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​Experienced ILLINOIS Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
& CHICAGO Injury Lawyers

Illinois Truck Accident Statistics

Experienced Chicago Lawyers for People Injured in Tractor-Trailer Crashes

Throughout the nation, commercial trucks deliver many types of goods and serve a vital role in transportation. However, these massive vehicles pose a serious risk of injury when involved in a collision. Due to their size and weight, a crash involving a large truck can lead to significant damage, as shown by Illinois truck accident statistics. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our Chicago truck accident attorneys bring experienced and compassionate representation to clients. Whether you or a family member has been hurt in a serious motor vehicle collision, we are prepared to pursue full compensation on your behalf. In the event that a fatal truck accident has led to the death of a loved one, we can bring a wrongful death claim as well.

Illinois Truck Accident Statistics and Legal Claims Arising from Collisions

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintains statistics on large truck accidents throughout the nation, covering fatalities as well as injuries and property damage that occur. Additionally, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes clear that in 2015, throughout the nation, over 433,000 large trucks were reported to be involved in traffic crashes. In the majority of these truck collisions, the victims were drivers or passengers of vehicles other than the truck.

Illinois-specific crash information indicates that in 2014, there were over 19,000 crashes within the state involving large trucks. These crashes accounted for nearly 13% of all traffic fatalities for the year. Additionally, the majority of these crashes took place in daylight and in clear weather.

Illinois law provides a legal method that victims can use to hold other parties accountable for causing a truck accident. Injured individuals may file a personal injury claim against a negligent truck driver and trucking company, as well as other entities in some cases. In a legal claim, the victim serves as the plaintiff and asserts that the defendants were responsible for causing their injuries.

Negligence is a legal term that refers to a failure to use reasonable care. There are many ways that a truck driver can fail to meet their duty of care. For large trucks involved in deliveries, drivers are required to meet strict deadlines, and they may speed or ignore hours-of-service regulations. Both Illinois trucking regulations and federal regulations are intended to protect truck drivers and others on the road. When conduct such as speeding or ignoring regulations concerning hours spent on the road directly causes a crash and the resulting harm, the driver can be held legally accountable with the assistance of an injury attorney.

A trucking company may also be liable for harm caused in a crash. Under the legal theory of negligent hiring, a company that knew or should have known that a truck driver was unfit to serve as an employee may be at fault if that employee’s conduct caused the victim’s harm. In order to successfully bring a negligent hiring claim, the company’s negligent hiring must be a substantial factor in causing the injuries. For example, if the driver’s risky conduct in the past included driving while under the influence of drugs, and the driver caused a crash due to drug use, the company may be responsible for the employee’s conduct.

As Illinois truck accident statistics indicate, these crashes can lead to fatalities. When a loved one has been killed in a truck collision, family members may pursue a wrongful death claim in order to recover damages from the at-fault truck driver or company. The damages that are available in a wrongful death claim include medical costs in addition to compensation for emotional suffering and the losses endured due to the loss of the financial and personal support of the deceased family member.

Personal injury damages in a lawsuit following a truck collision are intended to compensate victims for harm resulting from the crash, including property damage and medical costs. Victims are encouraged to maintain documentation of their injuries and medical care. To fully recover for all accident-related costs, medical professionals can help assess the future care that the victim will require.

Retain a Truck Accident Attorney in the Chicago Area

The skilled lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca have represented people throughout the state in personal injury claims following a truck collision. We understand that the impact of a massive vehicle crash can affect victims’ quality of life, physical capabilities, and ability to return to previous employment. Our Chicago lawyers seek to hold all parties accountable, including the truck driver and potentially their trucking employer. To more fully understand your legal right to recovery, contact our law firm and learn more about your claim. We assist accident victims throughout the region, including people in Aurora, Rockford, Springfield, Champaign, Quincy, and other areas of Cook, Sangamon, Winnebago, Champaign, and Adams Counties. To schedule a free consultation, call our office at 312-724-5846 or reach us online.