Chicago Truck Accident Attorney: A Few Large Truck Facts
Our Chicago truck accident law firm is dedicated to making sure that clients receive the financial recovery they are owed from an Illinois large truck crash. Here are a number of facts about large trucks in the United States.
• Large trucks are trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds.
• Under federal law, 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight is the maximum weight standard on the interstate highway system unless a state has a higher maximum weight that was in effect prior to July 1, 1956.
• States can establish their own commercial vehicle weight standards for trucks for off the interstate highway system.
• 84% of truck accident victims were not truck occupants.
• In deadly large truck accidents involving a passenger car, 98% of the victims were riding in the passenger vehicle.
• Multiple-trailer trucks have a greater chance of becoming involved in a truck accident than single-trailer trucks.
• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the states oversee large truck safety.
• In order to drive a commercial truck, a special driver’s license is required.
• A large truck driver who transports dangerous substances or crosses state lines must be at least 21 years of age.
• States can allow younger truckers, ages 18 to 20, to drive large trucks within the state.
• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says truck drivers that have been on the road for over 8 hours increase their chances of being involved in a truck accident by twofold due to driver fatigue.
• Truck drivers that violated hours-of-service rules were more likely to have fallen asleep while driving.
• Large trucks are susceptible to rollover crashes.
• It is important that trucks have well-maintained, operational brakes so that they can stop safely and in a timely manner.
Large truck crashes are often catastrophic motor vehicle collisions that can lead to serious personal injuries or wrongful death.
Q&As: Large trucks, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Please contact our Chicago truck accident law firm to discuss your case.
