Annual statistics of Texas truck accidents indicate the number of truck and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) accidents in Texas continues to climb. As the demand for services and goods continues to increase across the country, a rise in Texas truck crashes may likely follow.
The latest data provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) paints a picture of the changing hazards of annual truck accidents in Texas, including:
- As many as 26,164 annual truck accidents occur in Texas.
- Lubbock County documented 403 commercial motor vehicle accidents, including tractor-trailer trucks.
- Over 480 fatal Texas truck accidents occur annually.
- A total of 950 truck accidents in Texas resulted in suspected serious injury.
Fatal Truck Accident Facts
Texas surpasses other states in fatal truck accidents. For over a decade, Texas has also seen the incidence of fatal truck accidents almost double. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that 568 deaths occurred in large truck crashes in the most recent reporting year. The state with the second highest fatalities was California, with 364. Florida was third, with 322.
Texas surpasses other states in fatal truck accidents.
Data on the Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Texas
The causes of truck accidents are similar across state lines, and Texas is not immune to any of these factors that contribute to fatalities and severe injuries from these collisions. According to a 33-month study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the following critical reasons contributed to truck accidents:
- Decision: 38% of truck accidents result from speed-related errors, including driving too fast for conditions, miscalculating the speed of surrounding vehicles, and following too closely, which limits a truck’s ability to stop on time.
- Recognition: 28% of truck accidents are caused by inattention, distractions in and outside the truck, or a lack of observational awareness.
- Non-performance: 12% of truck accidents occur due to a driver becoming impaired either by sleep, heart attack, seizure, or some other physical impairment.
- Vehicle: 10% of truck accidents are associated with a truck’s function. Brake problems, along with cargo weight shift, were cited as contributing factors to big rig crashes.
- Performance: 9% of accidents involving trucks were related to overcompensation, poor directional control, or panicking by the driver.
- Environment: 3% of truck accidents occur from weather-related factors. Wind and blowing dust contribute to hazardous driving conditions in the Texas Panhandle.
Don’t Become a Texas Truck Accident Statistic
Safely navigating Texas highways and being aware of the potential of a life-altering truck accident is every driver’s duty. If you or a loved one was injured in a Texas truck accident, let Liggett Law Group shoulder the legal work for you. Whether it involves reaching an insurance settlement, filing a Texas truck accident lawsuit, or filing a wrongful death claim, Liggett Law Group never backs down from the most challenging Texas truck accident cases.