier Safety hours of service regulations mandating driver rest breaks. With more truckers on the road during daylight hours, it is inevitable more crashes will occur at that time.
7.3% of Fatal Large Truck accidents Involved Speeding
Many roads impose lower speed limits for truck drivers due to their larger size and longer stopping distance. Despite this, speeding of any kind is the most common driver-related cause of fatal truck collisions. Speeding by large truck drivers was a contributing cause of 7.3% of deadly accidents in 2020.2
Driver Impairment and Inattention Were the Second Most Common Causes of Fatal Large Truck Accidents
Truck drivers spend long hours behind the wheel and are prone to distraction. In fact, driver inattention and impairment, together, were the second leading driver-related causes of fatal large truck accidents. This includes behaviors such as fatigue, illness, cell phone use, eating behind the wheel and alcohol impairment. Impairment and inattention each accounted for 5.2% of deadly collisions involving large trucks.
Fatal Truck Accident Statistics
Truck accidents are usually considered to be incredibly dangerous. Here are the facts about fatalities and truck accidents.
About 1% of Large Truck Accidents Resulted in a Fatality
Despite the danger that large trucks present, most collisions involving trucks are not deadly. In fact, just 4,444 fatal large truck accidents occurred in 2020 out of a total of 415,444.2
Although this is good news, truck vs car accident statistics demonstrate that a disproportionate percentage of truck accidents did result in deaths, as fewer than 1% of total accidents on the road were deadly in 2020.3
5,788 of Deaths Occurred Due to Large Truck Accidents in 2021
While fatal truck accidents are not common, they still take thousands of lives each year. In 2021, 5,788 people died in truck crashes, up from 4,945 in 2020.4
Again, a dip in truck traffic during the pandemic may have resulted in lower death rates during the 2020 year.
In 2020, 3,048 Large Truck Accidents Occurred on Icy Roads or Roads With Frost.
Frost is one of the most dangerous conditions for truckers, with 3,048 large truck accidents in 2020 taking place on icy or frosted roads. A total of 0.7% of all large truck accidents occurred during icy conditions, and these collisions accounted for 48 deaths that year.2
Occupants of the Other Vehicle Are More Likely to Die in a Large Truck Accident
When truck drivers become involved in a collision, often it is the other motorists who are killed as a result of the incident.
In 2021, 72% of people who lost their lives in accidents with large trucks were not occupants of the truck at the time of the incident. The disproportionate size of the truck versus other vehicles on the road helps to explain why motorists caught in a crash with a truck are more likely to perish.1
26.6% of Fatal Large Truck Accidents Were at an Intersection or Were Intersection Related
Intersections can be an especially dangerous place for truck crashes due to many vehicles coming together. A total of 21% of fatal truck crashes occurred at intersections and an additional 5.6% were intersection-related in 2020. This means they occurred as a result of driving behaviors at a nearby intersection. These collisions accounted for 935 and 274 fatal accidents respectively.2
A Majority of Fatal Large Truck Accidents Were Non-Junction Related
Although vehicles coming together at intersections creates special risks for truck drivers due to their wide turning radius and large blind spots, the bulk of deadly accidents still happen elsewhere. A total of 2,481 fatal truck crashes, 63.9%, were not junction related.2
More crashes happened outside of intersections both because trucks spent more time outside of junctions and also because they travel at higher speeds on open roads rather than at intersections where stops occur.
