Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Local safety experts and law enforcement professionals are expressing concern about a proposed federal law that they say may increase the number of Illinois truck accidents. The Daily Herald published a story this morning that explained pending legislation out of Congress that would increase the weight limit for trucks traveling on the highway. The current maximum is 80,000 pounds. However, if the changes make it through Congress states would have the option of raising that ceiling to 97,000 pounds.

Local observers are concerned about the impact of the change. One local police chief explained his belief that “increased truck weights will be a detriment to roads and the safety of the driving public.” In particular, the chief notes that with heavier trucks comes an increased risk of rollover accidents, challenges to maneuverability, and increased difficulty in stopping.

Many others echo those concerns. An Illinois state senator (and former police chief) noted that “if you add another 17,000 it’s very dangerous…you are taking a risk.” He is a CDL license holder himself. The senator noted that more weight makes the consequences of non-calibrated brakes even more damaging. It will take the truck longer to stop and more collisions may result.

Advocates for the trucking industry believe that the change will necessitate fewer trips, leading to less traffic, less cost, and reduce fuel consumption. However, even some in the industry have reservations about the measure.

Continue reading " Federal Weight Changes May Impact Illinois Trucking Safety " »

The Chicago Tribune reported Friday on a devastating truck crash involving a semi-trailer that collided with an Amtrak train that began its journey in Chicago. According to the latest reports, the deadly collision between train and truck was a result of reckless conduct by the truck driver.

The National Transportation Safety Board explains that the gravel –filled truck driver was approaching the crossing on U.S. Route 95 near the town of Loevlock. He was leading a convoy of three tractor-trailers at the time. For reasons that are still unclear, the driver failed to timely notice that his machine was approaching the train crossing. Investigators believe that the signal lights and arms were working properly at the time. In fact, all data indicates that visibility at the time of the collision was excellent.

Yet, the driver hit his brakes only 320 feet before the rail crossing. He therefore did not have enough time to stop before barreling across the safety arms and into the side of the train. The devastation was severe. The truck was traveling at such a high speed at the time of the collision that the truck was embedded in the side of the train.

At least six people have already been confirmed dead, but emergency responders reportedly expect that number to increase as the search continues. The train conductor and truck driver were two of the victims. Dozens of others were injured. The rescue mission has been stalled by the fact that the burned out train cars were very unstable and unsafe for rescuers.

Continue reading " Six Killed in Train Crash Leaving Chicago " »

One basis upon which some victims file an Illinois truck accident lawsuit is when a trucker violates strict hours of service regulations aimed at increasing road safety. The rules are mandated by the United State Department of Transportation. These regulations place limits on when and for how long commercial motor vehicle drivers may be behind the wheel or in other ways “on duty.”

The Department explains how the specific requirements are determined based on comprehensive scientific review of human fatigue and safe driving practices to ensure that truckers get the necessary rest to drive safely. All hours of service rules were crafted in consultation with organizations like the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies and the National Institute for Occupational Safety.

Late last year proposed changes to these rules were made public. The Department of Transportation is now in the process of collecting feedback on the proposed changes with most of them likely to take effect soon. In general the changes slightly shorten the amount of time that drivers can be officially “on duty” and driving consecutively. For example, the current rules allow for between 14 hours of driving per day (or 16 hour for one day a week). The proposed changes would eliminate the option of driving 16 hours at all, and maximize the driving window to 13 hours.

Similar changes would alter the amount of “restarts” that each driver must have and when substitutes must be used. In addition there would be changes to the definition of “on duty.”

Continue reading " Hours of Service Regulations For Truckers Are Changing " »

The Journal-Gazette reported yesterday on a fatal truck accident involving an area driver. According to reports, the crash included two tractor-trailers that collided in Pierceton, Indiana. The crash struck yesterday afternoon and police are still investigating to determine the specific cause.

It has been confirmed that one driver was killed in the collision. The victim was a 65-year old truck driver who was traveling west on U.S. Route 30 and was approaching the Indiana 13 intersection. A second semi driven by a Chicago resident was in front of him. The Chicago driver eventually came to a stop at the intersection because he was facing a red light. For unknown reasons the second truck driver failed to notice that the truck ahead of him had stopped. As a result, he did not begin to brake until his rig was almost directly behind the stopped vehicle. It ultimately slammed into the back of the first truck.

