Severe dump truck and ready-mix concrete delivery truck accidents rose by 9 and 9.6 percent, respectively, from 2015 to 2016. This is according to a new report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which focused on 2016 since it’s the latest year for which data is available. Illinois drivers should know 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.

In 2016, 5,483 dump truck crashes resulted in injuries. This led to a 2.7 percent increase over the previous year. That number went up 3.8 percent for concrete delivery trucks. Fatal accidents declined for dump trucks (from 369 to 367) but rose from 33 to 38 in the case of ready-mix delivery trucks.

The data reflects a growing issue within the trucking industry as a whole. More and more truckers are engaging in bad driving habits like speeding, cell phone use behind the wheel and driving in a fatigued state of mind. Some are urged on to negligent behavior for the sake of by-the-load incentives.

Experts say that efforts to prevent truck accidents have stalled for over a decade. However, federal regulators and industry safety experts are working to reduce fatigued driving and improve technology for monitoring trucker activities on the road.

When a distracted or drowsy trucker causes an accident, they will most likely be the at-fault driver. A victim who wishes to file a claim may want to consult with an attorney who’s familiar with personal injury law. Once retained, the attorney could hire professionals to gather proof against the trucker. This information may ultimately lead to a higher settlement for the victim.