Personal Injury Law

Increase in fuel prices may contribute to more truck accidents on Illinois roads

By Hurley, McKenna & Murtz

Increase in fuel prices may contribute to more truck accidents on Illinois roads. That's the conclusion many trucking experts have come to as a result of the large increase in gas prices. They say that trucking companies are forced to make up for the gas price increase in operating costs and due to the rise in fuel prices, truck drivers and trucking companies are left with three options: pass the cost down to their customers, make up for the increase in costs by driving more hours-- or some combination of the two.

Earlier this spring, the American Trucking Association's (ATA) State Vice President Mike Card provided testimony to the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit where he said that many trucking companies are going out of business or barely surviving. Mr. Card testified that the poor economy and a decrease in demand for freight transportation were also contributing factors. However, he made it clear that the high price of diesel was the driving force behind the struggles of most trucking companies.

In attempt to keep roads safe, federal laws have been put in place to regulate the amount of time truck drivers spend on the road. Experts fear that the increase in operating expenses due to increased fuel costs will result in more violations of hours of service requirements, which will ultimately lead to an increase in truck accidents due to driver fatigue.

Full post as published by Illinois Car and Truck Accident Lawyer Blog on October 13, 2008 (boomark / email).