Although commercial trucks make up a small number of vehicles involved in Louisville traffic collisions, they comprise a disproportionate number of vehicles involved in catastrophic accidents. As someone driving through the largest city in Kentucky, it’s reasonable to wonder just how often truck drivers get into accidents.
Data about accidents in Louisville involving commercial truck drivers isn’t readily available. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notes that between 2021 and 2025, the number of collisions averaged between 3,100 and 3,500 per year.
With dangerous numbers like these, knowing your legal options after a truck crash is critical. An experienced Louisville truck accident lawyer can help you assert your rights.
Kentucky commercial truck accident statistics
According to Kentucky State Police, in 2022, there were 9,437 collisions involving commercial trucks in Kentucky. Out of these crashes, there were:
- Fatal collisions: 86
- Injury collisions: 1,351
- Property damage collisions: 8,000
- Total persons killed: 96
- Total persons injured: 1,956
The FMCSA released the following statistics for large truck collisions in Kentucky:
- Large trucks involved in fatal crashes in Kentucky: 130 trucks, accounting for 11.2% of total vehicles involved in fatal crashes in the state
- Fatalities in large truck crashes in Kentucky:
- Truck occupants: 32 fatalities (17 in single-vehicle crashes, 15 in multiple-vehicle crashes).
- Other vehicle occupants: 90 fatalities.
- Nonoccupants (e.g., pedestrians): 6 fatalities.
- Total fatalities: 128
Common causes of large truck crashes in Louisville
Because truck accidents yield such devastating injuries, understanding how they happen—and how to avoid them—can help keep you and your passengers safer. Our experienced truck accident attorneys see these factors coming into play most often for commercial vehicle collisions:
- Truck driver fatigue: Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: The legal limit for commercial drivers in Kentucky is just 0.04% blood alcohol concentration; driving under the influence of drugs is illegal
- Inclement weather: The higher center of gravity of commercial vehicles makes them more likely to flip over in high winds, giving the drivers less control over the vehicle in rain, snow, and storms
- Poor driver training: Both truck drivers and trucking companies have the responsibility to ensure that drivers are properly trained and licensed
- Poor vetting practices: Trucking companies have a responsibility to qualify drivers as safe and appropriate
- Distracted driving: Drivers paying more attention to their GPS, playing on their phone, or otherwise not keeping their full attention on the road are more likely to cause a crash
- Speeding: High speeds are dangerous for anyone; a speeding commercial truck can cause a deadly impact
Your rights after a Louisville truck accident
If you were involved in a crash caused by a commercial trucker, you have the right to demand compensation for all your losses, including medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering. However, because truck collision claims are often high value due to the considerable medical expenses many victims incur, insurance companies scrutinize the strength of your case and seek any reason to deny or minimize it.
Having an experienced personal injury lawyer who understands how to build and present a strong claim for damages is critical to successfully settling your claim.
Have you been involved in a truck crash in Louisville? You have the right to file a claim against the trucker and the trucking company, but you have to act quickly. In Kentucky, you may have as little as one to two years from the date of the injury to file a claim (depending on the type of claim you make). Contact an attorney as soon as you can to understand the time periods for pursuing a claim.
Please contact Grossman Green PLLC at (502) 657-7100 today for a free consultation with our experienced attorneys.