TL;DR: Truck accidents often result from a combination of driver behavior, mechanical failure, and cargo issues. Both commercial truck drivers and passenger vehicle drivers share responsibility for safety on the road. This blog breaks down the most frequent causes and what victims should know.
- Driver fatigue, poor training, and distracted driving are leading factors in commercial truck crashes.
- Passenger car drivers are responsible for about 56% of truck accidents involving two vehicles.
- Tire blowouts and unsecured cargo can trigger rollovers, jackknifes, and multi-vehicle collisions.
- Underride accidents are among the deadliest, often occurring when a car slides under a truck’s trailer.
- Around 140,000–165,000 semi-truck accidents happen each year in the U.S., with unique legal implications when caused by load violations or poor maintenance.
O’Hara Law Firm helps victims navigate these complex cases and pursue financial recovery after a serious truck wreck.
Semi trucks are large and unwieldy, which can lead to a myriad of semi truck accidents, especially on tight roads with sharp turns. Their large size makes them difficult to navigate, making them harder to manipulate should you notice an unexpected move made by a nearby vehicle.
In short, semi trucks reduce the driver’s reaction time due to their large size. However, truck accidents are caused by the drivers themselves or passenger car drivers.
Regardless of what vehicle you’re driving, you have a responsibility to be aware of rules, laws, and road conditions at all times. Continue reading to learn the most common causes of truck accidents in Texas and beyond. Then, learn your next steps for recovering compensation.
Quick Answers About the Causes of Truck Accidents
How many accidents are caused by semi trucks?
Around 140,000 to 165,000 large‑truck accidents occur annually in America. Large trucks account for roughly 6% of all fatal motor‑vehicle crashes.
What percentage of truck accidents are caused by cars?
In two vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger car, passenger cars were at fault in about 56% of cases. In contrast, trucks were at fault in about 44% of accidents.
Where do truck accident attorneys come in for wrecks caused by unsecured loads?
If an accident is triggered by a truck’s unsecured load, victims should turn to experienced truck accident attorneys for wrecks caused by unsecured loads. Those cases often involve special regulations, carriers, and cargo liability issues.
Now, let’s take a look at the most common causes of truck accidents.
Commercial Truck Driver Accidents
Here are some of the most common types of commercial truck accidents:
- Insufficient Training: This includes driving techniques, safety, and defensive driving.
- Exhaustion and Fatigue: This includes a lack of sleep from hectic schedules, logistical time restrictions, and companies encouraging more pay to drivers who travel long distances and make more deliveries.
Passenger Vehicle Driver Caused Truck Accidents
If you find yourself involved in a truck accident, you might not be the one to blame. Here are some common causes of truck accidents triggered by passenger car drivers:
- Disabled vehicles not pulled onto the shoulder of the road
- Driving in a truck’s blind spot
- Driving between trucks
- Abrupt lane changes
- Moving to the right of a truck making a right turn
- Passing close to a truck
- Making a left turn in front of a truck
- Not slowing down or accelerating when a truck changes lanes
Passenger vehicle drivers have to pay just as much attention as other drivers on the road to ensure safe passage for everyone. Passenger vehicle drivers need to understand that trucks are harder to maneuver than a car, and need plenty of time and space to make turns and change lanes.
Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts from trucks can cause serious accidents. The truck driver and other drivers close by are at risk of serious injury. This is because tire blowouts may cause the truck to swerve into a different lane, rollover, or jackknife.
Passenger drivers should avoid driving alongside a truck. Flying debris from a blowout can hit nearby car windshields and cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle. Flying debris from a blowout can also land in the middle of the road, leading to a sudden swerve. Airborne debris can even shatter your windshield on impact.
