Barrington, IL Truck Accident Lawyers

The Effects of Commercial Truck Accident Injuries

The injuries that can occur in collisions with large commercial vehicles can be severe. Extensive medical treatment will often be needed to save a person's life and ensure that they will be able to recover. Even with treatment, some injuries can permanently affect a victim's life. Brain injuries can affect a person's memory and intellectual abilities, making it difficult to perform daily tasks. Spinal cord injuries may lead to paralysis. Broken bones, amputations, and severe burns may also have long-lasting or permanent effects.

Beyond the physical impact of a person's injuries, a truck accident can have long-term financial consequences. The medical treatment a person needs can rack up huge bills that can be difficult to pay. A person may not be able to return to work, leading to a loss of income that can add to their financial difficulties. The financial compensation a person receives following a truck accident should reflect all of their losses while also addressing the personal impact on their life and their overall well-being.

Truck Driver Negligence

When truck drivers fail to follow the laws and regulations that apply to operators of commercial vehicles, they may cause dangerous truck accidents due to issues such as:

Traffic Violations and Unsafe Driving

A large truck will need much more distance to stop than a passenger vehicle. When a truck driver is speeding or following too closely behind another vehicle, they may not have enough time to respond when the flow of traffic changes suddenly. This may result in rear-end collisions or other types of truck accidents.

Other unsafe behaviors by truck drivers may include making unsafe lane changes. Large trucks have blind spots where a driver will be unable to see other vehicles next to them. A driver who does not look carefully to make sure the road is clear before changing lanes may sideswipe another vehicle.

Intoxicated Truck Drivers

A driver of any vehicle will experience dangerous impairments when they drink alcohol or use drugs. These issues can be even more dangerous for truck drivers, who need to be able to maintain constant attention and handle complex systems as they operate their vehicles. To prevent drunk driving, truck drivers are required to perform regular drug and alcohol testing.

Despite these precautions, some truck drivers may still drive while intoxicated. In addition to alcohol, they may use stimulants to try to stay awake during long trips, or prescription medications or other substances may affect their ability to operate a large truck. A truck driver who is drunk or under the influence of drugs may completely lose control and crash into other vehicles at a high speed, inflicting severe or fatal injuries.

Driver Fatigue

One of the most serious hazards that affects commercial truck drivers is related to the long hours they drive. It is easy for a truck driver to become tired, experience drowsiness, or struggle to maintain control of a truck due to fatigue. A driver who is fatigued will be more likely to make dangerous mistakes, or they could even fall asleep, preventing them from reacting at all before crashing into someone else.

Other Causes of Truck Accidents

In addition to mistakes or dangerous behavior by truck drivers, other parties involved in shipping goods may engage in negligence that can put people at risk. Trucking companies, maintenance contractors, cargo loaders, and equipment manufacturers may all share responsibility for truck accidents.

Inadequate Vehicle Maintenance

Commercial trucks travel hundreds of thousands of miles over years of operation. Their brakes, tires, steering systems, and other components experience significant wear. When these parts break down, they can affect a driver's ability to maintain control of a truck. To prevent this from happening, trucking companies are required to inspect trucks regularly and perform maintenance to repair any potential problems. When a company cuts corners on maintenance and allows a vehicle with defective parts to remain in service, it may be responsible for a truck accident.

Improperly Loaded Cargo

The way cargo is loaded onto a commercial truck will affect the handling of the vehicle. Cargo must be secured in place, and it should be distributed in a way that allows a truck to maintain the proper balance. If cargo is not loaded or secured correctly, a truck may become overloaded or unbalanced, causing the driver to lose control. Overloaded trucks are harder to stop, and they will be more likely to roll over when a truck driver navigates curves or swerves suddenly.

Unsecured cargo may not only shift and throw off the balance of a truck, but it may also fall off a truck while it is in motion. This can put people in other vehicles at risk of being injured. Large, heavy cargo may land on and crush other vehicles. Items that land in lanes of traffic may cause accidents when drivers swerve or brake suddenly to avoid debris.

Contact Our Barrington Truck Accident Attorneys

A person who is injured in a collision with a commercial truck may encounter multiple types of complex legal issues. Multiple parties may share responsibility, and the evidence needed to build a strong case can disappear quickly. At Schwartz Injury Law, our attorneys can make sure the right steps are taken after a truck accident to protect our clients' rights and obtain compensation from all liable parties. Contact our Barrington, IL commercial truck accident lawyers at 708-888-2160 to arrange a free consultation.