The trucking industry is essential to America’s economy, moving goods across the country and supporting businesses and consumers in every community. But even as truck accident rates have declined, the industry is facing rising litigation costs driven by inflated and disproportionate verdicts and settlements.
This paper updates prior research on truck accident litigation and finds that verdicts and settlements continue to follow a troubling upward trajectory. A review of 334 truck accident cases from June 2023 to July 2026 shows that award and settlement values remain significant, with plaintiffs’ verdicts producing especially high outcomes.
The paper examines the factors contributing to this trend, including interconnected fraud networks and staged accidents, inflated medical billing, aggressive plaintiffs’ attorney trial tactics, third-party litigation funding, and efforts to expand liability to new categories of transportation defendants. It also outlines potential reforms to help restore fairness, balance, and predictability to truck accident litigation while preserving just and prompt compensation for those who are injured.
Ultimately, excessive litigation costs do not stop with trucking companies. They affect the businesses that rely on freight transportation, the consumers who purchase transported goods, and the broader economy.
