Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

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 " »