West Virginia residents who drive trucks or other work vehicles may be interested in the data gathered by Verizon Connect, a fleet management systems provider, as to what states are safest for people in their industry. Verizon Connect analyzed the behavior of drivers from more than 6,200 of its fleet customers, all of them small or mid-size businesses, between October 2015 and September 2017.

It found that the safest states for work vehicle drivers are Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New York. In fact, the top 10 are all on the East Coast. Vermont especially had the fewest instances of lead foot. The most dangerous states were found in the Midwest and the South, including Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Kentucky and Mississippi. South Dakota was the worst for speeding.

Another fleet management systems provider, Teletrac Navman, held a month-long event where it welcomed feedback from truckers regarding safety on the road. Passenger vehicle drivers will want to make sure not to cut off trucks because this happened to be the most widely cited concern. This was followed by speeding, not giving enough following distance and not using turn signals. Truckers also expressed their concern about other drivers, even other truck drivers, being fatigued and using their phone behind the wheel. Those with a light load should beware not to roll over in inclement weather.

There are many ways that truckers can be negligent: They could fail to maintain their vehicles, for example, which could lead to brake failure and tire blowouts. Victims, even if they are partially to blame, may be eligible for compensation under truck accident law, so they might want to consult with a lawyer before the statute of limitations runs out. A lawyer may be able to have the crash reconstructed if necessary, gather the necessary proof and negotiate with the trucking company for a settlement.