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​Experienced ILLINOIS Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
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Inadequate Driver Training

Truck Accident Attorneys Helping Injured People in Chicago and Surrounding Areas

Driving a tractor-trailer requires training in proper methods to maneuver these large vehicles. Additionally, training that is specific for commercial vehicles may help truckers overcome potential dangers on the road, avoiding collisions or minimizing harm. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a truck accident due to inadequate driver training, you may be entitled to compensation from the trucking company, as well as other parties. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our Chicago truck accident lawyers have decades of experience advocating for victims in Illinois.

Establish Liability for a Truck Accident Caused by Inadequate Driver Training

Truck accidents often have more than one underlying cause, and a victim pursuing a legal claim against an at-fault party must set forth evidence of liability, or legal fault. Driver error, which includes fatigue and speeding, is a form of negligence that may lead to an accident. Inadequate driver training may also lead to serious truck collisions, and truck companies should be held accountable for failing to fulfill their duty of properly preparing drivers for the road.

Trucking companies are required to meet a certain standard of care, which includes hiring and retaining only competent and capable drivers. Before hiring a tractor-trailer driver, employers must review the candidate’s driving record and employment background. Drivers must pass both written and driving exams and be prepared for emergency conditions, changes in weather, and other potential issues posed by their large vehicles. The technical competence required to drive a truck must also be paired with physical capacity, such as freedom from medical conditions that may limit or impair the ability to drive.

Inadequate driver training may lead to improper braking, speeding, or overweight/overloaded truck issues. Additionally, commercial truck operator training includes safe evasive tactics and maneuvers for avoiding collisions with dangerous or hazardous materials. To obtain a commercial driver’s license in Illinois, applicants must meet state and federal regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established rules regarding minimum training standards, which require not only theory instruction but hands-on driving instruction as well. Proficiency in a range of elements is necessary in order to obtain a commercial driving license.

To hold a truck company liable following a crash, a victim would seek to show that the company did not meet its duty of adequately training the driver who caused the collision. Demonstrating that the trucking company failed to follow training regulations and that the driver’s inadequate training caused the accident will support a claim for compensation. After a determination that the trucking company and potentially the driver was accountable, the victim may be compensated for medical costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages caused by the accident, among other types of damages.

Retain a Chicago Lawyer for a Truck Crash Case

Illinois law provides truck accident victims with a legal right to file a claim against a negligent truck driver, a trucking company, or other parties potentially at fault. Federal and state standards must be met by trucking companies in order to ensure the safety of their drivers, as well as others on the road. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our Chicago lawyers provide representation to victims of truck accidents caused by inadequate driver training. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash, we have the resources and experience to help you pursue compensation to assist your physical and financial recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation by using our online form or calling 312-724-5846. Our motor vehicle collision attorneys also help victims in Aurora, Rockford, Champaign, Springfield, and other communities in Kane, Cook, Sangamon, and Winnebago Counties.