Top 10 States for Fatal Truck Crashes

The latest NHTSA report on truck accidents reveals the Top 10 states where large trucks were involved in fatal crashes. The data also shows that in some states, large trucks made up a significantly higher proportion of vehicles involved in fatal crashes than the national average.
Of the 45,637 vehicles involved in fatal crashes on U.S. roadways in 2012 (the latest year for which statistics are available), 3,802 -- or 8.3 percent -- were large trucks, according to NHTSA.
So where did most of the fatal crashes involving trucks take place?
Top 10 States by Number of Trucks Involved in Fatal Crashes
Looking at NHTSA's raw numbers, the Top 10 states where large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2012 were:
- Texas, where 543 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes (that's 14.3 percent of the nationwide total);
- California, where 244 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes (6.4 percent of the nationwide total);
- Florida, where 194 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes (5.1 percent of the nationwide total);
- Pennsylvania, 175 (4.6 percent);
- Georgia, 149 (3.9 percent);
- Ohio, 146 (3.8 percent);
- North Carolina, 132 (3.5 percent);
- Oklahoma, 124 (3.3 percent); and
- Illinois and Indiana, both of which saw 115 large trucks involved in fatal crashes (3.0 percent of the nationwide total).
Top 10 States by Percentage of Trucks Involved in Fatal Crashes
Along with showing where the most truck accidents occurred, NHTSA's report also revealed what percentage of vehicles involved in fatal crashes in each state were large trucks.
The Top 10 states where trucks comprised the largest proportion of vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2012 were:
- North Dakota, where 20.2 percent of vehicles involved in fatal crashes were large trucks;
- Wyoming, 16.8 percent;
- Nebraska, 14.7 percent;
- Iowa, 13.2 percent;
- Oklahoma, 13.1 percent;
- Texas, 11.8 percent;
- Arkansas, 11.5 percent;
- Kansas, 11.0 percent;
- Louisiana, 10.7 percent; and
- West Virginia, 10.4 percent.
Liability for Fatal Truck Accidents
Because there are many causes of fatal truck accidents, questions are often raised about issues such as: the truck driver's actions, whether the truck driver's employer or the truck's owner can be held liable, and how the actions of other drivers may have contributed to the crash. For truck crash victims, receiving compensation after an accident can be a complicated and time-consuming process.
That's why, if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident, it's best to consult with an experienced truck accident attorney to learn more about your legal options.
Related Resources:
- State Traffic Safety Information For Year 2012 (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
- Truck Accident Injuries Up 18%: NHTSA Report (FindLaw's Injured)
- NHTSA Examines Role of Antilock Brake Systems in Reducing Truck Accidents (FindLaw's KnowledgeBase)
- Proving Fault in a Truck Accident: A Legal Checklist (FindLaw)