Truck accidents are unique for a couple of reasons. First, a fully loaded truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger car weighs somewhere around 3,000 pounds. This significant disparity in size usually results in those in the passenger vehicle sustaining serious or catastrophic injuries or dying from the collision.
In some cases, the truck driver may be at fault, whether because he or she was engaging in distracted driving behavior, driving recklessly or carelessly, driving while impaired, or driving while overly fatigued. The second reason truck accidents are unique is that there is often more than one at-fault party.
Even if the truck driver was at fault, the trucking company that employs the truck driver may also be held liable, along with the loading company and even the truck maintenance company. Because there can be more than one liable party, truck accidents are particularly complex, requiring a highly experienced Plainfield, IL personal injury attorney to ensure a fair settlement.