In 2020, accidents involving large trucks resulted in fatalities for only 17% of the truck occupants, but 71% of the occupants of the other vehicles, according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This massive difference in fatality statistics is one reason it's important to drive defensively when around trucks. But why are these wrecks so much more dangerous for passenger cars?
A main factor in the danger inherent to big truck wrecks is the differences in weight and size. 18-wheelers weigh on average
16 times more than a passenger car, as well as much longer and wider. They are harder to control, take longer to stop, and collide with much more force.
As a result, an accident that might be avoidable between two smaller vehicles can be inevitable when a truck is involved. When accidents happen, a truck will hit the other vehicle with much more force, leading to more damaging and even life-threatening injuries.
