Traffic accidents involving large 18 wheeler trucks are very serious, as they can cause terrible damage to cars and property, and sometimes even kill the drivers and passengers involved in the truck collision.

The results of an 18 wheeler crash can be particularly devastating given the size of the vehicles, the speed at which they travel and size of the loads they are hauling.

Listed below are some facts and statistics that highlight just how dangerous semi truck accidents can be:

• In 2010, over 115,000 18 wheeler accidents occurred on U.S. roads, and of these accidents, 3,285 involved one or more fatalities while 44,310 semi truck collisions resulted in injuries.
• Close to 70,000 18 wheeler collisions required that one or more vehicles involved in the crash be towed.
• In Texas alone, 12,595 truck wrecks occurred during 2010, resulting in 370 fatalities and 4,777 injuries.
• Additionally, in Texas during 2010, 7,448 tow-away semi-truck crashes occurred.
• The total number of injuries that occurred in Texas in 2010 from 18 wheeler accidents is 6,400.
• Of all fatal 18 wheeler accidents that occur across the nation, 3 percent involved a semi-truck carrying hazardous materials, and in 34 percent of those semi-truck accidents the hazardous chemical was released.
• Of the 18 wheeler fatalities reported in 2010, 14 percent resulted in the death of truck drivers.

Causes of 18 Wheeler Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, a truck driver could be severely fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, causing them to operate their truck recklessly and endangering their lives and the lives of other drivers on the road. In other cases, semi-truck malfunctions, unfavorable weather conditions, and other outside factors could be to blame.

Here are some statistics that explain some of the main causes of 18 wheeler truck accidents in the United States:

• According to the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), 3 percent of semi-truck drivers who were involved in fatal trucking accidents allegedly had a blood alcohol content level of .01 or higher during the time of the truck accident.
• Over 30 percent of 18 wheeler crashes involved some type of driver negligence or error, including speeding, distracted driving, and failure to yield the right of way to other drivers.
• 14 percent of truck wrecks in 2010 were reported to have occurred during poor weather conditions.
• 87 percent of fatal head-on semi truck collisions that took place in 2010 were caused by the 18 wheeler crossing the center traffic line, while only 13 percent were caused by the passenger vehicle.
• During 2010, 3 percent of all semi-truck wrecks involved a rollover of a truck.

18 Wheeler Accident Litigation

When an 18 wheeler crash occurs, a trucking company may attempt to use its own accident investigators and/or insurance adjusters to either build a defense against a semi-truck victim’s liability claims or attempt to limit victim’s injury compensation. A truck accident attorney may be able to help you determine who is at fault in a semi-truck collision and also aid you in receiving the compensation you deserve. Sometimes, this can occur through pursuing an 18 wheeler accident lawsuit.