While approximately 57,000 square miles of Illinois are considered sprawling urban centers, the majority of Illinois remains rural. Often, passenger vehicles are sharing the roadways with agricultural trucks and commercial farm vehicles that are transporting crops, livestock, or are moving between farm parcels.
According to the National Safety Council, approximately 15,000 crashes each year involve agriculture trucks across the U.S. and because agricultural trucks are large, slow-moving, and often carrying heavy cargo, these trucks put other motorists at risk for serious injury and death.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to another driver’s negligence, we at 844 See Mike are here for you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected, and you are fully compensated for your injuries and losses.
Common Causes of Agricultural Truck Accidents
Agricultural truck drivers are required to obey all state laws and operate their vehicles safely just like any other motorist on Illinois’ roadways. When an agricultural truck driver acts negligently and does not follow proper precautions, they put other drivers at risk.
Some other common causes of agricultural truck accidents include:
- Poor visibility
- Inexperienced equipment operator
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
- Poor road conditions
- Failure to secure equipment properly
- Lack of slow-moving-vehicle signs
- Speeding
- Unsafe passing
Common Types of Agricultural Truck Accidents
When sharing the roadway with agricultural trucks, it is important to take precautions to protect yourself. According to Ohio State University’s Agricultural and Natural Resources department, when driving near agricultural trucks it is important to do the following:
- Be patient and wait until it is safe to pass the truck;
- When passing, do so quickly and allow for ample distance between vehicles;
- Do not pass on a hill, a crest, or a curve;
- Slow down as soon as you see an agricultural truck and always be prepared to stop.
However, even when these recommendations are followed, accidents can still occur. The common types of agricultural truck accidents that can occur include:
- Passing collisions-Farm equipment is often longer and wider than passenger vehicles. Drivers often underestimate the size of the agricultural truck when attempting to pass and can sideswipe the truck.
- Left-turn collisions-These collisions occur when the farm equipment slows down or stops to make a left-hand turn and the vehicle behind them attempts to pass.
- Rear-end collisions-Rear-end collisions often occur because of the difference in speed between smaller vehicles and agricultural trucks. Faster moving vehicles often misjudge slower vehicles and do not adjust their speed accordingly.
Establishing liability in an agricultural truck accident can be difficult and often multiple parties may be liable for your damages and injuries, including the vehicle operator, the farm owner where the driver works, the owner of the farm equipment, the manufacturer of the farming equipment, and other drivers who may have been involved in the accident.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an agricultural truck accident it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to review your case and determine who may be at-fault for your injuries.
We at 844 See Mike are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at 844 See Mike, we put People, First.
Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
