Truck Accident Lawyer Lake County, IL
If you have been hurt in a truck accident, you may want to consult a Lake County, IL truck accident lawyer from Therman Law Offices, LTD. You may be entitled to compensation for your losses, such as your medical expenses and lost wages. An attorney can help you file a timely claim against the negligent parties.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Many truck accidents occur every year in Illinois and some of them result in life-threatening injuries. Here are the most common causes of truck accidents.
- Speeding. Truck drivers often have tight deadlines to meet. They may be afraid that they will face disciplinary action if they don’t deliver their goods on time. As a result, they might drive above the speed limit to make it to their destinations on time. Unfortunately, speeding can cause accidents. When truck drivers do not follow the speed limit, they can lower their reaction times and lose control of their vehicles.
- Distracted driving. Since truck drivers have to spend long hours on the road, they might do things to distract themselves, like texting on a cellphone or adjusting the radio station. However, this can cause them to take their eyes and attention off the road ahead, increasing the risk of an accident.
- Drowsy driving. As mentioned before, truck drivers have to drive for long hours. Eventually, all those long hours can take a toll on the body. As a Lake County truck accident attorney can confirm, drowsy driving is another common cause of truck accidents. When truck drivers are running on little sleep, they may not be able to focus on the road and even fall asleep behind the wheel.
- Drunk driving. Truck driving can be a stressful job, so some truck drivers may drink alcohol to cope. Unfortunately, they may get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Alcohol can impair judgment, lower reaction times and reduce concentration, which can lead to an accident.
- Inadequate training. Operating a commercial truck is different from driving a passenger vehicle. As such, truck drivers need proper training. However, some trucking companies may skimp on training to save money. Poorly trained drivers are more likely to cause an accident.
- Poor vehicle maintenance. Just like other vehicles, commercial trucks require regular maintenance. If trucking companies fail to maintain their trucks, accidents can occur. For example, worn out tires can cause blowouts.
- Improper cargo loading. Before going out on the road, truck drivers have to load their cargo in their truck. If they load the cargo unevenly or load too much, cargo can fall into the road and cause an accident.
- Bad weather. Sometimes truck accidents can result from heavy rain or snow. These weather conditions can reduce visibility and make the roads slippery, increasing the chances of an accident. Truck drivers must be extra cautious during poor weather conditions and reduce their speed even more.
If you want to file a truck accident claim, you should schedule a consultation with a Lake County truck accident attorney from Therman Law Offices, LTD today.