Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

Heavy Truck, Semi-Truck, and Tractor-Trailer Truck Crash Statistics

The following figures were the most up-to-date statistics at the time of our latest research. If you have any questions, or require more recent information, please refer to our sources at the bottom of this page for more information.

Looking for more statistics? View our accident statistics page.

2017 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• There were 6,807 reported truck crashes in 2017 - a slight increase from 2016
• There were almost 145 fatal injuries involving heavy trucks - also a slight increase from 2016
• Almost 85 percent of heavy truck crashes happened on state highways
• Over 270 truck accidents were caused by some sort of vehicle defect

2016 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• In heavy truck crashes where vehicle failure was a cause, the vast majority were related to tires and wheels, brakes, power train failure, and total steering system failure.
• The totals for fatal injury crashes have stayed somewhat consistent over a number of years with 139 in 2016.
• Heavy truck crashes went down from 6,916 in 2015 to 6,740 in 2016, but the amount in 2016 was still higher than 2012, 2013, and 2014.

2014 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• There were 6,596 truck-related accidents in PA.
• 136 of these accidents were fatal.
• A majority, 106 accidents were related to the tire or wheel.
• Most accidents, 57.9%, occured on a state highway.

2013 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• 2013 had the highest amount of truck-related accidents since 2009.
• There were 6,124 truck accidents in 2013 in Pennsylvania
• 136 of these accidents were fatal.
• Majority of the accidents,115 worth, were caused by tire-related defects.
• 58% of accidents occurred on state highways.

2012 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• There were 5,891 truck accidents in 2012 in Pennsylvania.
• The top vehicle defect-related causes of truck accidents were tire/wheel-related (112) and brake-related (91).
• There were 159 deaths in truck accidents.

2011 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• In 2011, there were 6,702 accidents involving large trucks in Pennsylvania.
• 145 of the over 6,000 large trucks accidents in Pennsylvania in 2011 were fatal.
• Only 44 large truck accidents were alcohol-related.
• 170 truck crashes in 2011 occurred in Pennsylvania work zones.

2010 National & Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• There were 529 people killed nationally in 2010 in accidents that involved large trucks - a 6 percent increase.
• The number of people injured in truck accidents also increased to 19,000 - an increase of 12%.
• There were 157 heavy truck-related deaths in 2010 in Pennsylvania.

2009 Truck Accident Statistics (Including Light Trucks)

• There were approximately 296,000 crashes involving large trucks in the United States, which accounted for 3.1 percent of total crashes.
• Light trucks accounted for 17,902 fatal crashes (39.4 percent). There were 3,950,000 crashes involving light trucks.
• Of the 3,215 large trucks involved in fatal crashes in the nation, 73 percent were combination trucks.
• Fatal accidents involving large trucks made up 7 percent of all fatal crashes in the U.S.
• In Pennsylvania, there were 136 heavy truck-related deaths.
• There were 5,247 crashes involving heavy trucks in Pennsylvania in 2009. While it is the lowest number since 2004, there still were 122 fatal crashes.

2008 National Truck Accident Statistics (Including Light Trucks)

• There was a 12% decrease in large-truck crash fatalities from 4,822 in 2007 to 4,229 in 2008.
• In 2008, there were 10,764 light truck accident deaths.
• Light truck fatalities dropped for the third year in a row, decreasing by 14% since 2007.
• Light truck occupant injuries totaled 768,000 in 2008, an 8.7% decrease from 2007.

2007 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• In Pennsylvania during 2007, there were 7,087 crashes involving heavy trucks.
• Of those 7,087 crashes, 178 were fatal.
• Total crashes were down from 6,657 in 2006. Fatalities were up from 167 in 2006.
• Defects contribute to the majority of heavy truck accidents. Some of these defects include:

• Tire or Wheel-Related: 107 crashes
• Brake-Related: 63 crashes
• Unsecure/Trailer Overload: 74 crashes
• Power Train Failure: 23 crashes
• Total Steering System Failure: 21 crashes

2006 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• There were 6,657 crashes involving heavy trucks in Pennsylvania during 2006.
• 167 of those 7,231 crashes were fatal.
• Total crashes were down from 7,231 in 2005 but fatalities were up from 173 in 2005.
• The majority of heavy truck accidents involve defects. Some of these defects include:

• Tire or Wheel-Related: 113 crashes
• Brake-Related: 91 crashes
• Unsecure/Trailer Overload: 77 crashes
• Power Train Failure: 40 crashes
• Total Steering System Failure: 14 crashes

2005 Pennsylvania Truck Accident Statistics

• 7,231 total crashes involved heavy trucks during 2005 in Pennsylvania.
• Of those 7,231 crashes, 173 ended in deaths.
• Total heavy truck crashes were up from 6,851 in 2004. Deaths were also up from 161 in 2004.
• Defects are a factor in the majority of heavy truck accidents. Some of these defects include:

• Tire or Wheel-Related: 97 crashes
• Brake-Related: 90 crashes
• Unsecure/Trailer Overload: 80 crashes
• Power Train Failure: 26 crashes