Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

A Chicago truck accident involving a CTA bus and minivan has left five people injured. The Cook County semi-truck crash happened on Sunday afternoon in the Pilsen neighborhood when the truck rear-ended the No. 60 Blue Island/26th bus that then collided with the van.

The Chicago bus accident occurred at South Loomis Street and West Cermack Road. Five bus passengers were transported to a local hospital. One woman was in critical condition, while the other four were admitted to hospitals in fair condition.

Our Chicago, Illinois truck accident lawyers cannot remind truck drivers enough to be careful when navigating their large vehicles through the city’s roads. In most truck crashes involving at least two vehicles, it is usually the occupants of the other vehicles that will have sustained the serious injuries.

Just last Friday, a motorist was injured when his car collided with a semi-truck on I-94 close to South Holland. The car driver, who was trapped In the vehicle, had to be rescued. He sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Please contact our Chicago truck crash lawyers to consult about your accident. Many trucking companies have a team in place to fight any allegations of negligence by other motorists. They may even try to get you to settle before you’ve even had a chance to consider that you actually do have legal options.

Lanes Re-Open After Bishop Ford Wreck, Fox Chicago News, March 5, 2010

CTA bus rear-ended by semi, hits minivan on South Side, Chicago Sun-Times, March 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Chicago Transit Authority

Truck Safety Coalition

Continue reading "Chicago Semi-Truck Crash on South Side Involves CTA Bus and Minivan" »

Six months after John R. “Jack” Yates was fatally struck by a large truck, his family is seeking $5 million in wrongful death damages. The 67-year-old bicyclist died after he got caught in the large truck’s back wheels. Yates was then run over.

According to the family’s truck accident complaint, trucker Michael Dale Chandler and his employer Potts & Callahan Inc. were negligent in causing Yates’s death. Surveillance footage shows the trucker turning right without activating his turn signal.

Even though investigators say that the bicyclist was at fault because he was biking in parking lanes and attempted to pass the truck from the right, the family’s truck accident lawyer maintains that the victim did nothing wrong because state law lets a cyclist stay as far to the right as possible and with the traffic’s flow.

Chandler did not stop his truck following the grisly truck accident. However, investigators say they don’t think that the trucker knew that he had struck Yates.

Getting caught under the wheels of any vehicle—especially a large truck, can be catastrophic for the pedestrian or bicyclist involved. Imagine the weight of thousands of pounds moving over your body. It is no surprise when a victim does not survive getting run over by a tractor-trailer, an 18-wheeler truck, a semi-truck, a garbage truck, or any other kind of large truck.

Although nothing can make up for pain and suffering of the victim, as well as the family’s grief, you may be able to get the negligent party to financially compensate you, which can help offset medical expenses, funeral or cremation costs, lost income, and other losses.

Family of bicyclist killed in city accident files $5 million lawsuit, The Baltimore Sun, March 5, 2010

Lawsuit Filed In Hit-And-Run That Killed Cyclist, WJZ, March 4, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Bicycle Crash Facts, Bicyclinginfo.org

National Crash Facts, FMCSA

Police claim that big rig trucker Thomas Wallace was watching porn on his laptop when he fatally hit a disabled vehicle on the road. The truck crash killed Julie Stratton, the vehicle’s 33-year-old driver.

Wallace has been arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter. Investigators claim that the truck driver disregarded federal trucking regulations when he didn’t get more than fours sleep before the truck collision happened.

Distracted Driving
While distracted driving is a dangerous habit for any driver to engage, it can lead to especially catastrophic consequences when the offending motorist is a large truck driver. Large trucks generally weigh thousands of pounds and a collision with one of these vehicles can prove catastrophic. This is why truckers must stay focused on what they are doing. They cannot afford to talk on the cell phone, text message, watch TV, surf the Web, send and receive emails, or do anything that removes even just a small amount of focus from the road and the vehicles and pedestrians around them. Distracted driving can be grounds for a Chicago, Illinois truck accident lawsuit if this negligent driving habit contributed to causing a collision.

It is so important that truckers are well-rested before they start their driving shift that the federal government has regulations in place to make sure they have time to get enough sleep and recuperate from their long shifts. Truck drivers are also only allowed to drive for a certain number of hours at a time.

Unfortunately, there continue to be many exhausted, drowsy, and distracted truckers on the road. Having a sleeping truck driver behind the steering wheel of a tractor-trailer, a semi-truck, or an 18-wheeler truck is like having a large, dangerous, moving vehicle on the road with no one driving it.

Thomas Wallace, Truck Driver, Was Watching Porn On Laptop Before Killing Julie Stratton In Crash: Police, The Huffington Post, January 27, 2010

Mom of two mowed down by trucker watching porn on laptop: cops, NY Daily News, January 27, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Distracted Driving, US Department of Transportation

A jury has awarded the family of James Brashear $4 million in their wrongful death case against a construction company and one of its subcontractors. The 42-year-old father died late at night on October 1, 2007 when his car was rear-ended by a semi-trailer going at 70 mph.

Brashear’s vehicle was at the end of a line of cars that were stopped in traffic on Interstate 75. His son Tyler sustained serious injuries during the truck crash. One other man and at least nine other people were injured.

Brashear’s family has resolved their wrongful death case with the trucking company that employed trucker Pablo Merlos. The trucker was eating while driving and was not wearing shoes when the semi-truck crash happened. Merlos was accused of not making much of an effort to stop the large truck for 10.5 seconds as it proceeded to hit other vehicles. His truck left 27 feet of skid marks at the crash site.

This $4 million wrongful death verdict was awarded against Zep Construction and Traffic Control Systems Inc. The jury is deciding how much in punitive damages the two defendants should pay for consciously ignoring drivers’ safety on the highway.

The Brashears had accused Zep of failing to proper the proper safety procedures before stopping traffic. They noted that electronic warning signs, which Traffic Control Systems was contracted to provide for the bridge repair project, were not in place that night.

Zep’s attorneys tried to blame the semi-truck crush on Merlos, but the jury only found him 5% liable.

Chicago, Illinois Truck Crashes
There may be more than one party that should be held liable for your Chicago, Illinois truck accident case. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your large truck crash, construction companies in charge of traffic zones, vehicle manufacturers, and government entities are just some of the possible liable parties.

Jury awards family $4 million for fatal accident, Herald Tribune, February 25, 2010

Efforts Lag to Improve Safety at Work Zones, The New York Times, December 21 2010

Related Web Resources:
Truck Accidents, Nolo

Road Construction, Getting Around Illinois

Our Chicago, Illinois truck accident law firm represents persons injured in semi-truck crashes, garbage truck collisions, 18-wheeler truck accidents, and other large truck crashes that were caused by another parties’ negligence. In many cases, the victims of truck collisions are pedestrians, motorcyclists and the occupants of the other vehicles, and the liable party is a negligent trucker or trucking company.

However, truck drivers aren’t always the ones responsible for causing large truck accidents. Truckers can be accident victims too.

For example, just last week, five semi-trucks were involved in a collision on Interstate 29. According to police, semi-truck driver Karl Krueger rear-ended the semi operated by Charles M. Sundt, causing a chain reaction with the other large trucks.

Sundt, 62, was injured in the large truck crash and was transported to a hospital. Krueger, also 62, died from his truck accident injuries. The other two truck drivers did not get hurt.

Truckers have to exercise due care to prevent themselves from getting involved in a traffic crash. However, there are those accidents are completely beyond a truck driver’s control, such as when a Chicago truck collision is caused by a negligent motorcyclist, car driver, pedestrian, or another party.

Five semis collide, killing S.D. driver, Nonpareil Online, February 17, 2010

Five semi-truck chain-reaction crash results in death and injury, JusticeNewsFlash, February 17, 2010

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Trucking Associations, TruckInfo.net

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Truck Crashes Can Cause Injuries to Truckers Too" »

A woman who says that she hurt her shoulder, back, and neck when she was involved in a garbage truck crash is suing Robert "Bob" Sanders Waste Systems and Brent A. Sanders for personal injury. Lakisha A. Barnes filed her Illinois truck accident lawsuit on Tuesday.

She claims that she was rear-ended by the 2006 International CF600 garbage truck, driven by Sanders, on the morning of March 17, 2008. She says the trucker caused the Illinois garbage truck collision when he failed to lower his speed and/or brake to avoid a crash and neglected to keep a proper lookout for other autos.

Barnes says the truck crash caused her to become lame, sick, sore and disordered, as well as experience suffering and pain. She claims that her earning capacity was impaired, she lost income, and accrued medical expenses. Barnes is seeking over $150,000.

Garbage Truck Accidents
Getting hit by a garbage truck that weighs tens of thousands of pounds can prove catastrophic for pedestrians and motorists on the receiving end of this type of collision. Common causes of Illinois garbage truck crashes include:

• Falling garbage
• Drunk driving
• Drugged driving
• Faulty brakes
• Faulty maintenance
• Trying to stick to the garbage pickup schedule
• Poor visibility
• Not being able to stop fast enough during an emergency
• Distracted driving
• Inadequate driver training
• Failure to yield
• Driver fatigue
• Difficulties maneuvering vehicle

Garbage truck rear-ends Honda, suit claims, The Record, February 19, 2010

Continue reading "Woman Files Illinois Garbage Truck Lawsuit Seeking Personal Injury Recovery" »

A Frankfort, Illinois woman died late Monday night when she was struck by a semi-truck on I-294. Stacy Mchale, a 36-year-old mother of two, had just finished changing her flat tire and was about to sit back in the driver’s seat when the tragic Cook County truck crash happened. No charges have been filed against the truck driver.

She leaves behind her husband, 9-year-old daughter, 13-year-old son, mother, and siblings.

Chicago, Illinois Truck Accidents
If you believe that a negligent semi-truck driver caused your traffic accident, you should not hesitate to speak with an experienced Chicago, Illinois truck crash lawyerr. Your first consultation is free and this will allow you to determine whether you have grounds for a Chicago personal injury lawsuit.

18-wheeler trucks, big rig trucks, garbage trucks, semi-trailers, and other large trucks are so massive in size and weight that most motorists and pedestrians involved in a Chicago truck crash will likely have sustained serious if not fatal injuries. Burns, disfigurement, spinal cord injuries, severed limbs, traumatic brain injuries, and other serious injuries can result. It is important to determine whether distracted driving, drowsy driving, cell phone use, text message, drunk driving, failure to abide by the hours of service rule or other commercial traffic regulations, poor truck maintenance, truck malfunction, or a defective truck part contributed to causing the collision.

Homewood mother of 2 killed on tollway, SouthtownStar, February 17, 2010

Woman with flat tire struck, killed by semi, ABC Local, February 16, 2010

Related Web Resource:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Cook County Semi-Truck Accident Kills Woman Who Had Just Changed Tire on I-294" »

Large truck drivers and other motorists must drive carefully, pay attention to the roads and traffic, and obey traffic signals at all times. They must also adjust their driving to the road conditions.

During the winter, wet and frozen roads are inevitable when rain or snow falls over Chicago. It is important for truck drivers to adjust their driving so that they don’t cause any Chicago, Illinois truck crashes.

The other day, 29-year-old Joshua McKinley sustained facial injuries when the van he was driving collided with a semi-truck driven by 49-year-old Timothy May. The trucker sustained minor injuries and was treated at the crash site. Snow and ice may have contributed to the large truck crash.

Ways to avoid causing an Illinois truck rash when the roads are icy:

• Brake gently.
• Slow down so that there are at least three car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Don’t drive on cruise control.
• Activate your headlights.
• Look out for black ice.
• Wear a seatbelt.
• Don’t drive drunk.
• Don’t text or talk on the cell phone.

If your vehicle skids on ice or snow, release your foot from the accelerator and steer your vehicle in the right direction.

Proving liability in any kind of Chicago, Illinois motor vehicle crash is challenging. It is even more difficult when you attempt to pursue recovery from a trucking company.

Slippery Slope: Driver of van injured in crash with semi-truck, News & Tribune, February 9, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Driving in Snow and Ice, The Weather Channel

Chicago Weather, Chicago Tribune

Continue reading "Icy Roads Can Increase the Risk of Chicago, Illinois Truck Accidents" »

A 17-year-old boy who was struck by a cement truck is expected to recover. Mike Philbrook, a high school junior, was crossing the street on Thursday morning when the truck accident happened.

Philbrook went under the truck after he was struck. He had to be flown to the hospital. The teenager suffered a head contusion and broke his pelvis. He was scheduled to undergo surgery over the weekend to repair the pelvic area.

According to investigators, who are investigating the cause of the cement truck accident, sunlight may have been a factor in causing the collision. Following the truck crash, the truck was weighed, unloaded, weight, and brought to the police station where it will stay while the probe is under way.

Illinois Cement Truck Accidents
Cement trucks are large, heavy vehicles that can cause serious injuries during a traffic accident—especially if the victim is a pedestrian who has no protection whatsoever from the impact of the collision. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries can be life altering and very expensive to treat. It can be hard to prove liability in any kind of truck crash without the help of an experienced Chicago, Illinois truck crash law firm representing you.

While truck crashes are not always the trucker's fault, there is a lot that he/she can do to prevent these collissions from happening. Large truck occupants are always at an advantage over other motorists and pedestrians when it comes to safety during a collision.

It is important that you know the extent of your injuries, damages, and costs before agreeing to settle your Illinois truck crash case.

Cement truck accident victim doing well, parents say, Wicked Local, February 4, 2010

North Shore Tech student hit by concrete truck, suffers broken pelvis, Eagle Tribune, February 5, 2010

Related Web Resource:
Truck Accidents, Nolo

Continue reading "Teenager Struck by Cement Truck Sustains Head Injury and Broken Pelvis" »

An 86-year-old woman sustained serious injuries on Wednesday when she fell under a garbage truck. Grace Steckel’s legs were severed in the truck accident.

She was reportedly walking down a street when she fell under the large vehicle that then pinned her, causing both her legs to become severed. Steckel was airlifted to a hospital where doctors placed her in a medically induced coma. She did not sustain internal injuries.

One witness says that he saw the elderly woman standing next to the truck in a driveway. The man says he looked away for one second and when he looked back she had disappeared. He saw that her body was under the truck near the dual tires on the passenger side, and he and another man ran forward to stop the truck driver.

Pedestrians are nearly always at a disadvantage when they are involved in a traffic accident with a motor vehicle—especially a large truck. Most garbage truck crashes are accidents involving pedestrians. According to pedestrian safety advocate group Right of Way, garbage truck accidents involving pedestrians result in 24 deaths/100 million miles traveled—that’s 8 deaths annually.

Common causes of garbage truck-pedestrian accidents:

• Poor visibility for the garbage truck driver
• Garbage trucks are always on the move, stopping and going
• Failure by the garbage truck driver to to check all mirrors and blind spots before backing up
• Driver inattention
• Pedestrian errors

Garbage trucks are extremely heavy vehicles and serious injuries can result when a pedestrian or pedalcyclist is struck or run over by such a large, heavy vehicle.

Easton woman loses legs in garbage truck accident, The Morning Call, February 5, 2010

Easton pedestrian struck by trash hauler loses legs, but son says she's 'feisty', Lehighvalleylive.com, February 5, 2010

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Truck Accidents, Justia

Continue reading "Woman’s Legs Severed in Garbage Truck Accident " »

In the US, it is now illegal for truck drivers and bus drivers to text message while behind the steering wheel. This is good news for everyone else on the road, since it is often pedestrians and the occupants of the vehicles involved in the truck crash or bus accident that sustain serious injuries. Bus and large truck drivers caught violating the ban may be ordered to pay a maximum $2,750 fine. FoxNews.com says bus and trucking industry officials are supporting the texting ban.

According to research from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, motorists who text message have their eyes off the road for about 4.5 out of every 6 seconds. That’s plenty of time for a large truck crash or bus accident to happen. Truck drivers are up to 23 times more likely to crash a semi-truck, 18-wheeler truck, tractor-trailer, or any other kind of large truck when they are texting.

While Illinois is one of 19 US states that ban texting while driving for all motorists, that doesn’t mean that people are actually obeying the law. Unfortunately, many motor vehicle drivers continue to check, text, send, and receive messages when they are on the road, which can lead to Chicago motor vehicle crashes.

Distracted driving of any kind can kill people. Texting and talking on a cell phone have proved particularly dangerous. Many people simply cannot comprehend that what they are doing can destroy lives.

It’s bad enough to get involved in a bus accident or large truck crash with a driver who is paying attention. To get involved in a motor vehicle crash with a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds operated by a driver who isn’t paying attention to the road or doesn’t have both hands on the steering wheel because he/she is too busy sending a text message can lead to devastating consequences.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers, US Department of Transportation, January 26, 2010

Officials With Trucking and Bus Industries Support New Texting Ban, Fox News, January 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Cellphone laws, IIHS, January 2010

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "US Bus Drivers and Truckers are No Longer Allowed to Text Message While Driving " »

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed over the deadly dump truck crash that killed bicyclist Gregory Siemion last May. The complaint was filed against truck driver Benny Branch and the city of Grand Rapids on behalf of Siemion’s estate representative and aunt, Norma Van Gessel.

According to the truck accident complaint, Branch was driving through a narrow alley or driveway between two buildings where the visibility was limited. As he turned out of the drive, he hit Siemion, who ended up under the dump truck and street-level plow blade. The large truck dragged him almost 30 feet.

Branch told authorities he did not know that he had hit the bicyclist until he heard a strange noise and saw the bicycle and body in his rear-view mirror. Siemion’s ribs and pelvis were broken and one of his ears was torn off. Yet he was conscious and spoke with a woman who tried to comfort him following the deadly bicycle accident.

He died from a number of injuries. However, police did not file criminal charges against Branch because they said that based on their investigation, they could not determine who was responsible for the deadly truck crash.

The dump truck accident lawsuit contends that the truck driver should have known that the road was one frequently used by drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists and that he could have driven down another road where visibility was better. The complaint cited 21 work-related driving accidents that Branch was involved in over the past 15 years.

The Secretary of State’s Office says the dump truck driver has a clean driving record at this time.

Dump Truck Accidents
Chicago, Illinois dump truck accidents can result in serious injuries. In many dump truck crashes, the truck may have a hard time staying upright. It is also harder for dump truck drivers to see everyone around them or maneuver their vehicles to avoid a truck crash.

Fatal crash lawsuit cites 21 driving incidents against City of Grand Rapids driver, Mlive.com, January 30, 2010

Dead Bicyclist's Family Sues City Of Grand Rapids & Dump Truck Driver, Fox 17 Online, January 30, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Truck Safety Coalition

Fatality Analysis Reporting System

A catastrophic tractor-trailer accident involving a van carrying a family headed back to Chicago has claimed the lives of two people while injuring 17 others. The deadly truck crash occurred at around 3:30 am today close to Edinburgh in Shelby County.

According to witnesses, the 2007 Freightliner and the 2010 Chevrolet passenger van were both going north on Interstate 65 when the van attempted to drive onto the shoulder. The blue truck, which one person says appears to have been weaving, hit the van from the rear, which caused the smaller vehicle to drive off the road, where it turned over.

Two of the van’s passengers, Sujal D. Patel and Vijay R. Patel, both 20, were pronounced dead at the truck crash site. 16 other van passengers were transported to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries. Several of the truck crash victims are children. While some of the van passengers sustained minor scratches, other passengers sustained serious injuries. The tractor-trailer driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his minor injuries.

Following the deadly tractor-trailer crash, the portion of Interstate 65 where the accident happened was shut down for five hours. An investigation is being conducted to determine what caused the deadly semi-truck crash.

Large Truck Accidents
If you were involved in Chicago tractor-trailer accident that you believe was the other party’s fault, you should contact a Cook County truck accident attorney immediately. There may be multiple parties that you should sue for Chicago, Illinois personal injury or wrongful death. This is not the type of injury case that you should handle without legal help.

Two dead in interstate accident, WTHR, January 25, 2010

Truck strikes van carrying Chicago-area family, killing 2, Chicago Breaking News, January 24, 2010

Related Web Resource:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Tractor-Trailer Crash Involving Chicago-Area Van Kills Two People and Injures 17 Others" »

The brother and mother of Brian Workman are suing trucking company Con-Way Freight and commercial truck driver Forest E. Stover for wrongful death. They filed Lake County truck accident lawsuit last week. Workman, 33, his wife Joanna, 31 and their three children, Ryan, 1, Tyler, 8, and Ashley, 13, were killed on June 26, 2009.

