Commercial truck accidents can cause physical and financial devastation. These collisions can be catastrophic, leading to significant physical injuries, disability, and deformity, along with mental health challenges and astronomical medical expenses. The repercussions of a truck accident don’t just last weeks or months. Often, they last for a lifetime.
At Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack, LLP, our attorney highlights below how often truck accidents occur on Illinois roadways and the common causes of these traumatic incidents.
Illinois Truck Accident Statistics
Large commercial trucks travel the country delivering the goods we need and use daily. They are the workhorses of the American delivery and transportation system. However, these mammoth vehicles can also be dangerous, primarily when they’re driven by fatigued, negligent, or inexperienced truckers. Unfortunately, truck accidents are common across the U.S. and Illinois.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2021, there were 523,796 large trucks involved in police-reported accidents in the U.S. Those crashes killed 5,788 individuals and injured an additional 154,993 people. The agency also estimates that at least 72 percent of those killed in large-truck crashes were the occupants of other vehicles.
Although states like Texas and California tend to record some of the highest truck accident crashes and fatality numbers, collisions are widespread in Illinois. Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows there were 11,178 collisions in the state involving tractor-trailers in one year. The data also indicates that crashes involving tractor-trailers accounted for at least 3.8 percent of total collisions on Illinois roadways and at least 8.5 percent of fatal crashes.
Common Causes of Illinois Truck Accidents
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration indicates that driver error is the most common cause of large truck crashes in the United States. Issues that can lead to driver error and devastating large-truck accidents tend to include:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Impaired driving
- Driver inexperience
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Aggressive driving behaviors
Mechanical defects, brake issues, roadway issues, and poor weather conditions can also contribute to dangerous commercial truck accidents in Illinois. Large truck accidents may not always be caused by careless driving. Poor cargo loading practices and the failure to conduct regular safety inspections can also contribute to Illinois truck accidents.
Contact an Experienced Illinois Truck Accident Attorney for Help
An Illinois truck accident can change your life. If you’re injured in a collision caused by a truck driver, you need the help an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney from Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack, LLP, can provide. We can help you obtain the compensation you need to cover your accident-related expenses, injuries, and other losses. Our legal team is committed to helping truck accident victims in St. Louis, Marion, Springfield, and Southern Illinois.
Contact our office today and set up a free initial consultation to learn more about your legal options for pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries.