While truck drivers can also suffer these injuries in accidents, they are more common among those who drive passenger vehicles.
When it comes to traffic accidents, most people probably think of one or more passenger vehicles colliding. However, commercial trucks also fit this description, and they tend to cause more devastating injuries and damage than standard vehicles.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revealed that an estimated 510,000 large commercial trucks were involved in accidents in 2019. Of those 510,000 or so, approximately 114,000 were injured, and nearly 5,000 of those accidents resulted in fatalities.
Worrying though that might be, it’s not entirely surprising given how many large commercial trucks are on U.S. roads at any given time.
Other Little-Known Commercial Truck Accident Statistics
According to one study, there are approximately 15.5 million commercial trucks registered in the United States. With so much in mind, it makes sense that some of them would be involved in accidents at some point. Nevertheless, we must share the road with them.
After all, the global economy and individuals depend on these monster trucks for many things. According to the same study, commercial trucks are responsible for moving more than 72 percent of the nation’s freight, moving everything from groceries and electronics to heavy machinery and hazardous materials.
Available data shows that commercial trucks will collectively transport around 11 billion tons of goods in 2021. Long story short, their sheer size and weight do often make commercial truck accidents inevitable.
When passenger cars and commercial trucks collide
Those lucky enough to survive commercial truck accidents are often seriously injured. Some of the more common injuries associated with these accidents include:
- brain contusion
- fracture
- concussion
- internal bleeding
- severe back and neck pain
- skull fracture
- Spinal cord injury
- to whip
While truck drivers can also suffer these injuries in accidents, they are more common among those who drive passenger vehicles. This is because there is less steel, airbags, crush zones, etc. in their relatively small vehicles to keep them safe.
This discrepancy also explains why so many people in passenger cars die when they are hit by commercial trucks. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident, contact a truck accident attorney to obtain compensation.
The Trucks That Cause the Most Accidents on U.S. Highways
Commercial trucks come in all shapes and sizes, and each one can cause considerable damage in the event of an accident. That said, the commercial trucks responsible for the vast majority of accidents on local U.S. roads and highways include:
- cement truck
- delivery truck
- dump truck
- flatbed truck
- rubbish truck
- oil tanker
- trailer
In addition to distracted driving, reckless driving, drunk driving, fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance and improperly loaded cargo can also contribute to commercial truck accidents. Speeding, bad weather and less-than-ideal road conditions also contribute to many commercial truck accidents.
Should you file a claim if you were injured in a commercial truck accident?
If you are seriously injured in a traffic accident, especially if the truck is three or four times the size of a passenger car, medical bills can add up quickly. If the commercial truck driver was responsible for the accident, you may be eligible for damages to help pay for your medical expenses.
You may also be eligible to seek damages to help repair or replace a damaged vehicle that you cannot repair. That said, it’s not always easy to claim compensation and formally obtain those damages in court.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer
To make the process easier, consider hiring a truck accident attorney who can handle all aspects of the claims process, such as gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and negotiating with the relevant insurance companies. At the same time, you can focus on your recovery, not only physically but mentally as well.
