What Percentage of Truck Accidents Are Caused by Cars?

Truck drivers do not always cause fatal crashes. The car's driver is also sometimes to blame for collisions involving a large commercial truck and a vehicle.

According to several investigations into commercial truck accidents and motor vehicle accidents from sources like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, results revealed that, in crashes with passenger automobiles, the driver or vehicle of the latter was also at fault along with the semi truck drivers.

A semi-truck that is completely loaded may weigh up to 80,000 pounds. This can be one of the many reasons for frequent involvement in serious accidents. That might mean a driver receives a lot of force, especially if a smaller passenger car is involved in the collision.

Truck Accidents Caused by Passenger Vehicles

Truck accident statistics suggest that truck drivers seem to be more susceptible to causing collisions due to the trucker's aggressive or careless driving or the failure of the vehicle.

Drivers of passenger vehicles are more likely to cause fatal crashes due to hazardous physical problems or a driving mistake.

Thus, the question here is, how many truck accidents are actually caused by cars? According to the Large Truck Crashes Causation Study, in two-vehicle incidents involving a truck and a passenger car, 44 percent of trucks and 56 percent of passenger vehicle drivers were at fault in truck accidents.

These figures provide trucking corporations greater justification to try to put the responsibility for truck-car collisions on the drivers of passenger vehicles.

Fatal crashes involving large commercial trucks frequently include drivers of passenger cars. The most frequent mistake made by motorists who collide with big trucks is not paying attention to the size, speed, and braking capabilities of the truck in question.

Some Interesting Facts Related to Truck Accidents | Car Accident Statistics for Large Trucks

Aggressive Driving The act of operating a motor vehicle that has a high possibility of endangering people or property is referred to as "aggressive driving." Truck accident statistics suggest that about 80% of motorists report having road rage in general. Specifically, that includes lane blocking, harsh braking, speeding, tailgating, yelling, displaying anger, and swerving.
Injuries Due to their tremendous size and weight, truck accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries. A broken rib, back and neck trauma, brain trauma, internal hemorrhage, spinal cord injury, and a whiplash injury are examples of severe injuries. These wounds from semi trucks require urgent medical care and maybe even numerous surgeries, which can be expensive.
Car-Truck Accidents Because they incorrectly merge into traffic, turn left ahead of trucks, and drive out in front of them at junctions, passenger vehicle drivers are to blame for fatal crashes. The most frequent reason, however, is an incorrect understanding of a truck's performance capabilities, such as failing to recognize the speed and visibility limitations of vehicles.
Dangerous Cargo Driving safely and attentively is essential when transporting dangerous cargo in tractor trailers, such as flammable liquids. These are fluids that burn easily and catch fire when they ignite. Because the dangerous cargo is likely to burst or catch fire in an accident, there is a high chance of truck fatalities.
Trucks Are Responsible for a Number of Accidents Large trucks are involved in 10% of fatal truck crashes, according to the commercial truck accident statistics provided by the National Safety Council. They make up just 4% of registered vehicles but compared to other kinds of motor vehicles. A huge truck is far more likely to be involved in a fatal collision.
High Death Rates In the US, according to accident statistics, truck accidents happen annually; there are over 500,000 truck-related accidents per year. Sadly, they result in almost 5,000 fatalities annually. Additionally, incidents involving a passenger vehicle are included in truck crashes with the greatest death toll.
No Significant Change in Statistics Regarding truck accident fatalities and car accidents, the data reveals fairly consistent numbers, with most of those killed being passengers in a passenger vehicle. Additionally, since passenger fatality statistics have been known to exhibit a high rate of fatalities in cars, data hasn't altered much over the past ten years.

What Are the Main Causes of Truck Accident Cases?

Owing to their weight and the way tractor-trailers are built, trucks are unable to stop fast, as is often forgotten by drivers. Slamming on the brakes can make a truck topple, increasing the risk of an accident on the road.

The "No Zone," where passenger cars frequently travel, is known as such. There is no way for the driver to see this part of the truck. Additionally, when drivers make abrupt lane changes, they risk cutting off trucks. If a person has been injured in an accident, they can contact semi truck accident attorneys in St Louis MO.

