Dump trucks and ready-mix concrete delivery trucks in New York and across the U.S. are getting into more accidents. Their accident rate went up 9 and 9.6 percent, respectively, from 2015 to 2016 with 8,206 serious dump truck crashes and 838 serious concrete delivery truck crashes in all. This is according to a report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (2016 is the latest year for which statistics are available).
By serious accidents are meant accidents where the truck was towed away. As for crashes that resulted in injuries, their numbers went up 2.7 and 3.8 percent for dump trucks and ready-mix delivery trucks, respectively. There were 5,483 injury crashes involving the former. The fatal accident rate declined in the case of dump trucks, though only slightly (369 to 367), while it went from 33 to 38 for concrete delivery trucks.
What this report reveals is only one part of a multi-industry problem. The drivers of all types of commercial trucks are engaging in bad driving habits, sometimes through the pressure of deadlines and sometimes through the lure of by-the-load incentives. These habits include speeding, drowsy driving and distracted driving.
Federal regulators and industry safety experts are focusing on cutting down fatigued driving and improving monitoring technology. Experts maintain, though, that efforts for preventing truck accidents have been stalling for a decade.
Drowsy and distracted driving are just two forms of negligent driving. If negligent truckers crash with someone else, the victim may have a valid truck accident case to bring up with the other party’s employer. A successful personal injury lawsuit could reimburse victims for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity and whatever else is applicable. It’s essential to hire a lawyer, who can, in turn, hire professionals to investigate the crash and measure the extent of the injuries.