San Antonio Truck Accident Statistics
Semi-trucks are involved in many accidents across Texas each year, resulting in thousands of injuries and hundreds of fatalities. Most people who sustain serious or fatal injuries in truck collisions are occupants of smaller passenger vehicles. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in the San Antonio area, your family may be entitled to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other crash-related losses.
For more than 30 years, The Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover has advocated for the rights of people struggling to overcome personal injuries from motor vehicle accidents in Bexar County and across Texas. A highly regarded San Antonio truck accident lawyer, Troy Brookover has obtained many six- and seven-figure awards for clients to cover the costs of medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
With legal experience dealing with trucking companies inside and outside the courtroom, our personal injury lawyers are prepared to take on the most challenging truck accident cases. Contact our truck accident law firm at (210) 226-2000 to learn more about your legal options during a free case evaluation with a truck accident attorney.
Top Reasons for Truck Crashes
The safe operation of large commercial vehicles requires significant training. Truck drivers must pay careful attention to the road ahead and nearby motorists to avoid collisions. Careless, negligent, or inattentive truck drivers cause many trucking accidents. Some of the common reasons for semi-truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for weather, road, or traffic conditions
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes, including failure to use turn signals
- Improper braking
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Reckless driving, including excessive speeding or swerving through traffic
- Improper wide turns
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Unsafe cargo loads, including excessive or unbalanced weight or failure to secure cargo in the truck
- Truck driver inexperience
- Inadequate truck or trailer maintenance
Commercial truck accidents frequently occur due to truck drivers pushing themselves to make unreasonable delivery deadlines. Too many hours behind the wheel may lead to trucking accidents caused by truck driver fatigue.
When Do Most Truck Accidents Occur?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in one recent year, 37 percent of fatal truck accidents, 24 percent of truck accident injury crashes, and 20 percent of property damage-only commercial vehicle accidents occurred between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
More than 80 percent of commercial truck accidents that cause injuries or fatalities occur on weekdays (Monday through Friday) when more semi-trucks are on the road, transporting cargo. Each weekday had roughly similar rates of fatal and injury-causing truck crashes. The hours of 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. had the highest rates of truck crashes, followed by 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
According to the National Safety Council, in one recent year, September had the highest rate of fatal truck accidents with 515 nationwide, followed by August with 493 crashes, October with 488 crashes, July with 470 crashes, and June with 462 crashes.
Fatal Truck Accidents in Texas: How Many Happen Each Year?
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in a recent year, commercial trucks were involved in 612 fatal accidents in Texas. These truck accidents resulted in 716 fatalities.
Fatalities in Truck Accidents: Who Are the Victims?
The National Safety Council reports that, in one recent year, large truck crashes resulted in 5,788 fatalities nationwide. These fatalities included over 1,000 truck occupant deaths (drivers and passengers), more than 4,000 deaths of occupants of other vehicles, and over 600 fatalities involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Deadly Accidents: Which Types of Truck Accidents Are Most Likely to Be Fatal?
According to the FMCSA, collisions between large trucks and other vehicles account for most fatal truck accidents, representing nearly 72 percent of all fatal truck accidents. Accidents caused by collisions with fixed objects resulted in about 10 percent of all fatal truck accidents.
Some types of collisions between a semi-truck and another vehicle have a higher chance of causing fatal injuries due to the forces involved. For example, when a truck collides head-on with another vehicle, both vehicles hit each other with the full force of their momentum. Due to their weight, large trucks impart violent forces in collisions. Collisions in which a large truck hits another vehicle’s side can also cause severe injuries or fatal injuries because most passenger vehicles lack adequate side panel crash protection to absorb the impact..
Truck Accident Statistics by Age: Who Is Most at Risk?
According to the FMCSA, people aged 26 through 35 had the highest rate of fatalities in truck accidents, accounting for nearly 20 percent of truck accident fatalities. People aged 36 through 45 had the second-highest rate of truck accident fatalities, accounting for about 15 percent of deaths.
People ages 26 through 35 also had the highest rate of injuries in large truck accidents, accounting for approximately 20 percent of all truck accident injuries. The age groups of 36 through 45 and 46 through 55 had roughly similar rates of injuries in truck accidents.
Commercial Truck Accident Statistics by Gender: Are Men or Women More at Risk?
According to the FMCSA, approximately three times as many men die in truck crashes as women. In one recent year, 3,610 men died in large truck accidents nationwide, compared to 1,350 women. Men also suffered injuries in truck accidents at a little less than twice the rate of women. In one recent year, truck accidents injured approximately 90,000 men compared to approximately 57,000 women.
Get Legal Help From Our Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers in San Antonio
If you’ve suffered serious injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or other severe injuries in a semi-truck accident, you may have a personal injury claim. You should not have to pay the medical expenses for severe injuries and deal with lost wages caused by a negligent truck driver or trucking company. You may have a right to file a truck accident case and seek to recover compensation.
Turn to an experienced truck accident lawyer with a record of success in taking on trucking companies and insurers. Contact our law firm at (210) 226-2000 or fill out our online form today for a free consultation with a knowledgeable San Antonio truck accident lawyer. Troy has represented many truck accident victims, including injured truck drivers, in personal injury cases. Learn more about your legal options for seeking maximum compensation and accountability.