Fatigue

Truck driving is a stressful and high-pressure job. Trucking businesses frequently demand from their drivers that they deliver items to a specific location in a short amount of time.

This indicates that they are traveling great distances while taking few breaks and minimal relaxation.

Sometimes, the distance to be traveled necessitates many days on the road, and the drivers get too little sleep.

As a result, they become less focused and coordinated, react more slowly to hazards on the road, and run the risk of simply falling asleep behind the wheel, which can cause a truck accident.

Speeding

Trucks are substantially bigger than cars. Thus, speeding is especially riskier for truck drivers because the vehicle reacts to abrupt shifts in speed or direction more slowly due to the momentum it produces, and the driver has less control.

Truck drivers who speed up must be held accountable since it is reckless and negligent. On company vehicles, major transportation companies may use speed limiters or speed trackers to avoid a truck accident, but not all trucks are equipped with this equipment.

Distracted Driving

Similar to speeding, driving while being distracted is unlawful, risky, and particularly dangerous for truck drivers, given the size of their vehicles.

Truck drivers who use phones while driving or briefly divert their attention from the road can cause property damage and numerous fatalities in large truck crashes.

Distracted driving is a worldwide problem, and it affects local roadways just as much as it does interstate ones. Any action that takes the focus off from driving is distracted driving.

Alcohol Consumption

The truck driver can spend extended hours behind the wheel while abusing stimulants like caffeine. They could be in situations where they are worn out but artificially aroused when it comes time for a mandatory break.

Alcohol frequently seems to be a nice method to wind down before beginning the following shift. However, if a truck driver is impaired by alcohol or other drugs when operating the vehicle, it could result in a truck accident.

Weather Conditions

Driving safely in poor weather requires a lot of practice and education, especially when operating a big commercial vehicle.

In bad weather, a trucker must travel considerably more cautiously than usual to avoid hydroplaning, sliding, jackknifing, and large truck crashes. After going through semi-truck accident statistics, it can be concluded that the driver puts both themself and other drivers in danger if they are not taught how to handle hazardous driving conditions.

Does a Truck Driver Get Compensation After Getting Hurt in a Truck Accident?

Especially if truck crashes happened while they were working a shift, a truck driver who is employed by a company, whether it is a store, manufacturing, or trucking company, may be entitled to workers' compensation payments in addition to potential damages from the responsible party.

It's crucial to keep in mind, though, that while workers' compensation does pay for medical costs and some missed wages, it doesn't make up for pain and discomfort.

Truck drivers who aren't considered employees, and hence, ineligible for workers' compensation, must pursue injury claims through the judicial system or against negligent individuals and their insurance providers. In addition, a truck driver must bear less than 51% of the blame for the accidents in order to be compensated.

Also, people know that each collision with a passenger car driver can potentially kill the people inside. Many drivers would do anything to avoid a truck accident, putting themselves in danger by diverting or even driving off the road. Thus, they must be extremely attentive to potential crash situations.

If truck drivers can demonstrate that their loss of control was caused by the other driver's negligence, they may be held liable for their truck crashes while trying to avoid accidents with them.

Truck drivers make up around 11% of the workforce, and as independent contractors, they are not entitled to workers' compensation payments.

This implies that, if individuals sustain injuries in a truck accident that was not due to their negligence, they must file a lawsuit against other drivers or the negligent parties to recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering.

Conclusion

Personal injuries suffered by occupants of a passenger vehicle after a collision with a commercial truck are covered by truck accident laws. The doctrine of negligence serves as the basis for liability in truck accident situations.

It's not always simple or clear to know what to do after being hurt in a truck accident for truck drivers. Truck drivers are frequently misclassified by employers, which can make workers' compensation eligibility a controversial issue that frequently requires the assistance of a skilled legal team.

Victims who are on foot or on a bicycle when a truck accident occurs have high death rates. Most truck crash victims, whether injured or killed, were in a passenger car at the time of the collision. The compensation someone deserves for their injuries and suffering can be obtained by working with a skilled truck accident attorney.