Understanding 18 Wheeler Accidents
Trucking liability, FMCSA regulations, and claims
2026 Truck Accident Statistics
5,700
Fatalities
150K+
Injuries
$750,000
Avg Settlement
500K
FMCSA Violations
Injury Types & Avg Settlements
| Injury Type | Avg Settlement |
|---|---|
Soft Tissue/Whiplash Neck, back strain, minor injuries | $75,000 |
Broken Bones/Fractures Arm, leg, rib fractures | $150,000 |
Spinal Cord Injury Herniated discs, paralysis | $1,500,000 |
Traumatic Brain Injury Concussion, TBI, cognitive damage | $2,000,000 |
Amputation/Limb Loss Loss of limb from crush injuries | $2,500,000 |
Burn Injuries Fuel fire, explosion burns | $1,800,000 |
Wrongful Death Fatal semi-truck collision | $3,500,000 |
Liable Parties
- • Truck Driver: Negligent driving, fatigue, distraction
- • Trucking Company: Vicarious liability, negligent hiring
- • Cargo Loader: Improper loading, shifting cargo
- • Truck Manufacturer: Defective brakes, tires, parts
- • Maintenance Company: Negligent maintenance, repairs
Accident Types
- • Rear-End Collision: 35%
- • Jackknife Accident: 15%
- • Underride Crash: 10%
- • Tire Blowout: 12%
- • Wide Turn Accident: 8%
- • Rollover: 20%
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Based on FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and NHTSA 2026 data, 49 CFR Part 395