Large Truck Fatality Statistics

Overall, large truck accidents accounted for 11 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in 2008. Large truck accidents can kill both truck drivers and the occupants of other vehicles, however any collision with a tractor-trailer will more often than not harm or kill the occupants of a passenger vehicle. In fact, if an 18-wheeler collides with a passenger vehicle, 97 percent of all fatalities in these types of accidents involve the passenger vehicle occupants.

For all deaths involving a tractor trailer crash (not just those involving both a truck and a passenger vehicle), passenger vehicle occupants account for 67 percent of fatalities, while truck occupants account for 15 percent of fatalities and motorcycle riders, pedestrians and cyclists account for 14 percent.

Tractor trailer rollover statistics

Just over half of all tractor trailer occupant deaths last year happened when the truck in question rolled over. In comparison, 58 percent of SUV drivers were killed in a rollover accident, while 47 percent of pickup drivers and 25 percent of car drivers were killed in rollover crashes.

Single vs. multi-vehicle truck fatalities

Most large truck drivers are killed in single vehicle accidents. The rest of the tractor-trailer occupant fatalities happen in multi-vehicle accidents. For all fatal crashes, only 17 percent were single-vehicle accidents, 63 percent involved two vehicles (the truck and one other vehicle) and the remaining 20 percent involved more than 2 vehicles.

Sixty-five percent of large truck drivers killed in a crash collided with another large truck. This is not surprising because tractor-trailer drivers are more likely to be killed when they crash into another tractor-trailer as opposed to crashing into a smaller passenger vehicle.

Seat belt use in fatal 18-wheeler crashes

Truck drivers killed in a fatal tractor-trailer accident were equally as likely to be wearing a seat belt (39 percent) as not wearing one (39 percent). Seat belt use was unknown for 22 percent of fatal truck crash victims. By comparison, 50 percent of passenger vehicle drivers killed in a crash were unbelted, while 43 percent were wearing a seat belt and seat belt status is unknown for the remaining 7 percent of fatalities

Drinking and driving in fatal truck accidents

Driving under the influence of alcohol is not a major issue in fatal large truck crashes. Only four percent of fatally injured large truck drivers were intoxicated when they were killed, while 35 percent of passenger vehicle drivers were intoxicated. These statistics has remained fairly consistent since the 1990’s.

If you need help after a serious tractor-trailer accident in Texas, please contact the experienced Houston based personal injury attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C

1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 1020

Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713.224.7800

Fax: 713.224.7801