Understanding The Causes of Truck Accidents in Illinois

Truck accidents are a significant concern on Illinois roads, often resulting in severe injuries and fatalities due to the sheer size and weight of trucks. As a law firm with decades of experience in handling truck accident cases, we understand the complexities involved in these incidents and are dedicated to helping victims seek justice. Understanding what caused a truck accident is our job. These cases are complex and we use our experience to find answers and get the compensation our clients deserve. Call 312-724-5846 for a free consultation.

Causes of Truck Crashes

Several factors contribute to truck accidents, and understanding these causes is crucial for prevention and legal action. There can be various reasons for a trucking accident from falling debris from the trailer, drug use by a trucker, and more.

• Truck Driver Fatigue: One of the primary causes is truck driver fatigue. Truck drivers often work long hours to meet tight delivery schedules, leading to exhaustion and decreased alertness. Federal law sets forth the number of hours that a driver is permitted to operate their commercial vehicle. Violating an hours-of-service law exposes the driver and others to a risk of serious harm, since a tired driver is less capable of controlling their vehicle and responding appropriately to hazards on the road. Some trucking companies compensate drivers by the miles that they travel or the weight that they carry, which encourages drivers to exceed what might be a natural limit to their driving abilities and results in tired driving.
• Blind Spots: On an 18-wheeler truck, there are several blind spots, including below and behind the driver-side window, as well as toward the end of the trailer and directly behind the trailer. While drivers may not be able to effectively see in these areas, they are nevertheless required to use reasonable care while operating their massive vehicles.
• Improper Maintenance of Trucks: To safely operate and avoid dangers on the road, commercial trucks must be properly and frequently maintained. Federal laws have been enacted to ensure that truck companies and their drivers regularly conduct inspections of brakes, lights, tires, and other truck parts. Proper inspection and repair helps to avoid the devastating harm caused by malfunctioning trucks. Unfortunately, some truck companies may fail to comply with these laws, and when improper maintenance is determined to have contributed to a truck accident, victims have a right to file a personal injury claim against the company and potentially the driver.
• Inadequate Driver Training: 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. 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.
• Mechanical Malfunctions: All trucks are supposed to meet certain federal safety standards before their drivers take them on the road. Trucking companies must file maintenance records to show that their trucks are safe while out on the road. Commonly, malfunctions occur in connection with a truck’s brakes, headlights, brake lights, steering, or tires. Truck drivers are supposed to perform inspections of their trucks before setting off on a trip, and they may need to inspect during the trip, depending on the condition of the truck.
• Negligent Hiring: Trucking companies have a duty to ensure that their drivers are properly trained in how to operate large, commercial trucks. When a trucking company fails to meet the standard of reasonable care in evaluating, training, and hiring competent drivers, it may be liable if an accident occurs. Trucking companies must meet state and federal regulations for hiring drivers. Before hiring a tractor-trailer driver, employers must review the candidate’s driving record and employment background.
• Negligent Supervision: Negligent supervision may apply in a truck accident legal claim when the trucking company, as an employer, knew or should have known that an employee was unfit or incompetent, and therefore they should not have been operating a truck. Another example is a trucking company failing to conduct background checks on employees or carelessly continuing the employment of a driver when there is a strong known reason for termination.
• Overweight/Overloaded Trucks: Commercial vehicles are often used to haul heavy cargo for long distances. It is important that drivers ensure that the load is balanced and that the tractor-trailer remains stable so that they may steer and brake appropriately. An overweight or overloaded truck may cause the driver to lose control and potentially cause an accident. Federal and state laws maintain weight restrictions for commercial trucks, and truck manufacturers assign a gross vehicle weight rating that takes into effect the specifics of that vehicle.While on the road, drivers must use weigh stations along their trucking routes. These stations help to ensure that cargo remains within the truck’s gross weight rating limit. If the station indicates that the truck is overweight, drivers are expected to lighten their load.Overloaded trucks cannot perform as well as properly loaded trucks. Inclines present a challenge, since the vehicle will gain speed more quickly than it would at the proper weight. Cargo may shift when a truck is overloaded, and when it is improperly distributed, this may affect the axles and the balance of the vehicle. Even if a truck is not overweight, when cargo is improperly loaded, it may cause the truck to roll over or have issues when making turns.
• Truck Trailer Hitch Failures: If a hitch fails on the trailer that is being towed, there are many potential reasons for that failure, including improper installation, lack of driver training, or defective design. The failure of the hitch can result in the trailer or vehicle being towed disengaging from a hauling vehicle, and the result may be that it crashes into the cars and other traffic behind it. Hitch failures can affect any vehicle that tows another vehicle, including semi-trucks, pickups, flatbeds, heavy rigs, and moving trucks or vans. Often, the cause of a hitch failure involves hitch defects, a defective trailer tongue, a defective coupler, a defective locking mechanism, rusted parts, a failure to install safety chains appropriately, overweight or improperly distributed cargo, dangerous weather conditions, defective brakes, or reckless speeding.
• Wide Turns: Executing a wide turn in a tractor-trailer requires significant training and practice. Drivers operating commercial vehicles are required to abide by safety standards in a variety of areas, including procedures for completing a safe wide turn. One of the more common types of truck accidents results when tractor-trailers make swinging turns and crash into other vehicles or pedestrians.

The Legal Help You Need After A Truck Accident

Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca has the resources and expertise to investigate truck accidents thoroughly. We work with accident reconstruction experts, review maintenance records, and analyze driving logs to build a strong case for our clients. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options. Trust us to fight for your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call 312-724-5846 or email us now to receive your free consultation.