Top Ten Factors Contributing to Truck-Passenger Vehicle Accidents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has recorded 423,000 truck accidents causing over 4,500 deaths and over 78,000 injuries in just one year. Trucks are large vehicles that can be harder to control causing more severe accidents because of their size. Additionally, the size of the truck can prevent the driver from seeing large areas of the road. These areas are called “blind spots.” In fact, the American Trucking Association reports that 35 percent of fatal truck-passenger vehicle accidents occur in one of the four blind spots surrounding large trucks.

Recently, the FMSCA conducted the “Large Truck Causation Study” in order to determine the factors that contribute to truck accidents. The study investigated over 141,000 truck accidents and determined the causes of 78,000 of these accidents. 68,000 truck accidents were attributable to the driver, 8,000 to the vehicle, and 2,000 to the environment. Of the accidents caused by the driver, 30,000 were caused by driver decision-making such as driving too fast for the conditions, misjudging the speed of other vehicles, or following too closely behind other vehicles.

Additionally, 22,000 were caused by inattention such as distraction inside or outside the vehicles as well as other observation failures. 9,000 of these driver-related accidents were caused by falling asleep at the wheel or medical emergency. Finally, 7,000 were caused by driver performance including overcompensating or losing control.

The trucking accident infographic illustrates these statistics as well as other facts. For example, the FMSCA study determined the top ten factors contributing to truck-passenger vehicle accidents. Additionally, there are tips on how to stay safe on the road. To learn more visit the trucking accident webpage and view the infographic: Trucking Accident Infographic.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, you may want to speak with a lawyer regarding a potential claim. The personal injury lawyers at d’Oliveira & Associates would like to meet with you and discuss the investigation of your accident. Our law firm has represented and assisted numerous truck accident victims in pursuing their claims. And, there are no fees until you receive a settlement or award. Please contact the law offices of d’Oliveira & Associates, at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form for a free legal consultation.