As fatal accidents continue to rise on the roadways in Connecticut and across the United States, getting behind the wheel can be a major concern for drivers and passengers. While collisions of all types are on an upswing across the country, one of the most concerning types of crashes is those that involve large trucks. The size and mass of these huge vehicles can cause major damage to cars, trucks, pedestrians and cyclists who experience an accident. In addition, statistics show that fatalities are increasing across the country in crashes that involve large trucks and buses, a reverse of an earlier downward trend.

While fatal trucking accidents decreased by 34 percent between 2005 and 2009, they have increased by 28 percent between 2009 and 2016. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the number of deadly crashes that involved large trucks and buses grew by 3 percent between 2015 and 2016 alone. A report by the FMCSA noted that there were 4,213 trucks and buses involved in deadly collisions in 2016 while only 4,074 trucks were involved in fatalities in 2015. In addition, the number of fatalities rose by over 220 in the same year.

Most of these deadly accidents, 61 percent, happened in rural areas; another 27 percent took place on interstate highways. While fatal crashes are a major concern, their numbers pale in comparison to overall crashes. There were 104,000 truck accidents that caused 145,000 injuries in 2016, nearly 30,000 more injuries than the prior year.

Not only do the roadways seem to be getting more dangerous, but the impact of trucking accidents can last a lifetime when victims suffer serious injuries or disabilities. Accident victims may choose to work with a personal injury lawyer to pursue compensation for the harms they have suffered as a result, including lost wages and medical bills.