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Washington Truck Accident Statistics
Quick Answer
In 2024, 74 people died in Washington crashes involving large trucks, according to NHTSA. WSDOT counted more than 40,000 truck-involved crashes statewide from 2016 through 2021, concentrated on I-5, I-405 and I-90.
- Deaths in 2024: 74 people were killed in Washington traffic crashes involving large trucks, and 63 of them were outside the truck (NHTSA, Large Trucks: 2024 Data, preliminary).
- Six years of crashes: WSDOT's 2022 Freight System Plan counted more than 40,000 truck-involved crashes from 2016 through 2021, with 420 fatalities and 984 serious injuries.
- Where they happen: Mostly along I-5, I-405 and I-90. King County had about 36% of the state's truck-involved crashes, Pierce about 13% and Snohomish about 9% (WSDOT, 2016–2021).
- Recent state trend: Washington's Target Zero plan counted 90 deaths and 193 serious injuries in heavy vehicle-involved crashes in 2022.
- Nationally: 5,340 people were killed and an estimated 161,201 injured in crashes involving large trucks in 2024 (NHTSA).
Updated 2026. This page uses the most recent official data we could verify: NHTSA fatality data for 2024, Washington’s Target Zero plan for 2017–2022, and WSDOT’s Freight System Plan for 2016–2021. We review it once a year.
Behind every number on this page is a family whose life changed in a moment. We share these statistics because they help explain how often truck crashes happen in Washington, where they happen and who gets hurt. Every figure below names its year and its government source, and the Sources section links to each document. This page is general information, not legal advice. Statistics describe patterns across thousands of crashes; they cannot tell you what happened in yours.
Washington truck crash numbers at a glance
| Statistic | Figure | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| People killed in crashes involving large trucks in Washington | 74 | 2024 | NHTSA, Large Trucks: 2024 Data (Table 7) |
| Of those, people outside the truck (other vehicle occupants and pedestrians, cyclists or other nonoccupants) | 63 (52 + 11) | 2024 | NHTSA, Large Trucks: 2024 Data (Table 7) |
| Large-truck occupants killed | 11 | 2024 | NHTSA, Large Trucks: 2024 Data (Table 7) |
| Large trucks in fatal crashes in Washington | 71 (6.7% of all vehicles in fatal crashes) | 2024 | NHTSA, Large Trucks: 2024 Data (Table 6) |
| Deaths in heavy vehicle-involved crashes | 90 | 2022 | Washington Target Zero Plan 2024 (Table 24) |
| Serious injuries in heavy vehicle-involved crashes | 193 | 2022 | Washington Target Zero Plan 2024 (Table 25) |
| Share of all Washington traffic deaths in crashes involving a heavy vehicle | 13% | 2020–2022 | Washington Target Zero Plan 2024 |
| Truck-involved crashes | More than 40,000 | 2016–2021 | WSDOT, 2022 Freight System Plan |
| Fatalities in those crashes | 420 | 2016–2021 | WSDOT, 2022 Freight System Plan (Figure 16) |
| Serious injuries in those crashes | 984 | 2016–2021 | WSDOT, 2022 Freight System Plan (Figure 16) |
| Evident injuries in those crashes | 3,482 | 2016–2021 | WSDOT, 2022 Freight System Plan (Figure 16) |
| Possible injuries in those crashes | 9,396 | 2016–2021 | WSDOT, 2022 Freight System Plan (Figure 16) |
Why the numbers do not always match
The three sources above count different things, so their totals should not be added together or compared one to one.
- NHTSA counts "large trucks," meaning medium and heavy trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds, excluding buses and motor homes. Its 2024 figures come from the Annual Report File of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which NHTSA says is "subject to change" when it is finalized the following year.
- Washington's Target Zero plan counts crashes involving a "heavy vehicle," based on vehicle type and weight, whether or not it is a commercial vehicle.
- WSDOT's Freight System Plan uses a broader definition of "truck-involved," which covers trucks such as flatbeds and vans, trucks pulling a trailer, truck tractors, semi-trailers and double-trailer combinations. WSDOT also noted that its 2021 data was preliminary when the plan was written.
Where truck crashes happen in Washington
According to WSDOT’s 2022 Freight System Plan, the truck-involved crashes of 2016 through 2021 happened “primarily along high-volume corridors, such as I-5, I-405, and I-90, particularly in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties.”
The plan’s system performance appendix puts numbers on that pattern. King County accounted for about 36% of statewide truck-involved crashes during those six years, Pierce County about 13% and Snohomish County about 9%. Together, these three Puget Sound counties made up roughly 58% of the total (our sum of WSDOT’s three rounded percentages).
