It is a simple fact of driving on the roads in the United States; cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians share the roads with large trucks. For the most part, sharing roads with others should not be of major concern. However, when looking at the statistics, motor vehicle accidents have fallen over the last several years, but accidents involving trucks have actually increased.
According to PolicyAdvice.net the statistics below illustrate an increasing number of truck accidents year-over-year.
- There has been a 52% increase in truck accidents since 2009
- 74% of fatal vehicle crashes involve a large truck
- 30% of all truck-related accidents are due to tire defects
- Most truck accidents actually occur between noon and 3 p.m.
- 68% of all truck fatalities are passenger vehicle occupants
Approximately 130,000 people suffer from truck accident-related injuries each year. Truck accidents are often much more severe than typical accidents involving motor vehicles or motorcycles. They can cause more severe damage because trucks weigh 20 to 30 times that of cars and buses.
Semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, big rigs, and tractor-trailers pose a serious danger to other drivers and occupants of vehicles. While truck drivers undergo rigorous training due to the danger they pose, accidents still happen. In the 24 months preceding February 2021, UPS reported a whopping 2,632 crashes, with 950 injuries, and 56 deaths.
According to the most recent statistics available from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association, in 2019 there were 5,237 fatal truck crashes in the U.S. and approximately 127,000 injury crashes nationwide. There were about 414,000 property damage collisions across the country.
The number of injuries in large-truck crashes decreased by 8% in 2020, to 147,000. As with deaths in large-truck crashes, most of the injuries occurred to occupants of other vehicles (68%), followed by truck occupants (30%), and non-occupants (2%).
Injuries due to truck accidents are multiplied in volume and intensity. If you have recently been involved in a truck accident, you are not just a number. It is essential to seek legal professional representation if you are involved in a truck accident. At The Law Office of Matthew Shrum, we have skilled Austin truck accident lawyers who will help you walk through the legal proceedings involving truck accidents.
What Types of Injuries Are Caused By Truck Accidents?
There are a variety of circumstances that can cause a truck crash and the injuries can vary from moderate to severe. Let’s look at some of the more common injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirms that in 2019 there were an estimated 159,000 people injured in crashes involving large trucks. Of those crashes:
- 69% (110,000) were occupants of other vehicles
- 29% (46,000) were occupants of large trucks
- 3% (4,000) were nonoccupants (pedestrians, cyclists, etc.)
The most common truck accident injuries include:
- Seat belt injuries
- Collar bone and back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Lacerations
- Contusion or bruising
- Traumatic brain injury
- Mild traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Broken and fractured bones
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Fatalities (wrongful death)
What Should I Consider if I am Involved in a Truck Accident?
The factors to consider in a truck accident are different from other motor vehicle accidents. Multiple people may be liable to compensate for the damage including the truck owner, driver, company leasing the truck, the trucking company, the parts manufacturer, or the loading/shipping company. It is difficult to determine who is the responsible party, so a truck accident lawyer is a necessity.
Truck drivers have insurance that covers 50 times more than that of the average car owner. Truck insurance companies may find every way to escape the liability and convince the victim to settle for a compensatory amount that may be far less than what is required by law.
With the exception of a fatality, if your truck accident injury was the result of another’s negligence or carelessness, a personal injury claim may be filed to recover financial compensation. In the event of a fatality that occurred due to another’s negligence or malice, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed to recover various types of financial damages.
Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today at The Law Office of Matthew Shrum, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert Austin truck accident lawyers.