Large Truck Accident Facts
Every year, tractor-trailer accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi truck crashes and other large truck accidents result in thousands of personal injuries and deaths in the United States. The causes of truck crashes range from driver fatigue to excessive speeding to talking on a cell phone or texting while driving.
Important facts and statistics about large truck accidents from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), or the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
There were 3,733 fatal large truck crashes involving 4,066 vehicles in 2008, resulting in 4,229 total fatalities.
Approximately 64,000 large truck injury crashes involving 66,000 vehicles in 2008:
As a result, 90,000 persons were injured in large truck crashes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation defines a large truck as a vehicle with a gross weight rating (GVWR) greater than 10,000 pounds. This includes medium and heavy trucks.
Driver fatigue is an important cause of truck crashes, including tractor-trailer accidents, semi-truck crashes, 18-wheeler accidents and other commercial vehicle accidents involving large trucks.
After a truck driver drives between eight and ten hours, the risk of a truck crash doubles. The risk doubles again between the tenth and eleventh hours of solo driving.
According to U.S. Department of Transportation rules, a long-distance truck driver cannot drive more than 11 hours per day, and cannot work more than 14 hours (this includes driving and non-driving duties).
DOT regulations also require a driver to have a minimum of 10 hours of off duty time between working periods.
The Large Truck Crash Causation Study Analysis Series conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration determined 10 high-priority issues in large truck safety. They include:
1)Problem Identification:
-Identified the factors involved in truck crashes in addition to factors that greatly increase the risk of a crash.
2)Truck Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service:
-Identified and determined the most effective regulatory methods to increasVehicle
3)Truck Maintenance and Inspections:
-Evaluated the role of vehicle maintenance programs to reduce crashes.
4)Relative Roles of Cars and Large Trucks:
-Estimated the amount of large truck crashes resulting from actions by passenger vehicles, including cars, light trucks and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs).
5)Truck Driver Working Environment:
-Determined the influence of driver working conditions such as work schedule, wages, company structure, etc. on large truck crashes.
6)Role of Environmental Factors:
-Examined whether roadway changes such as truck-free lanes, exit ramp designs, or different speed limits for trucks improved large truck safety.
7)Truck Driver Performance:
- Measured features such as danger recognition, truck speed, and driver actions to determine the role of truck driver performance in crashes.
8)Vehicle Design and Truck Load:
-Determined the amount and nature of accidents in which load features and/or truck design were contributing factors.
9)Truck Driver Licensing and Monitoring:
-Examined the role of improperly licensed or problematic truck drivers to crash causation.
10)Truck Driver Training and Experience:
-Evaluated the outcome of truck driver training in addition to driving experience in reducing crashes.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, or if a truck crash took the life of a person you love, you deserve the representation of an experienced and ethical truck accident lawyer. The truck accident lawyers at LaBovick Law Group will defend your rights and fight to ensure that you receive the justice you deserve. Our team will also aggressively pursue any compensation you may be entitled to receive. If you have been injured in a truck accident, call 1-888-777-3884 now.
We help truck accident victims throughout Florida, including Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Broward counties, and the cities of Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale and other areas.
Important facts and statistics about large truck accidents from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), or the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
There were 3,733 fatal large truck crashes involving 4,066 vehicles in 2008, resulting in 4,229 total fatalities.
Approximately 64,000 large truck injury crashes involving 66,000 vehicles in 2008:
As a result, 90,000 persons were injured in large truck crashes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation defines a large truck as a vehicle with a gross weight rating (GVWR) greater than 10,000 pounds. This includes medium and heavy trucks.
Driver fatigue is an important cause of truck crashes, including tractor-trailer accidents, semi-truck crashes, 18-wheeler accidents and other commercial vehicle accidents involving large trucks.
After a truck driver drives between eight and ten hours, the risk of a truck crash doubles. The risk doubles again between the tenth and eleventh hours of solo driving.
According to U.S. Department of Transportation rules, a long-distance truck driver cannot drive more than 11 hours per day, and cannot work more than 14 hours (this includes driving and non-driving duties).
DOT regulations also require a driver to have a minimum of 10 hours of off duty time between working periods.
The Large Truck Crash Causation Study Analysis Series conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration determined 10 high-priority issues in large truck safety. They include:
1)Problem Identification:
-Identified the factors involved in truck crashes in addition to factors that greatly increase the risk of a crash.
2)Truck Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service:
-Identified and determined the most effective regulatory methods to increasVehicle
3)Truck Maintenance and Inspections:
-Evaluated the role of vehicle maintenance programs to reduce crashes.
4)Relative Roles of Cars and Large Trucks:
-Estimated the amount of large truck crashes resulting from actions by passenger vehicles, including cars, light trucks and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs).
5)Truck Driver Working Environment:
-Determined the influence of driver working conditions such as work schedule, wages, company structure, etc. on large truck crashes.
6)Role of Environmental Factors:
-Examined whether roadway changes such as truck-free lanes, exit ramp designs, or different speed limits for trucks improved large truck safety.
7)Truck Driver Performance:
- Measured features such as danger recognition, truck speed, and driver actions to determine the role of truck driver performance in crashes.
8)Vehicle Design and Truck Load:
-Determined the amount and nature of accidents in which load features and/or truck design were contributing factors.
9)Truck Driver Licensing and Monitoring:
-Examined the role of improperly licensed or problematic truck drivers to crash causation.
10)Truck Driver Training and Experience:
-Evaluated the outcome of truck driver training in addition to driving experience in reducing crashes.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, or if a truck crash took the life of a person you love, you deserve the representation of an experienced and ethical truck accident lawyer. The truck accident lawyers at LaBovick Law Group will defend your rights and fight to ensure that you receive the justice you deserve. Our team will also aggressively pursue any compensation you may be entitled to receive. If you have been injured in a truck accident, call 1-888-777-3884 now.
We help truck accident victims throughout Florida, including Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Broward counties, and the cities of Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce, Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale and other areas.
