Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Lorraine McNeil, 69, and her daughter Kathleen Wilcox, 45, died last week in an Illinois semi-trailer crash on Interstate 80. The two women, who are both from Ottawa, were pronounced dead at the truck accident site. The accident took place at the County Highway 15 and Morris Road intersection a mile south of Marseilles.

According to the Morris Daily Herald, while there are rumble strips and stop signs at the intersection on Morris Road, there are no stop signs on CH 15. Investigators are trying to figure out whether traffic control devices were a factor in the deadly crash. Marseilles Police Chief Jim Hovious calls the intersection where the semi-trailer accident happened a dangerous one where several traffic crash deaths had already occurred.

Police are trying to determine exactly what happened.

Illinois Truck Accidents
If the truck driver did anything that contributed to causing the collision, the women’s family may be able to file an Illinois truck crash claim against the trucker, the trucking company, and other parties involved with the truck, such as the owner of the truck, or the company that is using/leasing the truck. A lot of it will depend on who/what caused the collision.

Time and again, our Chicago tractor-trailer accident lawyers have seen the devastating injuries that can come about from this type of crash and the impact it has on surviving loved ones. We are not afraid to go up against large trucking companies to make sure that you obtain all of the personal injury or wrongful death recovery that you are owed.

Mother, daughter die in Wednesday crash, Morris Daily Herald, April 21, 2011

Two Ottawa women die following crash, MyWebTimes, April 21, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck Safety Coalition

Continue reading "Mother and Daughter Killed in Illinois Semi-Truck Crash" »

The Third Appellate Court has decided to affirm the $23.75 million Will County, Illinois semi-truck crash verdict awarded over the 2004 multi-vehicle traffic accident on Interstate 55 when a 40-ton tractor-trailer loaded with potatoes that crashed into stopped traffic. The 10-auto collision involved a number of large trucks. The total verdict amount is for three separate causes of action that were consolidated into one civil trial.

The family of Thomas Sanders was awarded $8.5 million. The jury awarded Naperville resident Joseph G. Sperl's family was initially awarded $7.25 million, although the trial court later lowered that amount to $7 million. Aurora resident William Taluc, who was critically injured and broke 17 bones during the Will County tractor-trailer accident, was awarded $7.7 million.

DeAn Henry, the trucker blamed for causing the multi-vehicle pileup, was sentenced to two and a half years probation after she pled guilty to the charges that she falsified her logbook and didn’t slow down her truck to avoid causing an accident. She also had to give up her commercial truck driver’s license for two years. Henry, truck owner CH Robinson Worldwide, and her employer Todd L. Dragonfly were the defendants of this Will County, Illinois semi-truck collision case.

Our Chicago 18-wheeler truck crash lawyers covered this case last year on our blog site. It is so important that victims injured in an Illinois semi-truck collision and their families receive the Will County personal injury or wrongful death damages that they are owed. So much is lost when a loved one dies unexpected. Obtaining injury won’t bring your loved one back but it can provide some relief.

Appellate Court affirms $8.5 million trial verdict, MyWeb Times, April 8, 2011

$24 million award upheld in fatal ’04 crash, Sun-Times, April 5, 2011

Will County Jury Awards $24 Million Illinois Truck Accident Verdict to Families of Victims and Crash Survivor with Serious Injuries, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 23, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

More Blog Posts:
Did a Weak Rear Guard Play a Role in Your Loved One’s Chicago Tractor-Trailer Crash Death?, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 31, 2011

Illinois Truck Accident Lawsuit Filed in Pedestrian Death, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 24, 2011

Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit and Personal Injury Lawsuits Filed in Semi-Tractor Trailer Accident, Chicago Injury Attorney Blog, January 29, 2009

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is reporting that the rear guards used on big rigs may not be strong enough to prevent a smaller vehicle from rolling under the large truck during a traffic crash. This is disturbing news, seeing as underride truck crashes cause serious injuries and deaths each year. Our Chicago semi-truck accident law firm is all too familiar with the devastating injuries that can result when one has been involved in this type of rear-end truck collision.

The IIHS says that its own vehicle testing showed that current rear guards could fail even when the truck crash is one occurring at a low speed. The Institute is hoping to remedy this problem and has petitioned the government to mandate stronger underrides that can stay in place during a rear-end truck accident. The IIHS also wants this sturdier protection to become a requirement for more trailers and big rigs.

Seeing as, per the IIHS’s analysis of Large Truck Crash Causation Study truck crash cases, underride was a common result in the 115 truck crashes involving a passenger auto hitting a semi-trailer or large truck, the sooner that tougher rear guards are mandated, the better. Also, out of 28 incidents involving someone in a passenger vehicle dying, serious underride damage was a factor in 23 of these accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that about 423 people are killed annually in accidents involving passenger vehicles rear-ending a large truck. Over 5,000 other passenger vehicle occupants end up injured.

If you were injured in any type of large truck crash, do not hesitate to contact our Chicago 18-wheeler truck accident law firm right away. There may be parties who should be held liable for your injuries. Possible liable parties could include the truck driver, the driver of the passenger vehicle that you were a passenger in, a truck manufacturer, or the trucking company.

Underride guards on big rigs often fail in crashes; Institute petitions government for new standard, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, March 1, 2011

Read the IIHS's petition (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Large Truck Causation Study, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Underride Network

Brian Benning and his son Brett suffered serious injuries on February 1 when they were injured in an Illinois tractor-trailer crash. Their family is suing the Schneider National Carriers trucking company and trucker Jason T. Lawler for $6 million.

In their Illinois personal injury case, the Bennings are accusing Lawler of truck driver negligence. Their complaint contends that the trucker failed to keep control of his large truck, which allowed his semi-trailer to jackknife before crossing the center line on Illinois 75. The family believes that Lawler was going too fast on a snowy day.

Brian, who sustained a traumatic brain injury and other “particularly devastating” injuries, was finally released earlier this month from the ICU. He is now in rehabilitation. Having undergone a number surgeries, Brian's recovery is expected to be long. Brett, whose injuries weren’t as serious, is no longer at the hospital.

The family wants compensation for medical bills, physical pain, mental anguish, and lost wages.

