According to the Morris Daily Herald, while there are rumble strips and stop signs at the intersection on Morris Road, there are no stop signs on CH 15. Investigators are trying to figure out whether traffic control devices were a factor in the deadly crash. Marseilles Police Chief Jim Hovious calls the intersection where the semi-trailer accident happened a dangerous one where several traffic crash deaths had already occurred.
Police are trying to determine exactly what happened.
Illinois Truck Accidents
If the truck driver did anything that contributed to causing the collision, the women’s family may be able to file an Illinois truck crash claim against the trucker, the trucking company, and other parties involved with the truck, such as the owner of the truck, or the company that is using/leasing the truck. A lot of it will depend on who/what caused the collision.
Time and again, our Chicago tractor-trailer accident lawyers have seen the devastating injuries that can come about from this type of crash and the impact it has on surviving loved ones. We are not afraid to go up against large trucking companies to make sure that you obtain all of the personal injury or wrongful death recovery that you are owed.
Mother, daughter die in Wednesday crash, Morris Daily Herald, April 21, 2011
Two Ottawa women die following crash, MyWebTimes, April 21, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
According to investigators, Conkle appears to have lost control of the white 1996 Kenworth dump trailer that he was driving, which caused the semi-truck to overturn. The semi-truck driven by trucker Danny Brown then crashed into the dump trailer, which was also struck by a semi-trailer operated by James Farmer. Conkle was pronounced dead at the Illinois truck crash site while Farmer and Brown were treated at the hospital for their injuries.
Truckers Getting Injured in Illinois Truck Crashes
Our Chicago truck crash lawyers work with truck drivers that have suffered serious injuries in large truck crashes that were caused by other parties negligence or carelessness. Even with their big rigs, truck drivers can also get hurt in traffic crashes, sustaining traumatic brain injuries, head trauma, broken bones, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, severed limbs, and burn injuries.
It is a good idea to speak with an experienced Illinois truck crash firm about how recover your compensation from all liable parties. Some common causes of Illinois truck accidents:
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Drowsy driving
• Truck defects
• Faulty maintenance
• Poor road conditions
• Poor weather conditions
Our Chicago truck accident lawyers are experienced in dealing with trucking companies, their insurers, big rig truck owners, and other parties that could be liable for your injuries. We also have Illinois workers’ compensation lawyers to make sure that injured truckers receive all of the work injury benefits that their employer owes them.
One killed in pileup that closed highway, KFVS 12, April 18, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Fatality Analysis Reporting System
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
More Blog Posts:
Distracted Driving a Factor in Illinois Tractor-Trailer Crash Causes Multi-Vehicle Collision on I-77 That Sends Two to the Hospital, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog
Appeals Court Affirms $23.75M Will County Tractor-Trailer Accident Award Over Man’s 2004 Illinois Wrongful Death, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, April 9, 2011
]]>According to police, Kruger didn’t notice that traffic had stopped until it was too late because he was reaching down to throw something in the trashcan. The semi-truck struck and drover over a car that was being towed on the back of the U-Haul, rear-ended the truck, which then hit a Nissan and a Honda. The cars then struck a Mercury Marquis. The impact of the crash lodged the tractor-trailer and U-Haul together, and the two vehicles kept going into the median. Two people were transported to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries from the chain-reaction crash.
Distracted Driving
Once again, distracted driving has likely played a role in causing a collision that could have lead to serious injuries and minor injuries. That said, even minor injuries can take a toll on a Chicago truck crash victim, who may have to take time off work to recover from a sore back, neck problems, aches and pains, and other “minor” injuries.
Motorists cannot afford to take their eyes off the road or their mind off the task at hand. A few seconds of distraction is all that it takes for a catastrophic Illinois traffic crash to occur.
According to the US Department of Transportation, there are three main kinds of distraction:
Visual—eyes are off the road
Cognitive—mind is not on the task at hand
Manual—hands off the steering wheel
Any non-driving task that a driver engages in while driving is distracted driving.
Truck driver cited in wreck that snarled I-77, Statesville Record & Landmark, April 14, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Distraction.gov
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The family of Thomas Sanders was awarded $8.5 million. The jury awarded Naperville resident Joseph G. Sperl's family was initially awarded $7.25 million, although the trial court later lowered that amount to $7 million. Aurora resident William Taluc, who was critically injured and broke 17 bones during the Will County tractor-trailer accident, was awarded $7.7 million.
DeAn Henry, the trucker blamed for causing the multi-vehicle pileup, was sentenced to two and a half years probation after she pled guilty to the charges that she falsified her logbook and didn’t slow down her truck to avoid causing an accident. She also had to give up her commercial truck driver’s license for two years. Henry, truck owner CH Robinson Worldwide, and her employer Todd L. Dragonfly were the defendants of this Will County, Illinois semi-truck collision case.
Our Chicago 18-wheeler truck crash lawyers covered this case last year on our blog site. It is so important that victims injured in an Illinois semi-truck collision and their families receive the Will County personal injury or wrongful death damages that they are owed. So much is lost when a loved one dies unexpected. Obtaining injury won’t bring your loved one back but it can provide some relief.
Appellate Court affirms $8.5 million trial verdict, MyWeb Times, April 8, 2011
$24 million award upheld in fatal ’04 crash, Sun-Times, April 5, 2011
Will County Jury Awards $24 Million Illinois Truck Accident Verdict to Families of Victims and Crash Survivor with Serious Injuries, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 23, 2009
Related Web Resource:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
More Blog Posts:
Did a Weak Rear Guard Play a Role in Your Loved One’s Chicago Tractor-Trailer Crash Death?, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 31, 2011
Illinois Truck Accident Lawsuit Filed in Pedestrian Death, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 24, 2011
Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit and Personal Injury Lawsuits Filed in Semi-Tractor Trailer Accident, Chicago Injury Attorney Blog, January 29, 2009
]]>The IIHS says that its own vehicle testing showed that current rear guards could fail even when the truck crash is one occurring at a low speed. The Institute is hoping to remedy this problem and has petitioned the government to mandate stronger underrides that can stay in place during a rear-end truck accident. The IIHS also wants this sturdier protection to become a requirement for more trailers and big rigs.
Seeing as, per the IIHS’s analysis of Large Truck Crash Causation Study truck crash cases, underride was a common result in the 115 truck crashes involving a passenger auto hitting a semi-trailer or large truck, the sooner that tougher rear guards are mandated, the better. Also, out of 28 incidents involving someone in a passenger vehicle dying, serious underride damage was a factor in 23 of these accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that about 423 people are killed annually in accidents involving passenger vehicles rear-ending a large truck. Over 5,000 other passenger vehicle occupants end up injured.
If you were injured in any type of large truck crash, do not hesitate to contact our Chicago 18-wheeler truck accident law firm right away. There may be parties who should be held liable for your injuries. Possible liable parties could include the truck driver, the driver of the passenger vehicle that you were a passenger in, a truck manufacturer, or the trucking company.
Underride guards on big rigs often fail in crashes; Institute petitions government for new standard, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, March 1, 2011
Read the IIHS's petition (PDF)
Related Web Resources:
Large Truck Causation Study, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Schaefer died last year after he was struck by a tractor-trailer driven by Cobb while walking across a Granite City intersection. The intersection was unmarked.
Headly contends that the defendants were negligent. She is seeking over $100,000.
Illinois Wrongful Death
In Illinois, you have two years from the date of injury to file your Chicago wrongful death claim. This may seem like a lot time from now, but in fact, there is a lot that your attorney will need to do to successfully pursue your Chicago semi-truck crash lawsuit and the sooner he/she gets started, the better. Your Illinois injury attorney may have to consult with accident and medical professionals to build your case and determine the full scope of your injuries and the damages you should receive.
Trucking companies can be especially tough when it comes to denying or diminishing liability. What cannot be diminished is the unquantifiable loss of someone’s life—especially when so unexpectedly and in such a traumatic manner in a Chicago tractor-trailer collision.
Pedestrians hit by a large truck will likely sustained serious, if not fatal injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, organ damage, and head injuries. Truckers owe a duty of care to ensure that they aren’t involved in any type of crash, especially as it is the other parties that are most likely to get hurt.
Beelman Truck sued over pedestrian fatality in unmarked crosswalk, The Record, March 24, 2011
Related Web Resources:
The Large Truck Causation Study
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
More Blog Posts:
Father and Son Injured in Illinois Truck Crash File $6M Federal Lawsuit, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 17, 2011
Chicago Family Sues Fedex Over Semi-Truck Crash that Claimed Three Lives, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 9, 2011
$5M Illinois Semi-Truck Settlement Reached Between Hospital Corporation and Attorney’s Estate, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 28, 2011
In their Illinois personal injury case, the Bennings are accusing Lawler of truck driver negligence. Their complaint contends that the trucker failed to keep control of his large truck, which allowed his semi-trailer to jackknife before crossing the center line on Illinois 75. The family believes that Lawler was going too fast on a snowy day.