The deadly large truck crash happened at around 4am on I-65 close to US 231 when their pickup truck was smashed between two semi-trailers as traffic slowed. Stover, who was unable to stop in time, rear-ended the Workmans' pickup truck with his semi-truck, pushing it into the other large truck. Stover's semi-trailer was transporting 65,000 pounds of cargo, while the truck in front of the Workman's vehicle contained a load of coil rod weighing about 50,000 pounds. Following the collision, pickup truck caught fire.

The Lake County coroner said each family member died from blunt force trauma. They also sustained serious burn injuries on their bodies. The Workmans were going on a trip to see Brian’s mother and visit Disney World when the catastrophic truck accident happened.

Semi-Truck Accident Lawsuits
Losing someone you love—let alone multiple family members—in a traffic crash is tragic and ruins the lives of the victims and surviving relatives. It is all the more devastating to know that your loved ones would still be alive today if it weren't for another party’s negligent or careless actions—even if there was no malice intended.

Truck drivers are aware that the size and weight of their vehicles can place smaller vehicles at a disadvantage during a a truck collision. This is one of the many reasons why truckers must drive carefully and pay attention to the road and traffic around them.

Because so many truck crashes occur every year, trucking companies are prepared to deal with liability claims. You do not want to try pursuing Illinois wrongful death compensation from a negligent trucking company without legal help.

Mother, brother sue trucker, company, say driver was negligent, NWITimes.com, January 23, 2010

Fiery Crash Kills Mom, Dad, 3 Kids on Interstate, NBC Chicago, June 26, 2009

Related Web Resources:
The Dangers of Large Trucks, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Truck Accidents, Justia

Continue reading "Man’s Brother and Mother Sue Con-Way Freight and Trucker Over Semi-Truck Crash that Killed Family" »

According to investigators, Chicago truck driver Zygmunt Wieckowski was speeding when he lost control of his tractor-trailer on snow-slick roads and struck a special needs bus on January 6. Seven people were injured and four people died.

The fatal tractor-trailer collision happened on Interstate Highway 70 when the large truck formed a jackknife, crossing over the median to meet oncoming traffic. Killed in the truck crash were bus passengers Kenny Fry, Alonson Ruffin, Traci Williams, and Lonnie Acton. Six other bus passengers were injured. Wieckowski, a Chicago resident, was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

Jackknife Truck Crashes
Truck driver inattention, distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, texting while driving, talking on the cell phone, and truck part malfunctions can force the trucker to suddenly step on the brakes, causing the vehicle to jackknife into a V formation, block the road, and strike approaching vehicles. This type of truck collision can prove catastrophic for other motorists, who may find it impossible to avoid colliding with this massive vehicle that has suddenly come swinging at them. Jackknife truck collisions can involve multiple vehicles, causing pileups and resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries.

Speeding, the factor cited in this particular truck crash, always increases the chances of a motor vehicle crash occurring. This is why it is so important for large truck drivers to pay attention and abide by the speed limit. It is usually the other motorists and pedestrians that suffer because a trucker did not follow traffic laws or was negligent in other ways.

4 dead when Chicago trucker jackknifes, hits van in Ohio, WGNTV.com, January 8, 2010

Truck speed cited in crash with special needs bus, Washington Post, January 22, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Trucking Accidents Caused by Driver Error, Nolo

Continue reading "Chicago Trucker in Tractor-Trailer Crash Involving Special Needs Bus Was Speeding" »

A woman who says she was injured in an Illinois truck crash on December 9, 2008 is suing Brutto Truck Services and Paul Bussett for personal injury. Elizabeth Callendar is seeking over $100,000 plus costs.

Callendar claims her 1998 Oldsmobile Achieva was sideswiped by the large truck that Bussett was driving. The two vehicles were going in the same direction in Granite City when the truck collision happened.

As a result of her Illinois truck injuries, Callendar says she sustained permanent and temporary injuries, which have prevented her from fulfilling her usual responsibilities. She also incurred medical costs. She is accusing Bussett of failing to drive in a single lane, failing to brake, failing to exercise proper control, failing to keep a proper lookout, and driving too fast.

Side Impact Collisions
This usually involves a vehicle striking the side of another auto. This can prove fatal, as most vehicle safety features are concentrated in the vehicles’ front and rear sides. Bodily injury and spinal cord injuries are not uncommon during side impact accidents.

Illinois Truck Accident Cases
Most trucking companies are equipped to successfully fend off injury claims and limit their liability. You don’t want to take on a trucking company without speaking with an experienced Chicago truck crash law firm first. You may be able to sue a trucking company and a negligent truck driver for personal injury or, if you have lost a loved on in a trucking crash, you may have grounds for filing an Illinois wrongful death complaint.

Steps that you can take when you or your loved one has been injured in a truck crash:
• Document as much as you can about the collision
• Gather contact information of those involved in the crash
• Write down names and contact information of accident witnesses
• Call a Chicago, Illinois truck accident lawyer
• DON’T talk to the trucking company or its insurer
• DON’T settle your injury claim without consulting with your attorney.

Mack truck driver sideswipes Achieva, suit claims, The Record, January 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Side impact crash testing/ratings criteria, IIHS.org

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

A husband and wife are suing a tractor driver for Illinois personal injury. Jason and Kimberly Brown were riding a Big Dog Ridgeback motorcycle on Illinois Route 159 on November 8, 2009 in Madison County when they were involved in a tractor crash with Charles H. Kassing, who was operating a 78 John Deere 2240 tractor.

According to the plaintiffs, Jason had moved into the left lane and was attempting to pass the tractor when Kassing illegally drove in front of his motorcycle. The couple's Illinois truck accident lawsuit accuses Kassing of failing to exert proper control, maintain a proper lookout, brake, signal when turning left, activate his vehicle’s blinkers, and recognize the autos in the left lane that were legally trying to pass his tractor.

Jason says he injured his body, elbow, foot, knee, and leg in the Illinois tractor crash. Kimberly claims she injured her body, foot, wrist, leg, and head. The Brewers are seeking over $200,000 in damages for medical expenses and the loss of the ability to fulfill their regular responsibilities. They also are claiming damage for losing each other’s companionship, services, consortium, and society as a result of the tractor-motorcycle accident.

Illinois Tractor-Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcyclists are always the ones at a disadvantage during a collision with any vehicle—especially if the motor vehicle is a tractor, an 18-wheeler truck, a semi-truck, a tractor-trailer, or another large truck. Unlike the occupants of trucks, tractors, vans, buses, SUV’s, and passenger cars, motorcycle riders don’t have the body of a vehicle around them as protection during a traffic crash. Their bodies are also more likely to get slammed against the other vehicle or thrown off their bikes and onto the ground or into oncoming traffic. Injuries during a motorcycle-truck crash can include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, internal injuries, broken bones, organ damage, and death.

Motorcylist claims tractor driver pulled out during attempted pass, The Record, January 7, 2010

Motorcycle Accident Overview, Justia

Related Web Resource:
Trucking Accidents: Common Causes & Liability, Nolo

Peter Morano underwent facial surgery last week for injuries he sustained when a sheet of ice fell from a semi-truck crashed through his vehicle’s windshield. The Aurora injury accident happened between Illinois Route 59 and Eola Road last Monday morning. The ice came off the commercial vehicle, which was covered with a foot-and-a-half of ice and snow, as it drove under a viaduct.

Morano compares what happened to an “explosion,” with “blood and glass everywhere.” He says that as he stopped his vehicle, other motorists rushed from their cars with rags to help stop the bleeding from his wounds. According to the Chicago Tribune, the truck driver kept on driving.

Doctors were concerned that the violent impact may have given Morano a traumatic brain injury, but tests results fortunately show otherwise. However, his nose, which was broken and smashed in a number of places, had to be reconstructed. He also shattered the orbital, which is under his left eye socket, and glass bits tore his iris and cut his eyelid. He may have permanent vision damage. Morano had to have stitches on his face.

His wife Debbie says other people she has talked to have experienced ice flying off motor vehicles. She doesn’t see why a commercial truck can’t be de-iced.

Currently, there is no law mandating that people remove the ice from their autos. However, snow on top of vehicles has proven to be dangerous on more than one occasion. In 2005, a woman died after a 9-foot ice piece came off an 18-wheeler truck, striking another truck’s windshield. The impact of the crash caused the second truck driver to lose control of the vehicle, which then collided into the woman’s auto.

Ice shatters man's face while driving in Aurora, Chicago Sun-Times, January 7, 2010

Aurora driver seriously hurt in ice accident, Chicago Tribune, January 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Driving in Snow and Ice, The Weather Channel

Continue reading "Aurora Man Sustains Facial Injuries When Ice From Semi-Truck Falls through His Car Windshield" »

The guardian of minors Brittany and Mark Weihe is suing semi-tractor driver James Berna and trucking company Driver Logistics for the wrongful death of the siblings' father, James Weihe. The Illinois truck accident lawsuit is seeking a judgment of over $100,000.

According to the civil complaint, Berna’s large truck struck James’s motorcycle at the intersection of Illinois State Route 127 and Interstate 64 on November 23, 2006. James died from his motorcycle injuries.

The wrongful death complaint is seeking damages for the children’s loss of their father’s services, society, and support, as well as compensation for personal and pecuniary losses. The siblings’ guardian blames the truck driver for failing to yield the right-of-way, failing to control the vehicle, and failing to keep a proper lookout.

Losing a Parent in an Illinois Wrongful Death Accident
No child should ever have to lose a parent in a tragic accident. The emotional loss, the loss of companionship, loss of support, and the loss of an important guide and loved one can cause serious emotional injury to a child’s well-being, sense of safety, and identity.

A parent's death can also lead to loss of financial support and benefits for the child. While filing a wrongful death claim won’t bring a child's mother or father back, it can help provide financial support for the child's care, education, and upbringing, as well as help pay for the deceased parent's funeral and burial costs and related medical expenses. Illinois wrongful death compensation also allows holds the liable party accountable for negligence.

Minors cannot file their own Chicago truck crash lawsuits. However, a parent or guardian can file the complaint on their behalf.

Trucking company and driver named in wrongful death complaint, The Record, January 5, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Wrongful Death, Nolo

The Large Truck Causation Study

A driver who sustained traumatic brain injuries during a work accident has settled his truck crash claim for $2.5 million. The truck accident lawsuit against the other truck driver’s employer was settled after mediation.

The truck driver plaintiff got hurt in September 2005 after his delivery truck broke down. He drove his vehicle off US Route 50 and parked it past the entrance of a business.

The truck driver was working in his vehicle and waiting for help when a flatbed truck drove off the business’s premise, striking the worker’s truck. The worker fell from his truck’s console and his head struck the windshield.

The work accident exacerbated the truck driver’s Chiari Malformations, a pre-existing neurological condition, and he started experiencing facial numbness, serious headaches, swallowing problems, vision problems, ringing in the ears, speech problems, and confusion. He developed post-traumatic lumbar disc disease and sustained herniated discs.

The trucker eventually had to undergo emergency surgery for his brain anomaly. The procedure proved unsuccessful and he had three more surgeries.

According to the plaintiff’s injury attorney, the defendant attempted to blame the truck driver for parking his truck close to the business entrance, neglecting to inform the defendant about the truck breakdown, and neglecting to set up a reflective triangle.

LawyersandSettlements.com says that the injured truck driver, whose initial workers’ compensation claim over his work injuries was denied, will now also receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Truck drivers can get injured on the job. Not only are they likely entitled to Illinois workers’ compensation benefits, but they may be able to obtain Chicago personal injury recovery from liable third parties.

Virginia trucker with brain defects settles crash suit for $2.5M, All Business, December 21, 2009

Truck Driver with Brain Injuries Earns Workers Comp, Lawyers and Settlements, January 4, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Chiari Malformations, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Workers' Compensation, Justia

Cari Kleinschmidt is seeking compensation for serious personal injuries that she and her daughter sustained during an Illinois truck accident involving multiple motor vehicles. Kleinschmidt is suing Nicolae Valeanu, James Group International II, Challenger Motor Freight, James Group International, Motor City Express Inc., and James Group Midwest for over $200,000.

According to her Illinois tractor-trailer complaint, Cari and Tessa were stopped in the middle of traffic on Interstate 270 when truck driver Valeanu hit the auto next to them. That vehicle then hit Cari’s car, which went on to rear-end another 18-wheeler truck.

Cari is accusing the defendants of negligence, including allowing the large truck to be driven without a proper lookout and at a rate of speed that was excessive. She also is accusing the trucker of not yielding to the autos ahead of him and failing to slow down so he wouldn’t cause a truck crash.

Illinois Truck Accident Cases
Mental and emotional trauma, along with serious physical injuries, can impair a truck crash victim for years if not for life—especially when there is more than one large truck involved in the collision.

Determining Illinois personal injury liability can be tough unless you have legal representation. Truck records and evidence must be examined and key witnesses must be interviewed. Accident reconstructionists and medical experts must be retained to prove your case and the extent of injuries. There may be grounds for suing multiple parties even if some of them were not directly involved in the actual truck crash.

Tractor trailer caused multi-vehicle accident, suit claims, The Record, December 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Transportation Research Forum

Federal Highway Administration

A little over two months after a deadly UPS truck crash claimed the life of newspaper editor Tim Wheatley and left his young daughter with extensive injuries. Kevin P. Callahan, the trucker that was operating the delivery truck, has been charged with failure to obey a traffic device, failing to stop at a red light, and negligent driving.

Wheatley, a 48-year-old business editor for the Baltimore Sun, died instantly when the delivery truck hit his auto. His 9-year-old daughter Sarah sustained serious head injuries.

Following the tragic delivery truck accident, UPS placed Callahan on suspension. He was fired last month following a company probe that found him at fault for causing what the company is calling an “avoidable” traffic crash.

Delivery Truck Accidents
Delivery trucks are often large-sized, heavy vehicles that can cause serious injury or death in the event of a truck collision. These trucks usually run on tight schedules that the truckers are required to meet. Many delivery truck drivers, especially those that work for next day delivery services such as Federal Express, UPS, and DHL, cannot afford to miss their delivery deadlines.

Common causes of delivery truck crashes involving negligent truck drivers:

• Failure to obey traffic laws
• Careless driving
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Neglecting to activate the truck’s parking brake before getting out of the truck
• Backing up the truck to stop in front of a specific address while failing to make sure there are no pedestrians, bicyclists, or other motor vehicles behind the delivery truck

Ex-UPS driver charged in crash that killed Sun editor, Washington Post, December 22, 2009

Tim Wheatley, Baltimore Sun Business Editor, Killed In Crash, Huffington Post, October 5, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Large trucks, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Truck Accidents Overview, Justia

Continue reading "Former UPS Trucker Charged in Deadly Delivery Truck Crash " »

A jury has found 38-year-old trucker Eli German Flores guilty of one count of causing great bodily harm by vehicle and three counts of homicide by vehicle for causing a deadly truck crash on October 28, 2008 that claimed the lives of Jessie Charles, 77, Louise Charles, 74, and Jacob P. Kendrix, 23.

Flores was driving his 18-wheeler truck on I-10 when he struck the Yamaha motorcycle that Kendrick was riding. The 23-year-old motorcyclist was thrown off his bike. Meantime, his motorcycle crashed into a Chevrolet Tahoe, which crashed through a fence, rolling over a number of times before landing on a road. Jessie and Louise Charles died from their injuries. A third passenger, 25-year-old Jessica Bruwer, was transported to a hospital for her extensive injuries. The Tahoe’s driver, 33-year-old LaRhonda Wilkins, sustained shoulder injury and must still undergo physical therapy. Two other passengers, ages 12 and 3, were also in the SUV when the catastrophic truck crash happened.

Flores allegedly told police the next day that he failed to slow at a construction zone and had been driving at 75mph (the speed limit for that portion of I-10 is 65 mph). He testified in court, however, that he was slowing down as he approached the work area. He says he lost sight of both the motorcycle and the SUV.

Investigators did not find truck skid marks on the road, which means that if Flores stepped on the brakes he did not do so hard enough to leave marks.

Illinois Truck Crash Lawsuit
If you were killed in a Cook County truck accident or a truck collision involving a tractor-trailer, an 18-wheeler, a big rig truck, a semi-truck, or another large truck in DuPage County, Will County, or Lake County, please contact Chicago, Illinois truck accident lawyer Steve Malman to schedule your free case evaluation.

California trucker found guilty in fatal 2008 I-10 crash, Las Cruces Sun-News, December 18, 2009

San Diego man charged in Oct. 28 triple fatal on I-10 jailed in Luna County, ABQ Journal

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Fatality Analysis Reporting System

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The surviving sons of 66-year-old Jose Ramirez have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a number of truck companies and truck drivers. Ramirez, his 51-year-old wife Wendy, and their 15-year-old son Robert died last year on November 9 when they were rear-ended by one semi-trailer, which caused their vehicle to drive under the tractor-trailer that was stopped in front of them.

As many as 13 autos were involved in this deadly truck crash on Highway 40 that also claimed the life of another woman and sent at least four people to the hospital. The plaintiffs say that the tractor-trailers shouldn’t have been on the road during the dust storm, which severely hampered visibility. They also contend that Midway Transportation trucker Randy Thomas Starks shouldn’t have been driving at 55mph in those weather conditions when he crashed into the Ramirez auto and did not appear to have attempted to stop. The Ramirez brothers are claiming that the J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. truck driver whose vehicle was stopped in front of the Ramirez car should have put up warning devices to indicate that the large truck he was operating wasn’t moving.

Although truck drivers have no control over the weather and the driving conditions that can result, it is their responsibility to adapt their driving to these factors so that they don’t cause a deadly large truck collision. Commercial truck drivers know how much more careful they need to be when driving in rain, fog, heavy winds, dust storms, rain, or snow, or when there is ice or water on the roads.

The truck crash plaintiffs are also suing the state of California, its highway patrol, and its transportation department for failing to properly warn motorists about the hazards presented by the weather conditions.

Lake Elsinore family files lawsuit after fatal crash, The Press-Enterprise, December 18, 2009

Canyon Lake family dies in desert crash, The Friday Flyer, November 14, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck Safety Coalition

Continue reading "Truck Accident Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Family Crushed Between Two Tractor-Trailers" »

T & T Trucking and trucker James Russell Hatfield are the defendants of a truck accident lawsuit over the wrongful death of 19-year-old Jeffrey Brian Thompson. The deceased and 18-year-old Cheyenne Dakota Burke died from injuries they sustained when a truck, driven by Russell, allegedly drove off the road and struck them on November 9. They were pronounced dead at the motor vehicle collision site.

Brasha Bowman, who is the mother of Thompson’s baby girl, is seeking $5 million for his wrongful death. There is no word yet on whether Burke’s family will file their wrongful death complaint.

Burke and Thompson were tightening cables when the tragic truck collision happened. They worked for Lu Inc.

Bowman’s wrongful death complaint accuses Hatfield of failing to properly control his vehicle and driving at an excessive speed. The lawsuit also alleges that the pickup truck driver either was driving under the influence of an intoxicant, asleep behind the wheel, or texting while driving. Criminal charges have not been filed against Hatfield.

According to the plaintiff’s wrongful death lawyer, he has a witness who says that Hatfield, who was not seriously injured during the collision, attempted to leave the accident site. The witness claims that as he attempted to stop the trucker from leaving, Hatfield bit him.

Thompson’s father, who was in a work truck nearby, reportedly saw the deadly accident happen. Hatfield claims he doesn’t remember the truck accident happening.

Truck Accident Lawsuits
Even if criminal charges are not filed against the trucker responsible for causing the truck crash, you still may be able to obtain personal injury recovery. Your compensation may include damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation bills, and other associated costs.

Lawsuit filed in I-75 fatalities, Oakridger, December 8, 2009

Driver may face charges after 2 workers killed on I-75, VolunteerTV, November 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics-CNTBS

Traffic Safety, NHTSA

57-year-old Richard Berry is dead following an Illinois semi-truck crash. Police say the Streator man was on Illinois 23 when he was struck by a semi-trailer at an intersection. The truck driver, David DeFrance, was cited for failing to obey a stop sign. The 50-year-old trucker is from Canton.