Truck Jacknife Accidents
Common causes of Chicago truck jackknife crashes include:

• Sudden application of the brakes
• Accelerating on a surfaces that has low friction
• Downshifting
• Rushing into a curve
• Loss of control on a slippery road
• Swerving and braking at the same time

Main kinds of Illinois truck jacknife crashes:
Tandem Trailer Jacknife: Involves a truck cab pulling two trailers.

Classic Truck Jacknife: Usually involves the trailer swinging out and the truck cab swinging into it.

Dakota Basketball Coach and Son Injured In Car Accident, WIFR, February 1, 2011

Benning family files $6M lawsuit, Journal Standard, March 11, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The Truck Safety Coalition

More Blog Posts:
Illinois Garbage Truck Accident Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Injured Cop, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 16, 2011

69-Year-Old Olney Woman Killed in Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, February 10, 2011

18-Wheeler Truck Crash Kills Teen Riding in Stolen SUV, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer, May 12, 2010

Continue reading "Father and Son Injured in Illinois Truck Crash File $6M Federal Lawsuit" »

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 person was killed early yesterday in a West Chicago truck crash. According to police, the victim’s vehicle rear-ended the semi-truck’s trailer at Powis Road close to Harvester Road. The Illinois State Police and the DuPage County Accident Reconstruction Task Force are trying to determine what happened.

Also this week, police are searching for a semi-truck in connection with a Chicago hit-and run traffic crash that claimed the life of bicyclist. The rider, 65-year-old Robert Felice, was found lying on West Pershing Road. The large truck is described as having a red cab and a camper. Felice was pronounced dead at University of Illinois Medical Center.

It is important that you start exploring your legal options for Illinois personal injury or wrongful death as soon as possible. Obtaining your injury recovery can allow you to hold the negligent party liable and give you the resources you need to cover damages and costs incurred from your Illinois large truck accident. Proving liability in any kind of collision can be challenging—it can be especially tough when you are dealing with a trucking company that has a team in place, as well as the resources, to combat lawsuits against it. Truck log books and maintenance records will need to be examined. It is also important to determine whether hours-of-service rules or other Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration regulations and any state regulations have been violated.

Recently, the family of Raymond VanPelt filed their Illinois semi-tractor crash over the Aurora man’s wrongful death. Van Pelt, 53, died at the corporate headquarters parking lot in what police think may have been a backover accident involving a semi-tractor trying to back-up to a semi-trailer. The truck driver did not see VanPelt.

The Illinois tractor-trailer crash lawsuit accuses the truck driver of negligent driving, including failing to slow down his speed, not keeping a proper lookout, and neglecting to give audible warning. The plaintiffs, who are also suing the truck company that employed the trucker, are also claiming that the large truck’s brakes were inadequate.

Fatal Vehicular Accident in West Chicago, Trib Local, January 19, 2011

Bicyclist killed in South Side hit-and-run crash identified, Chicago Sun-TImes, January 20, 2011

Related Web Resource:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

A jury has awarded James Fairley $3.5 million for his truck accident injuries that he sustained in 2008. Fairley, 56, has said that he sustained a traumatic brain injury, fractured two vertebrae, and suffered from depression as a result of the crash.

The truck accident happened on August 4, 2008 when his van was struck by a tractor-trailer owned by Schiber Truck Co., which is located in Illinois. The trucker, who was unable to stop to avoid rear-ending the van, swerved onto the shoulder of the road. Unfortunately, the truck’s trailer swung into the rear of the van, shoving it into traffic. The van was then struck by another semitrailer.

Fairley says he must now walk with a cane and that he is unable to bowl, dance, or read. He also suffers from memory problems and has a hard time focusing.

The semi-truck crash verdict awards Fairley $1.5 million for present and past damages and $1.5 million for future damages. His wife Kimberly Fairley was awarded $389,000 for present and past damages. Her award for future damages is $120,000.

In other truck collision news, a woman Injured in an Illinois truck crash is suing truck driver Allison Farr and Potenza Enterprizes Inc. for personal injury. Jodi Renee Sprehe says that she was struck by the Freightliner truck that Farr was operating on Interstate 55 on May 5.

Sprehe is seeking over $50,000 plus costs on both counts. She is accusing the trucker of failing to keep a proper look out or control the vehicle and of careless driving. Sprehe says that she sustained soft tissues injuries, became disabled, experienced pain and mental anguish, and lost income.

Jury awards couple $3.5 million for pain and suffering from crash; amount may be biggest auto verdict in state this year, Mlive.com, December 15, 2010

Woman injured in crash with Canadian truck, The Record, December 9, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Fatality Analysis Reporting System

The family of Mark Kerper is suing semi-tractor trailer driver John Bahl for wrongful death. Kerper, 55, died in a tractor-trailer accident on July 17 after the trailer that had come unhitched from Bahl’s large truck hit the car he was in. Kerper’s family is also suing Russell Bahl, the semi-tractor trailer owner. for damages.

In their semi-truck crash complaint, the Kerper family is accusing Bahl of negligent operation, failure to inspect the connection between the tractor and the trailer, failure to make sure that the two were securely attached, violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, operation of defective equipment, and other violations. They are seeking damages for mental anguish, suffering, loss of income and earnings, loss of Mark’s future earnings, and burial expenses.

The defendants are denying that they were negligent. They have, however, admitted liability for the damages.

This is not the first deadly truck accident that Bahl, 73, has been involved in. Per an accident report, another man died and a woman was injured when a backhoe slid off a flatbed trailer he was operating in September 2003. He pleaded guilty to safety violations and paid fines over $500.

Tractor-Trailer Violations
With their heavy loads that they may be hauling, tractor-trailer drivers cannot afford to violate safety regulations. They must make sure that cargo is properly secure, the truck is properly maintained, and that their trailer or anything else that they may be hauling is correctly secured. Truck overloading is not allowed. Also, trucking companies are responsible for making sure that their truckers do all aspects of their job safely.

Unfortunately, every year there are people who are killed and injured in Illinois truck crashes because there are truck drivers who were negligent. When this happens it is often other people who end up paying the price.

Second fatal crash spawning lawsuit, TheOnline.com, December 1, 2010

Rules and Regulations, FMCSA

Related Web Resources:
Truck Safety, AAA Exchange

Truck Safety, Public Citizen

Police have identified the 80-year-old man who was injured in an Illinois tractor-trailer crash on Saturday as Robert W. Schaefer. The Granite City man was at the intersection of Illinois 3 and West Chain of Rocks Road when the large truck struck him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

There was no intersection at the area where Schaefer crossed the street. However, according to witnesses, the semi-truck was stopped at a red light when the elderly pedestrian started crossing. The truck then moved into the intersection as the light turned green and struck Schaefer. The trucker said he never saw him. According to Stltoday.com, Police are investigating the cause of the Illinois semi-truck accident but that criminal charges are not expected.

In other Illinois truck accident news, a mother is suing Beelman Trucking Co. and trucker Kevin L. Kuepfer for injuries she and her son sustained during a Lebanon collision. Antwynette Golliday says that the truck operator failed to swerve or stop to avoid crashing into her vehicle on US Highway 50 and was unable to stay in control of his truck. She contends that Kuepfer was operating his truck at a speed faster than what conditions required, did not maintain adequate brakes, and failed to keep a proper lookout.

Golliday, who says that she and her son sustained serious injuries and suffered severe anguish and pain, is seeking over $50,000 of four counts each against the truck operator and Beelman.

Man dies after being hit by truck in Granite City, STL Today, November 19, 2010

Mother, child injured in truck collision , The Record, November 18, 2010

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

Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics

Continue reading "Illinois Tractor-Trailer Crash Kills 80-Year-Old Man" »

The family of East Dubuque resident Tabitha Carroll has been awarded a $6.5 million Illinois semi-truck accident settlement. Carroll, 32, died on Route 47 in Huntley, Illinois on October 31, 2008.

Carroll, her husband Randolph, and son Gabriel, 3, were headed to Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch that Halloween day when a tractor-trailer rear-ended the pickup truck they were riding. According to a judge, trucker Jeffrey Repec, a Spring Grove man, was speeding at the time. The impact of the truck crash pushed the Carroll family’s car into a stopped IDOT truck.

While Carroll died at the Illinois tractor-trailer crash site, Randolph sustained a number of personal injuries, including facial fractures, spinal injuries, and respiratory failure. Gabriel sustained lacerations, two broken legs, and head injuries.

According to the family’s truck collision lawsuit, not only was Repec driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as speeding, but also he did not keep a proper lookout. Police had determined that Rebec was high on marijuana when the Illinois tractor-trailer crash happened. The trucker eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence. He is serving 45 months at a correctional facility.

Meantime, the tractor-trailer’s owner, Geils Farms, is accused of violating the law by failing to conduct random drug tests on truckers, neglecting to perform employee background checks and not getting a copy of each truck driver’s driving record. Also, not only was the truck that struck the Carrolls’ vehicle overloaded, but five of its breaks were out of adjustment, the rear left turn signal could not be operated, and a number of the vehicle’s brake pads had grease or oil contaminating them, which prevented safe braking and stopping.

The Illinois truck accident settlement includes $4.7 million for Carroll’s wrongful death, $300,000 for Gabriel’s personal injuries, and $1.5 million for Randolph’s injuries to a minor.

Huntley crash victims are awarded $6.5 million, The Courier-News, October 31, 2010

Halloween Car Crash Results in $6.5 million settlement in wrongful death lawsuit, Lawyers and Settlements, November 4, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Trucking Accidents Overview, Justia

Michigan Center for Truck Safety

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Chicago Injury Attorney Blog

Continue reading "$6.5 Million Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Settlement Goes to Family of Woman Killed on Halloween 2008" »

Jessica Legens is suing tow truck operator Mark Ikerman, his employer Manheim Services Corporation, the owners of Sparky’s 397 Pub, and Mac & Mick’s Sports Bar for the Illinois wrongful deaths of her husband and son. Donald Legens Sr. and their 9-month-old son Donald Legens Jr. died from injuries they sustained when their stopped car was struck by the truck driven by Mark Ikerman.

According to Legens’ Illinois truck accident complaint, Ikerman was driving drunk and did not slow down when he hit the victims’ vehicle. The elder Legens, who was standing outside, was injured when the impact of collision pushed his car into him. He died that night. Donald Legens Jr., who was in the vehicle at the time, would die on November 14, 2008 from his injuries.

Legens is seeking at least $50,000 for each count against Ikerman, who is charged with two counts of failing to report an accident involving death or personal injury and two counts of aggravated driving while under the influence. She is also suing Mannheim for vicarious liability. She is seeking damages against the bar owners for knowingly selling the alcohol to the two truck driver before the accident.

Meantime, Mannheim is claiming that Donald Legens Sr. was partially responsible for the accident because he was outside his vehicle at the time, drinking, and did not make sure his gas tank was full enough that he wouldn’t run out of fuel.

Chicago Truck Accident Lawsuits
Losing someone you love is incredibly hard. It can be even more upsetting to know that your loved one would still be alive today were it not for another party’s negligence. There are ways to hold a negligent trucker and trucking company liable for your loved one’s truck crash death.

Summary judgment move in tow truck accident case to be heard Oct. 22, St. Clair Record, October 14, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor carrier Safety Administration

American Trucking Associations

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the 76-year-old trucker that drove his rig into a traffic jam on an Oklahoma highway last year killing 10 people was suffering from acute fatigue. In its report that it released this week, the NTSB says that catastrophic truck crash could have been prevented if only government regulators and the trucking industry had followed certain safety recommendations.

The trucker, Donald L. Creed, suffered from sleep apnea and likely had just five hours sleep before starting his shift at around 3am on June 26, 2009. He also had just gotten back from vacation and was readjusting to having to be up so early.

Creed had been on the road about 10 hours and was driving at a speed of almost 70 mph when he crashed his 40,000-pound big rig into a Land Rover and then drove over other cars. No evidence indicates that he attempted to stop his semi-truck or avoid the lineup of cars.

