Large commercial trucks can be intimidating. They loom large in rearview mirrors and make drivers anxious. Most people fear the possibility of getting into a crash with a commercial truck. They may have heard horror stories about the collisions these massive vehicles can cause.
Semi-truck collisions frequently make the news. People may start to question whether commercial trucks contribute an outsized amount to overall collision risk. Crash data can help clarify how much of a threat semi-trucks may be for other vehicles in traffic.
What type of vehicle causes the majority of modern collisions?
Passenger vehicles cause far more collisions
A cursory review of collision data makes it clear that semi-trucks aren’t the most common cause of collisions. Overall, semi-trucks play a role in only a small fraction of all major motor vehicle collisions. However, when looking at the number of commercial trucks on the road as compared to passenger vehicles, they are slightly more likely to end up involved in crashes.
Commercial trucks account for roughly 5% of all registered vehicles. Approximately 9% of all crashes involve an 18-wheeler. That discrepancy may be due, in part, to the amount of miles traveled. Semi-trucks account for approximately 10% of all miles traveled in the United States, according to 2022 data.
The crashes that do involve semi-trucks might be more likely to draw media attention because of their severity. Images of a semi-truck that rolled over and blocked multiple approaching lanes of traffic can gather a lot of clicks on social media and draw attention during the evening news.
There is a disproportionate allocation of risk in a semi-truck crash scenario as well. The people in the passenger vehicle are at substantially higher risk of injury and death when compared to the people inside the commercial truck.
While commercial vehicles are only responsible for a minority of all crashes, they are a serious safety concern for most drivers. Those involved in semi-truck collisions may need help handling complex insurance claims or exploring their options for compensation.
Establishing fault and liability is an important part of a successful compensation claim after a crash involving a commercial vehicle. People who have the right assistance with that process may be less vulnerable to mistakes that could limit their financial recovery.