Motor vehicle accident involving a commercial truck and a passenger vehicle usually culminates in serious injuries, if not fatalities, to occupants of the passenger vehicle.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports there were 7,006,408 commercial freight vehicles, 5,264,554 single-unit trucks and 1,741,854 tractors, for a total of in excess of 14,000,000 trucks on U.S. highways in 2007.

Data compiled by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and Motor Carrier Management Information System reveal there were a total of 195,767 large truck crashes in 2007. Of these, 4,368 were fatal crashes, 136,438 non-fatal crashes and 54,961 injury crashes. The number of injuries reported was 80,752.

The initial points of impact, in descending order, were the front (45.7%), rear (15%), left side (8.4%), right side (4.8%) and other or unknown (0.8%).

Large truck fatal accidents mostly happen in rural areas (68%) on weekdays (78%) during daytime hours (66%). Combination trucks were responsible for 76% of fatal crashes. Additionally, large trucks are more likely to be involved in fatal multi-vehicle crashes.

Of injuries sustained or deaths occurring as a result of collisions with large trucks, 65% were drivers of passenger vehicles, 31% were passengers; 3% were pedestrians and 2% were cyclists.

A list of common causes of truck accidents includes:

· Speeding

· Driving at unsafe speeds due to weather or road conditions

· Failure to yield the right of way

· Aggressive driving

· Driving off the road

· Backing up

· Inadequate training or unlicensed driver

· Drug or alcohol use

· Driver fatigue

· Disobeying safety procedures

· Overweight loads

· Improper loading or shifting of load

· Motor vehicle inspection failure

· Repair or maintenance failure

· Mechanical or brake failure

· Tire blow-outs

· Roll-overs

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