The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration publishes an annual report called Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts. It includes information about large trucks, ones that weigh upwards of 10,000 pounds, that have been involved in accidents. According to the 2015 report, the number of trucks that were involved in fatal crashes as well as accidents that took place both increased.
The report indicates that most of the fatal crashes involving large trucks took place on rural roads. Only a quarter of the deadly crashes occurred on interstate highways. Most of the truck drivers involved in the accidents were between 26 and 65 years of age.
The data also shows that there was an 8 percent increase in both the number of trucks implicated in deadly accidents and crashes that occurred per every 100 million vehicle miles traversed by large trucks. Accidents involving the death of truck occupants rose by 2 percent, and 89 percent of those killed were drivers.
There are several differences between crashes involving standard automobiles and large truck accidents. Wrecks involving large trucks are often more extensive as a result of the weight and size of these vehicles, and people may be more likely to be severely injured. If someone gets in a crash with a commercial truck, he or she may end up seeking compensation from the company that employs the truck driver. If a business’s negligence led to the crash, such as the failure to properly maintain the vehicle, it could be held liable. A lawyer could assist an injured party with determining if he or she should seek compensation from the truck driver or his or her employer.