Truck crash injuries are frequently catastrophic for its victims. Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and organ damage are just some of the more serious that can occur during a collision with a semi-truck, an 18-wheeler truck, a tractor-trailer, a dump truck, a moving truck, or another large truck.

Common kinds of truck crash include side collisions, when a large truck collides into the side of another motor vehicle, rear-end crashes, when a semi-truck crashes into the back of another vehicle, underride crashes, when the impact of colliding causes a vehicle to go underneath the large truck, truck crash pileups, when a truck crash involves multiple motor vehicles, and jackknife truck crashes.

Do NOT try to settle with the truck company’s insurance company until you speak with an experienced Chicago, Illinois truck accident law firm about your case. It can be difficult to immediately know how much recovery you will need and are owed. Because your emotions may be in turmoil and/or your ability to make clear decisions impaired while you deal with your injuries or cope with the death of a loved one, it may seem easier to get the case resolved right away so you can get on with your life. You may be entitled to more Illinois personal injury compensation or wrongful death recovery than you think.

Report: Streator man dies in fatal crash after semitrailer runs, Pantagraph.com, December 17, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Trucking Accidents: Common Causes & Liability, NOLO

A judge has found tractor-trailer driver Devin Scott Lewis guilty of criminally negligent homicide over his role in a fatal truck crash that claimed the life of another motorist last December. Lewis had waived his right to a jury trial. The 27-year-old trucker’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 29.

In December 2008, Lewis, who was driving a 2001 Mack tractor-trailer rig on Highway 18, rear-ended a mobile home that had been converted into a restaurant. The mobile home was driven by Miguel Perez Martinez, 40.

The impact of the truck collision pushed the mobile vehicle into oncoming traffic and it was struck by another large truck, a 1998 Kenworth log truck operated by Michael Olson. Martinez died at the truck crash site. Lewis was not injured. Olson sustained minor injuries.

Truck Accident Lawsuits
Illinois truck accident victims and their families can sue for personal injury or wrongful death. This type of civil complaint is separate from any criminal case that prosecutors may choose to pursue against a negligent motorist.

Truck collision cases are not like other motor vehicle crash cases. There are truck logs to examine and evidence and documents may have obtained from multiple parties, such as the trucking company, the party that hired the truck, a contractor, a leasing company, and other entities. Truck companies are equipped to combat truck crash claims filed against them, which is why it is so important that an experienced Chicago truck accident law firm represents you.

Truck driver convicted in fatal crash, NewsRegister, December 13, 2009

Police Investigate Fatal Traffic Crash West of McMinnville‏, Salem News, December 2, 2008

Related Web Resources:
Trucking Accidents: Common Causes & Liability, Nolo

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "Tractor-Trailer Driver Awaits Sentence for Fatal Truck Crash Involving Mobile Restaurant" »

Kathleen Moller, A 57-year-old Lake Bluff resident, sustained serious head injury in a Lake County semi-truck crash on December 2. The Illinois traffic crash occurred close to Vernon Hills at the Illinois Route 60 and St. Mary’s Road intersection.

According to initial reports, the woman was heading west on Route 60 when she tried to turn left onto St. Mary’s Road. The approaching truck, a 1994 Mack semi-tractor trailer carrying clay, struck her car before going off the road some 30 feet and hitting a traffic light pole. Lake Zurich trucker James Poteracki did not sustain injuries during the Illinois truck collision.

Illinois Truck Accidents
Our Lake County, Illinois truck accident lawyers know how frightening it can be to get seriously hurt in an Illinois traffic crash. If someone else was responsible for causing your motor vehicle crash, you may be able to obtain Illinois personal injury compensation.

While some truck collisions happen because another motorist was negligent, many of them occur because a trucker, a trucking company, a truck rental company, or another party was negligent. Determining negligence in a semi-truck case is not a task that you can do without the help of an experienced accident law firm.

Many trucking companies have teams in place to minimize liability in the event of a semi-truck accident, which is another reason why it is important that you retain your own legal team to assist you. Getting injured in an Illinois truck crash can be a life-altering experience. Obtaining personal injury recovery can provide you with the funds that you need to cover medical expenses, recovery costs, lost income, and other losses.

Car vs. dump truck accident sends Lake Bluff woman to hospital, PioneerLocal, December 4, 2009

1 hurt in crash with dump truck and car near Vernon Hills, Libertyville Review, December 3, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Head injury, Medline Plus

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The two men who in July 2005 caused the driver of a big rig truck to fatally strike a car carrying three UC Berkeley graduated students have received the maximum sentences for their convictions. 25-year-old Stanley Jacks, Jr., 25, and 28-year-old Eric Barnes are ordered to serve eight years and eight months in prison, each for three counts of vehicular manslaughter.

UC Berkeley's Safe Transportation Research and Education Center researchers say Jacks and Barnes were racing each other in separate cars on Interstate 80 at speeds of over 100 mph when their actions caused a large truck driver to lose control of a big rig, which crashed into the center divider before catching fire. The truck then went into the opposite lanes of traffic where it crashed into the car that was carrying 29-year-old Jason Choy, 26-year-old Giula Adesso, and 27-year-old Benjamin Boussert. All three truck accident victims were graduate students at UC Berkeley’s College of Chemistry.

Truck Accident Lawsuits
Filing an Illinois truck accident lawsuit is different from presenting an injury claim for a car crash, which is why it is so important that you speak with a Chicago motor vehicle crash law firm about your case. There may be more than one negligent party who can be held liable for your truck collision injuries. Obtaining financial recovery allows you to hold the responsible party or parties accountable and can provide you with the funds you need to pay for medical expenses, recovery care, and lost income.

Do NOT settle your Chicago, Illinois truck accident claim without first exploring your legal options.

Max. sentence for 2 that caused fiery, fatal crash, ABCLocalGo.com, November 21, 2009

Two Men Sentenced in Crash That Killed Students, Daily Californian, November 24, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Safety Coalition

Transportation: Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fatalities, US Census Bureau

A woman who says that she was struck by a truck pulling a flatbed trailer is suing the city of Beaumont for personal injury. Juanita Burdge says the truck accident aggravated an already existing injury she had to her left wrist and also caused her to experience shoulder pain, neck pain, and mental trauma.

Burdge is seeking an unspecified judgment for her medical expenses, physical disfigurement, and resulting impairment. Following the truck collision on November 7, 2007, she says she experienced limited motion in her wrist, in addition to pain.

Burdge says the truck accident happened as she and the truck, which was in the lane next to her, attempted to turn left at an intersection. According to Burdge, because the truck driver did not keep the truck steady in its lane, the large vehicle struck the motor vehicle she was in.

Illinois Truck Accident Cases
Proving that a trucking company or a truck driver was liable is not a task to attempt without the help of an experienced Chicago truck accident law firm representing you. Your Illinois truck crash lawyer will know what documents, logs, truck data, and other evidence to obtain and what kind of questions to ask to increase the chances of you receiving the maximum injury recovery for your truck crash lawsuit.

There may be multiple parties that should be held liable for Chicago personal injury or wrongful death. If you have been seriously injured, your Illinois truck accident lawyer can work with medical professionals to assess the extent of your injuries and determine how much time/it will cost for you to get the care you need to recover.

Woman sues city over truck crash, The Southeast Texan Record, November 11, 2009

Related Web Resources:
FMCSA

Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics-CNTBS, UMTRI

Five people were hurt last Wednesday when a tractor-trailer crashed into the caretaker’s home at a rest stop. The truck driver was killed in the truck collision, which occurred at around noon.

It is not clear at this time why the big rig drove off I-10, through a backyard wall, and into the caretaker home at the Burnt Wells Rest Stop. The five people who got hurt were in the backyard when the large truck came through. They are: 12-year-old Nicholas Gonzales, 42-year-old Sharon Gonzales, 53-year-old Carlos Gonzales, 36-year-old Jamie Beltran, and 70-year-old Adolfo Sedillo, who sustained serious injuries during the truck collision.

18-wheeler trucker Edward A French was pronounced dead at the tractor-trailer accident site.

Truck crashes can cause serious injuries for victims. Possible truck accident lawsuit defendants can include: the trucker, the trucking company, the truck owner, the trailer owner, the entity that leased the truck, the truck manufacturer, a tire maker, the brake manufacturer, the truck shipper, the truck loader, another motorist, the entity responsible for maintaining the road where the truck crash accident happened, or other liable parties.

An experienced Chicago truck crash attorney can help you recover your truck collision injury or wrongful death compensation. Do not attempt to negotiate a settlement with the liable party unless you’ve consulted with an experienced Chicago injury law firm that has experience in representing clients with truck crash cases.

Arizona 18-wheeler accident - Semi-truck slams into Arizona, Justice News Flash, November 23, 2009

Trucker Dies in Crash into Rest Stop, My Fox Phoenix, November 18, 2009

Related Web Resource;
Truck Accident Overview, Justia

Continue reading "Semi-Truck Crash Injures Five When Tractor-Trailer Crashes into Rest Stop Home " »

A semi-truck driver has been cited twice for his involvement in an 8-vehicle collision on Friday that left one man dead and injured two others. Joel Moskowitz received citations for improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

The 49-year-old trucker wasn’t able to stop his vehicle in time to avoid hitting the vehicles in front of him. In an attempt to avoid colliding with the vehicles ahead, he sideswiped another auto, which hit another motor vehicle, causing a chain Illinois motor vehicle crash involving 8 autos. The Illinois semi-truck crash occurred around 8 pm in south Monee on Interstate 57. State police report that traffic wasn’t moving at the time because of two other motor vehicle crashes that had occurred earlier.

The Will County Coroner says Harvey driver Cristobal Murillo, 23, died from his injuries. Another man sustained serious injuries and had to be airlifted from the crash site. A third Illinois truck crash victim, a woman, sustained minor injuries. She was treated at a hospital and later released.

Truck Crashes
Nolo says that most truck accidents occur because of errors made by truck drivers. Drowsy driving, speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, driving with an improperly loaded truck, texting while driving, talking on the cell phone while operating a motor vehicle, not looking at blind spots, violating hours of service rule, driver inexperience, depowering the front brakes, and driving while medicated are some negligent driving actions that can lead to catastrophic Illinois truck accidents.

Truck driver cited in Monee crash that killed 1, injured 2, Chicago Sun-Times, November 22, 2009

1 Dead, 2 Injured In 8-Vehicle Crash In Monee, CBS2 Chicago, November 21, 2009

Trucking Accidents, Nolo

Related Web Resource:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "1 Death and 2 Injuries in Monee, Illinois Semi-Truck Accident Involving 8 Vehicles On Interstate 57" »

Crystal Little is suing two drivers for the injuries that she and her two young children sustained during an Illinois tow truck accident on I-255 on November 2. Little’s minor children are Dylan Little and Zachary Anderson.

The plaintiff contends that at around 10am at milepost 24 in Collinsville on Interstate 255, Little’s car was struck by a wheel lift that had fallen off the tow truck driven by Shawn P. Reese for Bills Wrecker Service. The wheel lift was on the road when another auto, driven by Herbert R. True, struck it, pushing it into Little’s motor vehicle.

Crystal is accusing Reese of failing to secure his cargo to his vehicle, driving his two truck too fast, and driving in a way that caused the cargo to fall from the truck. She claims that True neglected to properly apply his brakes, did not keep a proper lookout, was driving too fast, did not have adequate brakes on his vehicle, and did not slow down even though the wheel lift posed a hazard on the road.

Little says that she and her children sustained Illinois personal injuries and disabilities and were made sick, lame, disordered, sore, and disabled. Injuries included shoulder injuries, neck and back injuries, leg injuries, and ankle injuries.

She is seeking over $750,000 for the truck accident injuries.

A vehicle carrying any kind of cargo must properly secure the load so that it doesn’t fall off the auto and accidentally land on another vehicle or become dangerous debris on the road for other vehicles to collide in. Tow trucks must also be careful that any vehicle that they are towing behind them is properly secured.

Mother sues tow truck driver in I-255 accident, The Record, November 19, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Department of Transportation

What to do after a car accident, MSN Money

A jury has awarded David Falkenstein $5.1 million for his wife’s wrongful death. 67-year-old Ingrid Falkenstein died instantly after the minivan she and her husband were riding in was struck by a tractor-trailer that was fully loaded on May 1, 2006. David sustained injuries, including a fractured pelvis.

While the defendants claimed the county was to blame because it neglected to replace rumble strips that were worn out and there was poor signage at the intersection, David’s lawyer argued that truck driver Christopher Angland ran a stop sign.

The jury found the trucker 60% liable for the tragic tractor-trailer crash. It found McMaster Sod LLC to be 40% liable.

The Falkensteins who were married 33 years had just retired when the deadly semi-truck crash happened.

A truck crash claim can be difficult to prove without the help of an experienced injury lawyer that knows how to successfully settle and win cases against large trucking companies. Obtaining financial recovery can help cover accident-related costs and provides some comfort to the victim and/or his/her family while holding the liable party or parties accountable.

In another truck accident lawsuit, a jury awarded a motorcyclist almost $ 2 million against a dump truck driver. Levon Babakhanian was fractured his pelvis, left hip, and left leg, while also sustaining multiple arm, hand, and facial injuries during a truck accident on an October 4, 2006. Trucker William Edgington was working for Cedar Point Construction.

The jury found Babakhanian 20% at fault for the crash and the defendants 80% at fault.

Jury awards $5.1M in fatal Flagler crash, News-Journal Online, November 17, 2009

Flagler widower wins $5.1 million verdict in deadly truck wreck, Jacksonville.com, November 13, 2009

Bonneville County Jury Awards Man Nearly $2 Million, LocalNews8, November 16, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck Safety, AAA Exchange

Continue reading "Widower Awarded $5.1 for Wife’s Wrongful Death from Fatal Truck Accident" »

A woman whose daughter died from injuries she sustained during a rear-end collision with a tractor-trailer is suing Specialized Transport and one of its truckers for Illinois wrongful death. The truck crash occurred on I-55/70 on April 2, 2008.

Katrenia I. Travis was riding in the back seat of the vehicle that the large Freightliner truck, driven by truck driver Charles E. West Jr., allegedly rear-ended. Beverly J. Travis’s Illinois truck collision lawsuit accuses West of causing her daughter’s injuries and death when he crashed into the car she was in. Her complaint cites failure to keep a proper lookout, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, failure to exercise reasonable care, failure to properly activate the brakes, failure to yield the right-of-way, and driving too fast.

Katrenia leaves behind a son, as well her sister and parents. Her family is claiming loss of financial support, services, labor, affection, care, love, guidance, supervision of education, and moral training. They also say they were left with medical and funeral expenses. They are seeking over $100,000 plus costs.

In another Illinois truck accident case, this one involving a parked semi-truck, DeMarco Nicholson is suing both Affton Fabricating and Welding Company and Parrish Leasing Company for personal injury.

Nicholson says that he sustained bodily injuries and a skull fracture, in addition to being made sore, sick, disordered, lame, and disabled, when he hit a semi-trailer that was parked in the middle of Industrial Parkway on June 29, 2008.

Nicholson’s truck crash complaint accuses truck owner Parrish of illegally parking the semi-truck in the middle of the road and of neglecting to warn him that it was there. He contends that Affton let the leasing company park the car there.

Trucking company and driver sued over I-55/70 fatality, The Record, November 12, 2009

Driver strikes parked semi, sues leasing company, The Record, November 12, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Trucking Accidents, Nolo

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

At 3:30 am today, a truck driver died on the Bay Bridge S-curve when the vehicle dropped 200 feet onto Yerba Buena Island. Today’s motor vehicle collision is one of more than 40 traffic crashes to occur since the new detour opened on September 8.

The big-rig truck was moving at approximately 50 mph—about 10 mph above the speed limit. Police say that the large truck drove off the side of the Bay Bridge as the driver tried to negotiate the turn. The truck driver was pronounced dead at the truck accident site.

His death is the first fatality to occur in the bridge’s curved area. However, in just two months there have been over 42 motor vehicle accidents. Just last month, another big rig vehicle as involved in a truck collision when the large truck went across four lanes. Police say most of the auto crashes are fender-benders.

The speed limit is now 40 mph rather than 50 mph, but drivers still have a hard time maneuvering the sudden curve. Flashing lights and new signs have been put up to warn motorists to exercise caution, and Caltrans workers are scheduled to put in red reflectors for nighttime drivers.

Trucking Accidents Involving Truck Driver Victims
Our Chicago truck crash lawyers represent victims seriously injured in Illinois truck accidents. Our clients include truckers who have been injured because other parties were negligent. Most truck drivers are entitled to Illinois workers’ compensation. However, there may be third parties responsible for causing the Illinois truck accident, such as another motorist, the manufacturer of a defective truck, or the entity responsible for designing or overseeing a particular road.

Another crash on Bay Bridge S-curve, SF Gate, November 7, 2009

Big rig crashes through Bay Bridge S curve and plunges 200 feet, killing driver, Contra Costa Times, November 9, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Bay Bridge

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Last week, truck driver Kyle Wentland was charged with negligent homicide with a commercial vehicle and failure to keep right on a curve over his involvement in the tragic April 3 truck crash that claimed the life of a 33-year-old woman. Wentland, 26, faces up to six months in jail and an up to $2,000 fine. The family of the victim, Heather Gunther, is suing Wentland for her wrongful death. The truck accident victim died of massive traumatic injuries.

According to police, Wentland and Gunther were driving their vehicles at speeds of over 50 mph on a slick road when Wentland’s tractor-trailer crossed the center line to strike Gunther’s sport utility vehicle.

Wentland has told police that he inspected the large truck before getting on the road that morning, but a State DMV inspector says the truck’s brakes were out of adjustment—which is grounds for grounding a truck. Court documents indicate that one of the truck’s tires was unsafe. In addition to faulty breaks, there was oil leaking on a brake line. On investigator says the vehicle shouldn’t have even been on the road.

One witness who saw the tragic tractor-trailer crash says it appeared as if the truck had blown a tire and its brakes were locked up. Another motorist says that when Wentland’s truck hit Gunther’s sport utility vehicle, the SUV’s back end rose about six feet.

According to Federal and state transportation records, the tractor-trailer isn’t the only vehicle belonging to Sysco Food Services that has been cited as unsafe in the last two years. In August 2007, a Sysco truck with a broken steering component crossed a ditch. In January 2008, a Sysco truck received a citation for a broken tail light. In November 2008, a Sysco’s truck latch was found to be improperly secured. Last month, a truck and a trailer had low tire pressure.

Records show trucking company in fatal Winsted crash had other unsafe trucks, Republican American, November 4, 2009

Man charged with negligent homicide in fatal accident, The Register Citizen, October 27, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Sysco

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Tragic Truck Crash May Have Been Caused by Vehicle Defects and Poor Maintenance" »

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it will consider revising the current hours of service rule that lets large truck drivers operate their vehicles for 11 hours/day. Their decision to reconsider the rule is part of a settlement reached with Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Public Citizen, and the Truck Safety Coalition.

The groups had filed a lawsuit after the Bush Administration expanded the hours of service rule from 10-hours to 11-hours in December 2008. The revised rule let truckers operate their vehicles for 17 more hours even though there is ample evidence that driving longer hours can cause more traffic deaths and his bad for truck drivers’ health.

Per the settlement, the FMCSA has nine months to start the rulemaking process. A new rule must be published within 21 months.

The American Trucking Association is disputing claims that there is anything wrong with the current hours of service rule.

Chicago Truck Accidents
Plenty of studies reveal that driving any motor vehicle while exhausted can lead to catastrophic Illinois truck crashes, car accidents, motorcycle collisions, pedestrian accidents, and bus crashes. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that not only should a driver be well-rested before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, but also he or she should take periodic brakes every 100 mi or 2 hrs.

With their rigorous schedules and tight delivery deadlines, it is no wonder that truck drivers end up spending hours a day behind the wheel. When sleep apnea, fatigue, drowsy driving, or exhaustion dulls a trucker’s senses, slows reflexes, and impairs the ability to stay alert and pay attention to the road or surround vehicles, tragic Chicago truck crashes can happen.

