Illinois Truck Accidents Continue to Cause Significant Harm to Locals

 Posted on August 27,2015 in Personal Injury

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the number of truck crashes and fatalities is on the rise. In 2011 alone, 3,757 died in collisions with trucks and more than 80,000 Americans were injured. Though trucks make up less than five percent of all vehicles on U.S. roadways, per mile driven, those same trucks cause fatalities at rate that is 17 percent higher than that for regular passenger vehicles.

Size of Trucks: A Contributing Factor

Along with the number of trucks on the road, the size of trucks will also increase as well. In fact, some will be longer than passenger airplanes and weigh up to 20 times more than a family car. Given the size disparity between trucks and cars, when trucks crash, most of the people who are injured or die are the occupants of the cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and even pedestrians involved, as opposed to the truck drivers themselves.

Many truck safety issues can arise because truck drivers are paid by the miles they drive instead of by the number of hours they have actually worked. This can result in drivers who are pushed to ignore safety measures when they are fatigued. In addition to dangerous driver exhaustion, research has shown that more than 28,000 trucking companies or corporations knowingly operate on U.S. roadways with safety violations—putting everyone at risk for their profits.

The area around Chicago serves as a transportation hub of several major interstate highways that all kinds of trucks routinely use. Because of our central location, truck crashes are far too common in and around DuPage County.

Contact an Illinois Attorney for Help

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident across Illinois, contact us. Our team of lawyers is well-versed in everything you are facing—including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the loss of family support if your loved one dies.

While the cost of injuries and deaths caused by truck crashes may be immense, we can help. When trucks crash, we can help you seek justice. In fact, in addition to truck drivers, the corporations who employ them—especially when they have violated safety regulations—can also be found responsible and held accountable in a court of law for their actions or oversights.

Though every case is unique, our accident lawyers have the education and experience to know the best way for you and your loved ones to finally get the justice you deserve.

If you have been the victim of an Illinois truck accident, contact a DuPage County truck accident lawyerat Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices for an initial consultation. We will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries.