Whether they are caused by spilled truck cargo, unsafe lane changes, speeding, or another reason, truck accidents often result in severe consequences. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a car crash involving a commercial truck, you may be able to hold the liable party accountable and recover financial compensation through a personal injury claim. You may be entitled to reimbursement for past and future medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, and even your pain and suffering. However, to do so, you will need to build a persuasive claim with compelling evidence.

Proving Liability and Damages in a Truck Crash Claim

Bringing a successful injury claim against a trucking company can be especially challenging because commercial trucking companies often have significant resources at their disposal. The trucking company may deny liability for the crash or push for an unreasonably low settlement. A skilled personal injury lawyer experienced in truck accident cases can help you build a strong claim against the trucking company or other liable party. The stronger the evidence supporting your claim, the better your chances are of securing a favorable settlement or award.

Your attorney will need to demonstrate that:

Motor vehicle accidents can cause serious consequences, from extensive car damage to severe injuries. When a car collides with a semi-truck, the aftermath can be devastating, even fatal to the occupants of the automobile. This is partly due to the massive size and weight of the truck compared to the car. The trucking industry is strictly regulated at the federal and state levels. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) puts in place several rules and regulations to govern the trucking industry. If these regulations are not adhered to, a truck accident can occur. Although many people may think the truck driver would automatically be at fault for causing the crash, in some cases, a trucking organization or company may also be found liable for negligent behavior or actions.

A Driver’s Reckless Actions

Illinois truck drivers must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in order to operate their big rigs. A truck driver should take reasonable care to drive safely when working and if he or she does not, the results may be deadly. Below are a few examples of reckless behavior behind the wheel that can cause a truck accident:

The trucking industry is an integral part of the United States economy. Trucks across the country transport essential products that consumers need, such as food, clothing, medicine, building materials, electronics, and more. In Illinois, a commercial driver's license (CDL) is required to operate these types of vehicles. This specialized license is obtained through education and training necessary for handling such a large vehicle. Drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) must follow certain regulations governing their driving, which are issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If a trucker does not adhere to proper procedures or protocol, these CDL violations can cause accidents with serious to life-threatening injuries.

What Constitutes a Violation?

Advancements in technology, such as computers, global positioning systems (GPS), satellites, and wireless/BlueTooth communication have been major contributions to the trucking industry. These improvements have significantly enhanced productivity, saving time for drivers and money for trucking companies, since cargo can often be delivered sooner rather than later. Despite the latest technological gadgets to make driving easier, motorists are still obligated to follow the rules of the road as well as any additional guidelines they might have, such as for CDL drivers. A few of the typical actions that can lead to a traffic violation that may endanger others on the road include:

Truck accidents are serious and often fatal to drivers in passenger cars. In 2017, over 4,000 victims died as a result of truck accidents. Although truck drivers can face fatalities, other people on the road are much more likely to have fatal accidents. There are several reasons why a truck accident may happen that is the sole responsibility of the truck driver or company. We cannot control the driving of others, but taking precautions around trucks can save your life.

Truck drivers and their vehicles go through long stretches of work. If a vehicle is poorly maintained, it can cause an accident that is completely out of the driver’s control. There are work limits for truck drivers to help eliminate fatigue on the road. However, there are often pressures from companies to fulfill a shipment within required times. These are cases where the truck driver or company would be negligent, and if an accident happened, the fault would be on them. These tips will help prevent accidents altogether and may eliminate your responsibility.

Blind Spots: Due to the massive size of some trucks, they have equally large blind spots. Staying out of these blind spots and merging responsibility will allow truck drivers to be aware of others on the road. It is best to stay at a minimum of 30 feet behind and 20 feet in front of a truck. On the driver’s side, their blind spot extends one lane, but on the passenger side, it is two lanes. A good rule of thumb is if you cannot see the truck driver in their mirrors, they cannot see you.

 Any accident on the road can be traumatizing, but getting in an accident with a semi-truck can produce especially fatal or life-changing results. Commercial trucks weigh significantly more than other passenger vehicles, so any impact with a truck can destroy your car and produce serious injuries. The majority of deaths in truck collisions are people in passenger cars according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 2017, over 4,000 people in the United States were victim to truck accidents compared to 683 deaths of truck occupants in the same year.

How Do Truck Accidents Happen?

Although there are precautions made by truck drivers and suppliers, fatal accidents involving large commercial trucks still occur. When a driver is responsible for negligence, it is most commonly due to overworking. There are laws in place to prevent truck drivers from overworking. A fatigued driver is less aware of what is on the road and will have a delayed reaction time, that otherwise could have saved lives. A truck accident can also occur because of poorly maintained equipment. It is the truck company’s responsibility to keep unsafe trucks and trucking equipment off the road. Additionally, a truck driver should also be aware of how a truck is performing and report any overlooked or occurred damage. Poor weather conditions also contribute to the reasons truck accidents happen. With the size and weight of semi-trucks, they take longer to stop. If a truck driver is going too fast for the weather and needs to stop suddenly, no amount of reaction time will prevent the truck from sliding into traffic.