Truck Accident Statistics
The chances of you being involved in a truck accident is on the rise in the United States. Between 2009 and 2010 the rate of trucking accident fatality rose significantly. In 2010, there were close to 6,000 trucking accident fatalities compared to 3,000 in 2009.
According to statistics by the USDOT Commercial Motor Vehicle/Driver Fatigue and Alertness Study which was completed by Accident & Analysis Prevention in November 2012, 87% of all truck accidents are because of a driver error. Only about 10% of all truck accidents are due to a vehicle defect, and 3% of truck accidents are because of an environmental issue such as weather conditions.
Many truck accidents are because a driver is tired. According to the study, about 65% of all professional truck drivers admit that they have felt drowsy or dizzy when driving on regular occasions. 48% of truck drivers admit that they have nodded off behind the wheel before. Laws limit the time truck drivers are permitted to drive before stopping to rest. Only about 25% of all traffic operates at night but this is when about 55% of all fatal truck accidents occur. Night is when drivers are often most drowsy and it is also the time that visibility is lowest.
Commercial-vehicle accidents are seven times more likely to result in a fatality than an automobile accident. Truck accidents cost $48 billion per year in the amount of death, injury, and property damage expenses.