Joliet Truck Accidents Attorney

Recover Compensation with Our Truck Accident Lawyer in Joliet, IL

18-wheelers and other large commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. When these trucks are involved in accidents, people in other vehicles may suffer serious harm, including catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. While injury victims have options in these situations, they may need to deal with complex legal issues involving trucking companies, insurance policies, and regulations affecting commercial vehicles. At Carlson Law Group, P.C., our personal injury lawyer can provide representation for people injured in truck accidents in Joliet and throughout Will County and other surrounding counties. We can take steps to ensure that the parties responsible for these incidents will be held liable for causing our clients to suffer harm.

Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents

There are many factors that can contribute to truck accidents, but collisions will often be caused by negligence by truck drivers, their employers, or others involved in operating and maintaining commercial vehicles. Some of the most common reasons why these accidents may occur include:

• Driver fatigue: Truck drivers work long hours. Even though federal regulations limit the number of hours they can drive while requiring regular breaks, truck drivers may face pressure to continue driving past the point when they can safely do so. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times, and they may experience drowsiness or even fall asleep at the wheel.
• Drug or alcohol use: Intoxicated driving is always dangerous, but truck drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs will put everyone around them at risk of suffering serious harm. Substance abuse can impair a driver's ability to operate a commercial vehicle safely, and drugs or alcohol can affect their coordination, reaction time, and decision-making abilities. Some drivers may use drugs such as methamphetamines to combat fatigue, while others may be affected by prescription drugs or other substances that can cause drowsiness or impairment.
• Inadequate training: Proper training is essential for commercial truck drivers to ensure that they can operate large, complex vehicles safely. Inadequate training can lead to mistakes in judgment, poor handling of trucks, and a failure to follow safety protocols. Ensuring that drivers are well-trained and qualified is critical for preventing accidents.
• Traffic violations: Truck drivers who engage in unsafe behaviors such as speeding, reckless driving, disobeying traffic signals, or tailgating can put others at risk of harm in truck accidents. Due to their size and weight, trucks require more time and distance to stop, making compliance with traffic laws even more critical.
• Maintenance failures: Commercial trucks must undergo regular maintenance to ensure that they are in safe operating condition. Mechanical failures can lead to issues such as brake malfunctions, tire blowouts, or engine problems, and these issues may cause truck drivers to lose control and collide with other vehicles. Neglecting routine maintenance or failing to inspect trucks properly can lead to preventable accidents.
• Unsecured cargo: If the items loaded on a commercial truck are not tied down or secured correctly, they can shift while the truck is in motion. This may lead to an unbalanced load, causing a truck driver to lose control and potentially leading to rollovers or jackknife accidents. Unsecured cargo may also fall from trucks and strike other vehicles, inflicting serious harm to drivers or passengers.

Determining Liability in Truck Accidents

Multiple parties may be involved in accidents involving commercial trucks. In many cases, a truck driver may be liable due to negligence while operating a commercial vehicle. Driving logs and other records may be reviewed to determine whether a driver may have been fatigued or engaged in unsafe behaviors:

Trucking companies may be held liable for actions taken by truck drivers they employed. They may also be held responsible for negligent hiring practices such as failure to perform background checks or failure to provide sufficient training for drivers. They may be liable for accidents that occurred because of a failure to ensure that trucks were properly maintained or a failure to make sure cargo was loaded and secured correctly.

In cases where mechanical failures were caused by defective parts, the manufacturer of the truck or its components may be held liable. Brake failures, tire defects, or other equipment malfunctions may be addressed through product liability lawsuits.

Contact Our Joliet Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents can be devastating, but people injured by negligent truck drivers, trucking companies, or other parties can take steps to recover compensation for their injuries and damages. At Carlson Law Group, P.C., we can perform comprehensive investigations of the circumstances surrounding truck accidents, identify all liable parties, negotiate settlements with insurance companies, and take legal action to recover compensation when necessary. To get the legal representation needed following a truck accident, contact us at 815-710-3700 and arrange a free consultation.