Over the past several decades, and especially since the e-commerce boom of the 2000s, commercial trucks have become a constant presence on highways and rural roads throughout the Midwest. While the obvious size difference between large commercial trucks and passenger vehicles naturally inspires caution, there are still common misconceptions about when and where trucking accidents are most likely to occur.
Each year, the United States Department of Transportation publishes an extensive report known as Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts. Due to the sheer scope of the data collected, there is usually a delay between when crash data is gathered and the report is released. The most recent report was published in September 2025, but it analyzed crash data from 2022.
While specific statistics can vary from year to year, many broader patterns surrounding commercial truck accidents remain consistent.
At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we represent truck accident victims throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa. No one plans to be in an accident, but if the unexpected happens, call 1-855-NICOLET or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation with one of our trucking accident lawyers.
Let's talk about when and where trucking accidents usually happen.
Injured? Get Nicolet.
Time of Day
Visibility, or lack thereof, can be a major factor in many traffic accidents. This leads some people to assume that most trucking accidents happen at night. While you can find both trucks and passenger vehicles on the road late at night, there are considerably fewer of them.
Most trucking accidents occur during daylight hours, when traffic volume peaks. During those daylight hours, crashes are especially common between 12 pm and 3 pm, when commuter, commercial, and delivery traffic overlap.
Day of the Week
Truck accidents are more common on weekdays, when commuters are on the road, and large trucks are helping fulfill e-commerce orders. With the expansion of last-mile delivery centers and the promise of fast shipping, more truck drivers are needed to complete tight delivery schedules.
Weather Conditions
When inclement weather sweeps through the Midwest, news coverage of traffic accidents often follows. While snow and rain definitely increase the risk of traffic accidents, most trucking accidents happen in clear weather.
As far as inclement weather goes, according to the study, rain has been the weather condition during less than 10% of both trucking accidents and fatalities. Snow ranks even further behind, making up less than 2% of accidents and fatalities in recent years.
Speed Limits
Commercial truck accidents most often occur on roads with listed speed limits between 50 and 55 miles per hour. That said, not all vehicles involved in the accident and present on those roads in general may be traveling at that same speed.
Rural Vs. City Roads
The difference between rural and urban roads was particularly pronounced in fatal truck accidents. Traffic closer to cities may be associated with crowded lanes, leading some to assume that fatal truck accidents in particular would occur more often in urban environments. While fatalities do occur in city traffic, they are much more likely in rural areas.
A higher traffic volume can heighten the risk of accidents, but ambulances and first responders are often much closer in urban areas. Emergency care response times are often much longer in rural locations, and that delay in care can increase the likelihood of fatal outcomes.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, reach out to a qualified attorney today. At Nicolet Law, we know that families who are grieving or in shock may want justice but feel intimidated about contacting a lawyer. In addition to our award-winning legal insight, our attorneys bring compassion to every case. We know that when someone reaches out to our firm, they are living through uncertain times. It’s our goal to bring as much closure to grieving families as possible.
What To Do After A Trucking Accident
The devastation of a trucking accident can cause a lot of pain, confusion, and uncertainty.
Seeking medical assistance can be crucial. Injuries can evolve, show up days or weeks later, and require everything from emergency room visits to home accommodations. Recovery can be complicated, and the insight of medical professionals can help guide the way and set expectations.
It can also be crucial to contact an attorney after a trucking accident. Trucking accidents are notorious for being complex, where blame can fall to multiple parties (the truck driver, their employer, the truck's mechanic, etc.)
The insurance companies that support the trucking industry have the resources to put up a fight, and they know that many truck accident victims will be under significant strain, overwhelmed, and more likely to accept a recovery offer even if it falls short. If you are dealing with the aftermath of a trucking accident, you deserve a legal team that defends your livelihood. At Nicolet Law, our attorneys do a deep dive into trucking accident cases so that we can determine who may be at fault and what compensation is needed to support a full recovery.
"How Long Do I Have To File A Trucking Accident Claim?"
Statutes of limitations are essentially a legal deadline. After an accident, you will likely be getting in touch with the insurance company shortly afterward to report your accident. The insurance company will likely be trying to get you to accept a quick settlement. If you are facing uncertain times and an expensive recovery, this quick settlement can feel like good news amidst all the bad news.
However, these settlement offers are notorious for not covering the full cost of recovery. If you've been in a trucking accident, it takes time to learn all of the ways that your recovery will take something from you. Your injuries may be evolving, and some, such as brain injuries, may remain hidden, taking days or even weeks to fully manifest.
An attorney can help evaluate your case, investigate the cause of it, and determine how much compensation would be required to cover the full scope of your recovery.
Nicolet Law serves Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa. If the insurance offer ends up falling very short, there are questions about negligence, and so on, a lawsuit may be needed. There is a deadline for filing that lawsuit.
Keep in mind that the following are the standard rules around trucking accidents and trucking fatalities. The specifics of your case might change when your deadline is. Talk to an attorney to learn more about where you stand and the timeline of your case.
Minnesota:
Trucking accident: 6 years from the date of the accident
Trucking fatality: 3 years from the date of death
Wisconsin:
Trucking accident: 3 years from the date of the accident
Trucking fatality: 2 years from the date of death
Note: Normally, wrongful death cases come with a 3-year deadline, but in Wisconsin, if the death is caused by a motor vehicle accident, it drops down to 2 years.
Iowa:
Trucking accident: 2 years from the date of the accident
Trucking fatality: 2 years from the date of death
North Dakota
Trucking accident: 6 years from the date of the accident
Trucking fatality: 3 years from the date of death.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Accidents
When do trucking accidents and fatalities usually occur?
Most accidents happen during daylight hours, when all forms of traffic are at their peak. Monday and Tuesday tend to see more accidents. While heavy traffic may be more associated with city roads, rural roads tend to see more trucking fatalities. One of the reasons for this is the availability of first responders.
If the insurance company offers me a settlement, how can I tell if it is worth it?
An insurance adjuster's job is to protect their company's bottom line. An attorney's job is to protect your best interests. That means investigating your case and evaluating your damages.
Do I have time to think about whether I want to get an attorney?
You do have time, but unfortunately that doesn't mean time is on your side. The sooner you reach out to a qualified attorney, the better. Crucial evidence can disappear, and witness memories can fade. Trucking companies often have many resources at their disposal that they can use to defend themselves against any kind of legal claim. A trucking accident attorney can help level the playing field, and all the more effectively the sooner they can get to work.
How can Nicolet Law help if I can't afford an attorney?
We do not charge any legal fees unless we have recovered compensation for our clients. At Nicolet Law, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality personal injury representation.
Reach Out To A Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been in a truck accident, you are likely feeling overwhelmed by the challenges ahead. Many truck accident victims face extremely expensive medical bills, pushy insurance adjusters, and a profound sense of uncertainty about what the future might hold. Trucking accident victims deserve a strong support system that can help them through that uncertainty.
At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, our attorneys are well-equipped to handle trucking accident cases because they know how complicated they can be. Insurance companies have a playbook of various tactics they can use, and, with former insurance insiders on our staff, we can predict those tactics and prepare cases accordingly. For a free consultation with one of Nicolet Law's qualified trucking accident attorneys, give us a call at 1-855-NICOLET or use our contact form.
Russell Nicolet, Firm President & Trucking Accident Lawyer