The collision caused immense damage to the cab of the second truck. The driver was thrust forward in the crushed machine and suffered extensive head and internal injuries. He was brought to a local hospital but eventually passed away from his injuries.

This accident demonstrates an important consideration when it comes to trucking safety: trucks are not capable of braking as quickly as smaller vehicles. The size of tractor trailers makes it a more complex (and less speedy) process to accelerate and slow down. That means that truckers must account for these differences when traveling on the highway.

Continue reading " Failure to Brake In Time Kills Truck Driver " »

A unique Illinois truck crash involving a run-in which a car and a tractor-trailer injured a man and kept him stuck in a car for nearly an hour. According to reports by witnesses in the Utica Observer-Dispatch, the car was headed west on Commercial Drive in Whitestown, Illinois shortly after 2:30pm last week when it ran into the side of a large tractor-trailer that had just left a nearby frozen food plant.

Following the collision the hood of the car was driven through the vehicle’s windshield. The spare tire on the undercarriage of the truck was taken into the windshield by the car as well. The tire may have saved the man’s life, as his vehicle became wedged underneath the truck, with the tire separating his body from the metal rack that once held it.

Witnesses rushed to the accident following the crash to find the man stuck in the vehicle and in pain. Emergency workers were called, and it ultimately took them more than an hour to pry the victim from the car. Apparently the car was so strongly wedged underneath the truck that it nearly went all the way through to the other side. The extrication effort involved lifting the truck to pull the car out and then using specialized equipment to remove the doors of the car.

After further investigation of the event, authorities issued tickets to both the car driver and truck driver. The truck driver was cited for failure to yield right of way on a left turn—he had apparently turned in front of the car. Conversely, the car driver was cited for his failure to wear a safety belt and an unsafe lane change.

Continue reading " Driver Pinned in Car For Hour Following Illinois Truck Crash " »

The Herald-Review reported this weekend on a pair of deadly Illinois trucking accidents that took the lives of two local residents.

The first truck accident struck on Interstate 72, early in the morning around 3:45 a.m. According to reports, the 50-year old victim was standing in front of his large semitruck which was disabled on the side of the highway. The truck had hit a deer while traveling shortly before. A tow truck had just pulled up to offer assistance to the stalled truck. Without warning, a second semi-truck slammed into the rear of the disabled machine. The impact caused the stopped semi to slide directly into the driver. He was killed instantly.

Later investigations revealed that the trucker that caused the accident had fallen asleep at the wheel. He also tested positive for drugs and alcohol in his system.

A few hours later a second fatal Illinois truck crash occurred, this time on Illinois 48. A 49-year old car driver was traveling south on the highway, northeast of Blue Mound when his car began to drift. It eventually crossed the center line and veered into the northbound lane of traffic. As a result, the car slammed head-first into a semitruck.

The impact caused the truck to erupt into flames after the diesel fuel tank was ruptured. Fortunately, the truck driver was able to escape the vehicle in time and did not suffer injury. The car driver was less fortunate. He suffered massive internal chest injuries and had to be extricated from the car by emergency officials. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash

Continue reading " Fatal Illinois Truck Accident After Driver Falls Asleep At the Wheel " »

On Monday, the Pekin Times website reported that a 70-year-old woman died instantly in an Illinois trucking accident on Route 9 in Mackinaw. According to the coroner who investigated the scene, the victim died instantly when a westbound semi-truck collided with her vehicle. There was no word on what caused the collision, but accident reconstructionists were called to the scene.

According to the Truck Safety Coalition, a group dedicated to decreasing the number of trucking accident related injuries and deaths, from 2001 to 2008, there were 1,356 people killed in accidents involving large trucks. Obviously, the sheer size and weight of tractor trailer trucks increase the risk of serious personal injuries, or even death. Therefore it is crucial for drivers of passenger cars and truck drivers to practice safe and smart driving when sharing the road.