Commercial driver agency to reconsider hours rule, Business Insurance, October 29, 2009

US DOT to revise hours of service rules, Today's Trucking, October 27, 2009

Related Web Resources:
FMCSA

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Truck Safety Coalition

Public Citizen

Continue reading "FMCSA Will Reconsider Hours of Service Rule for Truck Drivers" »

The mother of a 28-year-old man who died after he collided with the back of a swinging pole truck load is suing the pole hauler, the pole maker, and the state of Oregon for wrongful death. Teri Stoffer is Jeffrey Little’s mother. The defendants in the truck accident lawsuit are truck company O’Malley Brothers Corporation, McCormick Piling and Lumber Company, the state, and the pilot car and pole drivers. Stofer wants the state to implement new rules that would prevent such a deadly truck crash from happening again.

Little’s death in 2008 is one of three pole-truck crashes to occur at the Intersection of Highway 30 and Bennett Road over a 5-month period. In April 2008, 82-year-old Evelyn Sanders sustained minor injuries during a collision with a logging truck. While truck driver Daniel Bunnell was turning, the pole truck swung out and a log crashed through her windshield. Two weeks after the deadly truck crash that claimed Little’s life, a third pole truck collision occurred at the same intersection.

All three large trucks involved in the accidents were headed for McCormick Piling and Lumber Company, located on Old Portland Road, and were turning onto Bennett Road when the collisions happened. In each case, a vehicle riding behind the pole truck collided with the swinging pole's load.

The truck crashes have raised concerns that the intersection’s basic design and the designated speed limits may have contributed to these collisions.

There are also questions about whether or not pilot car drivers are given enough training to safely operate their large trucks.

Mom of man killed in rig accident sues, Billings Gazette, October 28, 2009

Elderly driver injured when log crashes through windshield, Bend Weekly, April 4, 2008

‘Nothing was done to protect the public’, The Spotlight, September 24, 2008

Related Web Resources:
FMCSA

Wrongful Death, Nolo

Continue reading "Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Fatal Pole Truck Accident " »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 136 of the the fatal Illinois traffic crashes that occurred last year were large truck accidents. As far as our Chicago truck crash law firm is concerned, this number are still too high and more should be done to prevent Illinois truck collisions from occurring.

More 2008 NHTSA Truck Crash Facts:

• There were 380,000 large truck crush accidents throughout the US last year.
• 4,066 of these truck collisions resulted in fatalities. That’s one out of nine traffic deaths.
• 4,229 large truck crash fatalities.
• 90,000 large truck crash injuries.
• 74% of the people killed in large truck crashes were riding in the other vehicles that were involved.
• 26% were riding in the large trucks.
• 3% were not riding in vehicles when the fatal large truck crash happened.
• Large trucks have a greater chance of being involved in deadly multi-vehicle collisions than passenger vehicles do.
• In 50% of large truck crashes involving another vehicle, both autos were going straight when the fatal collision happened.
• Most deadly large truck crashes happen in rural areas, in daylight, and during the week.
• Drunk truck drivers: There was a 2% increase from 2007 in the number of truckers driving with a BAC of .08% or more.
• 24% of large truck drivers involved in deadly accidents had at least one previous conviction for speeding.

If you were injured in an Illinois truck crash in Cook County, Will County, Lake County, or DuPage County, do not hesitate to contact our Chicago truck accident law firm for your free case evaluation.

Truck accidents involving tractor-trailer trucks, 18-wheeler trucks, garbage trucks, semi-trucks, delivery trucks, and other large trucks can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, organ damage, burn injuries, and death.

Large Trucks, 2008 Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA

Related Web Resources:
Truck Safety Coalition

Large Trucks, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

A couple that sustained serious injuries in an Illinois truck accident with a large truck in September 2008 has settled their personal injury lawsuit for $16 million. William and Colleen Wiley had sued VH-1, MTV, Music First, two entertainment companies, and an employee affiliated with the “Rock of Love Bus” reality series starring rocker Bret Michaels. According to the Madison Record, the couple’s Illinois injury lawyer says the settlement was reached with 51 Minds Entertainment.

The Wileys were on I-57 close to West Frankfurt when a truck hauling equipment for the reality program struck their vehicle. Truck driver Dennis Hernandez reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. After the Illinois truck crash, Hernandez, who did not have a valid driver’s license, tested positive for marijuana.

William suffered a lung contusion, a sternal fracture (and associated anterior mediastinal hematoma, head contusions, a displaced rib fracture, an intraarticular fracture to his left radial syloid, and an avulsion fracture to the left triquetrum. Colleen suffered cardiac arrest six types and had to be resuscitated and intubated. She also injured her back, shoulders, chest, neck, legs, pelvis, hands, and knees.

The couple experienced severe mental and physical pain from the Illinois truck crash and sustained permanent, disabling, and progressive injuries. In addition to incurring over a million dollars in medical expenses and losing wages from not being able to work, they have been deprived of each other's comfort, care, society, protection, services, support, and consortium.

They accused Hernandez of negligent operation and the four companies of breach of duty when they hired, trained, and retained the truck driver.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers recently posted a blog about an Illinois wrongful death case involving same truck crash. Last month, the family of 19-year-old Kevetta Davis agreed on a $6.5 million wrongful death settlement in their truck accident lawsuit against 51 Minds Entertainment, VH-1 Music, Viacom, and Hernandez. Davis and her friend Yasmin Jackson died from their injuries.

Rock of Love Bus' suit settles for $16 million, Madison Record, October 15, 2009

Suit: MTV's 'Rock of Love Bus' driver asleep at the wheel, The Record, December 30, 2008

$6.5 million settlement in death of college student struck by truck from VH1 series, Chicago Tribune, October 2, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Rock of Love, VH-1

'Rock 3' puts on the brakes, NY Post, October 2, 2009

Melissa Hinkle’s life changed forever when she was seriously injured in a catastrophic tractor-trailer crash on July 5. Hinkle, her dad Gervious Dale Hinkle, and 13-year-old son Casey were riding a Ford Explorer on I-35 when their vehicle was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler truck as they were going into a construction zone.

Melissa’s father, 63, and son died in the truck accident while Melissa sustained serious physical and emotional injuries. She ended up in the ICU and must now cope with recovery and getting back to a life that her father and son will no longer be a part of.

In her wrongful death lawsuit, Hinkle is suing Refrigerated Delivery, the Texas Department of Transportation, truck driver Randy Crume, and KKM Construction Inc. for damages. A police officer says that Crume neglected to control the speed of his 18-wheeler truck before slamming into the Hinkles' auto and a number of other vehicles. The construction company is under contract with TxDOT.

Hinkle’s wrongful death complaint accuses KKM Construction Inc of causing the traffic to back up for miles on the interstate bridge. Almost a month later, on August 3, three people died in another tractor-trailer accident when the large truck drove into vehicles that were stuck in another traffic jam.

Truck drivers know that they have to slow down and even stop whenever they are driving through a highway construction zone. Failure to do so, especially when there are other vehicles and highway construction workers in the area, can lead to catastrophic consequences. That said, the parties in charge of a highway construction zone must also execute the necessary safety measures to prevent highway work zone accidents from happening.

Deadly Construction Zone Leads To Lawsuit, 33TV.com, August 6, 2009

Texas Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After Truck Accident Kills Two, About Lawsuits, August 13, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Work Zone Safety

Truck Safety Coalition

A judge has thrown out the murder charges against the trucker accused of causing the deadly truck accident that killed a man and his daughter and injured 10 people on Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California in April. The judge said that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove that truck driver Marcos Barbosa Costa had implied malice when he lost control of his large truck and rammed into several cars.

Angel Posca and his daughter Angel, 12, died in the tragic truck crash.

According to prosecutors, Costa could have prevented the deadly big rig truck accident from happening since he was warned by an off-duty firefighter the road was steep, Costa was driving too fast, and smoke was coming out of the truck’s brakes.

The 44-year-old trucker still faces two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and three counts of reckless driving causing injury to three victims.

Illinois Truck Accident Cases
Large trucks, such as 18-wheeler trucks, tractor-trailers, garbage trucks, and semi-trucks tend to be significantly larger in size than most vehicles on the road. This places motorcyclists, passenger vehicles, SUV’s, and pickup trucks at a huge disadvantage during a large truck collision.

Regardless of whether or not police decide to press criminal charges against a negligent motorist, a truck accident victim and/or his or her family can still exercise their right to sue all liable parties for personal injury or wrongful death regardless of the outcome of any criminal proceedings. In Lake County, Cook County, Will County, and DuPage County, Illinois, our Chicago truck accident lawyers would be happy to offer you a free case evaluation.

Many trucking companies are prepared to combat any truck accident claims against them. This is why you need an experienced Chicago truck collision law firm representing you.

Murder charges dismissed against driver in fatal big rig crash, Los Angeles Times, October 9, 2009

Murder charges dismissed in fatal crash, La Canada Valley Sun, October 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
CyberDrive Ilinois

FARS Encyclopedia

A 76-year-old truck driver, two insurance companies, Associated Wholesale Grocers, and G.D. Transport Inc. are just some of the defendants named in a truck accident lawsuit seeking wrongful death damages for the families of 10 victims who died when a tractor-trailer drove into a line of stopped vehicles on a turnpike on June 26. The truck driver, Donald L. Creed, was charged with 10 misdemeanor counts of negligent homicide. Last month, he pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges.

Police say that Creed’s tractor-trailer was set to cruise control and appeared to be moving at a speed of about 70 mph—5 miles under the speed limit for the turnpike—and he does not appear to have taken any action to prevent the truck crash from happening. The cars he struck with his truck were stopped because of another truck accident that happened earlier in the day.

Police attribute the deadly multi-vehicle collision to driver inattention on Creed's part. According to their report, Creed did not seem to be aware that he had struck anyone. He also allegedly said that he thought the autos had driven under his truck while he was parked.

According to the tractor-trailer accident lawsuit, Creed neglected to slow down and stay in control of his truck as he collided with stopped traffic. The complaint accuses Associated Wholesale Grocers of failing to properly choose, train, and supervise the elderly truck driver and for allowing him to work into the early afternoon (when the truck crash happened) even though he started work at 3am that day.

The truck crash fatalities: 69-year-old Oral Hooks, his 63-year-old wife Earlene, his two adult sons, Dione and Antonio, 39-year-old Ricardo Reyes, his wife Ernestina, (their 12-year-old daughter Andrea survived the catastrophic tractor-trailer accident), 38-year-old Randall Hayes, his 35-year-old wife Shelby, their 7-year-old son Ethan, and his 55-year-old mother-in-law Cynthia Olson.

Also named as defendants in the large truck crash lawsuit were driver Erin Alf and trucker Rajeev Sharma. The two motorists were involved in the earlier accident that prompted the other vehicles to stop.

Accident victims' families sue driver, Chron.com, October 6, 2009

Trucker Pleads Not Guilty in Deadly Turnpike Crash, News9.com, September 23, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Trucking Accidents Caused by Driver Error, Nolo

A number of trucking associations in the United States are reportedly worried that a federal ban barring drivers from texting could seriously affect the way trucking companies do business. Many truckers have to use an on-board computer system that allows drivers and trucking companies to communicate with one another.

Lawmakers, safety experts, and law enforcement officials have spent the last two days in Washington DC attending a Distracted Driving Summit. Distracted driving has become a serious concern especially in light of the number of traffic crashes that have happened because a driver was texting while driving or talking on a cell phone. While texting or cell phone conversations increases all motorists’ crash risks, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reports that cell phone dialing increases a truck driver’s risk of being involved in a truck accident by 5.9 times. Texting increased the truck crash risk by 23.2 times.

On Wednesday, the Obama Administration announced that it was banning federal workers from texting while driving when on the job or riding in a government-owned vehicle. US Transportation Department Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the government intends to push states to ban school bus drivers from distracted driving. The administration is also considering restricting truckers and rail drivers from using a cell phone.

While trucking companies undoubtedly want to be able to communicate with their truck drivers, there is no longer any way to justify texting while driving even if the reason is job-related. Just a few seconds spent with eyes off the road while reading a text can result in a catastrophic Chicago truck crash.

LaHood said that the public should learn to think of distracted driving as an activity that is as dangerous as drunk driving or driving without a seat belt.

New data from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute provides insight into cell phone use and driving distraction, Virginia Tech, July 29, 2009

New regulation bans federal employees from texting while driving, Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Distracted Driving Summit

Distracted Driving, CyberDriveIllinois

Continue reading "Despite Findings that Texting While Driving Dramatically Increases Truck Driver Accidents, Some Trucking Associations Oppose Possible Ban" »

A teen driver died today following a deadly truck accident involving three motor vehicles. The 18-year-old had just driven a 2005 Pontiac into an intersection Interstate when the vehicle was struck by an International semi-truck and trailer that was transporting sugar beets. The teenager’s car crashed into a third vehicle.

The driver of the third vehicle and the truck driver were transported to a hospital for treatment. The teenager, however, died at the crash site.

Today’s tragic semi-truck crash is not the only large truck accident to result in injuries in the last several days. On September 21, four EMS workers got hurt when the emergency vehicle they were riding was involved in a traffic crash with a semi-truck.

The ambulance’s lights were reportedly flashing as its driver made a U-turn. It was at this point that the the semi-truck crashed into the ambulance. The emergency workers were transported to a local hospital for treatment of mild to moderate injuries.

On Friday night, a 47-year-old female driver sustained critical injuries after the 1997 Jeep she was driving was involved in a semi-truck crash. The two passengers riding in the vehicle with Barbara Sell, 17-year-old Larohonda Holland, 17, and Lakesha Holland, sustained injuries that fortunately did not appear to be life-threatening.

In the wake of a serious truck crash, you or your injured loved one may panic and attempt to immediately resolve your truck accident case with a trucking company. In certain instances, representatives for a trucking company or an insurer might try to get you sign away your right to sue in exchange for a lump sum amount. It is a good idea that you speak to a Chicago truck accident lawyer before you agree to settle.

Elk River woman in hospital after semi accident

4 medical workers hurt as ambulance, rig crash, The Buffalo News, September 23, 2009

Beet truck accident kills 18-year-old near Wahpeton, Grand Forks Herald September 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck Accidents Overview, Justia

A Chicago truck accident in the South Loop area yesterday morning left one woman in serious condition. The truck crash victim, who is in her 30’s, was driving on West Roosevelt Road when a truck hit her car.

The impact from the truck collision sent the woman’s auto some 15 feet into the air before it struck a metal utility pole and flipped over. The truck accident victim was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Yesterday’s Chicago truck crash was not the only Illinois truck collision to result in serious injury.

On September 16, a 10-year-old boy from Mundelein sustained serious injuries when a landscaping truck struck him on Illinois Route 60/83 in Lake County. The boy was going to school early in the morning when the truck hit him him as he was crossing the street.

Lake County police say the boy appeared to have run onto the road in an attempt to cross two lanes of traffic. No charges have been filed against the landscaper who was driving the truck. Investigators, however, are still looking into the cause of the Lake County truck accident.

The child pedestrian broke his pelvis, sustained a serious skull fracture, and suffered other severe breaks.

In another Illinois truck accident, this one on September 2, a Logan Square auto accident involving a garbage truck and a car killed two people and injured two others.

Motor vehicle crashes of any kind can result in catastrophic injuries for those involved. The the larger the sizes of the vehicles involved, the greater the chances that a person will sustain serious injuries . Pedestrians, motorcyclists, and passenger car occupants are usually at a disadvantage anytime they are involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, a tractor-trailer, a garbage truck, or another kind of large truck.

Woman injured in crash involving car and truck in South Loop, Chicago Breaking News, September 24, 2009

Mundelein boy, 10, seriously injured after being hit by truck, MudeleinReview, September 24, 2009

Garbage truck crash kills 2, ABC Local, September 2, 2009

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Accident in South Loop Leaves Woman in Critical Condition" »

In St. Clair County, Lawrence Butler is seeking a $100,000 maximum judgment and other relief over injuries he sustained during an Illinois tractor-trailer accident on July 10, 2006 on Interstate 55 close to Lincoln. He is suing JB Hunt Transport, Inc. and the trucker, identified in the Illinois truck accident lawsuit as John Doe.

According to the plaintiff, Doe unexpectedly drove onto his lane. As a result, Butler says he was forced to run off the road. He sustained neck, back, and shoulder injuries, experienced physical pain, emotional trauma, anxiety, extreme soreness, and mental distress. Butler says that in addition to incurring medical bills he also lost wages because of the time off he had to take from work.

Butler is accusing John Doe of failing to stay in his lane, not keeping a proper lookout, neglecting to signal before changing lanes, driving too fast, and not reducing his speed so that a truck accident wouldn’t result.

Swerving unexpectedly into another lane can lead to serious injury accidents. The driver already in the lane may not have time to slow down or brake, or the vehicle entering the lane may collide into another auto, causing injury or death.

It is the responsibility of all motorists to pay attention, adjust their driving to the present traffic and road conditions, signal to indicate when they are changing lanes, and drive in a responsible manner so that the lives of others aren’t at placed at risk. Tractor-trailer drivers must especially exercise great care. The size of their vehicle can cause serious damage during any kind of Illinois truck crash.

Semi ran man off interstate, suit says, The Record, September 23, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Accidents, Justia

Large Truck Causation Study, NHTSA

In Lake County, a 10-year-old boy sustained critical injuries on Wednesday when he was struck by a landscaping truck. The Lake County truck accident occurred on Illinois Route 60/83.

Police say the boy, who is from Mundelein, was crossing a street on his way to school when he was injured while trying to go through two lanes of traffic. He sustained breaks in different parts of his body. His pelvis was broken and he has a serious skull fracture.

No charges have been filed against the Waukegan landscaper. The accident is still under investigation.

In another catastrophic Illinois truck collision that also took place on Wednesday, this one in DuPage County, 19-year-old Romeoville resident James Kaylor died when he lost control of his vehicle. His auto then crossed the center line before striking an oncoming truck in a head-on crash.

Kaylor was pronounced dead at the DuPage County truck crash site,

Proving liability in any kind of Illinois traffic accident can be tough. There will likely be a lot of evidence to sift through, witnesses to interview, and vehicle documents and driver records to go over. There may be more than one party responsible for the truck accident. In some instances, the party liable for an Illinois truck crash may not have even been at the scene of the accident when it happened. For example, if a defective auto part was what caused a vehicle to swerve onto the middle of the road and into oncoming traffic or faulty maintenance caused a vehicle’s brakes to fail, the parties liable for the traffic crash might include a truck/vehicle manufacturer or a maintenance repair shop.

This is why you need to contact an experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer about your case.

Romeoville teen killed in car-truck accident in Woodridge, The Daily Herald, September 9, 2009

Mundelein boy critical after being hit by truck, Mundelein Review, September 17, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Truck accident, Justia

The estate of David A. Jack is suing KDXpress LLC, truck driver Brian DeAngelis, and Diamond Rental Inc. for Jack’s Illinois tractor-trailer death. He died in November 2008 at the truck accident site.

Per the Madison County, Illinois wrongful death lawsuit, DeAngelis neglected to keep a proper lookout, did not reduce speed to avoid becoming involved in a truck accident, and was traveling at an unsafe speed considering the road conditions when his 2007 International Harvester tractor-trailer rear-ended the 2007 Chevrolet Impala that Jack was driving on I-57.

As a result of the deadly Illinois truck accident, Jack’s vehicle was pushed across the median into the path of two other vehicles, which resulted in another Illinois auto accident.

His estate is seeking over $50,000 from each defendant. Jack’s estate says the truck driver was acting as an employee of KDXpress when the Madison County, Illinois truck crash happened. Diamond Rental owned the large truck that DeAngelis was operating.

According to analysis put forward in 2008 by DriveCam Inc., rear-end collisions are one of the most common claims received by the majority of fleet operations. The analysis of seven million collisions showed that vehicles keeping a less than two second following distance are at higher risk of becoming involved in rear-end crashes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration even noted, based on its “Rear-end Large Truck Crashes” study, that truck-struck and truck-striking crashes make up 18% of all large truck accidents that occur every year.

DriveCam reported that many rear-end accidents involve the lead vehicle changing its speed or an interruption in the flow of traffic. The farthest right lane also appeared to be the lane where rear-end crashes were most likely to occur.

