Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

On August 14, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill, the Uniform Speed Limit, into law that will increase the speed limit for large trucks on interstate highways from 55 mph to 65 mph. The new law goes into effect beginning January 1, 2010.

Many truckers in Illinois are reportedly greeting this new law with enthusiasm. Glen Bernis of Sisbro Trucking says that the new mph speed limit is a positive move forward from a safety standpoint because people riding in cars won’t get stuck behind semi-trucks now that both cars and large trucks will have to adhere to the same speed limit. George Billows, of the Illinois Trucking Association, echoed the sentiment that a single speed is safer than having split speed limits.

The new trucking speed limit will give truck drivers the opportunity to make more money. It will also allow them to drive more miles each day. Up until now, many truck drivers have avoided driving through Illinois or have opted to take the shortest route possible.

Exempt from this new law are Cook County and the five collar counties, DuPage County, Will County, Kane County, Lake County, and McHenry County.

While some parties are happy about the new speed limit, highway safety advocates are concerned about whether more injuries and deaths will result now that large trucks are legally allowed to go at a faster speed. The Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation would have preferred keeping a separate, lower speed limit for trucks.

AAA says another 115 Illinois traffic deaths a year are likely to result because of the new speed limit. According to Beth Mosher, an AAA spokesperson, the faster the speed of the truck, the longer it takes for the vehicle to stop. This increases the chances of an Illinois truck accident occurring.

If you were injured in a Chicago truck accident and you believe that the driver of the semi-truck, garbage truck, 18-wheeler truck, tractor-trailer, or another large truck was negligent or careless, you should speak with a Chicago truck crash lawyer immediately.

Truckers look forward to speed limit rising to 65, Whig.com, August 21, 2009

Take notice: truckers will be hitting the gas, SouthtownStar, August 25, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Maximum Posted Speed Limits

House Bill 3956, Illinois General Assembly

Theresa and Victor Berthelsdorf are suing truck driver Arlando Anderson, Everest Trucking Company, and Dynamic Transit Company for personal injury. They are seeking over $100,000 in compensatory damages.

Their Illinois truck accident claim accuses Anderson of rear-ending the Berthelsdorfs' trailer on Interstate 70 on April 26, 2008. Victor and Theresa were riding in the vehicle when the collision happened. The two of them sustained injuries and property damage.

They are accusing the truck driver of either drowsy driving or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving too fast, and failing to keep a proper lookout.

Truck collisions often result in serious and costly injuries for the victims. Unless you have an experienced Chicago truck accident law firm working for you, it can be a challenge to prove liability.

An experienced Chicago injury law firm will know what to do to secure the best outcome possible for your truck crash case.

Earlier this month, a jury awarded a woman who was injured in a 2006 truck crash more than $1 million for her injuries, which required that she undergo two surgeries.

Shannon Brown’s right leg was crushed after the vehicle that she and her baby were riding in was struck by a gas tanker that ran a red light. In addition to the surgeries, Brown’s right leg required 18 screws and a plate.

The sooner you contact an experienced Chicago truck accident law firm, the faster they can get someone to the crash site to begin gathering evidence and talking to witnesses while accounts of what happened are still fresh. There also will likely be documents from the trucking company and other entities that will have to be obtained to prove your case.

Trucker was sleepy or impaired, suit says, The Record, August 26, 2009

Baltimore City Truck Accident Lawsuit Results in $1M Verdict, About Lawsuits, August 19, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance

A 59-year-old man died last Saturday in a Chicago semi-truck accident on the Northwest Side in Wicker Park. The Stephen Richardson was crossing the street at the intersection of North Ashland and West Chicago Avenues when, according to police, he was hit by an 18-wheeler truck.

Richardson was pronounced dead at a Cook County hospital.

Yesterday morning, a West Dundee woman was crossing Illinois Highway 31 when she was fatally struck by a pickup truck driven by Elgin resident Francisco Rodriguez.

Diane Bonitzer, 66, was in the north crosswalk where Willow Lane and Strom Drive meet when the Kane County pickup truck accident. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Rodriguez, 31, was cited for failure to exercise due care and failure to yield to a pedestrian.

Pedestrians are always at a huge disadvantage anytime they are injured in a motor vehicle accident—especially if the vehicle is a semi-truck, a bus, a tractor-trailer, a big rig truck, a garbage truck, a dump truck, a delivery truck, a van, a pickup truck, or any other type of truck. Pedestrians have no protection whatsoever from the impact of colliding with a movie vehicle.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers know that injury accidents are traumatic, painful, and disruptive not just for the victim, but also for family members and other loved ones. Many truck accidents are life changing for those involved and the emotional, financial, and physical tolls can be overwhelming.

West Dundee pedestrian fatally hit by truck, The Courier News, August 26, 2009

Pedestrian fatally struck by semi in Wicker Park neighborhood, Chicago Sun-Times, August 23, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Truck Accidents, Nolo

Continue reading " Chicago Semi-Truck Crash Claims the Life of Pedestrian in Wicker Park " »

In Porter County, Illinois, the family of Darla Kirn has filed a personal injury lawsuit on her behalf against a pickup truck driver and his employer. Kim sustained serious injuries on August 6 when the SUV she was a passenger in was struck by a pickup truck driven by Carl A. Walker.

The Illinois truck accident took place on US 30 and Walker reportedly struck at least six vehicles with his pickup truck. Kirn, 46, fractured her vertebrae and sustained injuries serious enough that her right hand, which was crushed and severed, had to be amputated. She also has a permanent spinal cord injury. Kim still must undergo a number of skin graft procedures and surgeries and she is staying at an Oak Lawn hospital.

