When you conduct a good deal of business from your car, or when you’re about to embark on a road trip, safety is probably often on your mind. Other cars are one of the most obvious concerns, of course. But no matter where you go, you’ll also be sharing the road with trucks, and truck accidents do sometimes occur.
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It’s important to be alert whenever you’re driving. However, knowing when truck accidents are most likely to occur can help you take measures to avoid them for yourself. Read on to learn how to avoid such accidents and what to do if you’ve been in one.
Featured image by garten-gg via Pixabay
How Common Are Truck Accidents?
First, let’s define what a large truck is. For the purposes of the statistics, a large truck is a heavy truck that weighs over 10,000 pounds. This includes commercial and non-commercial vehicles. However, this does not include buses or motor homes.
In 2021, 13.5 percent of fatal car accidents involved at least one large truck or bus. The full number of fatal collisions involving a truck is 5,340. That same year, 8.7 percent of all nonfatal car accidents (531,000 total) involved at least one large truck or bus. In total, large trucks make up six percent of all vehicles involved in fatal accidents.
These numbers rose in 2022, and we don’t yet have data for 2023 or 2024. Generally, truck accidents aren’t as common as passenger car crashes—but they also aren’t exactly rare. And they can do significantly more damage.
What Time of Day Do Most Truck Accidents Occur?
The time of day that truck crashes are most likely to occur changes depending on the time of year and the day of the week. In general, though, fatal accidents occur most often in the evenings on weekends.
Most fatal truck accidents throughout the year occur between 8 P.M. and midnight. However, nonfatal accidents occur from noon to 4 P.M. on weekdays.
What Causes These Accidents?
On the road, anything can happen. However, truck accidents usually occur because of a few common factors:
- Driver Fatigue: As you may have noticed, most fatal accidents occur during the late evening when drivers are more likely to be tired after a long day on the road.
- Traffic Congestion: Nonfatal accidents are more likely to occur when more vehicles are on the road due to lunch breaks and the end of the workday.
- Weather: Driving at night or during conditions of low visibility (such as fog, rain, and more) can keep drivers from reacting appropriately.
- Work Schedules: Tight deadlines might push drivers to speed or push through fatigue. This can contribute to more accidents.
How Can You Avoid a Truck Accident?
While most truck accidents are nonfatal, it’s best to avoid them entirely whenever possible. There are some steps truck drivers can take to be safe on the road. Meanwhile, there are also ways regular drivers can do their part to avoid collisions.
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Here are a few ways you can minimize the chances of a truck accident:
- Avoid Truck Blind Spots: Trucks have larger blind spots than regular vehicles. Make sure you are clearly visible to the driver at all times.
- Maintain Safe Following Distances: Give yourself plenty of space to react in case of a sudden stop or swerve.
- Be Mindful of Truck Turns: Trucks need more space to turn than regular vehicles, so give them plenty of room.
- Don’t Cut in Front: Trucks are not able to stop as quickly as regular cars and may not be able to stop in time if you cut in front of them.
- Stay Focused: Avoid distracted driving, especially when there are many trucks on the road with you. Put your cell phone down, avoid having serious conversations, and turn the music down to help you focus on driving safely.
What to Do If You’ve Been in a Truck Accident
Being in a truck accident is one of the most frightening and overwhelming things that can happen. If you’ve been in an accident with a large truck, first call 911 to report the accident and receive any necessary medical attention.
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If your injuries allow, try to take pictures of the scene, exchange insurance information with the truck driver, and get contact information from any bystanders who saw the accident occur. You may need this information to build a legal case.
Once any emergencies have been dealt with, call a truck accident lawyer like Cohen, Feely, Altemose & Rambo as quickly as possible to discuss the next steps and how you can get proper compensation. Your lawyers might prefer talking to your insurance company (and the insurance of the other party) to help avoid anyone pinning the blame unfairly on you.
Your lawyers can help you talk to your insurance company to get your car appraised to document any damage or loss in value to your vehicle.
The Bottom Line
Truck accidents are most likely to occur in the late evening hours on weekends and during midday on weekdays. That being said, truck accidents are responsible for only a fraction of all vehicle accidents each year and can generally be avoided by practicing safe driving techniques. If you’ve been in a truck accident, make sure to manage your injuries, document the details, and call a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.
