CHICAGO, IL – In the United States, the number of truck accidents is significant and concerning. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were approximately 475,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2020. With so many accidents U.S. roadways, large trucking companies are at the forefront of reducing these numbers. Many of the country’s leading trucking companies are among the worst offenders when it comes to truck accidents.
Many trucking companies prefer to put profits above safety by ignoring regulations, pushing drivers too long and fail to train their employees properly. If you or a loved one have been injured in a serious truck accident in Illinois, it’s essential to know what you’re dealing with, who you’re up against and how a lawyer can help.
Trucking Companies to Beware of
Some companies have higher incidences of accidents, regulatory violations and negative feedback from drivers and customers. Red flags include frequent safety violations, such as poor vehicle maintenance, hours-of-service breaches and high accident rates.
While the size of a company may indicate they’ll eventually be in more accidents simply based on the number of drivers working for them, some of the information collected could suggest a pattern of safety issues. The following companies were involved in several commercial truck accidents:
- Werner Enterprises has almost 10,000 truck drivers operating big rigs. They reported nearly 1,000 commercial trucking accident in 2019. Werner had over 12,000 truck inspections and about 4,000 out-of-service violations, meaning the truck was out of service until the violation was fixed.
- Swift Transportation employs more than 20,000 drivers and reported nearly 1,300 accidents in 2019. There were over 21,000 inspections and more than 3,000 OSS violations. Additionally, they had more than 1,800 driver violations.
- Averitt Express employs more than 6,000 truck drivers and operate across the U.S. They reported more than 400 crashes in 2019 and nearly 960 OSS violations.
- United States Service have nearly 100,000 truck drivers but reported more than 2,200 truck accidents. Furthermore, they had over 100 driver violations and more than 600 OSS violations in 2019.
- FedEx Freight has over 20,000 truck drivers working for them. They reported more than 800 trucking accidents last year. FedEx reported 40 driver violations but over 600 OSS violations.
- J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. employs more than 20,000 truck drivers. They reported more than 1,500 truck accidents and more than 150 driver violations. They had over 1,700 OSS violations out of more than 11,000 inspections.
- Schneider National Carriers, Inc. employs over 13,000 drivers located across the nation. They reported nearly 1,000 truck accidents annually, 100 driver violations and over 1,000 OSS violations in 2019.
- YRC Freight boasts more than 9,000 truck drivers. They reported more than 500 accidents, 100 driver violations and more than 800 OSS violations.
Other At-Fault Parties
Trucking companies are often named in civil lawsuits because they are responsible for their trucks and truckers. However, truck companies aren’t the only ones who are liable. Truck or vehicle parts can also be defective. When this happens, the maker could be at fault. Or perhaps the road were dangerous. A skilled attorney would advise you on who to file a claim against.
There may be several parties who played a part in your accident. And each should pay for their negligence. Your lawyer will ensure that all at-fault parties are brought to justice for their wrongdoing.
Truck Accident Damages You Can Recover
People who have been injured in a severe truck accident have a long road to recovery. It can be expensive and incredibly stressful. That’s why you deserve to recover your financial losses and be compensated for harming your life. Some potential damages you can recover include lost wages, diminished earning capacity, loss of household services, medical expenses and equipment, and property damages.
Losses don’t always revolve around money. You can also recover compensation for non-economic damages, too. These include physical pain, mental suffering, lost quality of life, loss of closeness and love, scarring, skin damage, emotional distress, harm to your reputation and nuisance.
Contact a Chicago, Illinois Lawyer at the Dinizulu Law Group
When you’re dealing with a complicated truck accident, it helps to know the players involved. At the Dinizulu Law Group, we’ve been helping people in your situation hold negligent trucking companies accountable for years. With a history of results and a reputation for taking cases to court when it’s necessary, even the largest trucking companies know we mean business.
If you were hurt in a truck accident in Illinois, call the Dinizulu Law Group now for a free, no obligation consultation. Call (312) 384-1920 or fill out this form to get started today!
