Top 10 Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents

According to a 2006 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration report, one in every twenty drivers will be involved in an accident each year. This makes up 5% of our driving population. Each year there are also over 140,000 truck accidents and just over half of those (77,000) are the sole fault of the truck driver.

See also these related Virginia truck accident articles:
What Makes Trucking Injury Claims Different?

Safety Feature Underneath Trucks Deemed Inadequate

For years, the focus has been on driver's fatigue, but according to this study, driver fatigue makes up only about 13% of all accidents. There are many other preventable factors that contribute to truck accidents.

• Prescription Drug Use 26%
• Speeding 23%
• Lack of Familiarity with the Road 22%
• Over-the-Counter Drug Use 18%
• Inadequate Surveillance 14%
• Fatigue 13%
• Illegal Maneuvering 9%
• Exterior Distraction 8%
• Inadequate Evasive Action 7%
• Aggressive Driving Behavior 7%

Each year, large trucks account for over 5,000 lives lost. The simple fact is that most of these deaths are preventable by practicing safe driving around trucks and by trucking companies exercising strict control over their drivers. Trucking companies need to require their drivers to keep thorough logbooks and properly record the time and distance travelled.

To see the impact of truck accidents in your state, click here.

In Virginia, for instance, there were just over 5,000 truck crashes in 2006. 102 of those were fatal crashes and 2,184 caused serious injuries.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling truck wreck cases. Check out our truck accident case results and our free consumer guide on what to do if you get involved in an accident with a commercial truck.

We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Newport News, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Jim and Rick have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of practicing lawyers receive this honor.

In addition, our VA injury law firm was the first in the commonwealth to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms, and we have the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization. The rating indicates we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free initial confidential consultations. Call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a message so we can get back to you.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling truck wreck cases. Check out our truck accident case results and our free consumer guide on what to do if you get involved in an accident with a commercial truck.

We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Newport News, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Jim and Rick have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of practicing lawyers receive this honor.

In addition, our VA injury law firm was the first in the commonwealth to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms, and we have the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization. The rating indicates we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free initial confidential consultations. Call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a message so we can get back to you.