3 Major Causes of Truck Accidents

If you have been the victim of a truck accident in the greater Chicago area, you may be asking, “What just happened?” These accidents can occur in an instant, without warning, and sometimes they involve one of the largest types of commercial trucks – the semi-truck or 18-wheeler. These massive vehicles, because of their immense size and weight, are no match for smaller passenger vehicles when it comes to the results of a collision. They can inflict massive damage on smaller vehicles and serious injuries or death upon those inside these vehicles.

Reckless driving

Reckless driving has been the cause of untold accidents and injuries over the years. When it comes to truck drivers and reckless driving, some drivers feel the pressure of tight delivery schedules and put some extra “pedal to the metal” to meet those delivery quotas. A heavy semi-truck traveling in excess of the speed limit is a dangerous weapon on the highway and can lead to disastrous results.

Fatigued driving

Drivers without sufficient rest and sleep are fatigued drivers. The drowsiness that many truck drivers experience on the road due to long hours combined with insufficient rest is a recipe for truck accidents. Driver fatigue can occur as a result of the trucking company pushing the driver to hard, poor planning on the part of the driver, or a health condition the driver has which inhibits his or her ability to get the proper amount of sleep. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rules in place designed to prevent the problem of truck driver fatigue.

Distracted driving

When truck drivers remove their eyes from the task of operating their vehicle onto other concerns or distractions, it puts them and others at serious risk. Chicago truck drivers must adhere to strict rules that forbid texting and driving. Federal rules forbid truck drivers to text with a hand-held device while driving. Drivers are not permitted to access a mobile phone while driving other than to press a single button to start or finish a call. Texting while driving involves a truck driver engaging in the three types of distraction – visual, physical, and cognitive.

According to research sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the chances of being involved in a crash or other dangerous critical safety event is 23.2 times greater for commercial vehicle operators who text than for others who do not text and drive. It only takes a truck driver removing his or her eyes from the road for 4.6 seconds on average while traveling at 55 mph to travel the entire length of a football field with looking at the road.

At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we understand the devastation you may be going through in the aftermath of injuries sustained in a truck accident caused by a negligent truck driver. You may have already lost wages and incurred mounting medical bills. Our Chicago truck accident lawyers are here to investigate your case and put together a strong claim on your behalf for the compensation you deserve. To discuss your case with us during a free consultation, call us today at 312.600.9585 or use our contact form.