Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

The estate of Richard J. “Dick” Berry has settled its Illinois truck crash case with OSF Saint Francis Inc. for $5 million. Berry was killed on December 2009 in a two-auto collision at routes 23 and 17 close to Streator.

The deadly Illinois semi-truck accident happened when truck driver David A. deFrance did not stop at a stop sign. The large truck he was driving then struck Berry’s car. OSF Saint Francis Inc. owns the semi-truck that deFrance was driving.

Although nothing can ever compensate you for the loss of a loved one, obtaining Illinois wrongful death recovery can assuage some of the costs and damages while allowing you to hold the negligent party liable. It doesn’t matter whether the liable party is held responsible in criminal court. Your civil case would be completely separate in terms of the legal process and its outcome.

Coping with the death of a loved one is never easy. In addition to the absence of that person in from life and all that is lost along with that—companionship, a life together, loss of a mother, father, son, or daughter—there also may be financial losses, such as those of income, benefits, retirement funds, etc., that your family member would have earned if his/her life had not been cut off so abruptly.

There are specific steps and strategies that can be employed when filing for recovery in a Chicago truck crash.

Lawyer's estate settles $5 million lawsuit, News Tribune, February 25, 2011

Related Web Resources:
OSF Saint Francis Inc.

The Truck Safety Coalition

More Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blogs:
Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuit Says FMCSA Violation by Trucker Contributed to Man’s Wrongful Death, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer, December 3, 2010

$6.5 Million Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Settlement Goes to Family of Woman Killed on Halloween 2008, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, November 16, 2010

Illinois Tow Truck Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Wrongful Death of Man and His Son, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, October 15, 2010

Continue reading " $5M Illinois Semi-Truck Settlement Reached Between Hospital Corporation and Attorney’s Estate " »

A bus driver who was involved in a Pontoon Beach traffic crash two years ago is now suing the truck driver for Illinois truck accident injuries. Denise D. Bourbon says she sustained serious and disabling injuries on February 16, 2009 when the county transit bus she was driving was struck by a large truck.

Bourbon contends that trucker Scotty B. Wentworth drove too fast, did not keep a proper lookout, neglected to yield-the-right of lane, failed to drive within a single line, and did not stop at a stop sign while attempting to make a right turn. The plaintiff says that in addition to her physical injuries, she also suffered emotional distress and could not execute her usual duties.

Bourbon is seeking over $100,000 plus costs. Wentworth’s employer, Howell's Motor Freight, is also a defendant. She claims the freight company was negligent for entrusting the truck to Wentworth when it allegedly knew he would operate the truck in a careless, reckless, and incompetent manner.

Truck crash cases are tough. This is why working with the right Chicago truck accident law firm is so important. Not only are trucking companies often ready to combat allegations of liability, but also determining which parties are responsible can be challenging.

Often, truck logs can often help shed light on whether any Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations were violated. Truck maintenance records can also show whether a truck is up-to-date on its inspections. An experienced Illinois truck crash law firm will know what evidence and data to gather so that you can receive the recovery that you are owed.

Madison County Transit driver sues trucker over accident, The Record, February 21, 2011

Related Web Resource:
FMCSA

More Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog Posts:
FMCSA Proposes Installing Monitoring Trucker’s Hours of Service with Electronic Onboard Recorders, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, January 31, 2011

Preventing Chicago Truck Accidents: FMCSA Launches Compliance Safety Accountability Program to Target High Risk Truckers, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, December 22, 2010

$3.5 Million Truck Accident Verdict Awarded in Case Against Illinois-Based Company, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, December 16, 2010

Mark Berndsen, a Breese police officer, is suing garbage truck driver Kenny Dale Ewing and Brisk Sanitation Inc. for his Illinois truck crash injuries. Berndsen is seeking over $100,000 in Illinois personal injury compensation.

According to his Illinois truck crash complaint, Berndsen was driving his police car in Breese when his vehicle was struck by a garbage truck driven by Ewing. The trucker/sanitation driver allegedly did not stop at the intersection, which caused him to strike the officer’s patrol car.

Berndsen’s police car rolled over during the collision. He says he hurt his back and neck.

Chicago, Illinois Garbage Truck Accidents
Large and heavy in size, garbage trucks can cause serious Illinois personal injuries. Not only are they challenging to maneuver, but it can also be difficult for the truck driver to see what’s around him/her—especially in the vehicle’s blind spots.

Garbage truck drivers cannot afford to become distracted or disobey traffic laws when driving. They need to pay attention to the activity around them, drive at the speed limit, obey all traffic signs, make sure there aren’t any pedestrians that have suddenly appeared behind the vehicle, and, before proceeding, check that workers riding on the truck are not in the vehicle’s way.

Breese cop sues garbage truck driver, The Record, February 14, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck Accidents, Justia

More Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog Posts:
Woman Files Illinois Garbage Truck Lawsuit Seeking Personal Injury Recovery, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 19, 2010

Woman’s Legs Severed in Garbage Truck Accident, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 10, 2010

Chicago Garbage Truck Accident Kills Two People and Critically Injures Two Others, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, September 2, 2009

Continue reading " Illinois Garbage Truck Accident Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Injured Cop " »

A 69-year-old woman is dead following a catastrophic Illinois semi-truck crash on Tuesday night. Police say that Patsy J. Witte was driving a sport utility vehicle on Illinois 161 Extension about a mile from Illinois 130 when she collided with the tractor-trailer.

According to a preliminary probe, trucker Daniel H. Greifzu was trying to back his semi-truck, which was using both lanes of travel, into a private driveway, when Witte, failing to realize that the tractor-trailer was in the eastbound lane, struck the large truck with her SUV. She was pronounced dead at the truck crash site. Meantime, Greifzu received a citation for improper backing.

In other recent collision news, a pedestrian was killed in a Chicago truck crash last week in the Bridgeport neighborhood. The city-owned truck was backing up when it hit the pedestrian.

Back-Over Accidents
Backover crashes are a common cause of injuries. In some cases, the driver who is backing up does not see the pedestrian, bicyclist or other vehicle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common back-over injuries include injuries to the legs, arms, face, neck, or head, as well as abrasions, contusions, internal injuries, and fractures.

It is important that anytime a vehicle is backing into or out of a lane, driveway, or parking lot, he or she do so in a manner that doesn’t create a dangerous situation for others on the road. Collisions with any type of large truck increase the chances of serious injuries, so drivers have a duty of care to be extra cautious especially when they know they are engaged in an activity that can increase the risk of a Chicago truck crash.

Olney woman killed in crash, CarmiTimes, February 9, 2011

City truck hits, kills man in Bridgeport, Chicago Tribune, February 2, 2011

Related Web Resources:
FARS, Large Trucks, NHTSA

Q&As: Backover crashes, IIHS

Related Blog Posts:
Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accidents Sends Woman to the Hospital After Her Vehicle Hits a Utility Pole, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, January 27, 2011

Recent Chicago Semi-Truck Accidents Claim Two Lives, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, January 21, 2011

$3.5 Million Truck Accident Verdict Awarded in Case Against Illinois-Based Company, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, December 16, 2010

Continue reading " 69-Year-Old Olney Woman Killed in Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident " »