Chicago Truck Accident Lawyers

How Do Truck Drivers Cause Accidents?

With its unique status as a large population center located in the middle of the country, the Chicago area is a major hub for commercial shipping in the United States. While airplanes, trains, and boats all play their roles, large trucks are essential to moving the millions of tons of cargo that pass through Chicago and its neighboring cities and towns each year. With so many trucks traveling on our roads, accidents are bound to happen and, given the massive size of these vehicles, likely to be catastrophic when they do, inflicting significant property damage and serious injuries.

If you have been hurt by a large truck, you might be able to recover compensation for your injuries. However, as any capable truck accident lawyer will tell you, you must prove that the truck was responsible for the crash in order to have a viable personal injury claim. But how do truck drivers cause accidents?

There are many ways that negligent and distracted truck drivers contribute to and cause catastrophic Chicago truck accidents that victimize individuals and their families.

Unfortunately, the majority of these collisions are the result of dangerous driving practices or simply due to the negligence of the driver and could have been prevented.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

It’s also important to note that truck drivers, especially those who are on a long haul or who happen to be distracted by smartphones, are much more likely to cause an accident.

According to the most recent study, the average American drives about 51 minutes each day. A long haul trucker, on the other hand, has to spend essentially all of his or her waking day driving, often for several days in a row to complete a cross-country trip. While they are only legally allowed to work for 14 hours a day, only 11 hours of which can be spent behind the wheel, the pressures of earning a living often force truck drivers to push themselves beyond what is legal or safe. This can only increase the likelihood of truck driver error, and when truck drivers make mistakes, innocent people can get hurt.

If you happen to be one of these people, contact an experienced lawyer to help you pursue a Chicago truck accident injury claim. A capable attorney will know how to prove that the truck driver was the one at fault and has the means to obtain information that might demonstrate that he or she was driving beyond the legally permissible limits.

18-Wheeler Accidents

Accidents involving 18-wheeler trucks can result from unsafe driving, oversized loads, and other improper practices that put everyone on the road in danger. While these types of accidents can happen for a number of reasons, there are three main causes:

• Jackknifing – Semi-trailers can jackknife when their loads shift as they come to a sudden stop. If they do, there may be few options for nearby vehicles to avoid an accident. A jackknife can result in multi-vehicle pileups that can cause many fatalities.
• Unsecured Loads – If cargo loads or equipment are improperly secured, they can shift or fall from a truck, which creates an obstacle course of debris that could place innocent people in harm’s way.
• Blowouts – When the tire treads on a truck become old or worn, a blowout can result, which could cause the truck to fishtail, flip, roll over, go airborne, or stop suddenly, inflicting significant damage on others.

Delivery Truck Accidents

Because of their size and shape, delivery trucks frequently have obstructed views, which can limit their drivers’ ability to see other vehicles.

They also regularly pull over in restricted areas or double-park on city streets in order to make deliveries, which can create obstacles for traffic and result in accidents. This can prove fatal for pedestrians because the view from oncoming traffic may be restricted, leading a vehicle to fail to stop until it is too late.

Truck Accident Injuries Often Cause Chronic Pain

Truck accident victims can experience anything from mild to severe injuries.

Oftentimes, because of the size discrepancy between a truck and a car, the injuries and the damages are significant. Whether or not the trucks involved have attached trailers, the impact is often just as devastating.

Truck accident victims frequently suffer from:

Many of these injuries will require years of medical treatment and chronic pain management, and may also lead to lost wages and the inability for the injured victim to return to the occupation he or she held prior to the accident. As such, any settlement should reflect all of the costs of the injuries.

The expense of this ongoing treatment can far exceed what the typical household can afford to pay. Most Chicago residents, like most Americans, live paycheck to paycheck, struggling to put food on the table and a roof over their family’s heads. A major medical event can easily wipe them out, particularly when it is coupled with a permanent loss of income. To make sure you get well while protecting what you already have, reach out to a seasoned Chicago truck accident lawyer who will ensure that the ones who are responsible for your injuries are the ones who pick up the tab.

GWC Injury Lawyers: YOUR Chicago Truck Accident Lawyers

Many of our clients want to know, who is responsible for the accident? Who will pay for my injuries? How will I support my family? The insurance company was nice – should I accept a settlement?

When you need answers to all of your questions and a plan of attack after a truck accident in and around Chicago and throughout Illinois, contact the Chicago truck accident lawyers at GWC. During your free case review, we will determine the best course of action.

We have been helping Illinois truck accident victims for over forty years. During that time, we have successfully recovered more than $2 BILLION in compensation for our clients.

…. and all of the neighboring towns and suburbs.

At GWC Injury Lawyers, your first consultation is free. Call us at 1-312-464-1234.