Although any motor vehicle accident can cause serious injuries to victims, accidents involving semi-trucks often result in severe – if not tragic – consequences to Chicago passenger car victims. Common causes of truck accidents in Chicago have many different options.
The massive size and weight of semi-trucks and tractor-trailers cause more damage than other types of vehicles. The weight of an average passenger car is approximately 4,000 pounds, while the weight of fully-loaded truck can reach up to 80,000 pounds.
According to a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), approximately one in every 20 truck drivers will be in an accident each year.
FMCSA statistics show that there are more than 140,000 truck accidents every year, and over half of those crashes are the fault of the truck driver. Truck accidents claim the lives of more than 5,000 victims each year, and leave thousands of others seriously injured.
There has been a lot of focus over the past few years regarding truck driver fatigue and the role it plays in truck accidents in Chicago, however, there are several other factors that the FMCSA has determined which also play significant roles in why so many truck drivers are responsible for these crashes.
According to the FMCSA, the top ten reasons for truck accidents in Chicago caused by truck drivers are:
- Use of prescription drugs – cause of 26 percent truck accidents.
- Speeding – cause of 23 percent of truck accidents.
- Unfamiliarity with the road driver is traveling on – cause of 22 percent of truck accidents.
- Over-the-counter medication use – cause of 18 percent of truck accidents.
- Failure to property survey driving area – cause of 14 percent of truck accidents.
- Also, driver fatigue – cause of 13 percent of truck accidents.
- Making illegal maneuvers with vehicle – cause of 9 percent of truck accidents.
- Failure to pay attention to the road – cause of 8 percent of truck accidents.
- Failure to take evasive accident – cause of 7 percent of truck accidents.
- Lastly, aggressive driving – cause of 7 percent of truck accidents.
There may be several parties liable for injury and property damages that are a result of a truck accident, depending on the actual cause of the crash. A Chicago truck accident attorney can also help victims determine who is legally liable for those damages. Contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you.
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