ATRI Reports Rising Tort Litigation Costs and Trends in U.S. Trucking Industry

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released an extensive study on tort litigation within the U.S. trucking industry, analyzing six years of truck-related tort cases. In 2022 alone, there were approximately 12,817 state truck-tractor tort cases, with some cases being improperly prevented from moving to federal court, where protections against potential bias are stronger. The study highlights an annual increase of 5.7% in the largest half of damage awards, signaling rising financial risks for motor carriers. Key factors contributing to higher awards include specific types of negligence, such as improper hiring and onboarding processes, and the severity of injuries claimed, particularly moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries. The data reveals that settlements for high-value cases (over $5 million) tended to be lower than verdict awards, whereas for claims under $1 million, settlements surpassed verdict amounts. Certain negligence allegations like improper turns, merges, and failure to yield correlated with more defense victories. The report further examines trial tactics, noting that counterclaims highlighting plaintiff negligence do not statistically reduce award amounts, indicating a potential challenge of jury bias in favor of plaintiffs. Another significant finding is the disproportionate size of nonmedical awards compared to medical damages in nearly 18% of cases, suggesting the presence of inflated nonmedical claims. This litigation environment poses operational and financial strains on trucking companies, drawing attention to the need for legal reforms that ensure fairness and balance. Industry representatives emphasize the importance of these data-driven insights for policymakers and stakeholders to address the high costs and risks associated with truck tort litigation. ATRI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to research supporting safe and efficient freight transportation. The report adds critical perspectives on litigation trends impacting motor carriers, third-party litigation financing influences, regulatory compliance interpretations, and product liability lawsuits targeting the trucking sector.