The same plan found that about 77% of those crashes were property damage only. The rest caused deaths or injuries, as shown in the table above.
Who gets hurt
Most people killed in truck crashes are not in the truck. In Washington in 2024, NHTSA’s state table shows 74 deaths in crashes involving large trucks:
- 52 were occupants of other vehicles.
- 11 were pedestrians, cyclists or other people not in a vehicle.
- 11 were occupants of the large truck.
That means about 85% of the people killed were outside the truck (63 of 74, our calculation from NHTSA’s table). Truck drivers are hurt too, which is why we also represent injured truck drivers.
What Washington's safety plan says
Washington’s 2024 Target Zero plan, the state’s strategic highway safety plan, lists heavy vehicles as one of its focus areas. It reports that heavy vehicle-involved deaths rose from 69 in 2020 to 96 in 2021 and 90 in 2022, and serious injuries rose from 124 in 2020 to 189 in 2021 and 193 in 2022.
The plan also notes that “involvement does not mean the heavy vehicle driver was at-fault.” Citing a U.S. Department of Transportation report, it says that in 2022, 35% of fatal crashes in Washington involving a large truck involved a truck driver who had previously been in a recorded traffic crash, and 25% involved a truck driver with a speeding conviction in the previous five years. The plan names fatigue management and adherence to rules such as hours-of-service limits among its focus points.
National context
According to NHTSA’s Large Trucks: 2024 Data fact sheet:
- 5,340 people were killed in traffic crashes involving large trucks in 2024, a 2.5% decrease from 5,478 in 2023.
- An estimated 161,201 people were injured in those crashes in 2024.
- 70% of the people killed were occupants of other vehicles.
- Large trucks were 5% of all registered vehicles and 10% of total vehicle miles traveled, but 9% of all vehicles in fatal crashes.
- 76% of fatal crashes involving large trucks happened on weekdays.
What the numbers do not show
Statistics count crashes. They do not explain why a particular crash happened or who is responsible for it. A single crash can involve a tired driver, a trucking company that pushed an unrealistic schedule, a poorly maintained trailer or an improperly secured load. Answering those questions takes an investigation of the specific crash: driver logs and electronic logging device data, maintenance and inspection records, dispatch messages, camera footage and witness statements. Our guide to FMCSA regulations explains the federal safety rules that often come up, and our glossary explains terms such as negligence.
If you were hurt in a truck crash
If you or someone you love was hurt, the first days matter. Our guide on what to do after a truck accident walks through the immediate steps, and our evidence checklist lists what to gather. Some trucking records are only kept for months, and Washington’s filing deadline is explained in our page on the statute of limitations.
Seattle Truck Law focuses on crashes involving large trucks and buses. To talk about what happened to you, call (866) 580-4878 or contact us online for a free consultation.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to NHTSA’s Large Trucks: 2024 Data fact sheet, 74 people were killed in Washington traffic crashes involving large trucks in 2024. Washington’s Target Zero plan, which uses a slightly different heavy vehicle definition, counted 90 deaths in 2022 and 96 in 2021. The 2024 figure comes from a preliminary NHTSA file that can change when the data is finalized, so we update this page every year.
WSDOT’s 2022 Freight System Plan found that truck-involved crashes from 2016 through 2021 happened primarily along high-volume corridors such as I-5, I-405 and I-90. King County accounted for about 36% of statewide truck-involved crashes, Pierce County about 13% and Snohomish County about 9%. These are the busiest freight routes in the Puget Sound region.
Statistics alone cannot answer that. Washington’s Target Zero plan states that heavy vehicle involvement “does not mean the heavy vehicle driver was at-fault.” Fault depends on the facts of each crash, and responsibility can extend beyond the driver to the trucking company, a maintenance provider or a cargo loader. An investigation of the records and the scene is how fault is established.
People outside the truck. In Washington in 2024, 63 of the 74 people killed in crashes involving large trucks were occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians, cyclists and other nonoccupants, according to NHTSA. Nationally, 70% of people killed in large-truck crashes in 2024 were occupants of other vehicles. The size and weight of a loaded truck leave smaller vehicles little protection.
Each agency defines “truck” differently. NHTSA counts large trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating. Washington’s Target Zero plan counts heavy vehicles by type and weight. WSDOT’s freight plan uses a broader “truck-involved” definition that includes trucks such as flatbeds and vans. The years also differ, so we list each figure with its year and source.
Related Resources
Contact the Seattle Truck Law Team Today
If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, contact Seattle Truck Law at (866) 580-4878 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. You pay no fees or expenses unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Don’t wait—the sooner you contact us, the sooner our attorneys can preserve evidence, investigate your claim, and start building your case.