Commercial truck accidents can be devastating as they usually result in more severe injuries and property damage. To illustrate this point, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recorded the following data for accidents involving large commercial trucks in 2022:
- 4,764 fatalities resulted from accidents
- Truck occupants accounted for 17% of these deaths
- 66% were occupants of passenger vehicles
- The remaining 16% were motorcyclists, pedestrians or bicyclists
- Fatalities were 51% higher in 2022 than in 2009
- For truck occupants, the death toll was 83% higher than in 2009
These alarming statistics highlight the severity of large truck accidents and help explain why claims arising from these incidents are often more complex. Here are a few of the complicating factors:
The sheer size of commercial trucks
Semi trucks are longer, taller, wider and weigh more than standard passenger vehicles. Fully loaded trucks can weigh up to 30 times more than the average car, making them harder to operate.
Unique trucking laws and regulations
Truck drivers and companies must follow multiple federal regulations. These include rules on drug and alcohol use and testing, hours of service (HOS) and record-keeping requirements.
More severe injuries and damage
The size disparity between trucks and passenger cars means that occupants of smaller vehicles often suffer the most severe injuries. Serious injuries can lead to death or long recovery periods, making compensation harder to calculate.
Accident claims are more expensive
Due to the severe injuries and extensive vehicle damage, truck accident claims tend to be more expensive. Higher compensation stakes make the claims process more contentious.
Several parties may be responsible
Identifying the liable parties in a truck accident can be challenging. Potentially responsible parties include the truck driver, trucking company, trailer owner, cargo loaders, maintenance teams, truck component manufacturers and passenger vehicle drivers.
Evidence may come from many sources
Truck accidents often involve more evidence than car accidents. Types of evidence include black box data, maintenance logs, HOS logs, cargo manifests, company hiring records, witness statements and police reports.
Given these complexities, consulting an attorney with extensive experience on both sides of truck accident claims is crucial for navigating the aftermath of a truck accident. Their knowledge and resources can help ensure all factors are considered and a fair resolution is achieved.