Semi-Truck Wheel Separation Accidents — Causes, Dangers, and What Victims Should Do

What Is a Wheel Separation Accident?

A wheel separation accident occurs when a tire and rim detach completely from a semi-truck's wheel assembly, turning the wheel into a high-speed projectile. This can happen due to loose lug nuts, broken studs, hub or bearing failure, improper installation, or worn mechanical components. Detached wheels can travel long distances, strike vehicles, or cause multi-vehicle collisions.

Why Wheel Separations Happen

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and federal mechanical safety data, common causes include:

• Improper wheel installation or torqueing

• Failure to re-torque lug nuts

• Bearing or hub failure due to overheating or lack of lubrication

• Metal fatigue, cracked rims, or broken bolts

• Poor or skipped maintenance

• Overloading, which increases mechanical stress

• Axle or spindle failure

  
  

How Deadly Are Wheel Separation Crashes in Semi-Trucks?

Although wheel-off crashes are not categorized separately in NHTSA's national reports, they fall within mechanical-failure crash categories and are considered high-severity events.

Verified crash data:

• 5,472 people were killed in large-truck crashes in 2023 (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts)

• 153,452 people were injured in large-truck crashes in 2023 (National Safety Council)

• 70-75% of those killed were occupants of other vehicles

• Truck-related fatalities have risen roughly 40% over the past decade

NTSB investigations show wheel separations often result in:

• Head-on collisions from runaway wheels

• Windshield intrusion and blunt-force trauma

• Loss of truck control causes rollovers

• Multi-vehicle crashes at highway speeds

Why These Crashes Matter in Chicago and the Midwest

Illinois is one of the busiest freight hubs in the U.S., with major truck corridors including:

• I-80

• I-90/94

• I-55

• I-294

These heavily traveled routes increase exposure to mechanical-failure risks, including wheel separations and other equipment failures on long-distance hauls.

Common Injuries in Wheel-Off Semi-Truck Accidents

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

• Skull fractures or facial trauma

• Spinal injuries or paralysis

• Internal organ damage

• Broken bones

• Crush injuries

• Wrongful death

What to Do After a Wheel Separation Accident

1. Call 911 immediately

2. Document the scene (if safe):

- Photograph the detached wheel/tire and damaged wheel assembly

- Photograph the truck, DOT number, and company name

- Take photos of debris, skid marks, weather, and road conditions

- Gather witness information

3. Seek medical evaluation right away

4. Avoid recorded statements to trucking insurance companies

5. Quickly contact a successful truck accident attorney such as the Vrdolyak Law Group. 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 experience, knowledge, and resources to collect data and analyze the accident.

Evidence often needed:

• Wheel, hub, or bearing parts

• Maintenance and inspection records

• FMCSA compliance logs

• Torque and installation documentation

• Black-box (ECM/EDR) data

• Driver logs and pre-trip/post-trip inspection reports

Ways That Semi-Truck Drivers Can Help Prevent Wheel Separation Accidents (According to FMCSA and NTSB):

• Regular inspection of wheel systems, hubs, and bearings

• Correct torqueing and re-torqueing of wheels

• Proper lubrication of bearings

• Replacement of cracked or damaged wheels

• Compliance with 49 CFR Parts 393 and 396

• Weight limit compliance

• Proper training for mechanics and drivers

Sources (Verified Government & First-Party Research Only)

- NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2023 — Large Trucks

- National Safety Council Injury Facts — Large Trucks

- FMCSA Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts

- FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 393 & 396)

- FMCSA Large Truck Crash Causation Study

- NTSB Heavy Vehicle Wheel Separation Investigations