Accidents involving 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks can be devastating. Truck accidents often result in serious injuries or even fatalities. While there are many reasons why these accidents occur, driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of collisions. When a truck driver is tired and fatigued, their ability to operate their vehicle safely is affected. This can greatly increase the risk of accidents and injuries to others.

Showing that a truck accident was caused by driver fatigue is not always easy. However, with the help of a skilled lawyer, truck accident victims can take action against a truck driver or their employer and pursue compensation for their injuries.

The Effects of Fatigue on Truck Drivers

Fatigue can impair a truck driver both physically and mentally, affecting their ability to operate a commercial vehicle safely. Some common ways that fatigue can affect truck drivers include:

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult things anyone can experience, especially in situations where a person’s death was caused by someone else's negligence or wrongdoing. In Illinois, family members of a person who was killed because someone else acted negligently have the right to seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Even though money received through a lawsuit will never be able to fully address the loss of a loved one, financial compensation can help ease the burdens that come with such a devastating loss.

Types of Damages Available in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In Illinois, wrongful death lawsuits aim to compensate surviving family members for different types of losses they have experienced following the death of their loved one. The Illinois Wrongful Death Act allows a person’s immediate family members, including their spouse, children, or parents, to seek compensation from the person or parties who were responsible for a wrongful death. The types and amounts of damages available will depend on several factors, including the circumstances surrounding the incident, the ways the family has been affected by the loss, and the expenses paid before and after the person’s death.

Here are some common types of damages that can be sought in wrongful death cases:

Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience, and dealing with the aftermath can be overwhelming. If you have been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. However, before you can recover compensation, you will generally need to prove that someone else was primarily responsible for causing the accident. In most cases, a negligent driver will be at fault for an accident, but other liable parties may also be involved in your case.

Gathering Evidence

To demonstrate liability for a car accident, multiple forms of evidence may be gathered to establish negligence on the part of a driver or another party. Some key forms of evidence may include:

• Police reports: After an accident, it is essential to contact local law enforcement immediately to report the incident. A police officer will come to the scene of the collision and create an official accident report. Since this report will provide information about who was at fault for the accident, it will serve as an important piece of evidence when proving liability.

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Motor vehicle collisions can happen in the blink of an eye, and some of the most common types of car accidents are rear-end collisions. These accidents occur when one vehicle crashes into the back of another vehicle. They can range from minor fender benders to more serious collisions that may result in severe injuries or even fatalities. Those who have been involved in rear-end accidents will need to understand their options for recovering compensation, and they can do so with the help of a skilled attorney. Some of the most common reasons these collisions occur include:

Distracted Driving

When a driver takes their attention away from the road, even for a split second, it can have disastrous consequences. Common distractions include texting or talking on cell phones, eating or drinking, adjusting a car’s radio or GPS system, and interacting with passengers or pets in the vehicle. It is crucial for drivers to stay focused on driving at all times. Looking away from the road or attempting to perform other tasks may cause a person to fail to notice that a vehicle has slowed down in front of them, and they may strike that vehicle from behind.

Tailgating

Following too closely behind other vehicles is another common factor in many rear-end collisions. If a driver does not ensure that there is enough space between their car and the one they are following, they have less time to react if the leading vehicle suddenly stops or slows down. This can make a rear-end collision impossible to avoid. It is important for drivers to maintain a safe following distance to allow for proper reaction time.

Distracted driving has become one of the most common causes of car accidents in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that there were more than 3,500 fatalities in distracted driving accidents in 2021, and these accidents also result in more than 400,000 injuries each year. Even though laws have been passed to prohibit texting while driving or making calls with handheld phones, the rates of distracted driving accidents have continued to increase. People who are injured by distracted drivers can work with an experienced attorney to ensure that they can receive the proper medical care and that other effects of their injuries will be addressed correctly.

Reasons Why Distracted Driving Is So Dangerous

Distracted driving includes any activities that take a person's attention away from driving. Due to increases in the use of technology, there are more distractions that drivers may need to deal with than ever before. Talking on the phone, texting while driving, watching videos, checking social media, reading and responding to emails, and other distractions involving smartphones and electronic devices can take a driver's attention away from the road, putting them and everyone else at risk.

Distractions on the road can also be caused by a variety of other factors. Many drivers try to multitask by eating, adjusting their hair, applying makeup, shaving, changing radio stations, adjusting other vehicle controls, looking up directions, or otherwise paying attention to something other than driving. They may also be distracted by talking to passengers, reaching for objects on a vehicle's seats or floors, looking at billboards or other objects or people on the side of the road, or even daydreaming.