Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.
A report from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety found that at least 4,000 people in 2020 died from truck accidents. Interestingly, 68% of the fatalities were car occupants, with 16% involving pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.
Trucks weigh 20 to 30 times more than passenger cars with a greater surface area, compounding the effect of truck accidents. Consequently, truck accidents often result in severe injuries and fatalities. Most truck accidents involve commercial vehicles that operate using a strict professional code. Even so, factors like distracted driving, speeding, fatigue, or inexperience also contribute to truck accidents.
Below, we explore the various types of trucks involved in accidents. To discuss a specific accident and injuries in the Chicago area, reach out to our accident attorneys today.
A semi-truck is an 18-wheeler truck with an engine, cab, and trailer. They’re also equipped with three axles and double wheels that enhance their stability and traction.
Truck rollover accidents are common in semi-trucks whose effects involve other passenger vehicles and pedestrians. Improper loading is one of the least predictable causes of rollover accidents. When the load is not properly packed or fastened, it can quickly shift, causing the truck to lose control.
Victims of semi-truck accidents can suffer the following injuries:
Unlike other commercial trucks, trash trucks frequently access residential streets to collect garbage and solid waste, compounding their risk. It’s normal to find trash trucks driving and stopping in bike lanes or driving the wrong way on single-lane streets.
Although understandable, these obstructions often catch motorists, bikes, and pedestrians unaware. As a result, underside accidents are prevalent with trash trucks where a passenger car is pinned or crushed underneath the truck. Back-over accidents are also common with trash trucks.
The role of tow trucks is to impound wrongly parked vehicles or vehicles that break down. Remember, towing vehicles haul the extra weight of towed cars, which is an additional risk to road users.
Sudden accelerating or stopping contributes significantly to tow truck accidents. Other factors include blind spots, drinking and driving, improperly secured cargo, and mechanical failure. The common types of tow-truck accidents include jackknifing, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, and underride accidents.
Rear-end collisions commonly occur with tow trucks when drivers make an error in judgment while navigating blind spots. Unfortunately, the sheer size of tow trucks can crush passenger vehicles, resulting in life-threatening injuries and fatalities.
Tanker trucks have large tanks for carrying liquids and gasses. Some tankers haul hazardous substances like LPG gas, gasoline, or industrial chemicals. That said, tanker trucks pose an extra hazard of explosion or fire whenever an accident occurs. Some of the common kinds of tanker truck accidents include fires, explosions, rollovers, and sideswipe accidents.
A truck accident can result in life-threatening injuries or the death of a loved one. In addition, it can easily bankrupt victims due to medical bills, lost income, or disability. Luckily, an experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer at Malman Law has sufficient experience handling truck accident claims. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.
Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.
Years of experience: +30 years
Justia Profile: Steve Malman
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024
Britany Weaver
View more testimonialsCheryl Wagemann
View more testimonialsElvira G.
View more testimonialsTony S.
View more testimonialsDEVIN JONES
View more testimonialsDevin Jones
View more testimonialsAnnie Ong
View more testimonialsEugenia Cathery
View more testimonialsOmolewa Snyder
View more testimonialsTrevor Harris
View more testimonialsErnest Pitts
View more testimonialsAriel Fleming
View more testimonialsCarmen Rivera
View more testimonialsGreg Gustafson
View more testimonialsMalak St.Clair
View more testimonialsDevri Lott
View more testimonialsAdrian Lopez
View more testimonialsVanessa Leon
View more testimonialsNyah Vuljanic
View more testimonialsJeff Walker
View more testimonialsSteve Acosta
View more testimonialsAdrianna Gomez
View more testimonialsJose Cruz
View more testimonialsMeagan Cruz
View more testimonialsEddie Villarreal
View more testimonialsMadissen Miller
View more testimonialsChristina Ocon
View more testimonialsAdriana Martinez
View more testimonialsVirgil Sanner
View more testimonialsJazlyn Caraballo
View more testimonialsAshley Jenkins
View more testimonialsThis page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by President and Founder, Steven J. Malman who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers today by filling out the form below or call us at 1 (888) 625-6265