Four people killed in Illinois trucking accident

Large trucks play an important role in the economy, delivering a large amount of goods to businesses and homes throughout Illinois and all across the U.S. It's not uncommon for drivers to encounter freight trucks on interstates and smaller roadways at any time. The sheer size and speed of these vehicles often makes a crash devastating for people in smaller cars, resulting in countless tragedies.

Trucking accidents are not rare events, unfortunately. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, about 100,000 people are hurt and more than 4,000 are killed in crashes caused by large trucks. Trucking accident rates have significantly increased since 2009.

Fatigue and numerous other reasons can contribute to truck accidents

It has been known for decades that truck drivers often spend long hours on the road. The average workweek for a truck driver involves 82 hours of driving. Drowsy driving is a major cause of accidents for people driving any size of vehicle, but it's especially dangerous for those sharing the road with a truck. Other common ways a truck driver can cause an accident include:

• Alcohol, drug or medication use.
• Driver distraction.
• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Improper distribution of cargo weight.
• Adverse road or weather conditions.

Additionally, blind spots are another problem for most large trucks, says State Farm. Many vehicles have been struck by truck drivers who didn't realize a car was in his or her blind spot.

Road construction can create an additional hazard if truckers fail to drive cautiously. Last July on Interstate 55 near Channahon, a semi-truck made a lane change while speeding and crashed into three vehicles stopped for construction, reported CBS Chicago. Tragically, four people were killed in the wreck, including an 11-year-old girl. Four more people were injured. The truck driver was cited for keeping a false log book, entering false information in his driver's log and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

This type of accident, when a trucker does not stop in time to prevent a crash, is one of the most common types of trucking accidents, says Edmunds. Another common way for a truck to cause an accident includes pinning a smaller vehicle while making a right-hand turn.

Contacting an attorney

Most traffic accidents can't be predicted, and they can happen at any time. Trucking accidents are especially terrifying and traumatic. If you or a family member has been hurt in an accident caused by a negligent or speeding truck driver, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away.

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