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Types of Trucking Company Negligence (Part B)

Failing to Provide the Proper Safety Equipment

Trucking companies are required to provide the necessary safety equipment on every vehicle in their fleet. Required safety equipment includes:

brakes;
windshield wipers;
a sufficient horn; and
the necessary rear underride protection.

Failing to Adequately Maintain a Vehicle

Before each delivery, it is the responsibility of both the driver and the trucking company to adequately maintain their vehicles. They should inspect the trucks and ensure that they are in proper working order. This includes an inspection of the brakes, tires, safety devices and any other parts that may cause a truck accident.

Failing to Properly Secure a Load

Also before each delivery, both the driver and the trucking company must ensure that the truck is properly loaded. They must see to it that the cargo is evenly balanced and secured. If any cargo were to fall off of a truck, it could be a serious hazard to other vehicles on the road.

Schedules That Exceed Federal Regulations

According to federal law, trucking companies can not schedule deliveries that require a driver to exceed the speed limit, or require a driver to exceed their maximum driving time.

In order to keep track of every trucking company's schedule, federal laws require drivers to keep detailed log books. These log books should include the distance traveled, as well as the amount of time the driver spent behind the wheel.

Failing to Meet the Standard Requirements

Any failure to meet these standard requirements can lead to a devastating accident. Trucks are known to drop loads, rollover, jackknife and drift across lanes. All of these truck accidents can result in serious injuries, or even death.

If you or your loved ones have been in an accident because of trucking company negligence, you may want to get the help of a Chicago personal injury attorney.

Hiring a Chicago Personal Injury Attorney

You should be able to recover from your trucking accident without worrying about court documents and filing paperwork. While you adjust to life after your injury, you can take comfort in knowing you don't have to handle an Illinois personal injury lawsuit alone.

When you have the help of a trusted Chicago personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. you'll get expert legal advice and guidance concerning your long-term needs. Contact us today for a free case evaluation - 312-263-1080.

As a service to the residents of Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and Illinois in general, the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Illinois and can result in serious injuries and/or fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

-- single-car accidents such as SUV rollovers;
-- accidents due to hazardous road conditions; and
-- accidents caused by distracted, aggressive, and/or drunk drivers.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.