As a injury attorney, I have seen first-hand how devastating large-truck crashes can be. Behind every case is a person — or family — dealing with serious injury, loss, and legal complexity. But to make smart decisions in these cases, it helps to understand the statistics that define the risks, trends, and realities of commercial truck collisions.

Here’s a breakdown of key truck accident statistics — and what they mean from a legal perspective.

1. How Common Are Large-Truck Crashes?

• According to the FMCSA, in 2022 there were about 503,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks. FMCSA
• Of those, 5,279 were fatal crashes and 114,000 resulted in injuries. FMCSA
• That’s not just a lot of accidents — the severity tends to be much higher when a large truck is involved, due to sheer mass and momentum.

Attorney Insight:
Because large-truck accidents are both common and often severe, these cases frequently involve catastrophic injuries — spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, or multiple fractures. As a lawyer, I know that handling these claims means preparing for long-term damages, high medical costs, and complex liability.

2. Fatality Trends

• In 2022, large-truck involvement in fatal crashes increased from the previous year. FMCSA
• More than half (54%) of fatal large-truck crashes occur in rural areas, and 27% happen on interstate highways. FMCSA
• Roughly 39% of fatal large-truck crashes occur at night (between 6 PM and 6 AM). FMCSA
• According to the IIHS, in 2023 there were 4,354 deaths in crashes involving large trucks. IIHS Crash Testing

Attorney Insight:
Rural roads and nighttime driving are particularly dangerous when large trucks are involved — these risk factors can be critical when investigating fault, especially if visibility, speed, or fatigue played a role. As a lawyer, I always check crash location, time, and road conditions very carefully.

3. Injury Statistics

• According to the FMCSA’s 2022 data, there were 114,000 large-truck injury crashes. FMCSA
• From NHTSA-related sources, truck crash-related injuries remain very high. truckaccidents.com+1
• Some data suggest that a large majority of injured parties in truck crashes are occupants of other vehicles. Truck Lawyers

Attorney Insight:
Because so many injuries in truck crashes happen to people outside the truck — other motorists, pedestrians — liability often falls to truck drivers, trucking companies, or even maintenance providers. These cases are not just about “who crashed” but also “who maintained the truck,” “who employed the driver,” and “how the driver was instructed or monitored.”

4. Risk Factors & Contributing Causes

According to FMCSA and other crash-data sources:

• Single-vehicle truck crashes (like rollovers or run-offs) make up a significant portion of fatal truck accidents. FMCSA
• Driver-related factors are recorded in about one-third of fatal large truck crashes. FMCSA
• Among those driver-related factors, speeding and careless or inattentive driving are common. FMCSA
• “Work zone” crashes also play a role: in 2022, 29% of large-truck fatal crashes occurred in work zones. FMCSA

Attorney Insight:
From a legal standpoint, each of these risk factors may open different lines of liability:

• Speeding or distraction → negligence by driver
• Single-vehicle rollover → potential mechanical failure or load-shifting
• Work-zone accidents → negligence by the trucking company or work-zone contractor

A thorough investigation is critical to uncover who should be held responsible.

5. Trends & Recent Changes

• According to recent NHTSA data, some truck-involved fatalities and injuries decreased in 2023 compared to 2022. Commercial Carrier Journal
• Meanwhile, long-term trends show serious concern: over the past 14 years, fatal crashes involving large trucks have grown significantly. truckaccidents.com
• The Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) highlights that although large trucks account for only about 5% of registered vehicles, they cause a disproportionately large number of deaths: in 2023, 65% of the killed in truck-involved crashes were occupants of other vehicles, with 16% being truck occupants. IIHS Crash Testing

Attorney Insight:
Even though there has been a recent dip in certain stats, the overall long-term trend is concerning — and trucking companies need to be held accountable. For clients, this means there is still a real and growing risk that demands strong legal advocacy.

6. Why These Statistics Matter for Your Case

As a truck accident attorney, here’s why these stats are not just numbers — they’re powerful tools in building your case:

1. Establishing Severity
   High fatality and injury rates underscore how dangerous these crashes are. That helps in demonstrating the value of your case, especially when negotiating for a large settlement or jury award.
2. Identifying Likely Defendants
   Risk factors like driver negligence, maintenance issues, or work-zone fault help point to who might be liable — driver, trucking company, or even third-party contractors.
3. Showing Industry Trends
   When you argue “this is not an isolated crash,” but part of a broader risk pattern, that makes a big difference in settlement leverage: trucking firms cannot ignore the systemic safety issues.
4. Justifying Expert Involvement
   Given the complexity and size of large-truck crashes, experts (accident reconstruction, biomechanics) are often necessary — and those costs are justifiable given the severity and scale.

Final Word: What Truck Accident Victims Should Do

If you or a loved one were injured in a collision involving a large truck:

• Seek medical help immediately, even if injuries seem minor.
• Take photos of the crash scene, truck, and damage.
• Get witness names and contact information.
• Call a truck accident lawyer who knows how to navigate FMCSA rules, trucking company liability, and expert investigation.

At Glouzgal Law we understand how dangerous these crashes are — and how to use these statistics to fight for full, fair compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation, so we can evaluate your case and get to work for you.

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School Bus Accident Injury Statistics & Bringing Claims in Connecticut

Why Pursue a School Bus Accident Injury Claim?

When a child is injured or killed, the last thing a family wants to think about is a long court battle. The first instinct of any parent is to care for their child. If the child passed away, the sorrow can be overwhelming. However, those are exactly the reasons why it is important to bring and fully pursue school bus injury claims.

If your child is hurt or permanently injured, the costs of medical care, special equipment, mental, emotional and physical therapy and special education can place additional burdens on your family. Not to mention the lost time at work, constant worrying and overall loss of life’s enjoyment knowing your child is in pain. Pursuing a school bus injury claim against the responsible parties can help pay for the costs of your child’s injury and get them the professional help they need and deserve while not completely decimating your finances.