The elderly trucker later pleaded guilty to 10 counts of negligent homicide and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 10 years’ probation. Prosecutors said trucker inattention was a factor in the deadly truck crash.

Among the recommendations that the NTSB says regulators and the trucking industry have disregarded:

• Installation of warning systems that offer aural and visual alerts when a truck is in danger of crashing with another auto. The equipment, which costs around $1,000 to $2,000, could prevent about 96 deaths and 4,700 truck crashes a year.

• Safety recommendations that are related to dealing with truck driver fatigue, which is a cause of about 31% of heavy truck crashes.

The NTSB noted that although Creed wasn’t speeding—he was traveling under the 75 mph limit—it is important to note that a heavy truck going at such a high speed can have a devastating impact on smaller vehicles.

Contact our Chicago truck crash law firm to discuss your legal options.

NTSB Says Driver Fatigue at the Root of Fatal Oklahoma Truck Wreck, Trucking Info, September 29, 2010

NTSB cites fatigue in Okla. crash that killed 10, Google/AP, September 29, 2010

9 dead as truck slams cars in Oklahoma, MSNBC, June 27, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Prevalence of Sleep Apnea Among Commercial Truck Drivers, Atri-Online.org

NTSB (PDF)

The family of Arlene “Kay” Marshall is suing J. Fuentes Trucking and Medinah Inc. and trucker Juan R. Fuentes for Illinois wrongful death. Marshall, a 68-year-old woman, was killed on August 6 when she was struck by a Mack truck driven by Fuentes. At the time Marshall was pushing her bicycle across Main Street in Downtown St. Charles. She was pronounced dead at the Illinois truck collision site.

In their Illinois truck accident complaint, Marshall’s family is accusing the defendants of negligence. They contend that Fuentes was careless when driving and failed to yield the right of way to a pedestrian, neglected to drive at a speed that was prudent, and did not keep his large truck under reasonable control. Police, however, have decided not to charge Fuentes.

Marshall leaves behind three brothers. They are seeking unspecified damages for loss of companionship, society, attention, guidance, training, advice, instruction, sorrow, and grief.

Chicago Truck Accidents
In any Chicago truck crash involving pedestrians, it is the latter that will be at the mercy of the trucker when it comes to sustaining serious injuries. While there are steps that pedestrians can take to protect themselves from becoming involved in an Illinois Mack truck accident, sometimes, there is nothing the traffic crash victims can do to avoid getting hurt.

Lawsuit filed in connection with St. Charles fatal accident, KCChronicle.com, September 15, 2010

Bicyclist's family sues over fatal crash, Daily Herald, September 13, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Michigan Center for Truck Safety

Rules and Regulations, FMCSA

Continue reading "Illinois Dump Truck Accident Lawsuit Seeks Damages for 68-Year-Old Woman’s Wrongful Death" »

The family of William B. Waite has reached a $1.5 million Illinois truck accident settlement with Double D Express and Spring Valley trucker Mark D. Boehm. Waite, a 49-year-old tow truck driver, died on June 23, 2008 after he was struck by the semi that Boehm was driving.

At the time, Waite and another man, Christian Henninger, were helping a tractor-trailer that had broken down on Interstate 80 close to Utica. That is when Boehm’s large truck hit them from behind. The truck driver told police that he was changing radio stations when the catastrophic Illinois truck collision occurred.

The family’s Chicago truck accident lawyer says that they chose to settle because they didn’t want to bankrupt Double D Express and add to unemployment in the area. He claims that the company failed to buy adequate liability insurance—a statement that the defendant disputes.

Earlier this year, Double D Express settled its Illinois semi-truck crash lawsuit with Henninger for $3 million. Henninger broke his vertebrae and sustained spleen and liver lacerations during the accident.

Distracted Driving
Seemingly harmless activities such as selecting a new playlist on the iPod that’s hooked up to the vehicle, conducting a MapQuest search on a PDA to get the right directions, calling a friend to let them know you are running late, or putting on makeup while the traffic light is red can turn into dangerous actions when they contribute to causing a catastrophic Chicago, Illinois tractor-trailer accident. You may even have grounds for a Chicago wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit.

Tow truck driver's family settles for $1.5 million, NewsTribune, August 11, 2010

Man Settles Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawsuit for $3 Million, Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer, June 18, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Fars Encyclopedia

Distracted Driving

According to TruckingInfo.com, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has ordered trucking company Hester off the road. The order was reportedly issued in June. Hester was involved in a deadly semi-truck collision on I-65 in Kentucky last March that claimed 11 lives.

Per a state police report trucker Kenneth Laymon may have been taking on a cell phone and speeding when he drove his 1999 Freightliner truck that was pulling a 53-foot semitrailer over a 60-foot wide grass median, struck a four-cable guardrail barrier, hit a 15-passenger van, drove over other travel lanes and struck a stone wall. His tractor-trailer would go on to burst into flames. Killed in the tractor-trailer accident were Laymon and 10 of the people riding in the van, most of them Mennonites from the same family.

Investigators have been trying to figure out whether Laymon went on any rest breaks from the time that he departed Lansing, Michigan for Cullman, Alabama. The catastrophic tractor-trailer collision occurred during the 13th hour and approximately 243rd of a 690-mile route that Laymon was driving. Unfortunately, the trucker’s log book was destroyed in the blaze and the truck did not have an electronic board recorder.

Following the catastrophic truck crash, the FMCSA audited Hester Inc. The federal agency ordered the trucking company to cease operations after failing to remedy “critical violations.” The FMCSA says that Hester used truckers before getting back their pre-employment drug tests results, let drivers operate their vehicle beyond the 11-hour federal limit for truckers, and allowed a truck driver who was suspended following a roadside inspection to continue driving. The trucking company cannot reopen its doors for business until the FMCSA deems that it is “fit” to do so and it gets back its registration.

Our Chicago tractor-trailer accident lawyers represent truck crash victims and their families in Cook County, Will County, Lake County, and DuPage County, Illinois.

Trucking firm ordered to halt operations after Munfordville accident that killed 11, Courier-Journal, September 1, 2010

FMCSA Orders Alabama Carrier Off the Road and Following Fatal Accident TruckingInfo, September 7, 2010

Lisa Going is blaming Mike Hahne Towing and tow truck driver John Claus Jr. for the IIllinois tow truck crash injuries she sustained on October 2, 2004. She is seeking over $150,000 plus costs from the defendants.

According to Going’s Illinois truck collision complaint, Claus Jr., who was driving a 1987 Ford FSR, rear-ended her in Glen Carbon on Route 159 at around 8:12 in the morning. She contends that Claus failed to keep a proper lookout, did not keep his truck under proper control, failed to swerve or stop to avoid the collision, neglected to obey a traffic control device, and drove too fast. Going also says that Kathy and Michael Hahne caused the truck crash through Claus and that they should never have let him drive because they knew he was not capable of properly operating the tow truck.

Going says that as a result of her truck accident injuries, she experienced discomfort, pain, has been physically restricted and limited, incurred medical expenses, and lost income.

Chicago, Illinois Tow Truck Accidents
Pedestrians and the occupants of vehicles involved with any kind of large truck are at a huge disadvantage and often at high risk of sustaining painful injuries. In Chicago truck crash cases involving a negligent truck driver, it is not uncommon for an injury victim to also seek damages from the trucker’s employer and other liable parties.

The best way to determine whether you have grounds for a Chicago truck accident case is to explore your legal options with an experienced Chicago injury law firm that handles truck collision claims and lawsuits.

Towing company and driver blamed in rear-end accident , August 27, 2010

Related Web Resources:
The Truck Safety Coalition

Michigan Center for Truck Safety

Truck Safety, AAA Exchange

An appeals court has upheld the $65 million semi-truck accident verdict that a jury had awarded to Kendra Lymon last year. Lymon, who was 19 when she was injured in a tractor-trailer crash in 2007, has serious injuries and can no longer take care of herself.

Trucker Robert Bohn, driving part-time for Bynum Transport, was operating the large truck that struck Lymon’s Dodge Neon. According to her semi-trailer accident lawyers, she was the one with the green light at the time.

Prior to the tragic truck collision, Lymon worked at Florida Institute of Neurologic Rehabilitation and could speak six languages. She was also majoring in psychology at a local community college. After the traffic crash, she was hospitalized and in a coma for months.

Now, according to her mother, Lymon must be constantly supervised and cannot bathe, eat, dress, go to the bathroom, or tend to other simple tasks alone. She also needs a wheelchair and has difficulty walking.

The defendants had tried to get the tractor-trailer award reduced, arguing that it was excessive. They were specifically challenging the $41,443,401 awarded to Lymon for her pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, physical impairment, a mental anguish, aggravation of disease or physical defect, and loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life.

Catastrophic Injuries
Living with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other catastrophic injuries can be very expensive. While obtaining Chicago truck accident recovery won’t make your loved one’s injuries go away, it can help cover the costs for necessary specialized care. Many catastrophic injury patients need round-the-clock nursing care, specialized therapies, medical equipment, and other medical services.

Appeals Court Upholds $65 Million Verdict for Woman in 2007 Crash, The Ledger, August 18, 2010

Woman deserves $65M for crash injuries, jury says, NewsChief.com, March 20, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck Safety Coalition

Another truck accident victim is seeking personal injury recovery from trucker Jose Alberto Sarmiento and trucking company Spartan Logistics LLC over a deadly collision involving multiple vehicles that occurred on Interstate 81 in 2008. In this latest tractor-trailer crash lawsuit, William Morgan is seeking $500,000 for his permanent and serious injuries and the damages that his vehicle sustained.

Morgan contends that as a result of his injuries, he continues to experience “great pain” and cannot properly see to his personal and business affairs. He is accusing Sarmiento of operating his truck in a careless, negligent, and reckless manner.

Four other civil lawsuits have been filed over the deadly semi-truck collision. Earlier this year, the family of siblings Ivan Ryman, 4, and Maggie Ryman, 1, sued the trucker and his trucking company for wrongful deaths, as well as for the wrongful death of their grandmother Cordula Elma Lear, 80. The mother of the two children, 40-year-old Serena Vera Lear Ryman, is seeking damages for personal injury. She was driving the car that all of them were in at the time of the deadly truck accident. Separate jury trials for each case are scheduled.

Sarmiento, who admitted to three counts of reckless driving, was ordered to pay a fine and received a suspended jail term.

Lawsuit filed in accident on I-81, NVDaily.com, July 29, 2010

Bond Set for Sarmiento, WHSV, December 2, 2008

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

Insurance Information Institute

Continue reading "Fifth Truck Accident Lawsuit Filed Against Trucker Over 2008 Accident" »

With their semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, semi-trailers, and other large trucks weighing and carrying thousands of pounds, truck drivers cannot afford to drive carelessly or recklessly in any way. Taking their eyes off the road for just a few seconds, such as when retrieving a text message, can prove catastrophic for pedestrians and the occupants of the other vehicle in the event that a Chicago truck accident were to occur. Drowsy driving, or even worse, falling asleep at the steering wheel, kills many people each year, as does failure to stop at red light.

Another type of bad driver behavior that can cause catastrophic Chicago, Illinois truck crashes is drunk driving. Driving under the influence of drugs or heavy medication can slow down the trucker’s reaction time, cause blurry vision, poor coordination, and disorientation, impair the abilities to reason and act swiftly, and lead to blackouts. All of these side effects can turn a truck driver into a very dangerous motorist who has lost the ability to drive safely and keep his/her large vehicle in control.

As a Chicago truck accident victim, it is important that you do not speak with the trucking company or their insurance company without exploring your legal options first. Some trucking companies will try to persuade you to settle immediately. While this option may seem like the solution to the expenses you will likely incur because of the damage to your vehicle, any medical and recovery expenses, and the time that you need to take off work to recover, you don’t want to sign away your right to receive all the compensation that you are owed—especially once the full extent of your injuries and other costs can be assessed.

Drinking & Driving, Alcohol: Problems and Solutions

Impaired Driving, CDC

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

DUI, Illinois State Police

According to Illinois State Police, a multi-vehicle collision involving four tractor-trailers and three other vehicles has claimed the lives of two people and sent three others to the hospital. The Illinois tractor-trailer accident happened yesterday afternoon on Interstate 57, north of West Frankford.

