WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRUCK ACCIDENTS & INJURIES
Getting into any accident on the road can be a traumatic and painful experience — but when it comes to truck accidents, your risks of serious injury increase. But just how common are commercial truck accidents compared to automobile crashes, and how should you handle an injury afterward?
TRUCK ACCIDENT STATISTICS
Large commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, semis, and big rigs make up approximately 12.8% of all motor vehicles on the roadways. According to the Tennessee Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2017 report, nearly 32,000 accidents involved truck drivers.
In 2019, the following statistics were collected on truck collisions:
- Trucks made up 10% of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes.
- The number of injuries in large-truck crashes increased 7% in 2019, to 160,000.
- 118,000 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury.
- 74% of truck accidents occurred on non-interstate roads.
- 64% of accidents occurred during the daytime.
CAUSES OF COMMERCIAL TRUCKING ACCIDENTS
Often, truck drivers are required to drive longer and more strenuous hours than automobile drivers. With longer routes come these common causes of a truck accident:
- Driver fatigue.
- Distracted driving.
- Speeding and overworking.
- Lack of training.
- Poor truck maintenance.
- Alcohol or drug use.
Drivers involved in a commercial truck collision typically experience the following accidents most commonly:
- Head-on and rear-end collisions.
- Jackknife accidents (where the truck breaks and the trailer swings out.)
- Blindspot accidents.
- Roll-over accidents.
- Tire blowouts.
BIGGER VEHICLE, BIGGER RISKS
The average passenger automobile weighs around 4,000 pounds. By contrast, a ‘big rig’ or commercial truck is typically 30,000 pounds. With this increase in weight and size, it’s no surprise that a victim of a truck accident may come away with more extensive injuries.
Common injuries that occur following a truck accident include:
- Back and spine injuries.
- Brain injuries.
- Loss of limbs.
- Paralysis.
WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER A TRUCK ACCIDENT?
If you or a loved one were involved in an accident where a commercial truck was involved, it’s important to be properly examined and treated for your injuries.
While we can’t stop the threat of truck accidents altogether, Paragon Medical Group works to take great strides in medical treatments to respond to them effectively. Our team can treat your injuries and decide if chiropractic or orthopedic treatment is necessary, as well as spinal surgery or interventional procedures.
Contact our team today for more information about truck and auto accident injury treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
