I represent families whose loved ones have died in accidents involving semi trucks and other commercial vehicles. When I investigate an accident, I look at a number of variables to determine what impact they had on the accident. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is also interested in this information, and supports the work of the University of Michigan Truck Research Institute (UMTRI), which yearly gathers data on fatal accidents involving medium and heavy trucks (weighing more than 10,000 pounds).
The data collected is published in an annual report, Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents Code Book. The most recent report1 lists variables associated with 3448 fatal accidents. Below are a few of the variables listed in the report:
Posted Speed Limit and Number of Fatal Truck Accidents
10 mph – 1
15 mph – 2
20 mph – 1
25 mph – 60
30 mph – 79
35 mph – 172
40 mph – 106
45 mph – 357
50 mph – 176
55 mph – 1,115
65 mph – 636
70 mph – 401
75 mph – 96
80 mph – 4
Driver Speeding at Impact
253 accidents
Traffic Signal or Sign and Number of Fatal Truck Accidents
Traffic control signal (on colors and without pedestrian signal) – 19
Traffic control signal (on colors and with pedestrian signal) – 28
Traffic control signal (on colors and not known if pedestrian signal) – 223
Flashing traffic control signal – 18
Flashing beacon – 10
Other highway traffic signal – 5
Stop sign – 407
Yield sign – 27
Other regulatory sign – 124
No controls – 2,487
Device not functioning – 2
Device functioning improperly – 6
Device functioning properly – 942
Work Zone and Number of Fatal Truck Accidents
Construction – 127
Maintenance – 17
Utility – 6
Work zone, type unknown – 16
Air Bag Deployment during Accident
Front airbag – 145
Side (door, seatback) – 2
Curtain (roof) – 3
Combination – 6
Airbag failed to deploy – 774
Switched off – 2
Number of Drinking Drivers
1 driver – 513
2 drivers – 18
Drugs Involved
37 fatal truck accidents
I am available for a free consultation regarding a truck accident investigation and lawsuit against a truck driver and trucking company. To contact me, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.
1. The UMTRI report, Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents Code Book 2009, is still considered preliminary. It takes years to gather the information and analyze it. This work is supported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
