fbpx
ILLINOIS TRIAL LAWYERS
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OBTAINED
State of Illinois
Serving North Central
Illinois for 40+ years.
We'll evaluate your
case for free.
Experienced in the
most complex cases.
You pay nothing
unless we win.
We'll travel anywhere
to meet you.
We're available when
you need it most.

Why Are Truck Accidents So Common in Illinois?

Published on May 19, 2021 at 3:00 pm in Truck Accidents.

Why Are Truck Accidents So Common in Illinois

Large trucks are essential to the economy because they transport goods throughout the state as well as the country. When trucks and other vehicles fail to share the road safely, it can lead to collisions between the two. Unfortunately, these commercial truck accidents can be especially dangerous because the size and weight of the trucks are much larger and heavier than regular sized motor vehicles.

When it comes to Illinois, these types of collisions are fairly common. There are a few explanations why they happen so regularly here, but one of the biggest reasons is because Illinois is one of the states with the highest amounts of freight being hauled. This means that there is a higher volume of large trucks on the road because there is so much freight to pick-up, deliver and transport.

Since there are so many trucks on the road with a lot of cargo and strict deadlines, this can lead to more trucking accidents. When you’ve been involved in a wreck with a tractor trailer that wasn’t your fault, you could use the help of a truck accident lawyer from Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP. We’ll help you recover what you deserve in compensation so that you can get back to living your life.

Illinois Truck Accident Statistics

Illinois is one of the states with the most truck drivers in the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois is in the top 15 states with the highest amount of truck drivers who are employed. When it comes to metropolitan areas, the Chicago area is part of the third highest metropolitan areas that employ heavy truck and tractor trailer drivers.

With that many drivers employed in the state, it makes sense that there would be a higher volume of heavy trucks on the road in Illinois. When there are more trucks on the road, the number of truck accidents are bound to go up based on the volume. Additionally, accident rates could go up because the higher number of trucks tends to intimidate drivers of regular vehicles and can lead them to make bad decisions behind the wheel.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s 2018 crash facts and statistics, there were over 12,000 crashes with tractor trailers involved in our state in that year, alone. Compared to the amount of large truck accidents across the country, Illinois is in the higher range for percentage of accidents involving a tractor trailer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 11.1 percent of our state’s fatal accidents involve a large truck.

Of the truck wrecks in Illinois, about 10,000 caused property damage, over 2,000 caused injuries, and over 100 caused fatalities. The passengers in regular sized vehicles were more likely to be injured and were more likely to be killed in the collision. Of those killed, 19 were occupants of the truck and 86 were in a regular passenger vehicle. Additionally, there were 14 pedestrians and 2 cyclists who died as a result of a trucking accident.

So that we can get a better understanding of these statistics and why truck accidents are so common in Illinois, let’s look at what causes them.

What Causes Truck Accidents in Illinois?

Tractor trailer collisions can happen for many different reasons. Here are some of the most common causes of large truck accidents in Illinois:

  • Driver inattention
  • Driver fatigue
  • Speeding
  • Poor training
  • Blind spots
  • Part defect or poor maintenance
  • Overloaded trailer
  • Drunk driver

All of these aspects are important for truck drivers to be aware of so that they drive as carefully and safely as possible. If they’re undertrained, drunk, tired, or not paying attention, then those errors could lead to a serious collision. If they haven’t properly inspected their vehicle or their truck was overloaded, then that could lead to an accident as well.

Sometimes the truck driver or another motorist isn’t at fault for the accident. When a part is defective and that causes a crash, then the manufacturer or seller of that part can be at fault. Fault can be difficult to determine, which is why you should have a truck accident lawyer on your side after a truck wreck that wasn’t your fault.

Our Truck Accident Lawyer Will Guide You Through Your Claim

If you or a loved one have been involved in a collision with a commercial truck, you likely suffered from serious injuries and loss and need time to heal.   But when you take time to heal, that can cause you or your loved one to miss work and lose out on wages while the medical bills and all of your other bills start to pile up. That’s where our truck accident lawyer in Peru comes in.

At Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, we’re prepared to fight for you. We understand that this is a vulnerable time for you and your family, which is why we will handle the legal side of things. That way, you can focus on what really matters—recovery. Reach out to our office today for a free, no obligation consultation.

Latest Articles

News & Insights