Large Truck and Bus Accidents on the Rise

According to recent numbers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there is a potentially worrisome trend occurring in large truck (trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds) and bus accidents. In 2021, there were 5,904 fatal crashes involving trucks and buses – marking an 18% increase from the previous year. This trend is by no means a brand new one: although the U.S. experienced a brief decrease in large truck and bus accidents (34%) from 2005 to 2009, the numbers have been growing steadily since 2010.

Large trucks and buses can weigh anywhere from 10, 20, or even 30 times as much as the average-sized motor vehicle. Their heavier weight means that when a crash happens, a much higher force of impact occurs. 

Bus and Truck Accident Data 

Large truck and bus accidents increased by a whopping 52% from 2010 to 2021. Here are some other key statistics on large truck and bus accidents from the FMCSA:

• The number of injury crashes involving large trucks and/or buses grew by 62% from 2009 to 2015. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of injury crashes involving large trucks and/or buses increased by another 6%
• On average, from 2010 to 2021, intercity buses accounted for 11%, and school buses and transit buses accounted for 37% and 36%, respectively, of all buses involved in fatal crashes
• In 2021, there were 80 school buses, 17 intercity buses, and 78 transit buses involved in deadly collisions
• In 2021, there were 117,000 large trucks involved in injury crashes, up from 105,000 the previous year
• There were 5,700 fatal large truck crashes and 204 deadly bus crashes in 2021

Sadly, the numbers don’t stop there. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the number of injury-causing and deadly crashes continued to grow from 2021 to 2022. 5,837 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2022, up from 5,700 in 2021. There were also 2.5% more injury crashes that involved large trucks in 2022 than in 2021.

Types of Large Truck and Bus Accidents

Trucks and buses are unique in the way they operate and how they are constructed. Given their size and shape, accidents that involve large trucks and buses often differ from those involving traditional passenger motor vehicles. Here are some examples of the common types of accidents that involve large trucks and buses: 

• Rollover accidents. When rollover accidents occur, it could be because the cab (or tractor) starts to slide and eventually rolls over and hits other motorists. Most rollovers occur when an inattentive or inexperienced truck driver fails to adjust their speed to compensate for a sharp turn or must over-adjust to avoid an accident
• Jackknife accidents. These accidents take place when the entire rig folds so that the tractor creates a 90-degree angle with the trailer. The cause is usually the driver stopping or turning too quickly, which forces the weight of the trailer to propel forward
• Tire blowouts. Tire blowouts happen with motor vehicles and trucks, but it is more dangerous with trucks because of the size of their tires. The shrapnel from the blowout can hit other cars or force other cars to swerve, causing them to hit another vehicle 
• Wide turns. To make a right turn, a truck or bus driver must first swing left to make the wide turn. If the driver is not paying attention to their surroundings, this maneuver can trap vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and/or pedestrians, depending on the circumstances 
• Blind spot accidents. Given the size of these vehicles, they have significantly large blind spots. The problem occurs when a truck decides to change lanes when a car or other vehicle is in an area that is not visible to the driver of the truck or bus. A sudden lane change could lead to another vehicle being hit, crushed, or forced off the roadway 
• Rear-end crashes. Due to the significant weight of trucks and buses, they are unable to stop as quickly as motor vehicles. This weight means that if they do hit a car, they can cause serious damage quite quickly. This type of accident is often caused by speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and/or drowsy driving. Rear-end accidents also are often the result of poor maintenance of the various braking systems installed in the truck’s tractor and trailer(s)
• Underride accidents. One of the most dangerous types of accidents involving a large truck and car is an underride accident. These accidents occur when a larger vehicle stops short when a car is directly behind it. If the car is unable to stop, it becomes lodged under the truck’s trailer. Trucks that weigh more than 10,000 pounds are required to have a guard rail installed to prevent these types of accidents from occurring 
• Lost loads. When cargo is improperly loaded onto a truck or bus, it runs the hazard of becoming loose and falling onto the road. The materials can impact cars or leave debris on the road, which can wreak havoc on traffic as drivers attempt to maneuver safely around obstacles. Also, cargo that is poorly packed can cause weight distribution issues for the driver and result in a rollover
• T-Bone collisions. When a truck or bus runs a red light and hits a car at a perpendicular angle, it can lead to catastrophic and/or deadly injuries 

Common Truck and Bus Accident Injuries

According to reports from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, 66% of the victims who died in large truck and bus accidents in 2022 were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles. 16% of the fatalities were bicyclists, pedestrians, or motorcyclists. The remaining percentage of fatalities were comprised of large truck and bus drivers. As you can see, the occupants of motor vehicles and bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to sustaining deadly injuries in the event of a truck or bus accident.

Some of the most common injuries that people involved in collisions with trucks and buses sustain include:

• Whiplash
• Concussions and other kinds of traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs
• Spinal cord damage, including partial and/or full paralysis 
• Cuts and lacerations
• Burns
• Fractures
• Internal injuries
• Musculoskeletal damage

Contacting an Attorney After an Accident

If you or a loved one was involved in a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or bus accident, it may be in your best interest to contact an experienced attorney who can launch an investigation into the possible cause(s) behind what occurred. An attorney at our firm will collect evidence and build a strong case that proves the essential elements of a truck or bus accident negligence claim.   

When you hire Galfand Berger LLP, you can rest assured that our knowledgeable and skilled truck accident lawyers will handle your claim correctly and recover the maximum compensation possible. We have advocated for injured truck accident victims for over 77 years, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Some recent truck accident settlements and verdicts include:

•  $3 million settlement for a motorist who suffered bilateral leg injuries after being struck by a poorly maintained tractor-trailer.
• $1.75 million settlement for Pennsylvania Turnpike employees struck by a speeding truck driver.
• $1.25 million recovery for Berks County tractor-trailer accident. 

Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.