Statistics on Large Truck and Bus Accidents

July 25, 2017

Pennsylvania motorists may not know that while fatal accidents involving large trucks and buses are on the rise, they still have not reached the 21st-century high. In 2005, there were 5,231 of these types of vehicles involved in fatalities. In 2015, although there was an 8 percent increase compared to the previous year, the number of large trucks and buses involved was 4,311.

From 2005 to 2009, the number of fatal crashes involving large trucks or buses declined. From 2009 to 2015, there was a total increase of 20 percent with a 5 percent increase happening from 2014 to 2015. A similar decline followed by an increase happened with large trucks or buses involved in accidents in which there were injuries. From 2005 to 2009, the number involved decreased to 60,000 from 89,000. From 2009 to 2015, there was a 62 percent increase.

Between 2005 and 2015, most fatal bus crashes involved transit buses and school buses at 33 and 41 percent. Another 13 percent were intercity buses. From 2014 to 2015, in injury crashes, there was a decrease of large trucks involved from 88,000 to 87,000. There was also a decrease in large trucks involved in property damage during the same time period to 342,000 from 346,000.

One issue with truck accidents is that the size of the vehicles may make both property damage and injuries to other drivers and their passengers more likely. If the truck driver is responsible for the accident or if the accident occurs because of a faulty or poorly maintained part, insurance may cover the costs for others who are injured and whose vehicles are damaged. However, if the compensation offered is inadequate, an injured person might want to have an attorney file a lawsuit.

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