Elgin Truck Accident Lawyer – Truck Accident Attorneys Elgin, IL
18-wheeled trucks can cause catastrophic damage if involved in a trucking accident.
Semi-trucks are an unavoidable hazard on roads throughout the Chicago area. These massive 18-wheeled vehicles are responsible for moving goods across the state, are can be spotted on roads and highways all throughout the day. Of course, due to their sheer size and weight, 18-wheeled trucks can cause catastrophic damage if involved in a trucking accident. Furthermore, unlike an accident involving smaller passenger cars, a trucking accident may result in widespread damage and involve other cars, motorcycles, and even pedestrian
Violation of the Rules
Truck drivers are governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Hours of Service, a set of regulations that lists how many hours truck drivers may spend behind the wheel without a period of rest, and how long the rest must be before they can start moving again. Often, however, truck drivers choose to violate these time limits in order to complete a route in shorter amount of time. This, in turn, may cause the truck driver to become fatigued, and may even result in a collision.
At Willens & Baez, we will examine the logbook of the truck driver involved in the crash, and help determine whether or not he violated the Hours of Service while driving. We will also investigate the trucking company; often, trucking companies incentivize drivers to drive longer hours in order to reach a destination quicker.
Other Possible Causes of an Accident
In some cases, truck accidents are not caused by the driver or trucking company, but instead are the result of a defective part on the vehicle, or cargo that was not strapped in correctly before the truck began moving on the highway. Our attorneys will carefully go over each detail to ensure we have labeled all liable parties as defendants in your personal injury claim.