Causes of Truck Accidents

Experienced Injury Lawyers with Investigative Resources to Understand the Causes of Trucking Accidents

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (2006):

• Slightly more than 6,000 large trucks were involved in crashes in Illinois.
• More than 2,300 of those caused injury, and some 157 of those truck accidents caused fatalities.

The first step in bringing a successful trucking accident case is determining who was responsible for the accident. There may be one or multiple causes - or no specific cause. The vehicles, the roadway and the injuries caused - as well as eyewitness accounts and videotape from traffic cameras, if available - must all be reviewed.

At the Chicago law office of Cogan & McNabola, P.C., our injury attorneys handle many motor vehicle accident cases every year. We have access to state and national experts to help us investigate the causes of a truck accident, and then to communicate those findings to a jury in an understandable manner.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

While the particular accident that you are concerned about is unique and will require thorough examination, we have seen that there are three common sources of problems contributing to truck-car collisions, jackknife accidents, and override and underride accidents:

Driver Error or Negligence: While this could be either driver, some of the problems we see among truck drivers include fatigue from driving too many hours, drug use to stay awake, or a history of reckless driving or speeding.

Because the interstate trucking industry is heavily regulated to protect public safety, truck drivers have additional responsibilities, including maintaining correct log books that document their routes and hours. Failing to keep their log updated or falsifying a log book is illegal. It is often a sign that the driver has worked too many hours and is trying to hide speeding or hours violations.

We carefully review log books looking for discrepancies. We also look, when possible, at satellite tracking data to determine speed.

Trucking Company Negligence: It is the responsibility of the trucking company to screen its drivers, to maintain its fleet and to ensure it is following federal trucking regulations. When it fails to follow through in these areas, the trucking company itself can be held responsible.

Truck and Trailer Problems: Failing to properly maintain a truck, overloading the trailer, misloading the trailer so it's unbalanced, and failing to check safety equipment and lights can lead to accidents. Equipment failure can also occur: brake failure from overloading or from defective brakes, cargo fastener failure causing cargo to spill or shift.

For more information about trucking accidents and personal injury lawsuits, see our Trucking Accidents Information Center.

If you have been injured in a collision with an 18 wheeler, tractor trailer or any commercial vehicle, contact Cogan & McNabola at 312-629-2900 or toll-free at 1-800-704-2900 today to learn how our personal injury lawyers can help you.