Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data reveals that over 160,000 large truck accidents occur annually across the United States. Between 2021 and mid-2025, California averaged more than 13,000 such crashes each year, positioning it among the states with the highest rates of truck-related collisions.
These accidents are among the most severe on the road, often resulting in serious injuries, fatalities, and extensive property damage. While driver error is the leading cause, contributing to approximately 87% of incidents, other significant factors include mechanical failures, improperly loaded cargo, and hazardous road conditions.
California’s major freight corridors, including I-5, I-10, and State Route 99, handle thousands of trucks daily, increasing the risk for all road users. Large trucks, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, contribute to the severity of these crashes. The following provisional data from the FMCSA summarizes large truck crashes in the U.S. from January 2021 to July 2025.
Total Large Truck Crashes by Year
- 2021: 171,737
- 2022: 170,613
- 2023: 159,943
- 2024: 156,660
- 2025 (Partial): 70,781
Nationwide Truck Accident Trends
A 2022 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that human error is a factor in over 90% of all traffic accidents. Common errors include speeding, following too closely, and misjudging the vehicle’s capabilities. However, truck drivers are not always at fault; many incidents result from factors beyond their control, such as faulty brakes, inadequate maintenance performed by a third party, or improperly secured cargo.
Crash Severity (2021–Mid-2025)
An analysis of FMCSA data by crash severity highlights the serious human cost of these incidents.
- Total Fatal Crashes: 20,787
- Total Fatalities: 23,270
- Total Injury Crashes: 244,328
- Total Injuries: 326,982
Data also shows that from January 2021 to July 2025, truck drivers aged 46 to 55 were involved in more injury crashes than any other age group, indicating that experience does not eliminate risk.
When and Where Most Accidents Occur
According to a 2023 report from the National Safety Council, 5,375 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes that year, revealing distinct patterns in when and where these incidents happen.
- Location: Over 55% of fatal crashes occurred on rural roads, compared to 44% in urban areas.
- Road Type: The majority (75%) took place on non-interstate roads.
- Time of Day: Most fatal incidents (62%) occurred during daylight hours.
- Work Zones: Approximately 5% of fatal crashes happened in work zones.
The months with the highest number of fatal truck crashes in 2023 were August and October, while February had the fewest.
Truck Accident Statistics in California
California’s economy relies heavily on freight, with trucks moving approximately 1.4 billion tons of goods worth over $2.8 trillion annually, the second-highest freight value in the nation. This high volume of truck traffic contributes to a significant number of accidents.
California Truck Crashes by Year (2021–Mid-2025)
- 2021: 14,353 total crashes (456 fatal, 4,756 injury)
- 2022: 13,612 total crashes (465 fatal, 4,171 injury)
- 2023: 12,219 total crashes (373 fatal, 3,966 injury)
- 2024: 11,596 total crashes (317 fatal, 3,858 injury)
- 2025 (Partial): 4,755 total crashes (68 fatal, 1,607 injury)
Certain highways in the state are known hotspots for truck accidents due to high traffic volume and challenging conditions. These include Interstate 5, a primary north-south freight route; Interstate 10, a key east-west corridor in Southern California; and State Route 99 in the Central Valley, which has been identified as one of the most dangerous roads in the country.
Types of Trucks and Primary Causes of Accidents
The severity of a truck accident is often related to the vehicle’s weight. FMCSA data shows that trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds are involved in the vast majority of collisions. Common types of commercial vehicles involved in accidents include tractor-trailers, tanker trucks, dump trucks, flatbeds, and delivery trucks.
The primary causes of truck accidents fall into three main categories:
1. Driver-Related Factors: These are the most common cause, accounting for 87% of crashes. Key factors include:
- Distracted Driving: Texting, eating, or using a GPS.
- Fatigue: According to the CDC, driving after being awake for 17 hours is comparable to having a blood alcohol content of 0.05%.
- Impaired Driving: Use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medication.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving: Tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and failing to account for a truck’s longer stopping distance.
- Inexperience: Misjudging blind spots, turns, or stopping distances.
2. Vehicle-Related Factors: Mechanical issues are also a significant contributor.
- Equipment Failure: Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions, often due to poor maintenance or defective parts.
- Improper Loading: Overloaded or unbalanced cargo can cause a truck to become unstable, leading to rollovers or jackknife accidents.
3. External Factors: Environmental and road conditions play a crucial role.
- Hazardous Roads: Poorly maintained roads, sharp curves, and construction zones.
- Adverse Weather: Fog, rain, snow, and high winds reduce visibility and road traction.
- Other Drivers: Negligent actions by drivers of passenger vehicles, such as cutting off trucks or lingering in blind spots, can trigger serious accidents.
Determining Liability in Truck Accidents
Unlike typical car accidents, liability in truck crashes can extend to multiple parties. Depending on the circumstances, responsibility may lie with:
- The Truck Driver: For negligence such as speeding, distraction, or violating hours-of-service rules.
- The Trucking Company: For negligent hiring, inadequate training, poor maintenance practices, or setting unrealistic schedules that encourage unsafe driving.
- Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers: If a defective component, such as faulty brakes or tires, contributed to the crash.
- Cargo Loading Companies: For improperly securing or overloading cargo.
- Maintenance Contractors: For performing substandard repairs or failing to identify safety issues.
- Government Entities: If poor road design, inadequate signage, or unaddressed hazards were a factor.
Investigators often use evidence from electronic logging devices (ELDs), “black box” data recorders, dashcam footage, and maintenance records to determine the root cause of an accident and establish liability.
