Commercial truck drivers are required to undergo special training, and trucking and shipping companies are supposed to exercise care to avoid putting dangerous trucks on the roads. Unfortunately, neither of these prevents numerous unsuspecting drivers in the Chicago land area from suffering life-changing injuries in truck accidents every year. Despite laws designed to protect the public, in recent years, the number of truck accident fatalities has actually been on the rise.

Trucks Are Most Often Used for Commercial Purposes

Trucks are typically operated by people who are on the job. These truck drivers are generally paid using a financial incentives system that favors drivers who go for long distances without stopping. Many packages, for instance, have guaranteed delivery dates and times, which creates a high-stress situation for drivers. Don’t forget around the holidays that there are thousands of under-trained, less-experienced temporary drivers on the roads under that same pressure. Between their double parking and distracted driving (constantly looking for addresses), the hazard is clear.

With the recent shift due to Covid-19 of avoiding stores and buying more online, delivery trucks that were already topped out are even busier now. FedEx, for instance, announced in 2021 that they projected delivering 100 million more holiday packages than last year. With this ever-growing, unending demand, exhausted truck drivers can be more drawn to speeding and over-driving winter conditions.

Trucks Are Heavier and Bigger

In a fight, you always bet on the bigger guy. It’s no different on the roadway. A fully-loaded semi-truck trailer weighs about 80,000 pounds. On the other hand, a passenger car usually weighs just 3,000-4,000 pounds. Obviously, in the fight of a truck vs. car, the truck is going to win every time. When a commercial truck is the cause of a collision, the likelihood of death or debilitating injury is much higher.

Use Extra Caution in Rural Areas

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) reports that the majority of deadly truck accidents happen in rural areas. Combine long, boring stretches of low-traffic roadways with exhausted, over-worked drivers, and it’s not hard to understand why. Either way, give commercial vehicles and semi-trucks a big space cushion, particularly away from cities and suburbs. Remember, if you don’t see the mirrors of the truck, the driver of the truck can not see your vehicle. Their blind spots are significantly higher, and because of the length of their vehicles, their blind spots are enormous compared to the average passenger vehicle on the road.

If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has been killed in a truck accident, it is important to stand up for your legal rights. The bills will begin to pile up quickly, and your injuries or loss will affect your life in ways you could not have previously imagined. In order to receive the compensation you deserve – and to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions – you need to take action now.