Rear-End Semi-Truck Crashes — Causes, Dangers, Injury Data, and What Victims Should Do

Vrdolyak Law Group
Oct 21, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Jan 15

What Are Rear-End Truck Crashes?

Rear-end collisions happen when a semi-truck collides with the back of a smaller vehicle. Because trucks weigh up to 80,000 lbs, even moderate-speed impacts can be catastrophic.

Why Rear-End Crashes Happen

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end truck crashes are commonly caused by:

Semi-trucks following too closely
Big trucks driving at excessive speeds
Truck drivers are distracted while driving
Fatigue from overworked semi-truck drivers
Poor brake maintenance of big rigs
Weather/visibility issues
Congestion or construction zones

Severity & Government Data from NHTSA 2023:

5,472 deaths in large-truck crashes
153,452 injuries (NSC)

Rear-end impacts involving semi-trucks often result in:

Underride
Passenger compartment intrusion
Multi-vehicle pileups

Common Injuries

Traumatic brain injury
Spinal fractures
Internal bleeding
Crush injuries
Wrongful death

Rear-end semi-truck collisions are common in Chicago & Midwest

I-90/94 (stop-and-go traffic)
I-294 tollway slowdowns
I-55 and I-80 freight corridors

Winter weather significantly increases stopping distances and further elevates the risk of rear-end truck crashes.

What to Do After a Rear-End Truck Accident

1. Call 911 immediately

2. Photograph damage, trailer rear guard, skid marks

3. Get medical evaluation

4. Avoid insurer statements

5. Contact an attorney such as the Vrdolyak Law Group

The Vrdolyak Law Group has the experience, knowledge, and resources to go toe-to-toe with big trucking. Trucking companies will send out their team of experts following a crash to collect data to prove the accident was your fault. You deserve a legal team with the resources collect data and analyze the accident for ECM data, brake inspection logs, cameras, and HOS records.