Brian, who sustained a traumatic brain injury and other “particularly devastating” injuries, was finally released earlier this month from the ICU. He is now in rehabilitation. Having undergone a number surgeries, Brian's recovery is expected to be long. Brett, whose injuries weren’t as serious, is no longer at the hospital.
The family wants compensation for medical bills, physical pain, mental anguish, and lost wages.
Truck Jacknife Accidents
Common causes of Chicago truck jackknife crashes include:
• Sudden application of the brakes
• Accelerating on a surfaces that has low friction
• Downshifting
• Rushing into a curve
• Loss of control on a slippery road
• Swerving and braking at the same time
Main kinds of Illinois truck jacknife crashes:
Tandem Trailer Jacknife: Involves a truck cab pulling two trailers.
Classic Truck Jacknife: Usually involves the trailer swinging out and the truck cab swinging into it.
Dakota Basketball Coach and Son Injured In Car Accident, WIFR, February 1, 2011
Benning family files $6M lawsuit, Journal Standard, March 11, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
More Blog Posts:
Illinois Garbage Truck Accident Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Injured Cop, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 16, 2011
69-Year-Old Olney Woman Killed in Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 10, 2011
18-Wheeler Truck Crash Kills Teen Riding in Stolen SUV, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer, May 12, 2010
The family was driving back from Florida where the younger adult Victor had just gotten married to Melissa’s best friend when then the catastrophic truck accident happened. According to police, at around 3:30am on February 23, the FedEx semi rear-ended the Nissan Pathfinder SUV that was transporting the Chicago family. Per relatives, the elder Victor Chacon, who is married to Melissa and is the father of the three girls and the two younger Victors, broke two bones in his spine. Yaznylie broke her legs and suffered head trauma. Victor, 5, sustained serious injuries.
With their large trucks, Fedex drivers must be careful not to become involved in a collision. Yet, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, over the years, there have been hundreds of truck crashes involving a FedEx truck. Often, it is the people involved that weren’t in the truck who end up getting hurt. FedEx companies that use large truck include, FedEx Express, FedEx Ground Package System Inc., FedEx Freight, Inc., FedEx Ground Package System Ltd, Fedex Supply Chain Systems, Inc., and FedEx National Ltl., Inc.
Regardless of who owns the large truck that you or a loved one was involved in a traffic crash with, it is important that you explore your legal options. Suing for Chicago truck accident damages is not the same as filing a car accident claim. Getting legal help increases your chances of obtaining the maximum recovery possible.
Crash kills 2 kids, man returning from Fla. wedding, Chicago Tribune, February 23, 2011
Crash Kills New Groom, 2 Children, NBC Chicago, February 24, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation Issues New Ejection Mitigation Rule, NHTSA, January 13, 2011
More Blog Posts:
$6.5 Million Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Settlement Goes to Family of Woman Killed on Halloween 2008, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, November 16, 2010
$1.5 Million Illinois Semi-Truck Accident Settlement Reached Over Tow Truck Driver’s Wrongful Death, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, September 7, 2010
$5 Million Truck Accident Settlement Reached in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against PG & E, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, July 9, 2010
The deadly Illinois semi-truck accident happened when truck driver David A. deFrance did not stop at a stop sign. The large truck he was driving then struck Berry’s car. OSF Saint Francis Inc. owns the semi-truck that deFrance was driving.
Although nothing can ever compensate you for the loss of a loved one, obtaining Illinois wrongful death recovery can assuage some of the costs and damages while allowing you to hold the negligent party liable. It doesn’t matter whether the liable party is held responsible in criminal court. Your civil case would be completely separate in terms of the legal process and its outcome.
Coping with the death of a loved one is never easy. In addition to the absence of that person in from life and all that is lost along with that—companionship, a life together, loss of a mother, father, son, or daughter—there also may be financial losses, such as those of income, benefits, retirement funds, etc., that your family member would have earned if his/her life had not been cut off so abruptly.
There are specific steps and strategies that can be employed when filing for recovery in a Chicago truck crash.
Lawyer's estate settles $5 million lawsuit, News Tribune, February 25, 2011
Related Web Resources:
OSF Saint Francis Inc.
More Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blogs:
Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuit Says FMCSA Violation by Trucker Contributed to Man’s Wrongful Death, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer, December 3, 2010
$6.5 Million Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Settlement Goes to Family of Woman Killed on Halloween 2008, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, November 16, 2010
Illinois Tow Truck Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Wrongful Death of Man and His Son, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, October 15, 2010
Bourbon contends that trucker Scotty B. Wentworth drove too fast, did not keep a proper lookout, neglected to yield-the-right of lane, failed to drive within a single line, and did not stop at a stop sign while attempting to make a right turn. The plaintiff says that in addition to her physical injuries, she also suffered emotional distress and could not execute her usual duties.
Bourbon is seeking over $100,000 plus costs. Wentworth’s employer, Howell's Motor Freight, is also a defendant. She claims the freight company was negligent for entrusting the truck to Wentworth when it allegedly knew he would operate the truck in a careless, reckless, and incompetent manner.
Truck crash cases are tough. This is why working with the right Chicago truck accident law firm is so important. Not only are trucking companies often ready to combat allegations of liability, but also determining which parties are responsible can be challenging.
Often, truck logs can often help shed light on whether any Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations were violated. Truck maintenance records can also show whether a truck is up-to-date on its inspections. An experienced Illinois truck crash law firm will know what evidence and data to gather so that you can receive the recovery that you are owed.
Madison County Transit driver sues trucker over accident, The Record, February 21, 2011
Related Web Resource:
FMCSA
More Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog Posts:
FMCSA Proposes Installing Monitoring Trucker’s Hours of Service with Electronic Onboard Recorders, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, January 31, 2011
Preventing Chicago Truck Accidents: FMCSA Launches Compliance Safety Accountability Program to Target High Risk Truckers, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, December 22, 2010
$3.5 Million Truck Accident Verdict Awarded in Case Against Illinois-Based Company, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, December 16, 2010
]]>According to his Illinois truck crash complaint, Berndsen was driving his police car in Breese when his vehicle was struck by a garbage truck driven by Ewing. The trucker/sanitation driver allegedly did not stop at the intersection, which caused him to strike the officer’s patrol car.
Berndsen’s police car rolled over during the collision. He says he hurt his back and neck.
Chicago, Illinois Garbage Truck Accidents
Large and heavy in size, garbage trucks can cause serious Illinois personal injuries. Not only are they challenging to maneuver, but it can also be difficult for the truck driver to see what’s around him/her—especially in the vehicle’s blind spots.
Garbage truck drivers cannot afford to become distracted or disobey traffic laws when driving. They need to pay attention to the activity around them, drive at the speed limit, obey all traffic signs, make sure there aren’t any pedestrians that have suddenly appeared behind the vehicle, and, before proceeding, check that workers riding on the truck are not in the vehicle’s way.
Breese cop sues garbage truck driver, The Record, February 14, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Truck Accidents, Justia
More Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog Posts:
Woman Files Illinois Garbage Truck Lawsuit Seeking Personal Injury Recovery, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 19, 2010
Woman’s Legs Severed in Garbage Truck Accident, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 10, 2010
Chicago Garbage Truck Accident Kills Two People and Critically Injures Two Others, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, September 2, 2009
]]> It is important that you work with a Chicago truck crash law firm that knows how to prove liability on the part of the garbage truck driver and/other responsible parties. Garbage truck crashes claim lives annually. ]]>According to a preliminary probe, trucker Daniel H. Greifzu was trying to back his semi-truck, which was using both lanes of travel, into a private driveway, when Witte, failing to realize that the tractor-trailer was in the eastbound lane, struck the large truck with her SUV. She was pronounced dead at the truck crash site. Meantime, Greifzu received a citation for improper backing.
In other recent collision news, a pedestrian was killed in a Chicago truck crash last week in the Bridgeport neighborhood. The city-owned truck was backing up when it hit the pedestrian.
Back-Over Accidents
Backover crashes are a common cause of injuries. In some cases, the driver who is backing up does not see the pedestrian, bicyclist or other vehicle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common back-over injuries include injuries to the legs, arms, face, neck, or head, as well as abrasions, contusions, internal injuries, and fractures.
It is important that anytime a vehicle is backing into or out of a lane, driveway, or parking lot, he or she do so in a manner that doesn’t create a dangerous situation for others on the road. Collisions with any type of large truck increase the chances of serious injuries, so drivers have a duty of care to be extra cautious especially when they know they are engaged in an activity that can increase the risk of a Chicago truck crash.