Suit filed in Wood River man's death, The Telegraph, September 14, 2009

Analysis highlights rear-end crash causes, Fleet Owner, August 18, 2008

Related Web Resources:
FMCSA

DriveCam

In Cook County, Illinois, a jury has awarded Andrzej Chraca $24 million for injuries he sustained during a Schaumburg truck accident. The verdict is the highest amount that the county has awarded to a paraplegic.

Chraca was catastrophically injured after his sport utility vehicle was involved in a Cook County auto crash with an Illinois Department of Transportation truck on April 14, 2004. The deadly Illinois truck collision occurred close to the South Frontage Road of the Elgin O’Hare Expressway.

Chraca, 38, became a paraplegic. He cannot walk without use of a cane, leg braces, or a walker. He has not been able to work since the catastrophic Schaumburg truck crash. The IDOT truck driver, Steve Miles, also sustained serious injuries during the Illinois motor vehicle crash.

Police could not figure out who was at fault in causing the collision. The two drivers filed Cook County personal injury lawsuits against each other. This week, a jury ruled in favor of Chraca.

Miles and the IDOT are accountable for the jury award.

While there are Cook County truck accident cases where the parties involved are able to agree on a settlement without having to go to court, some Illinois truck collision claims will have to become lawsuits that can only be resolved with the help of a jury in civil court.

This is why it is so important that the Chicago truck crash lawyer you retain has the experience to secure the best outcome possible for your case. In many catastrophic Cook County truck crashes, victims are left with life-altering injuries that may require a lifetime of medical care. For many people, they cannot afford these expenses without help.

County awards $24M to man hurt in Schaumburg crash, Chicago Sun-Times, September 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
National Spinal Cord Injury Association

Illinois Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Jury Awards Cook County Truck Accident Victim $24 Million" »

A woman who says she sustained serious personal injuries from an Illinois truck crash is suing Beelman Truck Company. Her truck crash lawsuit claims loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.

The truck collision occurred on Illinois Highway 203—also called Edwardsville Road—at the 20th Street Intersection on the morning of October 20. In her truck crash lawsuit, Amber Ware says truck driver Shaun D. Reid struck her vehicle while trying to turn left.

Ware is blaming the trucking company for Reid’s driving and his failure to stay in control of the truck, failure to stay within the road’s boundaries, driving too fast for the conditions, failing to maintain a reasonable speed, and driving even though he allegedly did not get enough rest. The plaintiff says the defendant should have realized that Reid was not qualified or fit to operate a semi-tractor. She is also accusing the truck company of not properly investigating Reid’s employment record.

Truck Accidents
Driving a semi-truck, a tractor-trailer, a dump truck, or any other truck requires training and experience. Trucking companies must make sure that their truck drivers are properly licensed, do not have any health issues that could impair their driving, and are competent drivers who are trained and know how to safely drive a large truck.

Many large truck operators are transporting tens of thousands of pounds in cargo and/or hazardous substances. They cannot afford to become involved in a Chicago truck crash with another vehicle or a pedestrian. It is people walking on the street or riding their bicycles, motorcycle riders, or the occupants of the other vehicles that generally get the brunt of impact when they are involved in a collision with a large truck.

Woman struck by truck sues, The Record, September 4, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Illinois Commercial Driver's License Study Guide (PDF)

Continue reading "Woman Sues Trucking Company for Illinois Truck Accident Injuries" »

A man who was left permanently disabled in a deadly truck accident that claimed the lives of three people and injured 14 others on July 15, 2008 has been awarded $18 million. The judge issued the award to 53-year-old Mark Tiburzi and his wife against Holmes Transport Inc. and trucker Jeffrey D. Knight.

According to prosecutors, the deadly truck accident happened while Knight was reaching for his cell phone. The 49-year-old truck driver is charged with involuntary manslaughter related to the tragic highway collision. He is also accused of violating truck driver regulations by driving his tractor-trailer beyond the maximum number of hours allowed during any 8-day period.

Tiburzi's car was T-boned by the large truck. His Toyota Camry remained stuck in the front of the truck, while the larger vehicle crashed into the other autos involved in the tractor-trailer crash.

Tiburzi, a former district sales manager for a shoe company, sustained a severe traumatic brain injury, and he can no longer talk or walk. He lives in a nursing home. The judge awarded him $13.8 million and Tiburzi's wife $4.2 million.

At least two other truck accident lawsuits have been filed against the trucking company and Knight over the deadly pileup. The catastrophic truck crash occurred on Highway 40 close to Interstate 270.

Previously, our Chicago truck accident law firm reported on how texting while driving a large truck increases a trucker's crash risk by 23 times. We also want to note that any activity that causes a truck driver to take his or her eyes off the road increases the chances of a large truck accident occurring.

It makes absolutely no sense to cause serious injury or death to another because a motorist had to make a phone call, check an email, send a text message to someone, post an update on Facebook, or send out a Twitter notice. Distracted driving can be grounds for a Chicago truck crash lawsuit if someone gets hurt or dies.

Judge awards $18 million to man hurt in St. Louis County pileup, and wife, SLT Today, August 25, 2009

Federal judge awards $18M to man who suffered brain injury in crash, All Business, August 20, 2009

Related Web Resources:

Two people are dead and another two are in critical condition following a deadly Illinois motor vehicle collision involving a car and a garbage truck. The Chicago truck accident occurred in Logan Square close to the intersection of West Fullerton and North Central Park at around 3 am.

The two people that died from the wreck are 30-year-old Michael B. Tate and 27-year-old Marc Duncan. Both men are from Chicago.

While the majority of garbage truck accidents usually involve pedestrians, there are incidents that occur involving other vehicles.

Common causes of Chicago garbage truck accidents:

• Failure to yield
• Negligent driving
• Truck driver error
• Poor visibility
• Mechanical failure
• Defective garbage truck part
• Failing debris

Because of the nature of their jobs, garbage truck drivers are often required to stop and start the vehicle multiple times. This makes it even more necessary for garbage truck drivers to check their mirrors, make sure that there are no pedestrians, bicycles, or vehicles are in their blind spots. They also must be pay close attention to oncoming traffic.

Proving liability in a Chicago truck accident is always a challenge, which is why you must speak with a Chicago truck crash law firm to explore your legal options.

Garbage truck crashes occur more often than we would like to think that they do.

Garbage truck crash kills 2, ABC Local, September 2, 2009

2 dead, 2 seriously hurt in NW Side crash, WGN, September 2, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Private garbage trucks most likely to kill, Transalt.org, May 30, 2002

Trucking Accidents, Nolo

Continue reading "Chicago Garbage Truck Accident Kills Two People and Critically Injures Two Others" »

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 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 " »

According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, truck drivers who text message while driving increase their collision risk by 23 times. The institute’s findings are based on two studies involving seven large trucking fleets and 200 truck drivers who drove 55 long-haul trucks. One study took place in 2004. The second study occurred in 2007.

There were 197 near truck collisions (crashes that the truck driver managed to just narrowly avoid) and 21 truck crashes caused by a number of factors, including texting. Some 3,000 other near truck crashes that weren’t as difficult for truckers to avoid also occurred, as did approximately 1,200 unintended lane deviations.

Researchers compared what happened in dangerous situations to some 20,000 segments of videotape that were shot by each truck using five small cameras. The cameras confirmed that in 31 near crashes, the trucker was texting. There were also random incidents of videotape that showed truckers were texting but that software did not see these situations as dangerous.

Meantime, reaching for or using an electronic device or dialing a cell phone increased the chances of a driver becoming involved in a motor vehicle crash by six times. Findings indicate that just before a near crash or a traffic collision, passenger vehicle drivers and truckers had spent almost five seconds looking at their devices. If a motor vehicle is moving at 55 mph, this is enough time for a car or truck to travel the length of a football field.

The institute says that listening or talking to a cell phone lets drivers keep their eyes on the road, which means that using a cell phone for conversations doesn’t pose as much of a safety risk as texting does. The institute is recommending that all drivers be prohibited from texting while operating a truck, car, or bus, and all teen drivers who just have gotten their licenses should be banned from using cell phones while driving. It also notes that it is clear that keeping one’s eyes on the road improves safety on the road.

According to the study, using a headset when using a cell phone isn’t necessarily safer than using a hand-held phone because the driver will still likely have to answer the phone and dial, which can require the motorist to take both eyes off the road. Voice activated systems might be less dangerous if they are designed in such a way that a motorist won’t have to take his or eyes off the road to operate them.

Our Chicago truck accident law firm wants to know if you were injured in an Illinois motor vehicle crash because the truck driver was texting, talking on the cell phone, or involved in another form of distracted driving.

In Study, Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin, NY Times, July 27, 2009

Va. Tech Institute: Texting while driving much more dangerous than talking on cell phones, Chicago Tribune, July 28, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Read more about the findings (PDF)

Continue reading "Truckers Who Text While Driving Increase Truck Accident Risk by 23 Times" »

Plaintiff Jason Boone is suing truck driver Jose Sellas and Seven Road Logistics for personal injury. In his Illinois truck accident lawsuit, Boone says his shoulder, neck, and back were hurt when flying debris hit him. Boone is seeking over $100,000 plus costs.

According to his Illinois truck accident complaint, Boone says he was driving behind the large truck driven by Sellas on August 1, 2007 when the items that the truck driver was transporting hit the overpass. This caused debris to fall onto Interstate 64 that the plaintiff was unable to avoid hitting.

Boone claims his physical injuries are a result of this truck accident, which have also led him to experience mental trauma, pain, and the impaired function of his body parts. He says his ability to do his job has been significantly affected and he has medical bills because of his injuries.

The plaintiff is suing Seven Road Logistics because Sellas was working for the company when the Illinois truck crash happened. Boone is accusing Sellas of neglecting to keep a proper lookout, driving too fast, neglecting to pay attention to signs warning about the bridge’s height, and failing to plan a truck route that factored in the tractor-trailer’s height.

Falling Debris from Trucks
It is the responsibility of the truck driver to make sure that anything loaded onto the truck is fully secured so that cargo or other debris doesn’t fall onto the road. Cargo that falls from trucks can strike other motorists and cause multi-vehicle crashes as other drivers attempt to avoid getting hit by these fallen items. Truckers must also make sure that their trucks and cargo do not hit overpasses or tunnels that might also cause debris or more concrete objects to fall onto the road or onto passing motor vehicles.

Debris from tractor-trailer causes driver's injuries, suit claims, The Record, July 23, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Cargo Securement Rules, FMCSA

A portion of the Bishop Ford Freeway that was shutdown after a chemical tanker truck spilled acid onto the freeway pavement was reopened after cleanup was completed at the site of the hazardous leak.

The tanker truck broke down on the freeway early Wednesday morning. The large truck, which was transporting 45,000 lbs. of coal tar, began leaking about 5 lbs. of coal tar each minute. The substance spilled onto the roadway.

The Illinois Department of Transportation had to shut down the outbound expressway at around 6:45am. Meantime, fire crews that initially reported a hazardous materials response had to upgrade their call, reporting a Level 2.

Illinois State Police Lt. Luis Gutierrez says the corrosive is more dangerous to humans if they make physical contact with the substance than if the tar is inhaled. Technicians spent several hours pumping the liquid into an empty tanker.

The state of Illinois will conduct an investigation into the spill and will examine the tanker’s maintenance records and service records.

Our Chicago truck crash law firm represents truck accident victims that were injured in Illinois motor vehicle crashes involving large trucks or because they were exposed to hazardous materials that a large truck was supposed to be safely transporting.

Early this morning, lanes on the Bishop Ford Expressway were once again temporarily shut down after a collision between a semi-tractor trailer truck and a car. The Illinios truck accident occurred close to the scene of yesterday’s chemical truck leak when, according to police, a Buick LeSabre failed to merge correctly as it attempted to enter the expressway. The vehicle was rear ended by a car before being struck by the truck’s trailer. Six people, including three young children, were injured.

Bishop Ford lanes reopen after chemical spill, Southtown Star, July 22, 2009

Expressway Was Shut Down At 130th Street, CBS2Chicago.com, July 22, 2009

Six injured as car-truck crash slows Bishop Ford, Chicago Breaking News, July 23, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Illinois Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Bishop Ford Reopened After Hazardous Leak From Chemical Tanker Truck is Cleaned Up " »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 4,229 US truck-related deaths in 2008—the lowest total since the federal government started keeping track of truck accident fatalities and a definite decline from the 4,822 large truck crash deaths in 2007. Truck driver deaths and truck passenger fatalities dropped by 16% last year to 677 deaths.

One reason for the decrease in trucker fatalities is that the number of miles traveled by large truck drivers last year dropped 2.7% to 2.92 trillion miles. While any decline in the number of large truck deaths is positive progress, there is still more that truckers, trucking company, and the trucking industry can do to decrease the number of large truck-related injuries and fatalities that happen.

Road Safe America, which is committed to making roads safer, suggests that professional truck drivers undergo training and safety requirements similar to the training and requirements that airline pilots must complete and abide by.

According to Road Safe America:
• There are 10 million commercial truck drivers, compared to 590,000 airline pilots.
• There are 8 million commercial trucks and 220,000 airline aircrafts.
• While pilots have an age limit of 65, there is no age limit for commercial truck drivers.
• Pilots must undergo a physical every six months.
• Commercial truck drivers must undergo a physical every two years.
• Pilots fly a maximum of 30 hours a week, compared to commercial truckers who are allowed to drive their trucks for more than double that amount of time over a one-week period.
• In the last 3 years, less than 100 airline pilots have died, compared to the more than 15,000 trucker deaths and 300,000 to 400,000 truck drivers that were injured during the same time period.

Truck drivers are responsible for safely transporting tens of thousands of pounds of truck cargo to different destinations in Illinois and the rest of the United Sates. A Chicago, Illinois truck crash can lead to catastrophic consequences for those involved, so it is important that truckers have the experienced, skills, and are physically fit enough to safely do their jobs.

Truck Fatalities Fall 12%, Transport Topics Online, July 22, 2009

Truck Driver v. Airline Pilot Comparison, Road Safe America

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "NHTSA Says Number of US Truck Crashes Dropped 12% in 2008" »

18 people were injured on Monday when a semi-truck rear-ended a charter bus. The large truck-bus collision caused the bus to skid out of control and overturn. It then caught on fire.

The bus was transporting 20 Manhattan Job Corps students. 15 students, the bus driver, and one infant were taken to local hospitals. One of the bus accident victims was reportedly in serious condition.

Getting hit by a large truck places the occupants of the other vehicle at serious risk of personal injuries. If you are riding in charter bus, which often don’t come with seat belts, you could easily get thrown from your seat during a collision with a tractor-trailer. It is not uncommon to sustain a traumatic brain injury, a serious head injury, or a spinal cord injury in this kind of scenario. The best way to make sure that you receive all of the Illinois personal injury compensation that you are owed is to contact an experienced Chicago truck accident law firm.

Just last month, 9 people died when a tractor-trailer drove into a line of cars stopped at a turnpike. Dead bodies, fluids, and debris were scattered on the road. Emergency crew workers were at the track crash site for hours sifting through the wreckage in search of more truck crash victims. One car was under the semi-truck. Some victims had to wait several hours before rescuers could free them.

One child and eight adults died from this multi-vehicle truck collision. At least four other people sustained injuries.

According to investigators, semi-truck driver Donald Creed, 76, may not have tried to stop his truck to prevent the deadly chain-reaction accident from happening. The speed limit on the road where the accident occurred is 75 mph.

18 Manhattan student Job Corps bus rollover injures 18, Justice News Flash, July 15, 2009

Roller over crash injures 18, 27 News, July 13, 2009

9 killed in Okla. turnpike traffic wreck, AP, June 27, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Trucking Accidents: Common Causes & Liability, Nolo

Continue reading "Semi-Truck – Bus Accident Injures 18 People" »

The family of a woman that was crushed in a tractor-trailer accident has agreed to settle their wrongful death lawsuit for $16 million. Rhonda Henson died on September 11, 2008, when oil field equipment fell of a tractor-trailer, crushing her motor vehicle.

Police say that the truck driver, Daniel Armstrong, failed to regulate his speed. They also say the truck’s load was not secured correctly. Investigation by the plaintiff revealed that the 21-year-old trucker was not legally qualified to operate the truck and that some of his truck driver qualification documents were falsified, fabricated, or backdated by trucking company employees after the tragic accident.

Pioneer Drilling Co., the wrongful death defendant in the case, settled with the plaintiffs before the jury issued a verdict. Pioneer Drilling Services, Ltd., owned and operated the 18-wheeler truck that involved in the deadly truck load accident with Henson’s motor vehicle.The defendants in the truck accident case were Henson’s parents, husband, and children.

Improper Truck Loads
Improper truck loads are a common cause of 18-wheeler truck crashes. A load becomes hazardous to other motorists and pedestrians when it is not properly secured, overweight, or not properly balanced. An improperly balanced load can make it harder for a truck driver to steer, slow down, or stop the truck.

Truckers must make sure that the loads that their trucks are carrying are secured properly. In the event that thousands of pounds of heavy cargo drops onto the road or falls onto another vehicle, serious injury accidents can happen.

Complex issues can be involved with Chicago truck accidents that were caused by improper loads.

Conflicting testimony leads to $16 million settlement, Cleburne Times-Review, July 10, 2009

Related Web Resources:
http://www.malmanlaw.com/lawyer-attorney-1214761.html

Continue reading "Family Settles Truck Accident Lawsuit for $16 Million" »

Six people were injured on the Dan Ryan Expressway today in a multi-vehicle Chicago traffic crash involving a tow truck and two cars on the South Side. The accident occurred around 4:30 pm. Five ambulance were sent to the crash site. Four of the Chicago motor vehicle victims, including one person who was pinned inside a motor vehicle, were reportedly serious to critical condition.

Unfortunately, this Chicago truck crash was not the only large truck crash that happened in the US today. Early this morning, two people got hurt when a semi-truck overturned.

Trucker Randy Long was exiting off a freeway when his truck hit a guardrail and a concrete barrier on a bridge. His semi-truck flipped over.

Long, 47, was taken to a hospital for his injuries. He was also arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Debra Oster, who was sleeping in the bed area of the large truck when the truck accident happened, also sustained injuries. She wasn’t wearing a seat belt.

In another US motor vehicle crash involving a large truck, three people were taken to the hospital after a semi-truck and two sedans were involved in a mulit-vehicle crash late this morning.

Large Truck Accidents
If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a Chicago large truck accident it is important that you do not talk to the insurer of the large truck company before speaking with our Chicago truck crash law firm first. You will want to make sure that all past, current, and future injury expenses are taken into consideration when determining how much recovery you should ask for from all negligent parties.

Chicago truck crash claims lead to the best outcomes for the victims when you’ve got someone on your side that knows how to properly investigate the evidence, assess your injuries, and pursue the maximum recovery that you are owed.

Six injured in crash on outbound Dan Ryan, Chicago Sun-Times, July 10, 2009

Crash closes U.S. 31 outside of Alanson, News-Review, July 10, 2009

Semitrailer Slams Into Bridge; Two Injured, KFYR.com, July 10, 2009

Related Web Resources:
RoadSafeAmerica.org

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Chicago Tow Truck Accident Involving Two Cars Injures Six" »

A tragic, Bloomington, Illinois truck accident has left a 10-year-old bicyclist dead. Travell Arrington died of serious head injuries after he was struck on Tuesday by a semi-trailer truck.

The tragic McLean County truck accident happened as the truck was turning into a truck stop. According to one witness, Arrington and another bicyclist were trying to beat the semi. Following the tragic accident, the trucker stepped on the brakes, jumped out of the large truck, and collapsed.

Preliminary autopsy results show that boy died from severe head injuries from being crushed by a tire. Bloomington police say the semi-truck struck the boy head-on. The truck driver, Elmwood Park resident Sergey Ivasyuk, says he never saw the boys.

Accident reconstructionists and police are working together to determine the cause of the Illinois truck accident.

While there were less truck-related deaths in 2008 (4,229 large truck fatalities) compared to 2007 (4,822 truck deaths), too many people continue to die in accidents involving large trucks. While some of these truck accidents are not the fault of the truck driver or the trucking company, there is still more that the trucking industry and its employees can do to prevent truck accidents from happening and causing injury or death.

