Road Construction Zone Truck Accident Lawyer: Chicago, Illinois
Construction zones can be hazardous to drivers and those working within the zones, especially on interstate highways and tollways. When large commercial trucks enter these tight driving spaces, it can even be more dangerous.
Statistics by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that between 2014 and 2018, there were nearly 1,000 truck-related deaths in highway construction zones.
These accidents were attributed to large commercial trucks or buses, highlighting how deadly it can be when truckers driving large commercial vehicles are careless when entering a construction zone.
Truck Accident in Road Construction Zone Attorneys Serving Chicago, Illinois
Our Chicago truck accident lawyers protect the legal rights of commercial truck accident victims. We utilize truck accident law principles for our clients to obtain a verdict for the large truck crash to pay the victim's medical bills and motor vehicle property damage.
Road Construction Truck Accident FAQs
Frequency of Truck Accidents in Chicago Construction Zones
Construction zones on highways and roads are a hotbed for truck and car accidents, especially when heavy equipment moves in the area. In 2010, there were over 87,000 vehicle accidents in work zones with almost 600 fatalities. A staggering estimated 25% of all road construction area fatalities involved large trucks.
Only about 10% of all registered vehicles are classified as large trucks. However, truckers drive nearly 16% of the total miles each year by all vehicles on American roads.
Large trucks cause a disproportionate number of accidents in work zones on freeways and tollways each year.
Characteristics of Chicago Construction Zone Accidents
Road construction work involves lane closures, confusing warning signs, reduced driving space, and tight driving maneuverability in narrow lanes. Drivers coming to a sudden stop can cause a chain reaction of rear-end collisions, leaving motorists, passengers, and construction workers severely injured or dead.
Most work zones are well marked and have posted reduced speed limits to deter accidents. Yet, these crashes still occur frequently at a rate of about one every few minutes.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, some of the common characteristics of construction zone crashes in 2018 include:
- About 59% of accidents happened during daytime hours, 40% at night
- Nearly 32% of construction zone accidents involved speeding
- Approximately 23% of fatal crashes occurred on interstates
A study of over 17,000 work zone crashes revealed that rear-end crashes were the most common type of accident. The study showed that most large truck construction zone accidents involved a trucker driving straight on a level road right before the crash occurred.
Causes of Large Truck Accidents in Chicago Construction Zones
Truckers driving while tired can be dangerous to both those working in the zones and to occupants of other vehicles sharing the road with the trucker. Truck drivers that enter construction zones working on tight time schedules are often fatigued from driving long hours.
Truck drivers are limited to how long they can be behind the wheel. However, even when the truckers adhere to these regulations, they might have been driving for ten or more hours a day, driving up to seventy hours a week.
Trucking companies sometimes pressure truckers to deliver their loads quickly to increase profits. On-time deliveries can, at times, cause truck drivers to speed or not take the breaks they need.
The Complexity of Construction Zone Truck Accidents
Many factors involving large truck accidents, construction sites, and construction equipment can determine who exactly is liable to pay for the injuries and damages. Depending on the circumstances, the driver, trucking company, and even the company that contracted the driver can be monetarily liable for accident-related damages, injuries, and death.
There also might be unique aspects of the crash that need to be considered when the accident happens in construction areas. Crash victims, whether workers or passengers in other vehicles, might need legal assistance to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries.
An experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer familiar with truck accidents can help investigate the crash and negotiate the best settlement with the liable parties and insurance companies.
Working With a Chicago Construction Zone Truck Accident Law Firm
Hiring a team of experienced personal injury attorneys from a Chicago law firm could make a difference in your lawsuit. The lawyers can ensure that the other party or the insurance company does not diminish or deny your claim for financial compensation
Your attorney will build a solid case by:
- Preserving evidence
- Obtaining statements
- Deposing witnesses
- Review in Illinois State Police reports
- Reviewing the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) truck company records
- Writing a complaint
- Presenting to a jury
- Negotiating a settlement with the construction company
Truck accident injury lawyers can show you what to do to avoid the pitfalls and traps that the other side will undoubtedly use to defeat your personal injury case. Use our contact form below or give us a call to understand what you should do!
Possible Relief in a Chicago Construction Zone Truck Lawsuit
Truck accidents, especially in Chicago work zone accidents, leave tremendous damage in their wake, including physical injuries, lost income, disrupted relationships, etc. However, there may be relief possible for you if you bring a lawsuit in Chicago.
You could seek financial compensation for your costs, personal injuries, and other intangible effects that the incident caused you. Your personal injury lawyers will show the claims adjuster or trial jury how the truck accident and your serious injuries changed your life for the worse.
Illinois Road Construction Zone Trucking Accident Law Firm
A semi-truck accident in a work zone can be devastating not just for the impacted car occupants, but also the workers and other motorists sharing the road. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC knows the destruction an out of control semi can cause when a tractor-trailer crashes into a series of stopped cars or workers working on the road.
Our law firm has a history of obtaining significant financial recovery for truck and auto accidents and can help your family. We'll deploy our team of accident investigators and engineers to the accident scene within hours.
Contact our road construction zone injury lawyers at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) to schedule a free consultation to discuss the merits of your truck accident case. We also provide legal advice and representation for families who have lost a loved one through wrongful death.
All discussions with our law office remain confidential through an attorney-client relationship. We follow social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus).