When it comes to the dangers posed by other drivers on the highway, few situations are as instantly nerve-wracking as finding yourself behind, beside, or otherwise too-close-for-comfort to an 18-wheeler. The statistics only confirm this fear: a staggering half-million trucking-related accidents occur in the U.S. every year, accounting for 5,000 annual deaths, or one in eight traffic fatalities.

Semi-trailer wrecks happen for a number of reasons. The combination of the truck's size (a typical weight being 80,000 pounds and length between 65 and 75 feet), the speeding invovled with the company's pressure to deliver shipments on time, and the fact that many drivers are subject to extreme fatigue essentially create the perfect storm for a horrible accident. Other contributers to such incidents include:

• Brake failure
• Deregulation of laws concerning the trucking industry
  
• The influence of drugs or alcohol
• Tire malfunction; and
  
• Loose cargo in the freight area 
  

We typically like to think of our society as becoming safer over time, but 18-wheeler accidents are one area that alarmingly breaks this trend, with the number of accidents actually growing every year. Moreover, when a car collides with or is otherwise affected by an 18-wheeler, the truck driver often escapes with minimal injuries as compared to those less-protected in the other vehicle.

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State and federal laws are in place that seek to protect drivers from the negligence of truckers and the companies for which they work, but fault in these cases must nevertheless be vigorously and smartly pursued. To speak with an experienced semi-truck crash attorney about your case, contact the Chicago law offices of Friedman and Bonebrake, P.C. by calling 312-466-8200.