Hoffman Estates Car Accident Lawyers

Injuries Caused by Commercial Truck Accidents

The injuries that can occur in collisions with large commercial vehicles are likely to be severe. Victims may need to be hospitalized for lengthy stays, and multiple surgeries may be required to correct the damage that has occurred. Extended rehabilitation will often be needed, and some victims may be permanently disabled. Families may experience financial pressure as they deal with medical bills and other expenses, and the loss of income while a person is recovering can make these issues even worse.

The injuries that can occur will often depend on what happened during a truck crash. These accidents may include:

Rear-End Collisions

When a large truck strikes a passenger vehicle from behind, the occupants of the smaller vehicle can suffer traumatic brain injuries, herniated discs, severe whiplash, and other types of injuries. When a rear-end crash involving a truck takes place at a high speed, the results can be deadly.

Head-On Collisions

A truck that collides with another vehicle head-on may severely injure or kill the occupants of the car. These crashes can occur when a truck driver drifts across the road after losing control on a curve or after falling asleep at the wheel.

Sideswipe Accidents

Large trucks have blind spots on all four sides, and truck drivers may not be able to see other vehicles traveling alongside them. When they change lanes or merge without signaling or making sure the road is clear, they may cause a sideswipe collision that can force a car off the road or into other lanes of traffic. These accidents can result in injuries like broken bones, spinal injuries, and serious head trauma.

Rollover Accidents

Trucks may roll over when drivers travel too fast on curves or make sudden maneuvers. A rolling truck can crush nearby vehicles, inflicting serious harm on their occupants. A rollover accident may also scatter debris across the road, leading to secondary collisions involving multiple vehicles.

Jackknife Accidents

When a truck driver loses control, their trailer may swing outward at an angle to the cab. This can happen when a driver brakes suddenly or takes a sharp turn at a high speed. A jackknifing trailer can sweep across multiple lanes of traffic, striking several vehicles.

Underride Accidents

A smaller vehicle that collides with the trailer of a large truck may slide underneath it. This can happen in rear-end collisions or when a truck turns across oncoming traffic. The results can be catastrophic, because the upper part of a vehicle can suffer serious damage, and occupants may experience serious or fatal head injuries.

Truck Driver Negligence

Commercial truck drivers are required to obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL), and they must follow multiple types of safety regulations. When drivers violate these rules or disobey traffic laws, they can cause dangerous truck accidents. Our attorneys can investigate accidents to determine whether they were caused by truck driver negligence such as:

• Speedingand Aggressive Driving: Truck drivers may exceed speed limits as they try to deliver goods more quickly. They may also engage in aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating and unsafe lane changes. These violations can increase the risks of truck accidents, since they may cause truck drivers to lose control or prevent them from reacting in time to avoid collisions.
• Driving While Fatigued: When truck drivers are tired or drowsy, their reaction times, their awareness of what is happening on the road, and their coordination may become impaired. Extreme fatigue may even result in a truck driver falling asleep at the wheel, which can cause them to crash into other vehicles without any attempt to slow down.
• Intoxicated Driving: While it is illegal to operate any vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, truck drivers who drive while intoxicated can put everyone around them at risk of serious harm. Drivers may become intoxicated due to the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medications.
• Distracted Driving: Some truck drivers may fail to fully pay attention to the road. Texting, using electronic logging devices or GPS navigation, eating and drinking, or engaging in other distractions can lead to dangerous accidents.

Trucking Company Liability

A truck driver is not always the only one who is responsible for causing an accident. Trucking companies will need to ensure that they hire qualified drivers, provide training, and maintain proper supervision. When a company cuts corners or fails to meet these responsibilities, it may be held liable for a truck accident.

Our attorneys can examine trucking company records, training documentation, and internal safety policies to identify negligence that may have led to a truck crash, including:

• Failure to conduct proper background checks before hiring drivers
• Inadequate training on safe driving techniques
• Pressure on drivers to exceed hours of service limits and meet delivery deadlines
• Failure to maintain, inspect, or repair vehicles

Other Parties Who May Share Liability for Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents often involve multiple parties who may be responsible due to their failure to follow the correct procedures or take steps to protect people's safety. Our lawyers can conduct a thorough investigation to determine which parties may have contributed to a crash, including.

Cargo Loading Companies

Improperly loaded or secured cargo is a factor in many truck accidents. When cargo loaders do not ensure that cargo is loaded, distributed, and secured correctly, a truck driver may lose control due to shifting cargo. Improperly secured cargo that falls from a truck can also cause serious injuries when it lands on another vehicle or creates a dangerous obstacle in the road.

Parts Manufacturers

Issues such as brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering system malfunctions can cause a truck driver to lose control. When a defective component was responsible for causing a crash, the manufacturer of that part may be held liable. Our legal team works with experts to identify faulty parts that led to accidents and pursue product liability claims against manufacturers.

Maintenance Contractors

Trucking companies may use third-party maintenance providers to service their vehicles. When negligent repairs or a failure to perform inspections lead to mechanical problems that cause truck accidents, a maintenance contractor may be held liable for their negligence.