Vehicles were stopped close to a construction zone when one of the tractor-trailers crashed into the line of traffic, resulting in multiple vehicles colliding. Two other commercial trucks were also unable to stop in time. Killed in the Illinois semi-truck accident were trucker Randy Reynolds, who allegedly failed to stop, and truck driver Carl James Jones Junior.

Also involved in the catastrophic Illinois semi-truck accident were two pickup trucks and a Jeep. One victim was flown to a hospital while two others were transported to a Benton hospital. A fire had broken out at the Illinois truck accident site, caused in part by fuel and the fact that one of the semi-trailers was carrying a cargo of vehicle batteries.

With so many parties involved in any kind of multi-vehicle collision, it can be a challenge to determine who should be held liable unless you have experienced legal help. Trucking companies often will fight to disprove liability, which can be especially confusing for everyone else involved—especially when there are multiple commercial firms determined to minimize any blame.

Two killed in fiery wreck on I-57, Pantagraph.com, July 16, 2010

2 truckers die in seven-vehicle crash on I-57 in Illinois, The Associated Press/The Trucker, July 16, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Truck Accidents Web Resources, Justia

Continue reading "Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accident Involving Seven Vehicles Kills Two Truckers" »

Chicago Heights trucker Tinauris C. Wise is facing a negligent homicide in the traffic accident death of Jose Aragon, 60 The Illinois tractor-trailer driver had parked his truck on a shoulder around a curve of Interstate 70, which forced Sharon L. Diaz to swerve her Ford Focus into another lane where it was rear-ended by another vehicle. According to authorities, a number of other vehicles were also forced into the left-hand lane because of the way Wise had parked his semi-truck.

The impact of the rear-end crash caused Diaz’s vehicle to rollover, throwing Aragon from the vehicle. Diaz and Aragon were both airlifted to the hospital.

Wise, 33, had placed reflective triangles on the interstate after his truck broke down. His truck was parked on the Interstate for nearly eight hours before the tragic traffic crash happened. He told police his son, niece, and nephew were in the truck cab and that he had put cones on the road to block the right-hand westbound lane because “trucks kept passing too close to him and that a motorist hit one of those (cones).” He says that he had waited all day for a tow truck to arrive. According to one State Patrol trooper, this was the first-time the officer had seen a lane closure in such a high-speed area, “let alone a downhill curve,” where motorists were given such a short time to react. Wise is also facing charges of obstructing a highway and reckless endangerment.

Chicago, Illinois Truck Accidents
Tractor-trailer drivers can be held responsible in both criminal and civil courts if their negligence, carelessness, or recklessness contributed to causing an Illinois 18-wheeler truck collision where personal injuries or wrongful deaths were involved. In Cook County, Will County, Lake County, and DuPage County, Illinois, contact our Chicago, Illinois truck accident law firm.

Cops say traffic cones he placed contributed to interstate wreck, GJSentinel, July 1, 2010

Trucker faces charges in fatal I-70 crash, Denver Post, June 30, 2010

Related Web Resource:
Improving Highway Safety, FMCSA

A jury has awarded the family of Rodney Jennings $2.025 million for his truck accident death in 2007. The 28-year-old, who was a prison inmate at the time, was struck by the truck while he was in a work detail picking up trash. The defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit are private dump truck driver Wayne H. Goss Sr. and the state’s department of public safety and correctional services.

The dump truck accident happened on August 23, 2007. According to the other inmate crewmembers, Jennings and at least two other inmates were trying to cross the freeway ramp when a tractor-trailer and a dump truck approached and tried to go through the exit at the same time. While the tractor-trailer was able to get through, the dump truck went off the ramp and struck Jennings.

The dump truck driver, Wayne H. Goss Sr., said he “leaned on" his horn when he saw the three inmates. While two of them stayed in the grassy area next to the ramp, Goss says that Jennings ran across the ramp and directly in front of the dump truck. Jennings’ legs were crushed and he was knocked unconscious. A fellow inmate was able to revive him but he was later pronounced dead at a medical trauma center. He reportedly experienced severe pain prior to his passing.

Under state law, many civil jury awards have a $680,000 non-economic damages cap. However, the family’s truck accident lawyer says that his clients are likely to receive close to $1.4 million of the $2.025 million verdict because the jury found both the trucker and the state liable. Jenning, who was serving two years in prison for a drug distribution conviction, was scheduled to get out of jail in 2009.

Jury awards $2 million in highway death of Md. inmate, Baltimore Sun, June 24, 2010

Inmate on Work Crew Killed on I-495 in Pr. George's, Washington Post, August 24, 2007

Related Web Resources:
FARS Encyclopedia, NHTSA

Large Trucks, IIHS

A multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck sent six people to the hospital. The Illinois truck accident happened on June 13 in a construction zone on Interstate 57.

At the time, the interstate was just one lane. Illinois State Police say that the semi-truck struck four other vehicles that had slowed because of the construction zone. The large truck then hit another semi, which caused the latter to overturn and hit a construction vehicle. According to KFVS, three vehicles that could not stop in time then struck each other.

Among the injury victims were semi-truck Jose Bruno, who police are calling the offending motorist, Angel Triana, who was co-driving along with Bruno, Susan and Robert Laley-Mahomet, and Priscilla and Guillermo Lopez-Elmhurst. Four of them were transported to a Herrin hospital while the other two were flown to a hospital in Evansville. Bruno received a citation for failure to reduce speed.

Four other people involved in the Illinois truck accident were treated at the crash site before being released. They are Michael Roper, Toni and Kellon Baccus-Eddyville, and Kathy Lacy-Herin.

Construction Zone Driving
It is so important that motorists obey construction zone laws and directives. Construction zones are there to protect not just the people that are working there, but also the motorists, who comprise a majority of the construction zone deaths that happen every year. Of the 31 work zone deaths that occurred on Illinois roads in 2008, 2 of them were construction workers. In 2007, only 2 of the 27 construction zone fatalities were workers. In 2006, only one of the 29 Illinois construction zone deaths was a construction worker. According to Illinois State police, driver inattentiveness and speeding were the most common reasons why these fatalities occurred.

