North Carolina Truck & Bus Accident Statistics

The North Carolina Department of Transportation has compiled a report on accidents in 2016 throughout the state. The report is a comprehensive analysis of collision data, accident statistics and injury types in North Carolina. We’ve extracted some of that data specifically pertaining to buses and large trucks. This data set can be downloaded in Excel here. In 2016, buses and large trucks were involved in roughly 3.3% of all motor vehicle crashes in North Carolina compared to the total of 484,936 accidents. In any accident incident with a commercial truck or bus that involves an injury, it’s critical to investigate your legal rights. You may have a right to compensation that you’re not yet aware of.

Type of Vehicle	All Crashes	Fatal Crashes	Injury Crashes
COMMERCIAL BUS	504	2	171
SCHOOL BUS	939	4	296
ACTIVITY BUS	113	1	33
OTHER BUS	154	0	53
SINGLE UNIT TRUCK (2-AXLE, 6-TIRE)	4,179	38	1,170
SINGLE UNIT TRUCK (3 OR MORE AXLES)	1,821	19	509
TRUCK/TRAILER	2,934	30	743
TRUCK/TRACTOR	292	2	84
TRACTOR/SEMI-TRAILER	4,464	62	1,238
TRACTOR/DOUBLES	95	3	18
UNKNOWN HEAVY TRUCK	219	0	61
Totals	15,714	161	4,376

Unfortunately, truck accidents are a reality of sharing the road. There will always be collisions involving serious or fatal injuries as long as there are trucks on the road. In fact, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that North Carolina is currently one of the top 10 states in the country that collectively represent over 50% of fatal crashes involving a large truck or bus in a report published in November of 2017. This same FMCSA report concluded that speeding was a factor in 17% of fatal truck accidents and that 6% of fatal accidents were attributed to driver distraction (16% of those involved distraction were caused by a mobile device).

There will always be significant dangers associated with semi trucks and catastrophic injuries resulting from crashes and collisions. The size & weight differences of a big rig or bus versus a light weight passenger vehicle, motorcycle or even an SUV usually means that injuries are commonly very serious or fatal. If you or a family member was seriously injured in a trucking collision, you need to talk to a truck accident lawyer in North Carolina with the experience and reputation to secure the compensation your family needs to cover medical expenses and move forward.

Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents in North Carolina

A “statute of limitation” is defined as the legal length of time that a plaintiff (victim) has to bring an action against a defendant. This length of time varies based on state, and the type of incident: civil or criminal. Generally, the statute of limitations for truck accident injury lawsuits in North Carolina is 3 years, (North Carolina Gen. Stat. section 1-52), this is inclusive of nearly all personal injury claims involving drivers, passengers, pedestrians, etc. The North Carolina statute of limitations for personal injury is also 3 years, if the incident & resulting claim involves a government agency. However, in cases involving a truck accident wrongful death, North Carolina’s statute of limitations is 2 years (North Carolina Gen. Stat. section 28A-18-2)

If a claim or lawsuit is not filed within the statute of limitations as set forth above, nearly any claim will be rejected or forfeited. However, there are certain exceptions to North Carolina’s statute of limitations. If the victim is minor under the age of 18, “incompetent”, or legally insane the clock is effectively “paused” until the disability has been lifted. Additionally, if the victim “departs from and resides out of” the state of North Carolina, or if they “remain continuously absent” from the state for over 1 year the absence period may not be included within the applicable statute.

If you have questions about how you or your family’s claim will be impacted by a Statute of limitations, you should consult with a truck accident lawyer in North Carolina today for the most accurate information.

Pursuing a Truck Accident Injury or Wrongful Death Lawsuit in North Carolina

If you or a family member was seriously injured, or if a family member was killed in a truck accident you should seek the advice and representation of a skilled and experienced truck accident lawyers in North Carolina. TruckAccidentAttorneyNetwork.org has organized a database of law firms who focus their practice on Motor Vehicle Vehicle collisions, with significant experience litigating trucking accidents.