Anomalies about truck accidents

Truck accident statistics in Texas are not what you would expect. Texas has plenty of rural terrain with flat wide open roads and highways. You would think this type of driving environment would increase the safety factors against truck accidents. As it turns out, this is not the case.

What state has the highest truck accident statistics? Texas. According to statistics gathered by carsurance.net here are some figures you would probably never expect:

• Truck-related accidents in Texas are 137% higher compared with California, the second highest state for truck accidents
• Crashes involving 18-wheelers in Texas account for 7% of all fatal accidents in the U.S.

Do you know where most truck accidents occur in the United States?

You might think that big cities with congested freeways were the most dangerous areas for truck drivers. You might even wager that heavy traffic and intersections are where most truck accidents occur. However, it isn’t the case. Most truck accidents take place in rural areas.

Day or night—when are truck accident statistics in Texas the highest?

Visibility at nighttime is much worse than during the day. Also, truck drivers often drive long hours. Therefore, the likelihood of falling asleep at the wheel would be much greater at night. So, most truck accidents would take place at night, right? Wrong again.

The most devastating and highest number of truck crashes occurs during the day: 66% of big truck fatal accidents. In fact, most of the accidents take place between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. In addition, weekends see the highest incidence of crashes.

Another interesting anomaly is that during COVID-19, when fewer vehicles have been on the road, the number of fatal crashes has risen. What is the underlying reason? People seeing the wide-open roads have been more likely to speed and engage in reckless driving behavior. As a result, more people have unwittingly died.

What isn’t surprising about fatal truck accident statistics? Truck driver fatalities in fatal truck accidents are 3%. However, 97% of the deaths in fatal truck accidents are passengers in other vehicles.

Get legal help if you’ve been injured in a truck accident

The Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz based in San Antonio offers a free consultation to discuss your injuries and the details of the accident. We also represent clients living in Austin, Georgetown and many locations throughout Texas.