Her Illinois truck accident lawsuit contends that her damages from the collision have exceeded $10 million, which is the amount that Kirn is seeking. Kirn’s son, Christopher, dislocated his knee and sustained other injuries. The lawsuit is seeking compensation for Christopher’s injuries and for her husband, Arnold, who has suffered loss of companionship because of the accident and is now responsible for his wife’s medical expenses.

The Illinois personal injury complaint names Walker, his father Charles, and the family business Walker's Specialized Logistics as the defendants. The lawsuit contends that the the truck driver was careless and reckless when he chose to drive the pickup truck even though he knew he had a history of seizures. The complaint blames the family business for letting Walker drive the truck even with his condition.

Catastrophic Injuries
A catastrophic injury not only irrevocably alters the life of the accident victim and his or her family, but they are also very costly. A person suffering from catastrophic injuries may require round-the-clock care, special equipment for disabled persons, medical devices to help him or her maintain a certain quality of life, and other services, including physical therapy and other forms of rehabilitation.

An experienced Chicago, Illinois truck crash lawyer can make sure that you receive all of the financial recovery that you are owed.

$10 million lawsuit filed in U.S. 30 crash, NWI.com, August 13, 2009

Crash victim files lawsuit, Post-Tribune, August 13, 2009

Five people got hurt on Chicago’s Far South Side today when a semi-truck ran a red light and rammed into a sport utility vehicle. The five people that got hurt, 3 children and two adults, were all riding in the SUV.

Fortunately, there were firefighters riding in the vehicle behind the SUV and the rescuers were able to help the victims. The Chicago truck accident took place at around 10:30 am at Cottage Grove Road and 103rd Street.

The semi-tuck reportedly T-boned the SUV on its passenger side, and the two adults riding in the front seat of the SUV lost consciousness. The vehicle continued rolling south. The driver of Chicago Fire Department Truck 24, Mike Hill, ran after the SUV on foot and was able to stop it by shutting down the car.

One of the adults was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The other adult and three children were reportedly in serious condition.

According to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford, the tires might have caught fire if Hill hadn’t come to the rescue. The unconscious SUV driver’s foot had jammed against the accelerator.

The semi-truck driver was not hurt.

Chicago Truck Accidents
The sooner you retain the services of an experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer after an Illinois semi-truck collision occurs, the easier it will be for the personal injury law firm to examine the evidence from the crash site and gather other necessary data to prove liability. In addition to interviewing the parties involved, as well as any witnesses, your Chicago personal injury lawyer may also need to examine the trucker’s log books and the trucking company’s maintenance records, as well as consult with accident reconstructionists and medical experts.

Continue reading " Chicago, Illinois Semi-Truck Crash Injures 3 Children and Two Adults " »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants tractor-trailer drivers to abide by tougher braking standards. Under the new rules, a tractor-trailer moving at 60mph will have to fully stop in 250 feet when braking rather than in 355 feet.

The NHTSA says the new regulation should save 227 lives and prevent 300 serious injuries every year. It will also hopefully reduce property damage by more than $169 million annually.

Any help from the government to decrease the number of Chicago truck accidents that happen is positive progress. Large trucks can cause catastrophic injuries during an Illinois truck crash, with brake failure and human error as two of the leading causes of trucker-related collisions.

While truckers have a large vehicle weighing thousands of pounds protecting them from the impact of colliding with a smaller vehicle, the occupants of the autos involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer are not as fortunate.

An experienced Chicago, Illinois truck accident law firm will know what questions to ask when proving liability in a truck crash. They should also have access to a team of experts, such as accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals that understand the extend of your injuries and how much time it will take and how much money it will cost for you to recover, that can help you obtain the maximum recovery possible for your trucking injuries.

Trucking companies are known for sending someone to the Chicago traffic crash site as soon as possible to try persuading you to settle before you even know what’s happened to you.

Tough New Braking Rules For Large Trucks Will Save Hundreds of Lives Annually, NHTSA, July 24, 2009

Trucking Accidents Caused by Brake and Tire Failure, NOLO

Related Web Resource:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading " Will New Tractor-Trailer Brake Laws Decrease the Number of Chicago Truck Accidents? " »

The family of George F Harris, 40, is suing a tow truck driver and the truck company for his wrongful death. The Hazel Crest resident died on July 10 after the tow truck driven by trucker Nicolas Nieves struck him. The towing company is E & R Towing & Garage Inc.

Three other vehicles were involved in the deadly Chicago truck accident. Police say that the tow truck rear-ended a van. Nieves was cited for driving too fast for conditions, failing to reduce the speed of his vehicle, careless operation of his truck, speeding, and failure to keep a proper lookout.

Six people got hurt in the Dan Ryan accident.

Tow Truck Accidents
Two truck crashes can cause serious injuries. In addition to collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians, people can get hurt if the vehicle that a tow truck is towing is not completely secured and it slips off, landing on the road or on other vehicles.

Two trucks are large-sized vehicles and the impact of getting hit by one of these trucks can be catastrophic.

Regardless of the size of the truck that caused your injury, Chicago truck crashes—especially those involving a professional truck driver—are not the kind of case you want to handle on your own.

You need a Chicago personal injury lawyer who knows how to pursue recovery against a professional trucking company so that you receive all of the compensation that you are owed.

Wrongful death suit filed in fatal Dan Ryan crash, Southtown Star, July 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Chicago Traffic Report

Wrongful Death, Justia

Continue reading " Tow Truck Driver Sued for Chicago Truck Accident " »