Joliet, IL Truck Accident Lawyers

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People in Joliet share the roads with large commercial trucks every day. Many tractor-trailer trucks travel along the Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 corridors as they transport goods to and from the region's many warehouses and distribution centers. 18-wheelers are massive, and when they are fully loaded, they can weigh 20 times as much as the average car. When trucks are involved in collisions, people in smaller vehicles are likely to suffer severe consequences. These accidents can lead to devastating injuries, and victims may be unsure about what they should do to address the damages that have affected their lives.

Truck accident cases can be more complicated than other types of car accidents. Multiple parties may have played a role in causing a collision, and investigations will often need to be performed quickly while evidence is still available. At Newland & Newland, LLP, our lawyers have the experience needed to investigate these complex cases, identify every party who may be held liable, and work to recover financial compensation that our clients need to address their injuries and financial losses.

Serious Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents

Because of their size, commercial trucks are capable of causing injuries that may be far more severe than those that can occur in collisions between two passenger vehicles. People hurt in truck accidents may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, or internal injuries due to the massive forces involved in a crash. Severe burns may also occur when a truck's fuel or cargo ignites. These injuries may result in permanent disabilities that can prevent a victim from returning to work or performing daily tasks without assistance. In the most tragic cases, truck accidents can result in wrongful deaths.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

There are a wide variety of situations where large trucks may collide with other vehicles. The ways a truck accident happened can provide important clues about what went wrong.

Rear-End Accidents

Because of their weight, commercial trucks will require a much longer distance to come to a complete stop than passenger vehicles. Issues such as speeding, tailgating, or other unsafe actions by truck drivers may lead to situations where drivers have no way to slow down in time to avoid crashing into a vehicle ahead of them.

Head-On Collisions

A truck may drift across the center of a road and into oncoming traffic, which can lead to a devastating collision with vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. These accidents may be caused by driver fatigue that leads a truck driver to fall asleep, distractions that prevent a truck driver from noticing that they have drifted out of their lane, or unsafe attempts to pass other vehicles.

Rollover Accidents

Tractor-trailer trucks have a high center of gravity, making them more likely to turn over when a driver takes a curve too quickly, swerves suddenly, or is carrying an improperly balanced load. Some rollover accidents may be caused by tire blowouts or other mechanical failures. These accidents can crush other vehicles or block multiple lanes of traffic, leading to secondary collisions.

Sideswipe Accidents

A truck driver who merges or changes lanes without checking their blind spots may not notice other vehicles, and they may collide with these vehicles from the side. These accidents can force a vehicle off the road or push it into other lanes of traffic, leading to additional sideswipe or head-on collisions.

Underride Accidents

In a collision, a passenger vehicle may slide underneath the trailer of a truck. This can occur when a truck stops suddenly, causing another vehicle to crash into the truck from the rear, or a wide turn accident can trap a vehicle between a truck's trailer and objects on the side of the road. An underride accident can damage or destroy the roof of a passenger vehicle, leading to serious or fatal injuries for the vehicle's occupants.

Jackknife Accidents

A truck's trailer can swing out at a sharp angle in situations where a truck driver loses control. This can cause a trailer to move across multiple lanes of traffic, colliding with other vehicles and blocking traffic. A jackknife may take place because of sudden braking, a loss of control on a curve or highway interchange, or unsafe driving on wet, snowy, or icy roads.

Falling Cargo Accidents

When cargo is not properly secured on a truck, it can fall and strike nearby vehicles. This can result in severe injuries when other vehicles are crushed by large, heavy items. Cargo that lands in the road can block traffic, and when this occurs on a major highway, it can lead to a multi-vehicle pileup.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Cases