Of about 400,000 crashes involving 18-wheeler trucks in the U.S, about 18 percent of them are due to rear-end crashes, according to statistics.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said a variety of factors can affect the outcome of such accidents. The report the Administration released divided the two categories — incidents where the truck struck another vehicle and incidents where the vehicle struck the 18-wheeler. It may seem like there shouldn’t be too much of a distinction, but officials note the two types of rear-end crashes are very different.

In a city like Houston, where 18-wheelers are frequently on the highway, such data is valuable information for car accident attorneys who are assessing a related case. An 18-wheeler can be up to 40 times heavier than other vehicles so the impact of the truck hitting the car would be much more forceful than the car hitting the truck. It’s these types of differences that a car accident attorney like the legal counsel at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP would highlight.

Instances where the 18-wheeler strikes the car were nearly twice as likely to be fatal in a study conducting from 1994-1999.  As far as crashes involving 18-wheelers overall, 3,373 people died from those car accidents in 2011. The majority of the deaths were people in the other vehicle, says a report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

A rear-end crash on Houston roads can range from an annoying fender bender to a serious collision. But when an 18-wheeler is involved, stakes are raised significantly. If you or someone you know is involved in a crash with a large truck, it would be in your best interest to contact a car accident attorney immediately to discuss your case and your options.