Car crashes are one of the most pressing safety concerns for people living in Ohio. Individuals of all ages are at risk of life-altering or fatal injuries in car crash scenarios. Collisions that occur at high speeds or that involve particularly large vehicles tend to be more devastating than low-speed crashes between vehicles of similar sizes.
When a passenger vehicle collides with a semi-truck, the people in the smaller vehicle could sustain catastrophic injuries. Collisions between passenger vehicles and semi-trucks typically occur dozens of times each day somewhere in Ohio. The state sees significant commercial traffic helping bring products into the state and transport goods manufactured here elsewhere. Trucks crossing the country may also pass through Ohio.
The amount of commercial traffic has an impact on the risk of a major crash with a semi-truck. Has the frequency of such collisions increased in recent years?
Crash trends show a promising change
In recent years, researchers noted a concerning increase in the number of collisions. However, more recent statistics seem to indicate that the trend has finally begun to reverse. Preliminary data from 2023 and 2024 shows a promising trend toward increased safety.
In 2023, there were 5,378 semi-truck crashes reported in Ohio. There were 145 fatalities and 2,258 injuries reported. The total number of crashes declined in 2024 to 4,840. There were 134 fatalities reported and 2,111 injuries. Those figures could shift as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) receives year-end data.
This preliminary data aligns with overall crash rates involving passenger vehicles, which spiked for several years beginning in 2020 and have started to taper off again as well. While the total degree of risk is lower, there are still thousands of people injured in semi-truck crashes and over 100 who die every year somewhere in Ohio. Those people and their loved ones may have grounds to take legal action or file commercial insurance claims.
Those trying to move on after a semi-truck crash may need help. Pursuing compensation may involve a lawsuit or a complex insurance claim. Most people can’t handle that process alone and require help to hold commercial drivers and transportation companies accountable, and that’s okay.