Pursuing school bus injury claims against those who are responsible also makes them clean up their act, keeping other families and parents from feeling the pain of child injury. When school districts and school bus service providers are thinking of upgrading or repairing their equipment, they weigh the cost of such equipment upgrades and repairs against the cost of insurance and potential future litigation. When they are forced to pay for the damages that their decisions make, it actually encourages them to spend money on safety in the future.

School bus injuries do not just happen, they are caused by individuals and the decisions they make. When bringing a claim for damages against an organization, such as a town, school district, or company, you are holding them responsible for the poor decisions and negligent or reckless actions of the individuals they entrusted with the care of your children. To some degree, it simply comes down to making sure the person who caused the injury to your child is held responsible and feels some repercussions for their mistakes.

School Bus Accident Statistics – Are School Bus Injuries A Problem?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, maintains the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, which produces Traffic Safety Fact Sheet. the most recent Traffic Safety Fact Sheet for School Transportation Related Crashes was published in June of 2014, covering the years 2003 through 2012. The statistics are national in scope.

Between 2003 and 2012, there were 348,253 fatal motor vehicle accidents. of those, only 1,222 were school transportation related, only 0.35%. This fact makes school buses the safest form of transportation for children to and from school. However, a closer look shows that fatal school bus accidents are indeed a very big problem.

While the number of fatal school bus crashes from 2003-2012 was 1,222, the number of actual fatalities was 1,353. That is 135 school bus accident fatalities every year! Most of the fatalities in school bus accidents were occupants of other vehicles that were involved in the crash with the school bus, making up 71% of school bus accident fatalities. Non-occupants of any vehicle, such as pedestrians or cyclists, made up 21% of school bus accident fatalities. Actually occupants of a school bus or school transportation vehicle accounted for only 8% of school bus accident fatalities.

Most school bus accident injuries caused to children occurred when the child was getting on or off the school bus. Of the 284 pedestrians who died in school bus accidents between 2003 and 2012, 119 were school-aged children. Of those 119 children, 65% were killed because they were struck by a school bus.

For the years 2003 to 2012, there were 89 crashes in which at least one occupant of the school transportation vehicle died.

Pursuing a School Bus Accident Injury Claim in Connecticut

When it comes down to finding the responsible party and holding them accountable, there are three main issues: what caused the accident, who is responsible and how to bring the claim. Each situation is different and no two cases are alike: the circumstances of the accident, the resulting injuries, the individuals involved, are all different in every case. therefore, we will take a look at some generalities.

The cause of the accident will need to be investigated. Some factors that can contribute to school bus accidents are:

1. Faulty vehicles – Faulty brakes can cause a vehicle not to stop in time, faulty turn signals or brake lights can cause a breakdown in communication, bald tires can cause loss of control in rain or snow, etc. School districts and bus companies can be liable for not maintaining their vehicles in a reasonably safe condition.
2. Weather conditions – Nobody can control the weather, but we can control how we act in dangerous weather conditions. Every driver knows that driving in snowstorms, hurricanes, and even downpours can be dangerous. Ignoring the dangers of weather conditions can rise to the level of negligence or even recklessness.
3. Driver negligence – Not all drivers are created equal. While most school bus drivers are trained professionals, even professionals make bad choices, or even think they are so good that they can take risks other driver wouldn’t. When a driver makes a decision that they should know could lead to an accident they are acting negligently, and could be liable for the accident if it happens. When the driver knows that the risk of an accident is not just possible but is LIKELY, they are acting recklessly.
4. Defective roads – Defective roads can cause accidents, or add to the damage caused by an accident that otherwise wouldn’t have been as devastating. A pothole can blow out tires causing vehicles to suddenly stop or swerve across lanes of traffic. A faulty guardrail, instead of stopping a slipping school bus, can give under it’s weight allowing it to roll down a hill.

Once you have investigated and found the cause of the accident, you need to figure out who was responsible for the accident and who was responsible for oversight. Some of the players and possible parties to a school bus accident injury claim could be:

1. Town & School District;
2. School Bus Drivers;
3. Drivers of other vehicles;
4. Department of Transportation;
5. Other State or town employees;
6. Private companies providing school transportation services to the schools; and/or
7. Insurance companies for all parties involved.

Finally, there is the issue of how to bring a claim. When pursuing a school bus injury claim, you will most likely be battling a municipality, or local government, and will therefore run up against the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that  protects government agencies, entities and employees from liability for acts they perform in their line of duty. For example, sovereign immunity would protect a firefighter from liability for broken windows and doors when fighting a fire. However, sovereign immunity does not offer protection when the agencies, entities or individuals representing the government act outside of their standard policies and practices or outside of their scope of employment. Looking at the same firefighter for an example, it would not be reasonable to offer him protection from liability if he decides to fight fire with gasoline, or if the firefighter decides to drive a school bus.

There are also some instances when the government can waive its sovereign immunity through statute and allow citizens to sue the government for those specific reasons.

In either case, when you are bringing a school bus accident injury claim against the State or a municipality, you are going to deal with host of different rules, many of which are very different than when you are bringing an injury claim against any individual. To start, there will be different statutes of limitations (how long you have to bring the claim) and services of process requirements (how to bring the claim).

An experienced school bus accident injury lawyer can help you properly investigate the cause or causes of the accident, evaluate which damages are related to the accident and how much those damages are worth, help identify the people responsible for the accident and in what ways their actions make them liable, and finally make sure your claim is brought before the proper authorities within the proper time frame to be successful. If you are in need of legal counsel for your or your child’s school bus accident injury claim, contact us today.

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