Trucking Accidents Law

What are Trucking Accident Claims?

Trucking accident claims arise when commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and 18-wheelers cause injuries or fatalities due to driver negligence, equipment failure, or regulatory violations. These cases are more complex than standard car accident claims because they often involve multiple liable parties including the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loader, and vehicle manufacturer. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations govern hours of service, maintenance requirements, and driver qualifications. In Central Illinois, trucking accidents frequently occur on Interstate 72, Interstate 57, and U.S. Route 51 — high-traffic corridors that carry significant commercial truck volume through Decatur and the surrounding region.

Personal Injury Attorneys for Trucking Accidents

More than a million traffic accidents occur each year, many of which are trucking accidents. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Bolen Robinson & Ellis understand how traumatic a trucking accident can be, and our trucking accident lawyers are committed to ensuring that those injured in truck crashes obtain the results they deserve.

A few notable motorcycle accident results by our personal injury attorneys:

$300,000 recovered in a no-contact motorcycle accident when our client was forced to lay down his bike to avoid a collision.

$100,000 policy limits recovered in a motorcycle death settlement.

$140,000 recovery on behalf of a client injured in a motorcycle crash related to the dangerous slant of an Indiana roadway.

About Trucking Accidents
Despite safety requirements and technological innovations, human error is still a dominant factor in almost all serious trucking accidents. Common causes of accidents involving semi-trucks or tractor-trailers include:

Driver fatigue – Truckers often become fatigued by failing to abide by mandatory rest period between hours on the road, or by driving for a period of time that is longer than normal.

Driver negligence – Negligent truckers pertains to aggressive driving, traveling at an excessive speed, improperly changing lanes, or keeping an inadequate amount of space between the semi-truck or trailer and the impacted vehicle.

Driving in unsafe weather conditions or with poor visibility.

Inexperienced drivers.

Driving trucks that are too big or overloaded.

Mechanical failure or failure to properly maintain the semi-truck or trailer.

Driving with loads improperly secured.

Spilled loads.

Common types of trucking accidents include:

Rear-end collisions – This accident occurs when the truck or tractor-trailer crashes into an automobile traveling in front of it. Whiplash is a common injury in rear-impact collisions, even when the impact occurs at moderate speeds.

Side-impact crashes or T-Bone accidents – A broadside crash occurs when the side of a vehicle is impacted by the truck or tractor-trailer.

Sideswipes – This normally occurs when the sides of two parallel vehicles touch and “swipe” each other.

Head-on crashes – These dangerous crashes occur when the front ends of two vehicles hit each other. Especially when a large truck is involved, this type of accident often results in fatalities.

Trucking accidents often result in severe injuries. Common injuries include:

Head injuries

Fractured bones.

Cuts and bruising

Burn injuries

Spinal cord injuries

Amputations

Internal Injuries

Get Fast and Effective Legal Solutions

BRE Law is committed to ensuring that accident victims obtain the results that they deserve. If you or your loved one has been hurt in a trucking accident, please contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys.