Truck Accident Statistics

California Truck Accident Statistics

In California, thousands of semis, big rigs, 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers travel the state’s highways and roads every day. Thousands of accidents involving these large trucks happen frequently and can result in serious injuries or deaths. The following truck accident statistics provided by Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal some interesting facts about large truck accidents.

• Approximately 450,000 large truck accidents occur every year in the U.S. and result in the deaths of approximately 5,000 motorists.
• Of the 5,000 deaths every year, 74 percent killed are occupants of the passenger car, while only 16 percent are occupants of the large truck.
• Nationwide, approximately 140,000 individuals are seriously injured in large truck accidents every year.
• In the Unites States, a person is injured or killed every 16 minutes in a large truck accident.
• It can take a large truck traveling 55 mph the length of a football field to stop.
• Semis, big rigs, 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers can weigh almost 30 times more than a passenger car.

Time and Location of California Truck Accidents

The following 2005 truck accident statistics are provided by FARS.

• Almost 23 percent of the nation’s large truck accidents happened between the hours of 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., with more than 80 percent of accidents taking place during the day (6 a.m. – 6 p.m.).
• More than 18 percent of large truck accidents happened on a Thursday.
• Approximately 85 percent of large truck accidents that resulted in a fatality happened on a roadway.
• Large truck accidents took place during normal weather conditions 87 percent of the time.

Common Causes of California Truck Accidents

There are many contributing factors that can result in a California truck accident happening and sometimes, it can be a combination of several factors that lead to an accident occurring. Some common causes of truck accidents, include:

• Truck driver fatigue
• Truck driver drug or alcohol intoxication
• Inattentive truck driver
• Inexperienced truck driver
• Speeding
• Faulty brakes
• Faulty hitch equipment
• Faulty trailer lights, headlights or turn signals
• Missing trailer guards
• Overloaded cargo
• Shifted cargo
• Violation of FMCSA regulations
• Trucking company negligence.

Recovering Damages in a California Truck Accident

Suffering a serious injury in a truck accident can leave victims with severe debilitations that prevent them from returning to the life they once knew. Families who have unexpectedly lost a loved one in a truck accident often face an uncertain future. Our compassionate California truck accident statistics attorneys have helped many individuals in similar situations move forward. Our California truck accident attorneys have helped obtain compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, anticipated lost earnings, funeral expenses, lost benefits, and pain and suffering.

California Truck Accident Attorneys

Founding partner Stephen Estey of Estey Bomberger has been selected to Law and Politics’ Super Lawyers for the third time in a row (2008, 2009, and 2010). Only lawyers who have attained a high level of professional success and peer recognition are considered for a Super Lawyers designation and are chosen through peer evaluation and independent research. To learn more about our California truck accident lawyers and how we can help you, contact us by calling (800) 895-6620. Upon hiring, you will not be charged any fees for legal representation until we have won full and fair compensation for you.