Three Common Causes of Fatal Truck Accidents in Illinois

 Posted on January 18, 2022 in Personal Injury

Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers are essential for transporting necessary goods all over the country. Food, clothing, vehicles, and even prefabricated homes travel safely to their destinations every day, thanks to the effort of cautious trucking companies and their drivers. 

But trucks can also pose serious risks, especially to other drivers on the road in smaller vehicles. Trucks that are improperly loaded, negligently maintained, or driven by exhausted or inebriated drivers can cause crashes that lead to serious and even fatal injuries. If you or someone you love has been involved in a truck accident, it may be possible to recover financial damages with the help of an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney. Here are three common causes of fatal truck accidents. 

Shifting or Loose Loads

Truck drivers are required to abide by rigorous safety measures that regulate the way cargo must be loaded and secured before driving. Cargo must be evenly distributed and properly secured so it does not shift or come loose during transportation. Sometimes, employees fail to abide by these standards. When cargo is not correctly secured, it can make a truck unsteady, causing it to swerve, tip over, or roll. Cargo can also fall out of a truck and into the road, hitting some vehicles and causing other vehicles to swerve to try to avoid a collision. 

Maintenance Negligence

Trucking companies and their drivers must ensure that trucks are safe to drive on the road. This includes ensuring tires have not worn down their treads to unsafe levels, all headlights and taillights are working correctly, and that the trailer can be safely secured to the tractor. Truck tires that are too worn out can blow out, causing pieces of the tire to fly into the air and impacting others on the road. Trucks that cannot signal properly pose serious risks when they must suddenly slow down.  

Fatigued, Distracted, and Inebriated Drivers

Working as a truck driver is not easy. Trucking companies often fail to provide necessary training, encourage drivers to lie about taking mandated rest breaks, and ask drivers to travel thousands of miles with very little rest. Drowsy driving is dangerous driving, and so is driving under the influence of alcohol or any drugs. Truckers who use their phones also put the drivers around them at serious risk, as they are unable to place their full attention on the road. 

Call a Joliet Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents can cause serious injury and even death. If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident, an experienced Will County, IL truck accident attorney may be able to help you recover damages. To schedule your free consultation today, call the offices of Schwartz Injury Law at 708-888-2160. 

Sources: 

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/cargo-securement-rules 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-401