Illinois is home to many interstates and highways, so traffic is no stranger to residents here. But a typical, boring commute can very quickly turn into a traumatic incident, especially if you find yourself in an accident with semi-truck.
Because of their imposing size and weight, commercial trucks can cause a lot of damage with even the smallest collision. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reported that semi-trucks were involved in 11,011 crashes in 2017. Of these crashes there were:
- 2498 non-fatal injuries, with approximately 20% of injuries happening to the truck driver and 80% of injuries happening to passengers of opposing vehicles.
- 479 critical injuries that permanently disabled the victims.
- 115 deaths.
- Over 9000 cases of major damage.
Though semi crashes account for only 3.5% of total crashes in Illinois, the severity of the accidents tends to be exponentially higher than collisions with other motor vehicles.
Civil lawsuits following truck accidents
There are many factors that come into play before any accident: the environment circumstances, the people involved and even the vehicles themselves. But the big question in any civil case is: who is at fault?
In a civil suit following the semi-truck accident there are many people who might find themselves in the defendant’s chair: the driver of the truck, the employer of the driver, the truck manufacturer or a third-party owner of the truck. It all depends on the circumstances behind the cause of the accident.
The truck driver might be at fault if the accident was a result of:
- Fatigue or falling asleep behind the wheel
- Speeding or other traffic safety violations
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Poor decision making
The employer of the driver might be at fault due to:
- Inadequate training of the driver
- Poor company policies that effected the driver’s response, such as policies regarding rest
- Failure to screen the driver before employment, if the driver has a concerning history that could have been predictive of the accident
The manufacturer or third-party truck owners could be at fault due to things like:
- Poor truck design
- Inadequate truck maintenance
Regardless of who the defendant is, the fact is that truck accidents can result in truly devastating damages. Negligence on the truck’s end can easily cost a commuter thousands of dollars in damages, hospital bills and sometimes even cost the life of a loved one. Anyone who finds themselves in such a situation may want to consider a civil suit to cover the cost of these damages.
If you or a loved one suffered in a truck accident, please call The Personal Injury Lawyers ™ at 312-999-9990.
