Trailer Truck Accidents
Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss
- Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at 844SeeMike.
- Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
- Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.
Construction is one of the most dangerous careers in America, with one in ten construction workers injured each year while working on the roads, infrastructure, and buildings across the country. This often involves the use of dangerous and heavy equipment such as trailer trucks.
Trailer trucks allow for the transportation of a wide range of construction equipment and supplies and come in a variety of configurations to meet the needs of most types of jobs. While these trucks are useful and necessary on the worksite, they are not without risk.
If you have been injured in a trailer truck accident, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
Types of Trailer Trucks
Trucks are the most common method of transporting materials and freight and to do this, they must have trailers to carry the load. The type of trailer that will be used will depend on the job, type of material being transported, and load capacity. The most common types of trailer trucks include:
- Flatbed trailers
- Dry vans or enclosed trailers
- Refrigerated trailers
- Lowboy trailers
- Step deck trailers
- Extendable flatbed trailers
- Stretch single drop deck trailers
- Removable gooseneck trailers (RGN)
- Specialty trailers
- Side-kit trailers
- Extendable double-drop trailers
- Stretch RGN trailers
- Conestoga trailers
- Power-only trailers
- Multi-car trailers
In the construction industry, however, the most commonly used trailer trucks are the various flatbed trailers and are often used for hauling other pieces of machinery, tools, equipment, and materials.
Trailer Truck Risks
When a trailer truck is rated at 26,001 pounds or more, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required for the driver. Even in the event that the combined weight of a truck and its attached trailer is less than 26,000 pounds and a CDL is not required, operators of trailer trucks should be thoroughly trained in how to operate the truck safely. Trailer trucks also need to be routinely inspected and maintained and trailer trucks that are defective in design and/or manufacture should never be used to prevent accidents and injuries that are often serious or deadly.
The most common injuries seen in trailer truck accidents include:
- Bruises
- Lacerations
- Fractures
- Abrasions
- Amputation
- Crushing injuries
- Severe burns
- Permanent disabilities
- Head, neck, and spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Death
Liability in Construction Accidents
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH ACT), employers have an obligation to maintain a safe working environment and follow the regulations of OSHA. If the employer, subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, or another employee fails to follow the appropriate standards of care and their actions or inactions cause an accident, they could be liable for the injuries and damages their negligence caused.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act provides benefits, including medical and rehabilitation expenses, partial wages, and disability benefits to an injured worker regardless of who was at-fault for the accident. Workers compensation does typically prohibit an employee from suing their employer for the accident, however, there may be other options including filing a claim against a negligent third-party, such as a subcontractor, vendor, defective equipment designer and/or manufacturer, or general contractor who is not the employee’s direct employer.
Construction accidents are often complex, involving multiple parties and defendants. This is why it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to determine your rights under Illinois law.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to negligence on the job site or a defective product, the injury lawyers at 844 See Mike can review your claim and determine if there were unsafe working conditions, potential OSHA violations, and other hazards that may have existed at the time of your accident. They will also determine who may be liable for your injuries and damages and what compensation you may be entitled to.
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, and 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 1,000 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 135 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
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