1. ILLINOIS
TRUCK
ACCIDENTS
Examining Causes of These
Crashes and Their Impact on
Victims
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

2. BIG VEHICLE = BIG IMPACT
Large tractor-trailer trucks carry cargo, but also carry
potential hazards on the roads. Truck transport is still
one of the most important ways goods are shipped,
and trucking is a key factor in commerce and
business. We share the road with these vehicles and
assume truck drivers are transporting their goods in
the safest manner possible. But when things go
wrong, the consequences can be devastating.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

3. FAST FACTS
ON LARGE TRUCK CRASHES
 Every year, more than 100,000 people are injured in crashes involving
large trucks in the United States.
 When large truck crashes cause fatalities, it’s 10 times more likely to be
deadly for the occupants of the smaller vehicle.
 Approximately 4,000 people are killed in crashes involving large trucks
every year in the United States.
 On average in Illinois alone, approximately 90 people lose their lives each
year in crashes involving large trucks.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

4. WHY LARGE TRUCK
ACCIDENTS ARE OFTEN SERIOUS
The weight and size of tractor-trailer trucks means
they also carry the potential to cause an incredible
amount of damage in a crash. Tractor-trailers require
special licensing and training to operate. They are
more difficult vehicles to drive, requiring greater
distances than passenger cars to come to a complete
stop. When these larger, heavier vehicles are
involved, crashes are often more severe.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

5. HOW AND WHY LARGE TRUCK
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
The circumstances of each accident are unique, with different contributing
factors including weather, road conditions, and level of traffic on the roads. But
the fact is, most crashes are due to human error.
People make mistakes. When mistakes are made behind the wheel of a
large truck, those mistakes can be especially costly. Let’s examine some
of the most common causes of truck accidents…
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

6. DISTRACTED DRIVING
Distracted driving has always been a factor in crashes,
but its prevalence has grown with the emergence of
mobile devices, navigation systems, smart watches,
and other gadgets. Even operating the radio or eating
while driving can be causes of driver distraction that
can lead to a serious crash.
When drivers don’t pay full attention to the road
ahead, even for just a couple of seconds, there
can be disastrous consequences.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

7. DROWSY DRIVING
Driver fatigue is a big problem for those in the trucking
industry. Driving a truck for hours and hours every day, day after
day, year after year, is a very physically and mentally demanding
job. Truck drivers are required to operate their vehicles for long
distances and long periods of time. Further, the problem is
exacerbated if a driver is overweight or has other conditions
associated with sleep apnea, which increases fatigue.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

8. SPEEDING
While many trucks are equipped with speed limiters
(electronic devices that cap the speed of a vehicle),
speeding is still one of the major contributors to large
truck crashes. Speed limiters can’t cap a vehicle’s
speed when posted speed limits are lower than the
limiter’s maximum.
For example, if a truck is equipped with a limiter
that tops out at 63 mph, the truck can still be
speeding in a 35 mph zone. Speed limiters also fail
to address when someone is driving too fast for the
current road or weather conditions.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

9. OTHER FORMS
OF RECKLESS DRIVING
Drivers of all vehicles can practice bad habits while behind the wheel.
Examples of reckless driving practices include:
 Quickly and repeatedly veering in and out of lanes
 Failing to signal or assure clearance before changing lanes
 Following the vehicle ahead too closely
 Failure to slow down to posted speeds in construction zones.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

10. EXAMPLES OF SERIOUS INJURIES
IN HEAVY TRUCK ACCIDENTS
If you are involved in a crash with a large truck, there
can be catastrophic injuries with devastating
consequences, including:
 Traumatic brain injuries
 Back or spinal injuries
 Complex and multiple bone fractures
 Amputations/loss of limbs
 Burns
 Internal organ damage.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

11. LEGAL OPTIONS
FOR CRASH VICTIMS
When someone is injured by a negligent truck driver, they can
file a personal injury claim to seek the compensation they
deserve. These cases are much more complex than crashes
that only involve passenger vehicles because of the numerous
rules that apply specifically to commercial vehicles. These rules
can vary by state, so finding an attorney who has experience
with truck accidents in your state is very important to your case.
(309) 699-0111 www.jeffgreenlaw.com

12. CONTACT JEFF GREEN TO
LEARN ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Illinois,
contact the law office of Jeff Green to schedule a free
consultation. Our firm has years of dedicated
experience in Illinois truck accidents and in
helping clients obtain the compensation they
deserve when they are involved in a truck crash.
Office Phone: (309) 699-0111
Location: 316 SW Washington St. Unit 1A Peoria, IL
61602
Email: jgreen@jeffgreenlaw.com