Steps truck drivers can take to prevent truck accidents:

• Don’t drive when you are tired
• Make sure that you are in good shape
• Make sure that you don’t suffer from sleep apnea
• Check your blind spots
• Stay a safe distance behind other vehicles
• Properly maintain your truck
• Reduce your speed when driving in work zones
• Inspect your large truck before every trip
• Make sure your cargo is properly secured
• Practice defensive driving
• Get plenty of rest before you drive

Coroner: Boy died from severe head injuries, Pantagraph.com, July 8, 2009

Truck-Involved Traffic Fatalities Declined 12 Percent in 2008, PR Newswire, July 6, 2009

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Truck Safety, Public Citizen

Continue reading "Bloomington, Illinois Truck Accident: 10-Year-old Illinois Bicyclist Dies After Being Struck by Semi-Truck " »

In her 20-count Illinois multi-vehicle crash lawsuit, Jessica Baker is suing 12 defendants for personal injury. She is seeking over $500,000 in damages. She is now a quadriplegic because of injures she sustained during the February 4, 2008 traffic crash.

According to her Illinois personal injury complaint, Baker, then 19, was driving her 2001 Saturn on Interstate 270 behind a tractor-trailer when the large truck’s driver, Nicholae Valeanu, failed to step on the brakes in a timely manner before striking a Chevrolet Impala, driven by Bradley K. Bronnbauer. Bronnbauer then hit a Ford Escort, driven by Carl L. Kleinschmidt, which rear-ended a trailer belonging to Air Products and Chemicals.

Baker crashed into the tractor-trailer driven by Valeanu. The trailer is owned by Stoughton. The plaintiff contends that because the trailer did not have a properly installed rear impact guard (the fasteners were corroded and the bolts to hold the guard weren’t as thick as they could be), the guard broke off during the crash, which caused Baker’s car to go under the trailer.

The roof of Baker’s vehicle became compressed, causing Baker to break her cervical spine and lacerate her head. Her Illinois truck crash lawsuit claims that Baker is now paralyzed as a result.

Defendants in the truck accident lawsuit include Valeanu, Bronnbauer, Kleinschmidt, Air Products and Chemicals, STI Holdings, truck driver Kevin M Ryan, Motor City Express, James Group International, James Group Midwest, James Group International II, and Challenger Motor Freight.

STI Holdings made the truck that Valeanu was driving. The other companies—except for Air Products and Chemicals—are the companies associated with trucker Valeanu and the particular truck job that he was involved in.

As you can see, there may be multiple parties involved in your Chicago truck accident that can be held liable for Illinois personal injury or wrongful death. This is not the kind of case you want to deal with alone. Catastrophic large truck crashes usually result in devastating and costly injuries for truck accident victims. It is important that all liable parties pay you all the recovery that you are owed.

Woman paralyzed after getting stuck underneath tractor trailer sues, MadisonRecord.com, June 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Accident Laws, Justia

Sharing the Road—Large Trucks and Road Safety, CDC

A 79-year-old pickup truck driver was killed on Monday in a head-on crash with a semi tractor-trailer. The deadly Illinois truck crash occurred on Interstate 74.

Emergency workers from Tilton and the Lynch Fire Protection District arrived at the scene. The pickup truck driver was pronounced dead at the crash site. His body had to be cut out of the vehicle and there was a portion of the semi in the pickup truck cab.

The driver and passenger in the semi did not appear to be injured, although the passenger, who was asleep when the head-on crash happened, was thrown into the semi’s cab and almost struck the windshield.

About 60 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into a storm drain. The Vermillion County Haz Mat team was able to prevent the fuel from spreading into local waterways.

Illinois State Police are in charge of the investigation into the deadly truck accident.

Illinois Truck Crashes
It is important to retain the services of a Chicago truck collision lawyer that can begin pursuing your claim and investigating your case immediately. Not only does evidence from the truck accident site need to be preserved, but also truck maintenance records, any previous trucker violations, the trucker’s log book, eyewitness accounts, the truck’s black box data, emergency personnel statements and police reports, the trucking company’s policies and/ records of any violations, and other key information must be examined in order to determine what caused your Illinois truck collision.

Injuries in a traffic accident involving a large truck can prove catastrophic for the victims, who must contend with the impact of colliding with a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds and (in some cases) carrying tens of thousands of pounds of (sometimes hazardous) cargo.

Many truck companies have teams that specialize in limiting liability from truck crash claims.

Head-on collision kills one, Commercial-News, June 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Who's at Fault for an Accident FAQ, Nolo

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Pickup Driver Killed in Illinois Semi-Truck Crash on Interstate 74 " »

Five people died early Friday in a deadly multi-truck collision involving a pickup truck and two semi-trucks. All of the people that died belonged to the same family—a mother, a father, and three young children. They were pronounced dead at the crash site. The names of the deceased are Joanna L. Workman, 31, Brian W. Workman, 33, Ryan Workman, 1, Tyler Workman, 8, and Ashley Workman, 13.

According to police, the family was riding in a Dodge pickup truck, which was stopped or slowed. A flatbed semi, driven by George A. Hack, was in front of their vehicle.

The deadly truck crash occurred just after 4am when a semi-truck that was transporting double-box trailers approached after driving over a hill. Unable to stop in time, the large truck, driven by truck driver Forest E. Stover, struck the pickup truck, shoving the smaller vehicle into the back of the flat-bed truck.

The pickup truck burst into flames, spreading to Stover’s semi-truck. Both truck drivers were not injured.

The large truck that Hack was driving is an 1999 International semi owned by South Hill Trucking of Elkhorn. It was carrying 50,000 pounds of coil rod. The 2004 Sterling semi that Stover was driving is owned by Con-Way Central Express. Stover’s truck was transporting 65,000 pounds of general freight.

The impact of a large truck—weighing thousands of pounds and carrying tens of thousands of pounds in cargo—shoving a much smaller vehicle into another large truck carrying 50,000 pounds of cargo was obviously too much for the family to withstand. At the Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, we know how hard it is to lose one person that you love—let alone multiple family members—in a catastrophic truck crash. Our Chicago truck crash law firm is known for taking care of our clients' personal injury/wrongful death concerns so that they can deal with the emotional fallout that comes with coping with the loss of loved ones.

Fiery Crash Kills Mom, Dad, 3 Kids on Interstate, NBCChicago.com, June 26, 2009

Five family members dead in I-65 crash in Ind., WGNTV, June 26, 2009

Family Of 5 Dies In Indiana Expressway Crash, WBBM780, June 26, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Safety Coalition

The Dangers of Large Trucks, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Continue reading "Deadly Truck Crash: Mother, Father, & Their Three Children Killed in Traffic Collision Involving Two Semi-Trucks " »

One truck driver is dead and another is injured following an Illinois multi-truck accident near Minooka on Monday. Four semi-trailers were involved in the collision that killed truck driver William E Henderson, 39, on Interstate 80 and sent Manuel Proctor, 51, to the hospital.

The semi-trailer crash happened after Henderson rear-ended another semi-trailer truck, which then rear-ended another large truck that then struck the back of a fourth semi-trailer truck. Three of the semi-trailers were stopped on the highway when Henderson’s truck caused the chain reaction crash.

According to Grundy County Coroner John Callahan, Henderson, who was driving over a rise in the freeway, failed to see the other semi-trailer trucks. Callahan says Henderson’s cause of death was massive trauma.

If you are a truck driver that was injured in a truck crash because another trucker or a trucking company (or another third-party) that is not your employer was negligent, you may have grounds for filing an Illinois truck accident lawsuit for your personal injuries.

Just because a trucker is riding in a large truck doesn’t mean he or she cannot sustain serious injuries in an Illinois truck crash. While Illinois workers’ compensation law allows most truckers to obtain injury benefits—preventing the truck driver from suing an employer for personal injury—the amount paid to the injured worker may not be enough to cover all accident-related damages and losses.

An experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer will know how to successfully pursue your personal injury recovery from all third parties so that you can obtain the resources that you need to recover. In the event that your truck accident injuries are permanent and you can no longer work, you will need all the support that the maximum recovery for your catastrophic injuries can provide.

Fatal accident closes Interstate 80, Morris Daily Herald, June 23, 2009

1 dead in four-semi accident on I-80 near Minooka, Southtown Star, June 22, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Accidents, Nolo

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliances

Continue reading "Illinois Multi-Semi-Trailer Accident on I-80 Injures One Truck Driver and Kills Another" »

According to Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, large truck safety in the US trucking industry improved in 2008. Included in the findings from the 2008 truck safety Roadcheck conducted by the CVSA:

• 95% of drivers tested during the CVSA’s three-day safety enforcement event passed the safety inspection—that’s 14.5% more than in 2007.
• Last year, 96.2% of drivers complied with hours-of-service rules—this figure is up from 95.1% in 2007.
• 97.6% of drivers were in compliance with regulations involving hazardous materials—up from 95.1% in 2007.
• 79.2% of vehicles passed roadside inspections—up from 78.5% in 2007.

Truckers and trucks that took part in the Roadcheck inspections were selected based on the participants’ past safety or inspection record or through the use of a computerized Inspection Selection System.

It is very important that truck drivers are in compliance with the safety, work, and rest regulations set up by the federal government for the trucking industry. A driver that is too tired or has not followed the proper safety precautions or has failed to properly inspect his vehicle places other motorists and pedestrians at risk of getting seriously hurt if his or her negligence results in a truck accident.

An experienced Chicago truck crash lawyer should be familiar not just with the different regulations that govern the trucking industry and its truck drivers but also with how to prove that the truck company, the truck owner, the truck driver, or any other parties were liable for causing your Illinois truck accident.

Truck safety improves in 2008, Trailer.BodyBuilders.com

Related Web Resources:
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance

Public Citizen

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Accident Law Firm: Trucking Group Reports Improvements in Truck Safety for 2008" »

Last week, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) held a news conference in Washington DC to discuss its 18-point highway safety plan. The plan is geared toward increasing highway safety, improving trucking and driver performance, as well as creating safer vehicles. Included in the 18 initiatives are policies regarding:

• Uniform testing standards for commercial drivers license
• A national 65mph speed maximum for all motor vehicles
• Non-integrated technologies in vehicles when they are in motion
• More truck parking facilities
• Improved car driver - trucker conduct
• Improved seat belt use
• Seat belt enforcement and red light cameras
• Tougher laws to curb drunk driving
• Graduated licensing standards for teens in each US state
• Electronic speed governing of large trucks made after 1992 and specific non-commercial motor vehicles
• Mandatory safety training for new entrant motor carriers
• New standards regarding large truck crashworthiness
• Access to the Driver Information Resource
• A national clearinghouse for the positive alcohol and drug results of CDL holders
• A registry of certified medical examiners

While some groups are applauding the ATA’s initiatives, including Road Safe America and the American Insurance Association, other groups are a bit more critical of their efforts. Truck Safety Coalition says that the ATA needs to go further in its efforts and says the 18-point plan is just another way for the industry to promote its own agenda. The trucking industry is about to begin lobbying for a $450 billion highway reauthorization plan.

On a positive note, the large truck fatality rate hit a record low in 2007. The US Department of Transportation reports that there were 1.85 deadly crashes for every 100 miles traveled that year. And the large truck fatality rate has decreased 23% over the last 10 years.

Regardless, there are still too many Illinois truck crash accidents occurring and too many people sustaining catastrophic injuries from these collisions.

ATA offers highway safety agenda, Etrucker.com

Expanding ATA's Safety Agenda (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
American Trucking Association

Truck Safety, Public Citizen

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Accident Lawyers: American Trucking Associations Presents 18-Point Safety Policies List to Promote Highway Safety" »

Robert S. Kostadinov, a 29-year-old Chicago truck driver, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and homicide by vehicle over the truck accident death of Michelle Lamaze. The deadly tractor-trailer collision occurred on November 18.

Police say that Kostadinov’s trailer was carrying a cargo that exceeded the maximum height allowed on Route 22. His container rammed into an overpass, fell off the trailer, and landed in front of Lamaze’s SUV. The container ripped off the roof of her car. The 44-year-old woman sustained blunt force trauma to her neck and head and died at the crash site.

Authorities claim that the Chicago truck driver neglected to properly secure the container’s lower corners. Other charges against Kostadinov include reckless endangerment, careless driving, reckless driving, and motor carrier violations.

Last January, Lamaze’s brother sued Kostadinov and Vidov Trucking Inc. for her wrongful death. Joseph C. Lamaze contends that the defendants violated state law with the container that had a height that went beyond what was legally allowed. His complaint also claims that the trucking company did not have the permit necessary for transporting an over-sized load.

Improperly secured truck loads can be very dangerous. They can lead to motor vehicle accidents involving falling debris or other large pieces of cargo that can come off the truck, obstructing the path of oncoming traffic or striking other motorists or pedestrians that may be in the surrounding area. This can lead to catastrophic, even fatal injuries.

In Illinois, an experienced Chicago truck crash lawyer will know how to determine why a load fell off a truck, what should have been done to properly secure the load, and who should be held responsible for the unsecured load accident. Steel roads, cargo containers, and other materials have been known to fall of large trucks, causing injuries and deaths.

Chicago trucker charged in fatal SE Pa. accident, Fortmillstimes.com, June 9, 2009

Family sues trucking company for fatal crash in Whitehall Township, Lehighvalleylive.com, January 14, 2009

Woman Killed When Cargo Container Slides off Truck, 69 News, November 18, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Rules & Regulations, FMCSA

Hazards to Truck Drivers Loading and Unloading (PDF)

Illinois Truck accident victim Johnny L. Taylor is suing Darrell Gully, James Carson, and ABM Construction for personal injuries. Taylor says he sustained his catastrophic injuries on July 15, 2005 when he got pinned between a dump truck and a box trailer.

According to Taylor’s Illinois truck accident lawsuit, the defendants were negligent because they failed to make sure that there was enough space between the dump truck and trailer before backing the semi-trailer into the box trailer. Taylor is also accusing the defendants of negligence because they failed to let him know that the semi-trailer was going to back into the box trailer.

Gully was the truck driver of the semi-trailer. Taylor says he sustained disabling and permanent injuries from the Illinois truck accident, including a ruptured spleen, a thoracic crush injury, fractures to his sacrum, ribs, and a number of vertebrae, and a blunt injury to his abdomen. He contends that as a result of his injuries, he has incurred medical bills. The plaintiff is seeking over $50,000 in compensatory damages, pre-judgment interest, and other relief and costs.

Getting pinned by a large truck is a serious matter that unfortunately, doesn’t happen as infrequently as we would like to think. Recent serious truck accidents involving victims that were pinned by trucks include:

• In May, a UPS worker died after a UPS driver accidentally backed over him, pinning him against a wall. Police say 58-year-old James Pendarvis died of traumatic asphyxia.

• Also last month, a sanitation worker got hurt after he was accidentally pinned between a garbage truck and the dumpster that the vehicle was lifting to empty out.

• In April, a man got pinned between the body of the truck and the vehicle’s dump box.

If you were injured in a truck accident as the occupant of another vehicle, as an occupant of a truck, as a pedestrian, or as a worker doing your job, you should consult with a Chicago truck accident lawyer to explore your options for personal injury recovery.

Man claims he was pinned between dump truck and trailer, The Record, June 8, 2009

Ridgewood sanitation worker pinned by truck, North Jersey, May 28, 2009

UPS Worker Dies After Being Pinned By Truck, WAPT, May 7, 2009

Iowa Crews Rescue Man Pinned by Truck, Firehouse.com, April 14, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Safety Coalition

Transportation Research Forum

A man who was seriously injured in a 2006 Illinois truck accident while riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle is suing the estate of the deceased for his personal injuries. Russell Martin was riding in the car driven by David Groves on the night that the latter collided with a tractor-trailer driven by Jose Velazques. Also named as truck accident defendants are Proctor and Gamble manufacturing, trucker Jose Velazques, and his employer.

Now, however, the attorneys representing Julia Groves, who is the special representative of the estate of David Groves, have invoked the “Dead Man’s Act” to prevent evidence that Groves may have been driving drunk at the time of the catastrophic truck crash from being presented at the personal injury trial.

The Dead Man’s Act keeps conversations and certain incidents involving deceased from being used as evidence and may be applied decedents in Illinois civil lawsuits that were filed after 1973. The act is related to the premise that dead people cannot contest evidence used against them. However, evidence from a disinterested third party can be brought in.

The remaining defendants in the truck accident lawsuit want the judge to reconsider her decision to allow the act to keep certain evidence out of court. They says that there is outside evidence that Groves may have been drunk, including blood alcohol serum tests performed at a hospital after the accident. They say that this fits the description of evidence coming from a disinterested third-party.

Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuits
There are many reasons why Illinois truck accidents happen. However, determining cause and liability takes time, experience, hard work, and the right team of qualified experts that know to examine the evidence and trace responsibility back to the party or parties that caused the deadly catastrophic Illinois truck collision.

Common causes of truck crashes:

• Driver negligence
• Driver inexperience
• Drunk driving
• Distracted driving
• Overloaded trucks
• Defective truck or truck parts

'Dead Man's Act' keeps witnesses mum in Illinois civil trials, The Record, June 3, 2009

Dead Man's Act, Justia

Related Web Resource:
Truck Driver Regulations, FMCSA

Continue reading "Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuit Invokes “Dead Man’s Act” on Defendant’s Behalf" »

On Sunday, five people got hurt when an 18-wheeler truck and an Amtrak passenger train collided. The train-truck accident happened as the tractor-trailer was making a right turn. The 18-wheeler then hit a pickup truck.

The Amtrak train, the Sunset Limited, was transporting 69 passengers. Injured on the train were one passenger and two engineers. The truck driver and the pickup truck driver also got hurt.

Because the train was damaged in the truck-train accident, it could not reach its destination and the trains’ passengers had to continue on their journeys using charter buses.

Sunday’s truck-train accident has not been the only collision of late involving an 18-wheeler truck that has resulted in injuries or death. On Monday, Starkes Tarzian Inc. chairman Tom Tarzian was in his car when he was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer. He punctured his lung and broke his ribs in the 18-wheeler truck crash.

Last month, an 18-wheeler truck driver was killed on I-95 after he was involved in a multi-vehicle crash with an SUV and several other vehicles. In another tractor-trailer truck accident, a 28-year-old woman died after a metal pole that she was standing near fell after an 18-wheeler truck struck it. Marquetta Grate sustained fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead after undergoing emergency surgery.

On May 14, a tractor-trailer driver and his passenger were sent to a local hospital after the trucker over-corrected a tractor-trailer upon realizing that he didn’t want to exit the freeway just yet.

If you are the occupant of another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a truck passenger that was seriously injured in an Illinois 18-wheeler truck accident, you need to take the proper steps to make sure that your injuries and the truck crash scene are documented as soon as possible.

WRCB/Channel 3 chairman injured in car accident, TimesFreePress.com, June 2, 2009

Amtrak train collides with paper truck Sunday, The Daily Iberian, June 1, 2009

Early Morning Semi-Truck Accident Sends two People to Hospital, 5 News, May 14, 2009

Pittsburgh Woman Dies In Freak Truck Accident At Bus Stop, The Pittsburgh Channel, May 15, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Fatality Analysis Reporting System

Truck Safety, Public Citizen

Continue reading "Five People Injured in 18-Wheeler Truck Accident with Amtrak Train Accident" »

According to the Truck Safety Coalition Web site, Illinois ranks #8 as the most dangerous state for truck accidents. In 2007 alone there were 154 Illinois large truck accident deaths. With Illinois the home of 6,000 trucking companies, it is no wonder that large truck accidents pose a health hazard to our motorists. It doesn’t help that, according to the Truck Safety Coalition, 17% of the state's bridges are considered functionally obsolete or deficient in design and that 39% of the state’s biggest roads are not in the best condition.

Truck drivers are responsible for driving their large trucks safely. Unfortunately, even when the trucker drives with the best intentions regarding safety, large truck accidents still happen. For example, the trucker may fall asleep at the wheel due to driver fatigue, or there may be a defect with the truck or a truck part that causes the vehicle to malfunction. When incidents such as these happen, the consequences for the driver or for those around the vicinity of the large truck can be fatal.

That said, there are steps that other motorists can take to drive defensively when around large trucks that will hopefully prevent a deadly Illinois truck accident from happening:

• Don’t cut off a truck in attempt to get ahead of it, especially when you are driving in a single lane.
• If you are going to pass a truck, pass from your left and move onward as soon as possible and in as safe a manner as possible.
• Don’t tailgate a large truck.
• Make sure that the trucker can see you in his or her blind spot.

