Truck Accidents: Common Causes, Injuries and Safety Tips

Common causes of truck accidents include driver fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, alcohol impairment and poor weather or road conditions. Truck mechanical failures and unsafe cargo loading can also contribute. In its Large Truck Crash Causation Study, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that serious crashes often involve several factors rather than a single cause.

Truck Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service

Fatigue can slow a truck driver’s response and make it harder to notice danger. Long shifts, irregular sleep schedules and overnight driving may leave a trucker too tired to react safely. The FMCSA’s crash causation study reported that 13% of commercial drivers were considered fatigued at the time of their accident.

Because of the dangers of driving while fatigued, FMCSA’s hours-of-service rules limit most property-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.

Generally, truck drivers have to take a 30-minute break after eight cumulative hours of driving without a 30-minute interruption. These limits are intended to reduce fatigue, but unfortunately, they may not guarantee that drivers are actually well-rested.

Distracted and Aggressive Driving

A truck driver who looks at a phone, navigation screen, dispatch device or something outside the cab may miss stopped traffic or a changing signal. Speeding, following too closely and unsafe lane changes also leave less time and space to avoid a collision.

Passenger-vehicle drivers can create the same risks when they drive distracted or aggressively near a truck.

Driving Under the Influence

Alcohol, illegal drugs, some prescription medicines and even certain over-the-counter products can impair judgment or cause drowsiness. Commercial drivers are generally subject to stricter alcohol limits than most other motorists.

In 2022, 6% of large-truck drivers in fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug, although 58% were not tested, according to FMCSA.

Work Zone Dangers

Work zones may have narrow lanes, changing traffic patterns, lower speed limits and sudden stops. These conditions give a large truck less room to maneuver.

According to FMCSA’s 2022 data, 29% of work-zone fatalities involved at least one large truck. Drivers should slow down, leave more following distance, and watch for workers and construction vehicles to maintain a safe work environment.

Poor Weather and Road Conditions

Rain, snow, ice, fog, sharp curves and uneven pavement can make a heavy truck harder to control or stop. The FMCSA reported that 23% of crashes in its causation study occurred when commercial drivers were traveling too fast for conditions. A speed that is legal in clear weather may be unsafe when visibility or traction is poor.

Preventing truck accidents generally requires more than careful driving by individual motorists. Trucking companies must hire qualified drivers, maintain vehicles, secure cargo and set schedules that allow drivers to practice safe hours. Federal regulations also limit driving hours and require many commercial drivers to record their drive time with electronic logging devices, or ELDs.

Regular brake and tire inspections can identify dangerous wear before a trip. Training can prepare drivers to handle wide turns, blind spots, downhill speeds and bad weather. Carriers can also use safety data, in-cab alerts and crash-avoidance technology to identify risks. These measures usually work best when companies enforce them consistently instead of pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic delivery times.

Because fully-loaded trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, people hit by an 18-wheeler or other large truck generally suffer more serious personal injuries compared to being hit by a car. This can create an enormous force that slams into the human body, causing catastrophic injuries.

Truck crash survivors may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal injuries, burns, cuts or crushing injuries. Some survivors may need surgery, rehabilitation or long-term help with daily activities. Others may be unable to return to work. Fatal truck crashes can also leave families facing funeral costs and a sudden loss of income and companionship.

Due to the size difference between vehicles, people outside the truck may be more likely to have fatal injuries compared to truck occupants. Of the 5,340 people killed in large-truck crashes in 2024, 3,293 were occupants of passenger vehicles and 1,021 were pedestrians, bicyclists or others outside the truck. Truck occupants accounted for 920 deaths.

Some drivers may fail to realize that sharing the road with a truck is different from sharing it with another car. When you’re sharing the road with trucks, you should take certain precautions.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration urges drivers to follow these traffic safety rules to avoid accidents with large trucks and buses:

As always, use good common sense on the roads. Stay alert, never drive under the influence, avoid distractions and always buckle up.

A truck accident can be disorienting. Focus first on immediate safety and medical needs. If you are able, use this checklist:

If another party’s actions caused your injuries, you may be able to seek compensation through an insurance claim or a lawsuit.