North Carolina residents may be interested in learning some facts pertaining to accidents involving dump trucks. Industry and federal regulators have worked together to minimize accidents by limiting driver fatigue as well as taking advantage of modern technology to keep a close watch on what happens to drivers while they are on the road.
Even with these precautions, there have been a number of serious accidents involving dump trucks and ready-mix concrete trucks. Insurance regulators have done their part by increasing fleet and vehicle insurance premiums. This measure has also had little effect.
In 2016, accidents that were severe enough to require a vehicle to be towed away increased by 9 percent. The number of accidents that involved injuries jumped by 2.7 percent during the same year. On the positive side, the increase in accidents was offset by a downward trend in deadly accidents. In 2015, there were 369 fatal accidents involving dump trucks. In 2016, there were 367.
Over the last decade, programs designed to reduce accidents involving these large vehicles have stalled. There was a substantial decrease in the number of these accidents in the years following 2000. This is thought to be the result of federal regulators and insurance companies working together to boost driver safety as well as improved technology.
It is believed that speeding and distracted driving coupled with incentives for drivers to make more money based on the number of loads they carry have contributed to this increase. Regardless of what the cause is, the fact is that accidents with large trucks that result in fatal accidents are on the rise again.
If someone gets hurt by a large truck, a personal injury attorney could provide valuable legal assistance. They may represent the victim during negotiations with insurance companies. Ultimately, a personal injury claim could cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other accident-related damages.