Illinois State Coalition Page, Truck Safety Coalition

NHTSA

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Illinois is 8th Most Dangerous State for Truck Accidents, Says Truck Safety Coalition" »

Injuries sustained in an Illinois large truck crash can be catastrophically life changing. This is why you need an experienced Chicago truck accident law firm protecting your right to financial recovery from all liable parties.

Just this week in the US, several large truck crashes caused serious injuries and deaths, including:

• A 19-year-old college student died on Tuesday after she was struck by a garbage truck near campus. Kaeli Sarah Kramer was pronounced dead at the crash site. A fellow classmate, Aresh Saquib, was hospitalized for his injuries. The driver of the garbage truck, Guillermo Vargas, was treated for emotional distress at the same hospital before being released.

• Yesterday, at least one person died in a head-on crash between a tractor-trailer and a car. The truck cab caught fire but the trucker was able to escape. The car involved in the deadly traffic crash with the large truck was crushed.

• On Wednesday morning, a 77-year-old woman sustained fatal injuries when she drove into the path of a dump truck that was pulling a trailer. The truck hit the driver-side door of the vehicle carrying Helen Irene Hawley before spinning out and jackknifing. Hawley died yesterday.

It is important that you do not try to settle your truck accident case with the other party’s insurer without speaking to an Illinois truck crash law firm first. There is so much involved when determining liability and there also may be more than one party that can be held liable for personal injury or wrongful death.

Injuries from a catastrophic truck accident may take years to recover from and will likely cost more than you think. Your Chicago truck accident lawyer will know how to make sure that you are compensated enough so that you have what you need to get better and more forward with your life.

Crash kills Capac woman, The Times Herald, May 29, 2009

At least one dead in crash between car, tractor-trailer, The Buffalo News, May 28, 2009

Student Killed in Garbage Truck Accident at FSC, Farmingdale Observer, May 28, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Accidents Laws, Justia

Illinois Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Crash Law Firm: Recent US Large Truck Accidents Claim Lives" »

Large Illinois truck crashes injure and kill too many people each year. In 2007 alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 1,710 motor vehicles were involved in deadly Illinois truck accidents—just 148 of those vehicles (8.7%) were large trucks.

While truck accidents can happen due to other motorists’ negligence, many large truck accidents occur because of negligence on the part of the trucker, a trucking company, or another affiliated party. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following recommendations that truck drivers can implement to prevent large truck accidents from happening including:

• Inspect your truck daily before taking it on the road.
• Make sure all maintenance work on your truck is up-to-date.
• Know how to operate your truck.
• Obey Illinois traffic laws.
• Don’t drive when you are exhausted.
• Take frequent breaks to walk and stretch.
• Don’t drive on soft shoulders.
• Inspect your semi-trailer’s breaks on a regular basis.
• Check your blind spots for vehicles.
• Honk your horn when backing up.
• Watch out for pedestrians.
• Know how to deal with the particular load you are transporting.
• Make sure you use wheel chocks when you are loading your trailer or truck.
• Don’t overload your truck.
• Activate the parking brakes when your truck is parked.
• Make sure that your load isn’t piled too high that it might strike bridges, power lines, and overpasses when you are on the road.
• Make sure that your trailer is properly secured to the towing vehicle.
• Properly secure all loads and load your trailer correctly, distributing the weight in a manner that will allow you to travel safely.

There may be more than one party that can be held liable for your Chicago truck accident. This is where an experienced Chicago, Illinois truck crash law firm can step in for you. If you’ve been injured in a tractor-trailer crash because a truck driver, a vehicle manufacturer, the shipping company, the trailer owner, the truck company, and/or another party was negligent, your Chicago personal injury attorney can gather all the evidence for you to prove your claims.

Truck Safety: Preventing Accidents with Trucks and Trailers, CDC

Related Web Resources:
FMCSA

NHTSA

Continue reading "Preventing Chicago Tractor-Trailer Accidents and Other Illinois Large Truck Collisions" »

Now that both the Illinois House and the Senate have approved legislation that would increase the semi-truck speed limit to 65 mph on rural interstates, it will be up to Governor Pat Quinn to decide whether to approve or veto the plan. This is not the first time legislation such as this has reached an Illinois Governor’s desk. Former Governor Rod Blagojevich vetoed legislation calling for the same mph maximum on three occasions because of what he said were safety concerns that could arise if large trucks were allowed to travel at the faster speed.

Preventing Illinois Truck Accidents
The question of whether or not it is safer or more dangerous to let trucks drive faster can result in different answers—depending on who you ask. Trucks that move at a fast pace tend to get their jobs done faster, which means that these vehicles don't have to spend as much time on the roads—possibly decreasing the chances of becoming involved in a large truck accident. Then again, the faster a truck goes, the more gas it spends, and its higher speed could also increase the chances the driver could become involved in a semi-truck accident. After all, excess speeding is often cited as a leading cause of large truck crashes.

A 2007 Forbes article cites The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as reporting that excess speed was the “critical precrash event” in 18% of all large truck crashes that were analyzed for a large truck causation study. A high-risk study conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute found that among truck drivers convicted of speeding at least 15mph above the legal speed limit, 56% of these truckers ended up being involved in a large truck accident the following year.

In the recent years, the ATA had recommended to the FMCSA that engine governors be installed in large trucks to make sure that trucks don’t go over a 68 mph speed limit. The ATA has said this could decrease truck accident deaths by up to 10%.

Semis going 65? It's up to Gov. Quinn, Pantagraph.com, May 18, 2009

Truck Speed--Too Fast, Too Slow?, Forbes.com, March 6, 2007

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

American Transportation Research Institute

Continue reading "Illinois Truck Accidents: Weighing the Benefits of Raising the Large Truck Speed Limit on Rural Interstates" »

The mother of a young girl is suing two trucking companies for injuries to a minor sustained during an Illinois tractor-trailer crash. According to the personal injury complaint filed by Dusty McPherson, Brittany Ferris was riding in a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Robert J. Ferris Jr. on Interstate 255 on August 17, 2007 when the vehicle struck a tractor-trailer belonging to Trinity Logistics Group that was parked on the side of the road. Ferris’s vehicle was then hit by a Wood Haulers-owned tractor-trailer operated by truck driver Don Leo Dye.

The defendants in the Illinois truck accident lawsuit are Ferris, Dye, and the two trucking companies. Brittany’s mother contends that as a result of the collision, her daughter continues to experience suffering, pain, disfigurement, disability, emotional trauma, and the possibility of future harm. Her injuries have also resulted in medical expenses and loss of future income. McPherson says she is the one responsible for her daughter’s medical bills.

She is accusing Robert Ferris Jr. of improper lane use, neglecting to keep a proper lookout, and failing to keep his car on the road and under control, driving the car when it wasn’t safe, and neglecting to exercise ordinary care to avoid becoming involved in the multi-vehicle crash.

McPherson’s Illinois truck crash complaint is holding Trinity Logistics Group liable for her daughter’s injuries because one of its truck drivers parked the vehicle on the side of the road even though it was unnecessary, neglected to use ordinary care to ensure other people’s safety, the truck wasn’t carrying at least three liquid burning flames that would have allowed drivers to see the vehicle from at least 500 feet, and the vehicle was parked too close to ongoing traffic.

She is accusing truck driver Dye of driving too fast and failing to slow down, neglecting to properly control his truck, neglecting to maintain a proper look out, improper lane use, and failing to use ordinary care to prevent an Illinois truck crash. McPherson is suing Woods Hauler because Dye was work for the trucking company when his truck struck the car that her daughter was riding in.

Illinois Truck Accident Claims
Proving liability for an Illinois truck crash can be tough. This is why it is so important that you contact an experienced Chicago truck accident law firm right that can get an investigator to the truck crash site right away to examine the accident evidence. There are also likely truck maintenance records and the trucker’s logbook to examine. A good truck crash lawyer will know what to look for to prove that the trucker or trucking company was negligent.

Passenger sandwiched between tractor trailers sues, The Record, May 14, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Trucking Accidents, NOLO

Illinois Department of Transportation

There are approximately 3.5 million truck drivers in the United States. Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours of service:

• Truck drivers can only drive for up to 11 hours at time.

• They can operate a truck for no more than 14 hours a day.

• Truck drivers have to spent 10 hours resting in between their shifts before they can drive again.

• Truckers cannot drive a truck if they’ve worked over 60 hours in a week.

• Drivers that spend at least 34 hours resting can reset their work schedule for the week.

Most truckers who operate a commercial motor vehicle have to abide by these rules.

A truck driver who falls asleep or can’t focus on the road can be a dangerous person to come up against in a Chicago truck collision—especially if the truck that the trucker is operating is a semi-truck, and 18-wheeler truck, a tractor-trailer, or another large truck. Unfortunately, driving long hours can make truck drivers who are tired more prone to falling asleep behind the wheel and even the most dedicated and experienced truck driver can become a liable driver if someone gets hurt or dies because the trucker accidentally causes a catastrophic large truck crash.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a Chicago truck crash, it is important that you retain the services of a Chicago truck accident law firm that has a successful track record when it comes to helping truck accident victims recover their losses.

Steps that truck drivers can take to avoid drowsy driving:

• Get plenty of rest.

• Take regular brakes.

• Don’t drink before driving.

• Make sure that you aren’t taking medications that can make you drowsy.

• Get tested to make sure that you don’t suffer from sleep apnea or another kind of sleeping disorder.

Final Rule, Hours of Service, FMCSA November 19, 2008 (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Drowsing Driving, AAAFoundation.org

Obesity Linked to Dangerous Sleep Apnea in Truck Drivers, Science Daily, March 12, 2009

Continue reading "Preventing Chicago Truck Accidents: FMCSA Hours of Service for Truckers" »

A man who says he hurt his upper back, neck, and shoulders when he was rear-ended by a garbage truck is suing for Illinois personal injury. Jerome Tucker filed his Illinois truck crash lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court this week.

He says he was trying to exit the Bethalto Walgreen’s in December 2007 when trucker Gregory Tindall, who was driving a garbage truck for Allied Waste Transportation, hit him. He is accusing Tindall of failing to decrease his speed, pulling his truck out when it was not safe, driving too fast, and neglecting to keep a proper lookout. He contends that the trucking company is liable because it employed Tindall.

Tucker says he sustained serious and permanently disabling and disfiguring injuries, lost huge amounts of money, experienced great pain and mental anguish, and couldn’t enjoy regular activities.

Common Kinds of Accidents Involving Garbage Trucks:

• Garbage truck rolls over a car.
• Garbage truck stops unexpectedly, causing a car to rear-end it.
• Head-on crash with a garbage truck.
• Garbage truck accidentally rolls over a pedestrian.
• Garbage truck fails to stop at crosswalk.
• A garbage truck tire comes loose or detaches from the vehicle.

Garbage trucks tend to be large trucks and it usually the other motorist, the pedestrian, or the pedalcyclist that is at a huge disadvantage during a garbage truck accident. The best way to ensure that you receive all of the recovery that you are owed is to retain the services of an Illinois truck accident lawyer who knows how to investigate your garbage truck accident, prove liability, deal with the trucking company’s insurer, and make sure that all of your injuries and damages are addressed when fighting for your compensation.

Man claims garbage truck rear-ended him, The Record, April 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Trucking Accidents: Common Causes and Liability, Nolo

According to the Department of Transportation, tire failure and brake defects are two common causes of trucking accidents. These can occur because of a defect in the brakes or tires caused by the manufacturer or product designer or because of improper maintenance. They can also occur due to negligence on the part of the trucking company or the driver, such as:

• When the trucker depowers the front brakes and depends on the trailer brakes to slow or downshift the vehicle.

• Improper brake setting.

• Failure by the truck driver to conduct a pre-trip inspection of all trucking equipment, which can consist of checking brake shoes to make sure they work correctly, making sure there aren’t any loose brake components, and checking for air leaks in the brake chamber.

• Improper loading can lead to brake malfunction or overheating.

The following tire-related problems can also lead to truck accidents:

• Improper tire maintenance

• Tire defect

• Using tires that do not meet minimum DOT tread depth standards

• Using mismatched tire sizes or tires that have significantly different wear

• Combining radial and bias ties on the same axle

• Improper tire pressure

• A worn or damaged tire

• A tire with air leakage or sidewall damage

There are federal regulations and laws that the trucking industry must abide by, and truck drivers, trucking companies, and their owners can be held liable if they failed to meet these standards and someone got hurt in a truck accident. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the US Department of Transportation are responsible for regulating the trucking industry, as is each state’s department of transportation.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers can determine if the truck driver, the truck owner, the entity or person that leased the truck, the vehicle manufacturer, the tire maker, or the truck cargo shipper or loader should be held liable for your truck accident injuries.

Trucking Accidents: Common Causes & Liability, Nolo

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

US Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Accident Law Firm: Brake and Tire Failure Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents" »

In Franklin County, a multi-vehicle collision between three semitrailers and one pickup truck has left one person dead. The deadly Illinois truck crash happened on Interstate 57 on Tuesday in the afternoon close to a highway work zone.

The Illinois truck accident happened around 4pm when a semitrailer, carrying a heavy load of large steel pipe and driven by Lawrence L Rich, hit a semi, operated by Donald G Troyer. Troyer’s truck caught fire and struck a 2007 Kenworth semi operated by Dale E Stumbo, whose truck was also struck by a 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche.

The force of the crash sheared off the cab of Rich’s truck, and he died from his injuries. Meantime, Troyer was transported to a Benton hospital for medical attention for the non-life-threatening injuries that he sustained.

Injured Truck Drivers and Third Party Lawsuits
When most people think of Illinois truck accident victims, the first people that come to mind are the occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians. However, there are truck accident cases that do arise where the plaintiff is an injured truck driver or the family of a deceased trucker who died. Truckers can get into serious motor vehicle crashes because of other truck drivers, a truck defect, or because the driver of the other vehicle was negligent or careless. Not only are injured truckers likely entitled to Illinois worker’ compensation benefits, but they also many be able to obtain personal injury compensation from negligent third parties.

Semi-truck crashes can lead to catastrophic consequences for the truck drivers that are injured and their families. An experienced Chicago truck accident law firm can look into issues over unsafe trucking practices, understand the federal and state regulations that govern truck driving, and make sure that you receive all of the workers’ compensation benefits and personal injury or wrongful death recovery that you are owed.

Fatal crash shuts down stretch of I-57, The Southern, April 21, 2009

1 dies in crash on Interstate 57, The Benton Evening News, April 22, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Accident Laws, Justia

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Illinois Multi-Truck Crash Kills Trucker" »

In three separate US truck accidents this month, three people were injured after being dragged by and trapped under large trucks. In Wyoming, Marvin Bushor was reportedly in good condition after he was dragged approximately 55 feet while under a semitrailer on Monday.

Bushor was repairing the truck when the trucker, thinking that Bushor was no longer under the vehicle, began backing up the truck. He stopped the vehicle when he realized that Bushor was still underneath. Police say the truck driver did not receive a ticket because the incident was an accident.

In another truck accident on Monday, this one involving a dump truck, worker Airsteed Bell was putting roadway demolition cones in a Florida construction zone when he was hit by a truck that was moving in reverse to unload asphalt.

Police say truck driver Alexis Martin failed to see Bell and he ran his dump truck over the 71-year-old man who became pinned underneath the right rear tires of the truck. He stayed trapped under the truck until he was rescued by the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. As of Tuesday, he was still in critical condition.

In yet a third truck accident, a woman got trapped under a dump truck for two hours last Tuesday while in her car. Kara Walden Benton and her husband Chad Michael Benton were riding in their 2007 Honda Civic when a dump truck, operated by Edmund Theodore Jackson, crossed the center line in the opposite lane and hit them.

The truck hit their car before turning onto its side and landing on the Honda. Chad was able to get out of the car but Kara was trapped inside. Two heavy duty wreckers and several fighters had to work together to extricate her from the truck accident site.

Gillette man survives being dragged by semitrailer, Rapid City Journal, April 22, 2009

Man trapped beneath dump truck remains in critical condition, Miami Herald, April 21, 2009
Woman survives being pinned under truck, ABClocalgo.com, April 14, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Truck Accidents Web Resources, Justia

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Accident Lawyers: Three People Injured After Being Dragged Under Large Trucks" »

A woman who says she sustained permanent injuries in an Illinois multi-vehicle accident is suing KD Express, one of its drivers, and the executor of a dead man’s estate for personal injury. Elizabeth Jackson says she experienced permanent pain, disability, mental anguish, and disfigurement from the truck-auto accident and she is seeking over $225,000 plus costs.

According to her Illinois personal injury complaint, filed in Madison County Circuit Court, Jackson was injured last November on I-57 when her Dodge Charger was struck by a 2007 Chevrolet Impala driven by David A Jack. Jack’s vehicle swung into Jackson’s lane after it was struck by a 2007 International Ha Trucktractor. Jack died in the deadly Illinois truck crash.

Now, Jackson is accusing truck driver Brian DeAngelis of hitting Jack’s car and failing to reduce his speed. She contends that Jack was negligent when he drove on I-57 at a speed lower than the posted speed limit.

If you have been injured in an Illinois auto accident, there may be more than one party that can be held liable for your injuries. This is why you should speak with an Illinois auto crash law firm who is experienced in dealing with all kinds of motor vehicle accidents. Truck accidents, car collisions, motorcycle accidents, train crashes, and pedestrian accidents are very different kinds of traffic accidents, which is why you need to speak with someone who understands the nature and complexities associated with the type of collision that you were involved in. In certain cases, the liable person may be deceased, and there are steps that your attorney can take to make sure that you recover from the person’s estate.

In many cases, serious injuries will lead to costly medical expenses and time off work. You will need all of the financial help you can get to pay for the services that you need to heal and recover, as well as be able to take care of living expenses in the event that you have to take days off from your job without pay.

Wrongful death complaint filed over I-57 accident, The Record, April 15, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Truck Accidents, Justia

Truck Safety Publications, Federal Highway Administration

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Accident Law Firm: Woman Files Illinois Personal Injury Lawsuit Over Multi-Auto Collision on Interstate 57" »

Our Chicago truck accident law firm is dedicated to making sure that clients receive the financial recovery they are owed from an Illinois large truck crash. Here are a number of facts about large trucks in the United States.

• Large trucks are trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds.

• Under federal law, 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight is the maximum weight standard on the interstate highway system unless a state has a higher maximum weight that was in effect prior to July 1, 1956.

• States can establish their own commercial vehicle weight standards for trucks for off the interstate highway system.

• 84% of truck accident victims were not truck occupants.

• In deadly large truck accidents involving a passenger car, 98% of the victims were riding in the passenger vehicle.

• Multiple-trailer trucks have a greater chance of becoming involved in a truck accident than single-trailer trucks.

• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the states oversee large truck safety.

• In order to drive a commercial truck, a special driver’s license is required.

• A large truck driver who transports dangerous substances or crosses state lines must be at least 21 years of age.

• States can allow younger truckers, ages 18 to 20, to drive large trucks within the state.

• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says truck drivers that have been on the road for over 8 hours increase their chances of being involved in a truck accident by twofold due to driver fatigue.

• Truck drivers that violated hours-of-service rules were more likely to have fallen asleep while driving.

• Large trucks are susceptible to rollover crashes.

• It is important that trucks have well-maintained, operational brakes so that they can stop safely and in a timely manner.

Large truck crashes are often catastrophic motor vehicle collisions that can lead to serious personal injuries or wrongful death.

Q&As: Large trucks, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Accident Attorney: A Few Large Truck Facts" »

Commercial trucks are temporarily banned on Angeles Crest Highway following a deadly big rig truck crash that killed a father and daughter and injured 12 other people. The 90-day ban, which began at midnight on Sunday, gives state transportation officials a chance to figure out how they can improve traffic safety in that area of California 2.

The deadly truck collision happened on April 1 when a double-decker truck carrying cars experienced brake problems and ran into a number of motor vehicles before hitting a bookstore. Killed in the fatal highway collision were Angel Jorge Posca and his 12-year-old daughter Angelina. Truck driver Marcos Barbosa has been charged with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter.

