Truck accidents are notoriously fatal
and claim many lives in the country every single year. Despite efforts from
state legislators and federal level organizations such as the FMSCA, truck
accident statistics have only grown worse over the past two decades despite
more regulation and focus.
Autonomous
Truck Driving
Perhaps trucks should have computers put
in them since human beings are not performing that well. But this is another
story though this technology is coming around the corner – someone should start
talking about it.
Trucking operators, drivers, and
companies are all subjected to both state specific and federal laws according
to Chicago, IL truck accident lawyers but these enforcements have not helped
when you look at the larger picture. If you take a look at the statistics the number of truck accidents
has risen by a staggering 20% over the last 20 years.
In 2002 alone, a shocking 4,897 people
succumbed to truck accidents and additionally 130,000 victims were left injured
(some of them very seriously). The gun violence in Chicago is not the only
thing that is frightening.
For the thousands of victims, American
laws enable them to claim compensatory damages by filing a civil lawsuit
alleging either personal injury or wrongful death depending on the case. If
they are successful in proving their lawsuit, they will be awarded economic
damages, non-economic damages, and in some states even punitive damages.
However, as the plaintiff in the
lawsuit, it is your responsibility to prove the negligence of the defendants
you have listed. It is not exactly a walk in the park to accomplish this.
Establishing breach of duty, extrapolating damages, proving a connection
between the breach in duty and the concurrent damages require concrete evidence
and a thorough understanding of both state specific trucking laws and federal
trucking laws. The best course of action to take would be to hire a Chicago truck
accident lawyer for help.
Common
Causes of Truck Accidents
A fantastic lawyer will know exactly
where and how to look in order to prove that the trucking company was
negligent. For the most part, most truck accidents are predominantly due to the
following causes:
Driver fatigue – Truck driving is a
tiresome and challenging job that not only requires skill but also full
attentiveness at all times. In order to facilitate this, there are some
regulations that prohibit truck drivers from working for too long without a
period of uninterrupted rest. However, in order to make over-time pay, many
truck drivers violate these laws and work more than they should. These drivers
end up fatigued and cause accidents which was sort of predictable because the
truck driver decided to bend the rules rather than rest.
Improper loading – Trucks are
predominantly meant to haul payloads that must be loaded correctly. Improper
loading can cause a significant change in the center of gravity of the truck
and will cause loss on control, which is a sure recipe for disaster. This may
not be your fault. This is certainly not a car driver’s fault who was a victim
of this. Both of you may quality for worker’s compensation. More that
information can be found right here: http://workers-compensation.usattorneys.com/illinois/.
Impaired drivers – As per Illinois truck
accident lawyers, the use of stimulants are common practice among long haul
truck drivers and is definitely an occupational hazard. Needless to say, a
vehicle weighing dozens and dozens of tons should not be operated by someone
that is under the influence of drugs.
Maintenance issues – Mechanical failures
can often be attributed to poor servicing/maintenance of a truck.
There are several other factors that
often prove useful for any claims made in a truck accident. To learn more about
causes and liability make sure to contact a legal representative as soon as
possible.
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