Olney woman killed in crash, CarmiTimes, February 9, 2011
City truck hits, kills man in Bridgeport, Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2011
Related Web Resources:
FARS, Large Trucks, NHTSA
Q&As: Backover crashes, IIHS
Related Blog Posts:
Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accidents Sends Woman to the Hospital After Her Vehicle Hits a Utility Pole, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, January 27, 2011
Recent Chicago Semi-Truck Accidents Claim Two Lives, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, January 21, 2011
$3.5 Million Truck Accident Verdict Awarded in Case Against Illinois-Based Company, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, December 16, 2010
It is important that commercial truck drivers not drive on the road for too long so that they remain alert and wide awake. Our Chicago truck accident law firm has represented many people whose lives have changed in an instant because a trucker dozed off for a few seconds or was so tired that he or she didn’t step on the brakes in time to avoid striking a pedestrian or colliding with another vehicle.
If you were injured in a Chicago truck crash, an experienced injury attorney can help you figure out whether the other driver violated any FMCSA rules. Even if the trucker was in compliance with federal regulations, if he/she was drowsy driving, distracted driving, or engaging in any other type of negligent driving, you could be entitled to Chicago injury recovery from the truck driver and his or her employer.
Trucking companies know how to fight liability claims, which is why it is a good idea to have someone on your side that knows how to fight for you.
U.S. Proposes EOBRs for All Interstate Trucks, Transport Topics, January 31, 2011
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Proposes Changes to Hours-of-Service Regulations, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyers Blog, January 11, 2011
Related Web Resource:
FMCSA
Crystal Lake Police believe the tractor-trailer accident happened when a Mack truck driven by Efrain B. Garcia hit Topala’s Mustangs She then lost control of the car. Topala was left incapacitated but conscious and she was taken to the hospital. Her injuries are not considered non-life threatening.
The day before, in another Illinois truck crash involving two tractor-trailer units, two other women did not survive. Betty Smith, 43, and Cynthia Riggs, 42, died from injuries that they sustained when the vehicle they were was rear-ended as it was attempting to turn left by one of the trucks that did not slow down. The impact of the crash forced the Pontiac into the westbound lane where it was hit on the passenger side by another tractor-trailer. The impact from that collision caused the women’s car to hit the first truck’s trailer.
The two women were thrown from the Pontiac and pronounced dead at the Illinois truck crash site.
Illinois Truck Accident Lawsuit
Even if you or someone you love was seriously injured in a Chicago tractor-trailer crash that was caused by the trucker’s negligence, this does not mean that you will easily be able to obtain personal injury or wrongful death recovery. This is why it is so important that you work with a Chicago semi-truck accident law firm that has the experience to successfully pursue your claim or lawsuit. There is a lot involved in proving liability in a large truck accident.
Truck driver charged after double fatal, CarmiTimes, January 27, 2011
Algonquin Woman Injured in Crystal Lake Accident, Algonquin Patch, January 27, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Also this week, police are searching for a semi-truck in connection with a Chicago hit-and run traffic crash that claimed the life of bicyclist. The rider, 65-year-old Robert Felice, was found lying on West Pershing Road. The large truck is described as having a red cab and a camper. Felice was pronounced dead at University of Illinois Medical Center.
It is important that you start exploring your legal options for Illinois personal injury or wrongful death as soon as possible. Obtaining your injury recovery can allow you to hold the negligent party liable and give you the resources you need to cover damages and costs incurred from your Illinois large truck accident. Proving liability in any kind of collision can be challenging—it can be especially tough when you are dealing with a trucking company that has a team in place, as well as the resources, to combat lawsuits against it. Truck log books and maintenance records will need to be examined. It is also important to determine whether hours-of-service rules or other Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration regulations and any state regulations have been violated.
Recently, the family of Raymond VanPelt filed their Illinois semi-tractor crash over the Aurora man’s wrongful death. Van Pelt, 53, died at the corporate headquarters parking lot in what police think may have been a backover accident involving a semi-tractor trying to back-up to a semi-trailer. The truck driver did not see VanPelt.
The Illinois tractor-trailer crash lawsuit accuses the truck driver of negligent driving, including failing to slow down his speed, not keeping a proper lookout, and neglecting to give audible warning. The plaintiffs, who are also suing the truck company that employed the trucker, are also claiming that the large truck’s brakes were inadequate.
Fatal Vehicular Accident in West Chicago, Trib Local, January 19, 2011
Bicyclist killed in South Side hit-and-run crash identified, Chicago Sun-TImes, January 20, 2011
Related Web Resource:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration