Why Do Truck Accidents Occur?

Written by Jay M. Kelley III in Accident & Injury, Automobile, Car Accident on February 24, 2022

When long-haul truck drivers hit the road, they are expected to drive up to 11 hours and approximately 500 miles a day. In 2021, a non-truck driver’s number of miles driven equated to around 39 miles a day. With the high mileage and long hours, truck drivers can be exposed to a variety of situations, including accidents.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

The most common include:

• Unbalanced Cargo
• Distracted Driving
• Fatigue
• Maintenance Issues
• Inexperience Driving

Truck Accident Statistics

• The cost of a truck accident involving one injured party is approximately $148,279. If it was a fatal accident, the price can be upwards of $7 million.
• In the United States, 74% of all fatal passenger vehicle crashes include a large truck.
• From 2009 to 2019, there was a 47% increase in fatal crashes that involved large trucks or buses.
• Approximately 500,000 accidents that occur in the United States each year involve large trucks.

How to Avoid Being Involved in a Truck Accident

• Do not abruptly stop in front of large trucks. For example, a truck traveling 65 mph in good conditions would need about 525 feet to stop, equivalent to two football fields.
• Stay out of blind spots. Semi-trucks have four big blind spots. If you can’t see a truck driver’s mirrors, they can’t see you.

• Give them room. With the amount of weight in a large truck, mistakes can happen. Whether drifting into another lane on the highway or taking an extra-wide turn to avoid tipping over, semis need more room while driving than other vehicles.
• Be cautious when pulling over on the highway. If you need to pull off on the side of the highway, be aware of where you choose to stop. When a car isn’t pulled off far enough, large trucks that pass by may not have time to get over, and both vehicles are at risk of getting hit.