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Updated March 2026 — 2023 Data

US Truck Accident Statistics 2024

State-by-state large truck crash data, fatality rates, trend analysis, and deadliest corridors across all 50 states — sourced from FMCSA MCMIS and NHTSA FARS.

Explore by State
Source: FMCSA MCMIS
Source: NHTSA FARS
Source: ATRI Research

Key Highlights

2023 Data

Total Crashes (2023)

164,347+5.6% YoY

FMCSA MCMIS 2023

Traffic Fatalities

5,461+9.3% YoY

NHTSA FARS 2023

Truck Occupant Injuries

83,179+4.2% YoY

FMCSA MCMIS 2023

Economic Cost (Annual)

$73B+3.8% YoY

ATRI Economic Analysis

Top Crash Causes

Contributing factors in large truck crashes per FMCSA Large Truck Crash Causation Study.

VEHICLEBrake Failure / Defects
29%
DRIVERDriver Fatigue / Hours of Service Violation
18%
DRIVERSpeeding / Too Fast for Conditions
12%
DRIVERDriver Distraction / Inattention
9%
ENVIRONMENTALAdverse Weather Conditions
8%
VEHICLETire Failure / Blowout
6%
VEHICLE/OPERATORImproper Cargo Loading / Unsecured Load
5%
ENVIRONMENTALRoad / Surface Conditions
4%
DRIVERFollowing Too Closely
3%
DRIVERDrugs / Alcohol Impairment
3%

Source: FMCSA Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS). Percentages represent contributing factor in crashes; multiple factors may apply per crash.

Why This Matters for Your Claim

Brake Defects = Trucking Company Liability

When brake failure causes a crash, federal regulations (49 CFR 396) hold the motor carrier responsible for vehicle maintenance — creating strong liability claims.

Hours of Service Violations

FMCSA logs are discoverable evidence. If a driver exceeded 11-hour driving limits, it significantly strengthens negligence arguments and damages.

Multi-Party Liability

Truck accidents often involve the driver, motor carrier, cargo loaders, and vehicle manufacturer — each potentially liable and insured separately.

Free Case Evaluation

If you were injured in a truck accident, understanding the cause is the first step to determining liability.

Estimate Your Settlement

15 Deadliest States for Truck Accidents

Ranked by total fatal crashes. Click column headers to sort. Fault law affects how settlements are calculated in each state.

RankStateFatal CrashesFatalitiesRate / 100KFault Law
1Texas6128122.72Modified 51%
2California3404081.02Pure Comparative
3Florida3123881.73Modified 51%
4Georgia2082522.29Modified 50%
5Pennsylvania1621921.50Modified 51%
6Ohio1481681.42Modified 51%
7Illinois1441851.45Modified 51%
8North Carolina1782141.98Contributory
9Indiana1381632.35Modified 51%
10Tennessee1561882.63Modified 50%
11Alabama1281512.97Contributory
12Missouri1361582.55Pure Comparative
13Mississippi1141384.64Pure Comparative
14Louisiana1181553.30Pure Comparative
15New York981210.60Pure Comparative

Source: FMCSA MCMIS 2023. Fatal crashes defined as crashes involving at least one fatality within 30 days. Fault law classifications per state statutes as of January 2026.

Deadliest Highway Corridors

Fatal truck crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on major freight interstates.

1
I-35Texas (Dallas-San Antonio)

Highest density of FMCSA-reportable truck crashes on any interstate segment

38

fatal/100M VMT

2
I-10Texas / Arizona / California

Critical east-west freight corridor spanning 2,460 miles

33

fatal/100M VMT

3
I-40New Mexico / Texas

Historic Route 66 corridor; major truck freight route to California ports

37

fatal/100M VMT

4
I-75Georgia / Florida

Southeastern freight artery; congestion hotspot near Atlanta metro

29

fatal/100M VMT

5
I-95Florida / East Coast

Highest-volume interstate on the East Coast; 1,900-mile corridor

27

fatal/100M VMT

6
I-20Texas / Louisiana / Mississippi

Southern freight corridor connecting Texas ports to I-95

25

fatal/100M VMT

7
I-80Pennsylvania / Ohio

Primary northern cross-country route; significant weather-related incidents

24

fatal/100M VMT

8
I-65Alabama / Indiana

North-south Midwest corridor; heavy auto industry freight

22

fatal/100M VMT

9
I-44Missouri / Oklahoma

Former Route 66; connects Dallas to St. Louis

20

fatal/100M VMT

10
I-30Texas / Arkansas

East Texas freight link between Dallas-Fort Worth and Little Rock

18

fatal/100M VMT

Data Sources & Methodology

FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS)

Primary source for crash counts, fatal crashes, and injury data. Includes all crashes involving large trucks (GVWR over 10,000 lbs) reported to FMCSA through state police reports. Data covers calendar year 2023 (most recent published dataset).

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)

Census of all motor vehicle traffic crashes that result in death of a person within 30 days. Used for fatality counts and fatality rates per 100,000 population.

American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI)

Economic cost estimates based on ATRI's Comprehensive Costs of Motor Vehicle Crashes methodology. Includes medical, emergency services, legal, productivity, and property damage costs.

FMCSA Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS)

In-depth study of 963 crashes involving large trucks. Used for crash cause percentages. Note: multiple causal factors may apply to a single crash.

Important Definitions

Large Truck

Commercial motor vehicle with GVWR over 10,000 lbs, including semi-trucks, box trucks, and buses

Fatal Crash

Any crash involving at least one fatality within 30 days of the crash date

Injury Crash

Crash resulting in at least one non-fatal injury requiring medical attention

VMT

Vehicle Miles Traveled — used to normalize crash rates across states with different traffic volumes

Free Download

2024 Truck Accident Data Report

The full dataset in PDF and CSV format — state-by-state crash data, corridor analysis, fault rule guide, and settlement benchmarks. Used by attorneys and insurers nationwide.

  • All 50-state crash tables (CSV + PDF)
  • Corridor fatality rate rankings
  • State fault law quick-reference
  • Average settlement ranges by injury type

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Data Disclaimer: Statistics on this page are derived from publicly available federal datasets (FMCSA MCMIS, NHTSA FARS) and research publications. State-level figures represent the most recent available data and may differ from final published FMCSA annual reports due to reporting lag and data revisions. Economic cost estimates are approximations based on ATRI methodology. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Full Disclaimer

Attorney Advertising · Not a law firm · Not legal advice · Past results do not guarantee future outcomes · Settlement estimates are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice or predict any specific outcome. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation. · © 2026 TruckSettlementPro