Options transportation officials are considering include setting up a truck-break point, reinstating a truck-arrester lane, and permanently banning big rigs from the highway. In the meantime, additional signs prohibiting five axle trucks and warning of the steep grade have been posted on Angeles National Forest, Foothill Freeway, and Angeles Crest Highway.

Starlight Crest has a steep 7% grade. A study indicates that the arrester beds that remain in the median are not enough to stop large runaway trucks.

Since 1951, there have reportedly been 10 incidents involving trucks burning out their brakes on the same intersection where last week's fatal runaway truck crash happened. Just last September, a semi-truck’s brakes malfunctioned, causing the large truck to drive into a number of parked motor vehicles.

Many trucking companies have employees that are experts in combatting truck collision claims. This is why it is so important that you don't settle with a truck company's insurer before talking to an experienced Chicago truck crash attorney first. Trucking companies have been known to try and get you to settle right away. It's important that you learn about the extent of your injuries and how much compensation you will need. The best way to do this is to obtain experienced legal advice.

Related Web Resources:
Big Rigs Temporarily Banned on Angeles Crest Highway, Los Angeles Times, April 4, 2009

Remedies underway, La Canada Valley Sun, April 10, 2009

Related Web Resources:
California Department of Transportation

FMCSA

Continue reading "Chicago Truck Accident Attorney: Following Big Rig Collision that Killed 2 People and injured 12, Commercial Trucks Temporarily Banned from Mountain Highway" »

In Illinois, a woman is suing Guarantee Electric Company, Enterprise Leasing Company, and trucker Christopher J. Hankins for her father’s truck accident death. She is seeking over $200,000, plus other relief.

Gerald T. Berkel was riding his bicycle in Pontoon Beach on Illinois Route 111 on December 20, 2007 when Hankins’s truck collided with him. Hankins, employed by Guarantee Electric, was operating a rental truck belonging to Enterprise. Kelly Berkel’s lawsuit accuses Hankins of negligence for failing to stop his truck before striking her father’s bike, neglecting to properly control the large vehicle, operating the truck at too fast of a speed, failing to keep the truck in the proper lane, failing to maintain proper headlights, and failing to look out for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Kelly Berkel contends that Guarantee Electric is responsible for Illinois personal injury damages because Hankins was working for the company when the deadly truck accident happened. She is accusing Enterprise of acting negligently when it entrusted the truck driver and his employer with the rental truck.

Bicyclists are at a disadvantage and risk the chance of serious injury or death anytime they are in a traffic accident—especially if the vehicle involved is a large truck.It doesn’t help that a bicyclist will very likely get thrown to the ground or onto the other vehicle. The force of collision can only further exacerbate any potential injuries.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Offers a Number of Safety Tips for Truck Drivers on How to Share the Road Safely with Others, including:

• Get plenty of rest before getting behind the wheel
• Make sure you are healthy
• Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained
• Be vigilant about checking your blind spots
• Drive slowly in work zones
• Maintain a distance between you and the vehicles around you
• Wear a seat belt
• Drive defensively
• Be professional about your job—you are, after all, a professional driver

Injuries caused by a negligent truck driver may be grounds for an Illinois personal injury claim or a wrongful death lawsuit.

Bike fatality on Route 111 is subject of suit, The Record, March 25, 2009

Safety Tips for Truck and Bus Drivers, SharetheRoadSafely.org

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

How not to get hit by cars, BicycleSafe.com

Continue reading "Woman Files Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Bicyclist is Killed in Truck Accident" »

Yesterday evening, two people sustained injuries in an Illinois large truck accident on Interstate 74 close to Mansfield. According to Illinois State Police, 21-year-old Emily Myers was driving her Ford Taurus in the right westbound lane and attempting to pass a semitrailer tractor truck when the rig's driver Mark E. King drove into her lane.

This caused Myers’s vehicle to drive off the highway, where it struck the ditch embankment and overturned two times before skidding across the eastbound lanes and stopping. Rescue workers had to cut out Emily and 23-year-old Alex Myers from of the vehicle. They were transported to Urbana where they were treated at Provena Covenant Medical Center before being released.

King was issued a ticket for improper lane usage.

Whenever a motor vehicle strikes another auto in the next lane, the consequences can be deadly. This holds even truer when the vehicle moving into the lane is a large truck. The impact of the collision alone can send the other vehicle flying off the road, causing serious injuries and deaths.

It is the responsibility of motorists, especially the drivers of large trucks and buses, to make sure that they change lanes correctly and safely. When someone gets hurt or dies because another motorist was negligent, the injured party may be entitled to Illinois personal injury compensation.

Other examples of kinds of truck accidents that can lead to injuries or death:
Jacknifing: This can occur when the truck skids, causing it to swing out into the shape of a jackknife. This type of truck accident can cause multi-vehicle crashes, potentially injuring or killing a number of people.

Truck under-ride crashes: When a motor vehicle gets caught under a large truck or its trailer.

Truck crashes caused by improperly loaded or secured equipment: Cargo, truck parts, or other items fall off a truck, possibly landing on another vehicle, turning into flying debris for other motorists, or becoming an obstruction on the road that can cause deadly motor vehicle crashes.

Arcola residents injured in I-74 accident, The News-Gazette.com, April 3, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Road Safe America

Injury and Accident Law Overview, Justia

Continue reading "Arcola Man and Woman Injured in Illinois Semi-Trailer Truck Crash on Interstate 74" »

Illinois State Police, the Green County Sheriff’s Office, and the Greene County Coroner’s Office are investigating the truck accident death of a 25-year-old pedestrian. Andrew Bishop, a Jerseyville resident, died after he was hit by a tractor-trailer driven by Fairview Heights trucker Mark Koltkamper.

The deadly Illinois truck accident took place early Saturday morning about three miles north of Carrolton on US 67. The 60-year-old trucker was reportedly trying to negotiate a number of curves when he hit Bishop, who was pronounced dead at the crash site. The motor vehicle accident caused severe damage to the semi-truck, which had to be towed.

Pedestrians hit by a large truck or bus will frequently sustain catastrophic injuries. It doesn’t help that the force of impact of colliding with a semi-truck, a tractor-trailer, or a school bus, will frequently cause the accident victim to strike the ground hard or get flung through the air until they land on or against a hard surface.

Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, limb loss, and death are common results whenever a large commercial truck or another common carrier strikes a pedestrian.

Our Chicago truck accident law firm represents pedestrians and pedalcyclists who were injured in Illinois motor vehicle accidents, including truck collisions involving:

• An accident victim who was run over or pinned by a large truck
• A person struck by falling debris from a large truck
• School children and other minors who were injured in Illinois truck accidents
• Hit-and-run truck accidents
• Drunk driving accidents

We also represent motor vehicle occupants who were injured in Illinois commercial truck collisions, as well as truckers who were injured because of a defective or malfunctioning truck.

Pedestrian dies after being hit by Fairview Heights truck driver, BND.com, March 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Kills 25-Year-Old Pedestrian" »

A Cambridge Health Alliance study is reporting that the number of US truck crashes could be reduced if truck drivers were tested for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is because drowsiness and driver fatigue are two common causes of truck accidents, which, according to Science Daily, are considered a major public health hazard. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 101,000 truck crashes injuries and 4,808 fatalities in 2007.

Sleep Apnea makes it hard for people to get a good night’s rest, which can cause them to feel very sleepy in the daytime. While most people know that they are prone to exhaustion or falling asleep, they are not necessarily aware that this condition can also be deadly. Sleep apnea increases the chances that a driver will become involved in a motor vehicle crash by up to seven-fold.

The Divided Attention Driving Test found that people who have sleep apnea might sometimes exhibit a driving performance similar to someone who is driving with a blood alcohol content that is above the legal limit. This can impair a truck driver’s ability to safely operate his or her vehicle and is especially frightening if one considers that many truck drivers operate large vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds.

The consequences for the trucker, as well as those in the vicinity, can be deadly during a motor vehicle crash. The Cambridge Health Alliance says there are anywhere from 2.4 million - 3.9 million US licensed commercial drivers with OSA. Another research study, sponsored by the American Transportation Research Institute of American Trucking Associations and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), reports that the prevalence of sleep apnea among truck drivers seemed to increase with obesity and age.

Surprisingly, sleep apnea is not uncommon. Some 20 million people are affected by this sleeping disorder, which can also lead to strokes, heart disease, muscle pain, depression, hypertension, excessive sleepiness, headaches, and fibromyalgia. The Cambridge Health Alliance study says obesity-driven testing strategies and OSA screenings could help identify the commercial truckers who have OSA.

The study can be found in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Obesity Linked To Dangerous Sleep Apnea In Truck Drivers, Science Daily, March 12, 2009

New Study Links Obesity to Dangerous Sleep Apnea in Truck Drivers, 24-7 Press Release, March 27, 2009

Related Web Resources:
A Study of Prevalence of Sleep Apnea Among Commercial Truck Drivers

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Continue reading "Study Says Number of Truck Accidents Might Go Down If Truckers Were Tested for Sleep Apnea" »

In Cook County Circuit Court, a Chicago jury says that trucking company Inland Traffic Consulting Corp must pay an elderly couple $610,000 for their personal injuries. The couple was injured near the Illinois/Wisconsin border in 2004 when a semi-truck rear-ended their motor vehicle on I-90.

The jury awarded the 80-year-old man $60,000 for rotator cuff injuries he sustained in the Illinois truck crash. They awarded his wife, 86, $550,000 for soft tissue injuries to her upper back, shoulders, and neck. The approximately half a million dollar award is the highest verdict an Illinois jury has ever awarded to a plaintiff older than 60 for soft tissue injuries.

The woman incurred over $55,000 in medical costs and continues to receive physical therapy for her injuries. Her husband required surgery in 2007 for his torn rotator cuff and his medical expenses exceeded $25,000. While the trucking company had admitted negligence, it had argued that the couple was not hurt from the Illinois auto accident to the extent that they claimed.

Soft Tissue Injuries
The “soft tissue” refers to areas in the body that are non-bony, such as the tendons, muscles, and ligaments. These types of injuries are known to commonly occur during motor vehicle crashes, frequently leading to sprains, tears, soreness, and strains. Getting jolted in a truck accident, in addition to the force of impact, can cause significant damage to the soft tissue areas of the body. This can lead to swelling, pain, and loss of function. Whiplash is a common kind of soft tissue injury, which can result in joint dysfunction, chronic pain, and herniated discs.

Because soft tissue injuries cannot be seen via x-ray, they can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. It doesn’t help that it can take days for motor vehicle accident victims with soft tissue injuries to start exhibiting symptoms.

The Insurance Research Council conducted a study in 2002 that found soft tissue injuries to be one of the most common kinds of auto accident injuries. Recovery from a soft tissue injury will usually require the help of a medical professional. Physical therapy, as well as medications to relieve inflammation and pain, may also be required. In cases of severe soft tissue injury, surgery and rehabilitation may be required.

Illinois Jury Awards Record Verdict for Soft Tissue Injuries Arising out of Truck Accident, PRWeb.com, March 27, 2009

What is a Soft Tissue Injury in a Car Accident?, Wisegeek.com'

Related Web Resource:
Looking Through the MIST - Minor Impact Soft Tissue Injury, Ezine Articles.com

Continue reading "$610,000 Chicago Truck Accident Verdict Awarded to Elderly Couple" »

In Illinois, the Senate and House have approved bills to increase the speed limit for heavy trucks on rural interstate highways to 65 miles an hour. The two bills however, are not identical, so the legislation will need more work before it can go to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

While the interstate highway speed limit for cars is 65 mph, the speed limit for semi-trucks is currently 55 mph. This has caused concern for traffic safety experts who think that having different speed limits increases the chances of traffic accidents. Illinois Senator Don Harmon from Oak Park, however, isn’t sure this is true. He points out that when the state of Missouri adopted a uniform speed limit on all state roads, the number of traffic deaths jumped.

House Bill 3956 passed with a 77-35 vote. A 38-14 vote lead to the approval of Senate Bill 1467. Cook County is not included in either bill. The five counties around Chicago are exempt from the House bill.

Large Truck Accidents
The owners and drivers of large garbage trucks, fully-loaded delivery trucks, semi-trucks, 18-wheeler trucks, and tractor-trailers have a responsibility to make sure that these vehicles are operated safely on US roads. A collision with one of these large vehicles can be deadly for the occupants of smaller vehicles and motorcycles, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in an Illinois truck crash, please contact our Chicago truck collision law firm today for your free case evaluation.

Although you cannot control a truck driver's behavior behind the wheel of a large truck, there are steps other motorists can take to avoid getting involved in a collision with a large truck, such as:

• Avoid cutting in front of a large truck and slowing down suddenly. The drivers of large trucks need more time to stop their vehicles than the drivers of passenger vehicles.
• Know that you if you are unable to see the trucker when you are looking at the truck’s side mirror, chances are the driver can’t see you and you should get out of the truck’s blind spot.

Legislators tackle speed limits for semis, overtime and steroids testing, Galesburg.com, March 26, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Lawmakers Want to Raise Semi-Trailer Truck Speed Limit to 65mph, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 12, 2009

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study, FMCSA

Continue reading "Illinois Senate and House Members Approve Bills to Raise Large Truck Speed Limit to 65 Mph" »

In Will County, Illinois, a jury has awarded $24 million to the families of two people who were killed in an April 1, 2004 truck crash and a survivor who was seriously injured. This is reportedly the highest verdict amount involving a Will County civil case in at least half a century.

42-year-old Seneca resident Thomas Sanders and 67-year-old Naperville resident Joseph Sperl were declared dead at the Illinois truck crash site. William Taluc, a 35-year-old Aurora man, broke 17 bones.

The defendants in the Illinois truck accident case included freight broker C.H. Robinson Worldwide and truck driver De An Henry. Henry was operating a semi-trailer full of potatoes on Interstate 55 close to Plainfield when he caused a 10-vehicle crash involving six cars and three tractor-trailers.

Common reasons why truck accidents happen:

• Driver fatigue
• Driver is trying to meet a delivery deadline and is in a hurry
• Driver doesn’t see vehicle or pedestrian in blind spot
• Vehicle malfunction
• Defective truck parts
• Truck is overloaded
• Speeding
• Poor driving conditions
• Drunk driving
• Driver inexperience

You do not want to try to represent yourself in an Illinois personal injury case against a truck driver and his or her trucking company, which will likely have the manpower and resources to deal with and minimize your truck crash liability claim. Truck accident cases may often involve more than one liable party, such as the shipper, the contractor, the driver, the owner of the trailer or truck, the trucking company, or the truck manufacturer.

$24 million award in fatal truck crash, ChicagoTribune.com, March 24, 2009

Naperville man dies in I-55 accident, Goliath/Daily Herald, April 2, 2004

Related Web Resources:
C.H. Robinson Worldwide

Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics, UMTRI

Continue reading "Will County Jury Awards $24 Million Illinois Truck Accident Verdict to Families of Victims and Crash Survivor with Serious Injuries" »

In the Southern District of Illinois, a jury awarded two couples $113,000 for personal injuries they sustained during a 2007 truck accident. Ken and Leslie Richardet and Eugene and Virginia Sturm had sought $1.36 million.

The two couples got hurt at the Illinois-Kentucky border in January 2007 while returning home from a vacation. Their original complaint accuses Kevin D Harrison, a Murdale True Value company truck driver, of failing to properly operate his rear breaks and doing so at a speed that was beyond what was correct and reasonable. The company has admitted liability in the case.

Truck accident victim Virginia Sturm says she had to undergo hip replacement surgery after the multi-vehicle collision left her with serious hip damage. Another victim, Leslie Richardet, says that her rotator cuff was torn during the truck accident. Murdale True Value’s defense attorney, however, disputed both women’s claims.

The jury award for each plaintiff: Virginia Sturm received $41,000; Eugene Sturm received $27,000; Leslie Richardet received $24,000; and Kenneth Richardet received $21,000.

Proving Liability in an Illinois Truck Accident Case
It is important that you retain the services of an Illinois truck accident attorney who knows how to properly pursue your motor vehicle claim or lawsuit. There are going to be truck logs to peruse through and accident evidence to examine. Your Illinois truck crash lawyer should also be familiar with the state and federal regulations that govern truck drivers.

If the trucking company’s insurance company tries to settle your case before you’ve spoken to an Illinois personal injury attorney, please know that you are within your rights to ask them to wait until you’ve sought legal counsel about your truck accident case.

Jury awards plaintiffs a fraction of damages sought in federal injury trial, St Clair Record, March 16, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Murdale True Value

In Vermilion County, Illinois, the family of a 49-year-old woman who died in 2004 when the vehicle she was riding in was hit by a semi-trailer truck has been awarded an Illinois wrongful death settlement of almost $1.5 million. Judge Michael Clary approved the $1.41 award to be paid to Carlos Cunningham, the widower of Debra Jean Cunningham.

Debra Jean died on August 25, 2004 in Danville at the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and North Vermilion Street. Because the power was down in that area, the city of Danville had put a four-way stop sign in the center of the intersection.

Carlos’s Illinois wrongful death lawsuit, filed in 2005, says witnesses saw his wife leave the Village Mall and make a complete stop. As she was pulling out of Vermillion Street and about to make a left turn, however, she was struck by a Dayton Freight Lines large truck operated by Champaign trucker Henry Butler.

Carlos’s truck accident lawsuit named the truck driver, the trucking company, the city of Danville, and the Illinois Power Company as the defendants of his wrongful death lawsuit, but a judge dismissed the power company from the case. Carlos's Chicago wrongful death lawyer says the city put the stop sign, which was non-reflective, in the wrong place. He also contends that the Illinois truck driver had driven through the intersection before and he should have known to stop.

Debra Jean left behind her husband and their five children.

Failing to Stop at a Stop Sign
Failing to stop at a stop sign can lead to deadly motor vehicle accidents—especially if the vehicle that failed to stop is an 18-wheeler truck or another large vehicle that is going at a regular speed. If you are faced with a four-way STOP at an intersection, you MUST stop and then wait your turn. Even if the four-way stop system is a temporary one or one that is handheld by a construction zone worker, a police officer, or a school guard, you must yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and pedestrians until it is your turn to go. Failure to do so can be grounds for Illinois personal injury or wrongful death.

City, truck firm paying family in fatal accident, The News-Gazette, March 14, 2009

Related Web Resources:
CyberDriveIllinois

City of Danville, Illinois

Lawmakers in Illinois are pushing to increase the semi-trailer truck speed limit to 65 mph on non-urban roads. This is their fourth attempt to up the current semi-truck speed limit to 55 mph. The first three attempts were vetoed by then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

In the Illinois House of Representatives, Representative David Reiss is sponsoring House Bill 3956. The bill, if it becomes law, would not affect Cook County or the five “collar” counties (DuPage County, Will County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Kane County) around it. It also wouldn’t affect interstates that have lower speed requirements, including I-74, which runs through Peoria. In the Illinois Senate, Senator John Sullivan is pushing a similar proposal with Senate Bill 1467.

Proponents of the new speed limit say they believe that allowing large trucks to move at the same rate as the rest of the vehicles on the road could decrease the number of Illinois truck accidents. Cars, motorcycles, and SUV’s would be less likely to weave around trucks, trucks would more easily be able to get around other vehicles, and traffic jams might occur less often.

A uniform speed limit could also benefit the trucking industry. For example, Mid-West Truckers Executive Vice President Don Schaefer says that under the current 55mph speed limit, semi-truckers can’t legally make a full round trip between Chicago and St. Louis in one workday. A 65-mph speed limit would make this possible.

Also, those advocating for a higher speed limit are quick to point out that many truckers tend to break the current speed limit, so why not raise it altogether. That said, opponents of raising the current trucker speed limit say that a 65 mph speed limit will only compel these same truckers to increase their speed to up to 75 mph.

There is also the argument that a faster truck is a more dangerous truck that will have a harder time stopping in the event of an emergency or to avoid becoming part of an Illinois motor vehicle crash.

Semi-Trucks
Semi-trucks and 18-wheeler trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Colliding with one of these trucks can be catastrophic for the victims involved.

New Statehouse push would raise some truck speed limits, Galesburg.com, March 11, 2009

Legislators seek boost in truck speed, Chicago Tribune, March 6, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Department of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Illinois Lawmakers Want to Raise Semi-Trailer Truck Speed Limit to 65mph" »