Drivers must slow down in a construction zone and adapt to the traffic conditions to avoid hurting others motorists, as well as the workers, who are placing themselves at risk by working in the road construction area.

Six people hurt in crash on Interstate 57, KFVS 12, June 13, 2010

Construction zone warning: Slow down, pay attention, Quad City TImes, May 12, 2009

Related Web Resources:

FMCSA

Road Safe America

Continue reading "Illinois Semi-Truck Crash Causes Multi-Vehicle Collision that Injures Six" »

Roxann Bohstedt is suing truck driver Desmond Ashley and Markare Services for Illinois personal injury. Bohstedt is seeking over $100,000 plus costs.

According to her Illinois truck accident lawsuit, on March 18 the truck that Ashley was driving for Markare Services struck Bohstedt’s motor vehicle on I-55. Ashley was changing lanes at the time.

Bohstedt says that as a result of the Illinois tractor-trailer crash, she sustained permanent and severe injuries to her cervical spine and shoulders. She also contends that she suffered great mental anguish and pain, incurred medical expenses, and lost a great deal of income because she has been unable to pursue her usual occupation.

Bohstedt is accusing the truck driver of driving too fast, failing to keep the semi-truck under control, neglecting to keep a proper lookout, not keeping enough distance between his truck and the other vehicles, neglecting to keep his tractor-trailer in the correct lane, failing to yield the right-of-way, failing to lower his speed to avoid a truck crash, and driving his truck without regard for others’ safety.

Back injuries, shoulder injuries, spinal cord injuries, and neck injuries can be extremely painful and debilitating. They can require costly medical care, including surgeries, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, the victim’s quality of life can be seriously impacted.

If you were injured in a semi-truck crash that was caused by the truck driver, it is important that you not deal with trucking company's insurer on your own. Many insurance companies will try to get you to settle your Illinois semi-truck case and this can often cause you to agree to a smaller sum of money than you would have obtained if only you’d sued for Chicago truck accident compensation.

Woman claims truck driver caused I-55 accident, The Record, June 15, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Illinois Department of Transportation

Truck Driver Regulations, FMCSA

Nearly six years after he suffered a concussion, injured his back, and fractured his left rib, a jury has awarded Michial Jacobs $1.5 million for his big rig truck crash injuries. The verdict was issued after an 11-day trial and is believed to be the largest known verdict for a single person injury in the county.

On October 4, 2004, Jacobs, 63, was driving his trailer on I-505 when he was rear-ended by a semi-tractor trailer rig carrying 40 pounds of sugar and going at a speed of about 55 mph. The truck accident happened because truck driver Thomas Lloyd fell as asleep while driving.

Jacobs, who has not been able to return to work as a carpenter since the semi-truck accident, sued Lloyd and Ernie Newland and Pacific Transportation Services for truck driver negligence. He accused Lloyd of failing to exercise due care when operating the large truck.

Drowsy Truck Driving
A drowsy truck driver is a dangerous driver because his/her reflexes are slowed and paying attention to road conditions becomes very hard when someone is very sleepy. Drowsy truck drivers are like drunk drivers in that their driving becomes impaired. A trucker that falls asleep behind the wheel of a large truck is even more dangerous because he/she is for all intents and purposes driving while unconscious. Drowsy driving is negligent driving and can be grounds for a Chicago truck accident lawsuit.

In addition to commercial truck drivers who drive long hours for long distances and may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder, other persons at high risk of drowsy driving are:

• People that work night hours or the graveyard shift
• Narcoleptics
• Persons suffering from obstructive sleep apnea
• Medical house staff who work odd hours
• A person taking strong medication
• A person who is so drunk to the point of nearly passing out
• Young drivers
• Motorists who are not used to driving late at night or very early in the morning.
• Someone who is sleep deprived

Yolo jury awards man $1.5M for '04 accident, Daily Democrat, June 4, 2010

The Drowsy Driver, DCMSOnline.org

Related Web Resources:
Large Truck Accidents, NHTSA (PDF)

According to the Federal Highway Administration, 3 of the 10 most congested truck corridors in the US are located in Chicago. Ranking number one on the list is the Circle Interchange, which is the downtown junction located between Eisenhower Expressway and the Kennedy and Dan Ryan Expressways. The average speed in this junction is 30 mp but traffic can slow to as low as about 23 mph during rush hour.

The Kennedy Expressway junction with the Edens Expressway, located on Chicago’s North Side, is number two on the list. Average rush hour speed is 23 mph, with an average non-rush hour speed of 39 mph even though the speed limit in this corridor is 55 mph.

Dan Ryan Expressway where it joins up with the Bishop Ford Freeway takes the number 9 spot. Average speed clocked in is about 50 mph during non-rush hours, 47 mph overall all, and 38 mph during busy travel periods.

The I-290 at Interstate Highway 355 in Chicago’s western suburbs is number 67 on the list, while Interstate Highway 80/94, in the Chicago-Northwest Indiana corridor, is listed as the 85th most congested truck bottleneck in the US.

This information, provided by the Federal Highway Administration and American Transportation Research Institute, will hopefully help trucking companies do a better job of figuring out their delivery routes and schedules so that they can avoid having to go through the busiest corridors during their peak hours. However, not only are truck drivers responsible for getting their cargo to its destination in a timely manner but also, he/she must drive to the current driving conditions to avoid causing a Chicago truck accident, which can occur if a large truck follows too closely behind the vehicle in front of it, fails to slow down when traffic starts to back up, or attempts to talk on the cell phone or text while driving.

Unfortunately, there are truck drivers who fail to obey traffic laws or go with the flow of traffic. When this happens, pedestrians and the occupants of other vehicles are the ones that suffer the most.

Chicago has top 2 truck bottlenecks in nation, study finds, Chicago Tribune, May 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Highway Administration

American Transportation Research Institute

Continue reading "Chicago is Site of Two Leading Truck Bottlenecks in the US" »

Samuel Clines is suing Charles K. Foster III, Curt Foster doing business as Foster Brothers' Salvage and Recycling, and Steven R. Hilton for his Illinois tractor-trailer crash injuries. He is seeking a judgment greater than $150,000 plus costs.

According to Clines’ Illinois truck accident lawsuit, on May 30, 2008 he was in O’Fallon and stopped for traffic on West Highway 50 when he was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer being driven by Hilton. Clines contends that the trucker failed to stop his large truck.

The plaintiff is also accusing Hilton of negligent driving, including following too closely behind the vehicles ahead of him, not keeping a proper lookout, driving too fast, failing to properly control his tractor-trailer, and operating his truck in a manner that caused the traffic collision.

Clines says that he sustained injuries to his neck, back, arms, shoulders, spine, ribs, spinal cord, vertebrae, joints, invertebral discs, bones, and skin, and that he suffered neck pain, headaches, back pain, nausea, swelling, nervousness, inflammation, dizziness, the impairment of his natural functions, and limitation of motion. He claims that some of these injuries continue to remain active. Cline says that as a result of his injuries, not only has he incurred medical bills but also his ability to enjoy life has been diminished.

Illinois Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Negligent truckers and their trucking companies can be held liable for a victim’s personal injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. Illinois truck crash lawsuits can be tough to win without an experienced 18-wheeler truck accident law firm representing you. The sooner you get legal help the easier it will be for your tractor-trailer crash lawyers to begin pursuing your compensation.

Driver claims tractor-trailer rear-ended him, The Record, May 24, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Trucks and Trucking News, New York Times, May 26, 2010

Truck Safety, AAA

Regis J. Jennings and Sharon Bricker are suing C. Grantham Co. and truck driver Lawrence C. Haas for Jennings’ Illinois truck accident injuries. Jennings, a semi-truck driver, says he was driving his 2001 Freightliner semi- north on Illinois Route 127 in Bond County on April 28, 2008 when a wheel from the semi-tractor that Haas was pulling with his truck came off the vehicle. The wheel then struck Jennings’ tractor-trailer, causing him to sustain serious and permanent injuries.

Jennings says that in addition to causing him to experience pain and suffering and incurred medical expenses, his Illinois semi-tractor injures have prevented him from attending to his daily responsibilities and doing his job to the extent that he was able to do so before. He therefore cannot earn the same amount of money.

Jennings’ wife, Sharon Briker, is claiming loss of her husband’s comfort and care and loss of consortium. She says that she too has incurred medical expenses because of her husband’s injuries.

The plaintiff says that the defendants did not properly inspect the nuts, bolts, wheels, and other wheel fasteners on Haas’ semi-trailer. They also failed to systematically repair, inspect, and maintain the large truck. Jennings claims that considering the wheels’ condition, Haas was traveling at an unsafe speed and that the defendant’s unfitness, inexperience, and incompetence contributed to causing the Illinois truck crash. Jennings claims that Haas was never properly trained on how to drive, inspect, or maintain semi-trailers and semi-trucks.

The couple is seeking over $600,000 plus costs.

Truck driver's inexperience contributed to accident, suit claims, The Record, May 3, 2010

Related Web Resources:
FMCSA

FARS-

The young children of Vashawn L. Brinson, 5-year-old Amber and 6-year-old Jeremiah, have been awarded $1,003,750 in the truck accident death of their father. Brinson died in 2007 after he was struck by a truck while crossing I-75. His body was thrown 233 feet before being hit by other vehicles.

The 30-year-old paralegal had left his overheated vehicle in the emergency lane when he crossed the road to get water for the car. He was wearing dark clothing and at 6am it was still dark when trucker Richard D. King struck him.

During the wrongful death civil trial, witness experts attempted to show jurors that King had failed to move into the inside left lane, was speeding, neglected to step on the brakes to slow down, and failed to keep a proper lookout to avoid striking Brinson. King was never ticketed over the tragic truck crash.

The jury found transportation company Landstar Ranger Inc. liable and awarded each of Brinson’s kids $1 million for mental pain and suffering and $7,500 for funeral expenses. They agreed with the defense that Brinson was 50% liable. The judge upheld the jury’s verdict.

Chicago, Illinois Truck Accidents
The death of a family member is always difficult. Not only does it mean having to live without someone you love, but also that loss may place you and the rest of your family in financial hardship. If a trucker was responsible for causing your loved one’s untimely passing, you may be able to sue them by filing a Chicago truck crash lawsuit against the driver and the trucking company that employs him/her. Damages may include compensation for the death, funeral expenses, medical bills, loss of financial support, loss of benefits, and (depending on the specifics of your case) other losses.

Judge awards 2 Lee County children more than $1 million after father killed in I-75 crash, NaplesNews, April 20, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Road Safe America

Fatalities From Large Truck Crashes, SmartMotorists.com

The family of Yessina Cruz is suing Tuff Car Co. Inc. for Chicago personal injury involving injuries to a minor. Cruz was injured in 2009 after one of the towing company’s trucks tried to tow away the pickup truck that she was sitting in.

Cruz had just returned home after undergoing an appendectomy. Because she wasn’t feeling well, she remained in the backseat of her dad’s 1993 Ford F-150, which was parked outside their Cicero residence.

The driver of the tow truck saw the pickup and took steps to impound it. Even though the young girl was visible inside the pickup, the Chicago injury lawsuit claims that the truck driver did not check inside the vehicle.

As the truck driver attempted to tow the pickup, Yessina opened the back door and fell out while trying to escape. According to the Chicago injuries to minor complaint, the fall accident caused her stitches to tear. She ended up having to spend days in the hospital and undergo additional medical treatments.

The Chicago personal injury lawsuit is seeking over $50,000 for Yessina’s physical injuries, emotional suffering, and mental trauma.

Chicago Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you’ve been hurt in any kind of Cook County injury accident involving a truck, you should consult with a Chicago truck crash law firm. Illinois injury lawsuits involving trucks are different from other kinds of motor vehicle complaints, and you will want to be represented by someone who knows how to successfully pursue your financial recovery.

Suit says truck was towed with ill child inside, Chicago Breaking News, April 8, 2010

Family sues tow truck co. over injuries, UPI, April 9, 2010