The number of accidents is rising among truckers in Connecticut and across the U.S. While the early 2000s saw a concentrated effort among federal regulators and insurance companies to improve safety technology and driver safety campaigns, similar efforts have stalled over the past decade. It appears that poor driving habits across the trucking industry are largely to blame.
For example, speeding and fatigued driving are major issues with many truckers violating federal hours-of-service guidelines in order to meet deadlines. The by-the-load incentives that many truckers receive can serve as an encouragement to be negligent. Some truckers become distracted as well, calling or texting behind the wheel.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released a report in December 2018 that focuses on accident rates among dump trucks and ready-mix concrete delivery trucks. That rate increased 9 and 9.6 percent, respectively, from 2015 to 2016 (the latest year for which data is available). The FMCSA found that there were 8,206 dump truck crashes and 838 concrete delivery truck crashes that were so severe that the trucks had to be towed away.
Research shows that 5,483 dump truck crashes involved injuries: a 2.7 percent increase from 2015. Similar crashes with the ready-mix delivery trucks went up 3.8 percent. Lastly, fatal accidents rose in the case of concrete trucks (33 to 38) but slightly declined among dump trucks (369 to 367).
When truckers are 50 percent or more at fault for trucking accidents, injured parties can be eligible for compensation under this state's personal injury laws. Actually negotiating for a settlement with the trucking company's legal team is another matter, so victims may want a lawyer by their side. A lawyer might hire third-party experts to gather evidence against the trucker, which could include truck maintenance records, phone records and in-cab camera footage. Medical experts may be able to determine the exact extent of the injuries.
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