If there’s a cut or break in a truck tire or even a small puncture, the tire will slowly lose air. This can be caused by any of the following:
- Tires that sustained damage or became worn out due to excessive use
- Manufacturing defects
- Leak in tire air
- High or low air pressure
- Failing to maintain tires
- Cargo loads that are unbalanced
- Dangerous road conditions. As a truck driver, you need to routinely check your tires. This includes checking for any signs that your tire may sustain a blowout. Routine maintenance includes checking for:
- Cuts and cracks in your tire’s sidewalls
- Excessive or uneven tread wear
- Bulges
- Vibrating excessively. Checking your tires is essential for avoiding a truck accident.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents might happen because a truck driver took an exit ramp too quickly or due to a poorly weighted truck. Some truck accident causes that lead to rollovers are as follows:
- Speeding
- Sudden lane changes or swerves
- Loading cargo improperly
- Dangerous weather or road conditions
- Nor performing proper maintenance
- Driving errors such as distracted driving, improper training, or fatigue
There are two types of rollover accidents. These are tripped and untripped rollover accidents.
Tripped rollover accidents involve something outside the truck causing it to roll over. These rollover accidents may be caused by the truck hitting another vehicle, a guardrail, or another road object.
Untripped rollovers are usually the result of a poorly maneuvered or fast turn. When trucks are top-heavy or the cargo is weighed improperly, the truck can roll.
Underride Accidents
Underride accidents occur when passenger cars collide with trucks from the side or rear, sliding underneath the truck. Since trucks are much higher than cars, the front and top of the car can easily be crushed. These accidents often lead to fatalities or serious injuries.
A large portion of trucks have an underride guard. This metal barrier works to prevent a smaller car from sliding underneath it. However, these guards might not be strong enough to withstand the impact caused by a collision. One of the common causes of truck accidents in this category is the underride scenario itself.
Underride accidents are caused by the following:
- Improperly maneuvered lane changes or turns
- Trucks making a fast stop, which can lead to a rear-end collision
- A truck maintaining an inconsistent speed outside of traffic’s normal flow
- Cars riding a truck’s blind spot as the truck changes lanes
- Truck drivers not signaling when turning
To avoid deadly collisions, always follow road safety rules.
Accidents Caused by Unsecured Loads
For ground transportation, cargo loading is federally regulated. Cargo has to be firmly immobile and secured within a truck using the appropriate restraints. This is based on the type and weight of the cargo and truck.
This is one reason for weigh stations and scales on the highway. Trucking companies have to ensure their loads pass federal regulations. Hazardous cargo, such as nitrogen, has even more regulations.
If there’s an accident involving a truck that has toxic substances on it, strict considerations are put into place. This is because these toxic chemicals can pose a direct threat to nearby residents and other drivers, either by breathing in harmful gas or water and soil contamination.
Unsecured loads can lead to jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, and cargo spills. Not all unsecured load accidents are caused by commercial trucks.
When other drivers travel with items such as furniture or appliances in their vehicles, if they’re unsecured, they can cause major accidents. Fallen truck cargo includes raw materials such as sheet metal and lumber, as well as consumer goods.
Jackknife Truck Accidents
Trucks such as big rigs or 18-wheelers consist of a cab and trailer. Jackknifing is when the cab and trailer fold at the joint. Something causes the tractor-trailer’s backend to swing forward, creating a sharp angle between its rear and cab. This makes it so the truck so its facing two different directions.
At this point, the truck driver loses control of the trailer’s movement. This makes it easy for a car to become swept under the swinging trailer. This may result in a collision or the car becoming wedged beneath the trailer in an underride situation. Jackknife accidents are commonly caused by the following:
- Equipment malfunctioning
- Wheels locking up
- Speeding or brake failure
- Poor weather conditions
- Loose cargo
- Debris
- Maneuvering incorrectly
Jackknife accidents usually occur due to a combination of steep angles or turns and high speed. The cargo shifts, creating a weight imbalance.
Other causes of jackknife truck accidents are due to slippery road conditions. One small skid can cause a large truck to jackknife into the road
Your Next Step After a Truck Accident
Understanding the causes of truck accidents is crucial for anyone traveling Texas roads.
At O’Hara Law Firm, we know how these crashes unfold and how carriers, drivers, and insurers respond. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a wreck involving a commercial truck, reach out now. Our Houston based personal injury law firm works on a contingency fee basis so you don’t pay unless we recover for you.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a Houston personal injury attorney at our law office in Houston.