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A truck accident can change your life in an instant. The size and weight of a commercial truck can easily cause catastrophic injuries and loss of life, leaving individuals and families asking the question of why. At NST Law, we understand how overwhelming this process can be. That’s why we’re committed to helping victims and their loved ones make sense of what happened and pursue the justice they deserve.
We all seek reasons and answers in times of tragedy and unexpected loss. Truck accidents are no exception. And although most car and truck crashes happen because of multiple interrelated factors, rather than a single cause, understanding the sequence of events can help you move forward.
You’re about to learn about the top 10 truck accident causes in the United States. There’s a good chance that at least one contributed to your crash.
Top 10 Factors That Lead to Truck Accidents
It’s rare for a single factor to cause a truck accident. Most crashes result from multiple circumstances, some of which may be related.
This section will explore the 10 most common truck accident causes. Not all accidents happen because of these issues, but they are common threads in nationwide reports.
1. Driver Fatigue and Drowsy Driving
Many people think of tired driving as a leading cause of truck accidents, and it’s easy to see why. Truck drivers work long hours, sometimes as many as 11 hours after a 10-hour off-duty period.
Driving beyond this limit violates federal Hours of Service regulations, but it can happen. When it does, it increases the risk of an accident—a risk that applies to more than just truck drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, estimates that drowsy driving contributes to around 91,000 reported crashes a year, including 50,000 injuries and close to 800 deaths.
2. Distracted Driving
Distractions are dangerous for all drivers and everyone else on the road. According to one distracted driving simulator, if an operator moving at 70 mph takes eight seconds to reply to a text message, their vehicle would be moving without their full attention for 821 feet. That’s the length of more than two football fields or over 20 school buses.
It’s not surprising that in 2022, 3,308 people died and 289,310 suffered injuries from accidents involving distracted drivers. The likelihood of a fatality or catastrophic injury is exceptionally high when a truck is involved, given the weight and velocity of a typical tractor-trailer.
3. Speeding and Unsafe Driving Behaviors
According to the NHTSA, speeding-related crashes took 12,151 lives in 2022 alone. That’s 29 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year, or three in every 10 accident deaths. Speeding-related crashes also injured an estimated 300,595 people—13 percent of all traffic injuries.
Speed kills because it reduces reaction and stopping time, leading to more accidents and higher-speed crashes. It is one of the leading car and truck crash causes, but it’s not the only high-risk choice drivers make. A thoughtless or rushed truck driver might switch lanes without looking or tailgate the vehicle in front of them, making it harder for cars to avoid a collision.
4. Impaired Driving, Including Use of Alcohol and Drugs
The NHTSA reports that every day, 34 people lose their lives in drunk-driving crashes. That works out to one person every 42 minutes. In 2023, 12,429 people died unnecessarily because of intoxicated drivers.
When the driver is in charge of a large tractor-trailer, the potential for catastrophic injury is exceptionally high. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, prohibits drivers from operating vehicles or performing other safety-sensitive duties with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater. This is half the legal limit for private car drivers but twice the level at which alcohol begins to affect a driver’s responsiveness negatively.
5. Inadequate Vehicle Maintenance
According to the FMCSA’s Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts for 2021, vehicle-related factors contributed to 4.2 percent of all fatal crashes involving large trucks. That includes 66 fatal crashes involving tire issues—1.2 percent of all fatal crashes—and 52 fatal crashes involving the brake system, or 0.9 percent of fatal crashes.
Accidents can also occur if there are problems with the steering system, lighting, transmission, or couplings. Regular maintenance is essential and mandatory under FMCSA regulations. The law explicitly requires truck parts and accessories to be in safe operating condition at all times.
6. Weather Conditions
Rain, snow, fog, and ice make for dangerous roads, no matter what type of vehicle someone is operating. Across the U.S. in 2022, 498 fatal crashes and 32,213 injury-causing crashes occurred in snowy and icy conditions.
Adverse weather is even more dangerous for truck drivers. You may have seen frightening online videos posted after a truck accident in snowy conditions, when a jackknifed or rolled-over truck caused car after car to crash.
These conditions should prompt responsible truck drivers to take extra precautions, such as:
- Increasing following distance
- Reducing speed
- Checking lights and wipers before departing
- Choosing routes with better conditions when possible
- Using headlights at all times, even during the day
- Clearing snow and ice from all vehicle surfaces
While some bad-weather accidents are unavoidable, responsible driving can reduce the risk.
7. Poor Road Conditions
Cracks, bumps, potholes, and other infrastructure issues make it more difficult for truck drivers to keep control of their vehicles.
In 2021, truck drivers’ loss of control contributed to 203 fatal crashes, 5,000 injury crashes, and 13,000 property damage crashes.
8. Vehicle Overloading and Improper Securing of Cargo
A truck’s cargo contributes significantly to its stability and the driver’s ability to maintain control. If the truck is too full or the cargo is too heavy, the stopping distance increases, and the vehicle is more challenging to steer. If the cargo team fails to secure the load correctly, cargo shifting can make the vehicle unstable and prone to rollovers.
In 2021, cargo errors were a factor in 29 fatal truck crashes and approximately 0.3 percent of injury crashes.
9. Reckless and Aggressive Driving
According to the Insurance Information Institute, careless or reckless driving contributed to more than 7,500 fatal crashes in 2022, or 12.7 percent of all crashes involving deaths.
Driving without care for others can be negligent behavior, particularly when the driver is intentionally aggressive and in charge of the heavier, more powerful vehicle. A truck driver who tailgates, cuts in front of a car, or retaliates against another driver may be responsible for a serious accident.
10. Driver Inexperience and Training Deficiencies
Understaffing is a serious issue for companies across the trucking industry. The American Trucking Association estimated the shortage to be approximately 60,000 in 2023, with ongoing issues in finding qualified drivers. Some authorities expect the shortage to increase to 82,000 by the end of 2025.
This may lead some companies to hire underqualified drivers or allow drivers on the road with insufficient training. Unprepared to handle the challenges of the road, these drivers are more susceptible to accidents.
What Caused Your Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, two or more of the top 10 causes are probably at play. However, no matter which factors contributed, driver error is likely to be the main cause.
At NST Law, our truck accident lawyers have the skill and resources to determine the cause of a crash. We use that information to identify potentially liable parties and help injured victims fight for justice, which may mean filing a claim against a driver or suing a trucking company.
We are passionate about our clients and the communities we serve. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, Call The Champs at 800-529-4004 or contact us online for a free consultation.
