Illinois Truck Accidents and Trucking Laws

Trucking accidents in the United States claim at least 5, 000 lives annually. Over the last ten years, trucking accidents involving large vehicles have increased by about ten percent. In Illinois, 6,000 large truck crashes were reported in 2006. About 2,000 cases of large truck crashes resulted in injuries and 150 crashes resulted in fatalities.

In Illinois, excessive speeding is the main reason why there is a high number of truck accidents. There is a high chance of an accident due to truck's large blind spots and when small cars are going on fast speed and swerving in and out of traffic. Usually, if cars attempt to pass the truck, the truck might hit the car if it were in its blind spots and might result in a fatal accident where the car ends up underneath the truck.

Trucking accidents either result in serious injury or serious death. The accident might be magnified if the truck that is involved in an accident contains hazardous and volatile materials, such as oil. One way to lessen or avoid these devastating and catastrophic results of truck accidents is the strict observance of truck drivers and truck companies of trucking laws.

Trucking laws protect citizens from truck accidents. Trucking laws are passed to promote safety as these laws require truck companies and truck drivers to comply with strict standards. Truck accidents usually occur when violations of these laws are made. Basically, trucking laws set different standards and regulations relating to the following:

* License standards for commercial drivers.

* Prevention of alcohol and substance abuse

* Driver qualifications/driver requirements

* Number of work hours for drivers

* Driving of commercial motor vehicles

* Inspection, repair and maintenance compliance of tractor-trailer

In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Safety has adopted some parts of the federal regulations. Here are the provisions that affect trucks operating in the state.

· Driver qualification- Illinois has adopted Part 391 of the Federal Regulation with some exceptions, such as the minimum limit on the age of commercial operator which is 18, rather than 21. Illinois law also allows insulin dependent diabetics and drivers with vision problem to drive if they have been driving prior to July 29th, 1986.

· Number of working hours- Part 395 of the Federal Regulations has been adopted with some exceptions, such as driver's exemption from duty status recording if he is within a 150-air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location, In addition, agricultural activities of motor vehicles are exempt from the hours of service requirements in times of planting and harvesting season.

These are usually the areas governed by trucking laws. In recent news, Government Pat Quinn approved a new law permitting trucks to travel 65 miles per hour in 2010. Currently, the state allows truck drivers to go as high as 55 miles per hour on the road. In the United States, at least 40 states now allow truckers to drive at higher speeds than 55 miles per hour.

Charlie Prenicolas is a legal researcher who writes informative articles on Illinois civil rights, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases. For more information on reputable chicago civil rights attorneys, kindly visit Dolan Law Offices today.

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Truck Accidents in Oregon - Finding Fault and Cause

Accidents between trucks and automobiles are dramatic and often deadly. According to a 2011 Commercial Safety Plan prepared by the Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon had 28 percent fewer truck accidents in 2009 than the previous year. While a hopeful trend, there were still 29 deaths from 905 truck crashes in 2009, compared to 34 fatalities in 2008.

Even with the reduction in overall numbers, there were still deaths and injuries from truck accidents. What may start out as a morning commute in mixed traffic can end in an ambulance, and ultimately a courtroom.

Oregon had 28 percent fewer truck accidents in 2009 than the previous year

Healthcare providers take care of injuries suffered in a serious accident. Oregon truck accident attorneys pursue compensation for the injured parties. Determining who is responsible for the injury-and the financial losses-in a trucking accident is key.

Finding fault

Dollar figures for financial compensation in a truck or other vehicle accident revolve around fault, if another driver is only partly at fault you will not receive as much compensation as if they were 100% at fault. Accident investigations conducted by law enforcement, insurance adjustors, and accident lawyers help to determine responsibility and discover how accidents might be avoided in the future. Leading causes of accidents in Oregon include the following:

Truck drivers. Commercial vehicle operators were blamed for 446 of the 905 truck crashes in 2009. Only 30 accidents were caused by truck mechanical problems. Factors contributing to driver fault included:

• Speeding
• Following too close
• Failure to maintain lane

Only six of these accidents were attributed to fatigue.

Other vehicle drivers. Automobile drivers were found at fault in 356 trucking accidents in Oregon in 2009. An ODOT safety campaign entitled Ticket Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) emphasizes the following safety points for car drivers:

• Do not speed. Speeding is the leading cause of accidents in Oregon.
• Give trucks room. Maintain one car length distance for every 10 miles per hour travelled. Do not maintain a driving position in the No-Zone, the area to the sides and rear of a truck where a passenger car cannot be seen by a driver. Do not tailgate.
• Do not cut off a truck and assume they can stop or slow in time to avoid a collision.

Working together, drivers, injury attorneys, government agencies, and law enforcement are trying to reduce the number of truck accidents on Oregon roads. Making our roads safer is a goal that everyone should be involved in.

If you are in need of Oregon trucking accident attorneys [http://www.oregonaccidenthelpcenter.com/oregon-trucking-accident/] please visit our website for more information.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Frank_G_Sabo/607949

Truck Side Guard Bill Introduced After Deadly Crashes

Two U.S. legislators have presented a bipartisan bill which intends to change and enhance truck wellbeing principles. The objective is to keep the regularly fatal accidents which happen when an auto pummels under a tractor trailer in a crash. With the bill, trucks would be required to be furnished with underride protects.

These side watchmen are wellbeing gadgets which cover
the uncovered space between the undercarriage
of a tractor trailer and the street beneath

These side watchmen are wellbeing gadgets which cover the uncovered space between the undercarriage of a tractor trailer and the street beneath. By furnishing trucks with side watchmen, it will keep autos from sliding under trucks in an impact and improving the probability of an officially perilous slamming turning significantly deadlier.

In July of 2017, two autos slid under a jackknifed tractor trailer in New York, which slaughtered each of the four tenants. Accordingly, Senator Charles Schumer called for new security measures to forestall future accidents, and later Senators Kristen Gillibrand and Marco Rubio presented a law requiring monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has prescribed that trucks be required to be furnished with underride protects since the 1970s, yet with no solid enactment set up, the trucking business has been ease back to execute these wellbeing highlights. Be that as it may, in numerous nations over the globe, including Japan and the greater part of Europe, trucks are ordered to incorporate underride monitors and have been for a long while.