For drivers, it is important to remember that it is usually the occupants of the smaller vehicle who are injured in car-truck crashes. Therefore, you should operate your vehicle carefully and remember a few tips. First, our Chicago accident lawyers recommend that you wear your safety belt at all times, even when there aren’t larger vehicles on the road. Second, you should be careful to never try to cut off a truck or move suddenly into the truck’s lane. Trucks cannot stop as quickly as passenger vehicles, so you risk a rear-end collision. Always use your signal when passing a truck, and make sure you are far enough ahead of the truck before entering the lane. Also, do not drive in a truck’s blind spots. These danger areas lie in the back, sides and front of the truck. A good rule of thumb is that if you cannot see the truck’s operator, he or she cannot see you so move quickly to avoid a collision.

For truckers, it is important to avoid driving if you are extremely tired. Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving because it slows down a driver’s reaction time considerably. Truckers should also maintain a lookout for smaller vehicles at all times, and allow enough space between vehicles to allow for safe stopping. Additionally, trucks should operate at safe speed levels.

Trucking accidents can have devastating effects on the lives of victims and their families. Therefore, it is important to practice safe driving techniques to reduce your risk for serious personal injury or death. As Illinois injury attorneys, we have unfortunately seen too many cases where clients have been seriously injured or killed because of preventable mistakes. We stand by the belief that wrongdoers should be held accountable when innocent victims die as a result of negligence, and vow to help victims achieve justice.

The Tribune-Star reported yesterday on a massive trucking accident that involved eight different trucks but fortunately did not result in any fatalities.

Police are recreating the sequence of events that lead to the multi-vehicle crash to better understand what happened and how it can be prevented in the future. The incident began in a construction zone on the eastbound lanes of I-70 after an unexpected slowing down of traffic. The vehicles initially causing the slow zone were unable to be identified.

All that is known is that the crash started when a tractor-trailer hauling scrap metal began braked for the slowed traffic in front of it. Behind that first vehicle was another truck loaded with dry goods. That second truck was unable to stop in time to account for the braking truck, ultimately slamming into the back of it. Following that first rear-end collision, a string of six other tractor-trailers crashed into one another in a chain reaction event. While many of the trucks were severely damaged, all drivers appear to have suffered only minor injuries.

Far too often construction zone accidents like this one end in tragedy. The slowed traffic in these areas often catches unaware drivers off-guard, resulting in collisions and chain-reaction crashes. The increased collision risk in these accidents is one reason why speed limits are dropped in these locations and citation penalties are increased. There is little room for error when it comes to construction zone driving.

To remain safe in construction zones this summer season be sure to practice common-sense safe driving practices. Avoid tailgating and ensure that your brakes are in proper working order to avoid rear-end collisions. Do not cut across lanes in front of other drivers and always abide by posted lane markers. Ensure that all distractions are kept to a minimum—including texting and talking on the phone while behind the wheel.

Continue reading " Eight Truck Highway Crash Imparts Many Lessons for Area Drivers " »

The Belleville News-Democrat reported last week on the details of an Illinois truck crash that took the life of a truck driver. According to police officers, the truck accident actually involved two different trucks including a dump truck that was traveling near Highland, Illinois last Wednesday

The 36-year old driver of a trash truck was traveling east on St. Rose Road at around 2 p.m. In front of his was a dump trump driven by a 62-year old Belleville man. The dump truck driver was apparently stopped on the road, waiting to turn left onto Baumann Road. Unfortunately the trash truck driver did not see the dump truck stopped in front of him. As a result, he slammed into the back of the turning machine.

The collision between the two large vehicles caused significant damages. The dump truck was pushed off the roadway, causing its driver to sustain serious injuries. The trash truck continued forward for a brief moment after the impact before sliding off to the left side of the road, flipping over, and bursting into flames. A passenger in the truck was ejected in the impact. The driver became stuck in the vehicle after it flipped over and was unable to escape the burning machine.

Police are still unclear what could have caused the trash truck driver to fail to see the stopped vehicle in front of him. Whether there was some obstruction or simple inattention to the road, the consequences of the brief driving mistake were severe.

Continue reading " Southern Illinois Truck Accident Kills Semi Driver " »

Earlier this week we reported on a new Levin & Perconti lawsuits filed on behalf of a man who was severely injured by a Chicago city worker. Stephen Dewart was one of eight people hit by the Chicago public employee who careened a city owned Streets and Sanitation truck onto a sidewalk in the Gold Coast.

As we previously explained, the reckless driver was later found to be intoxicated at the time of the accident. He had a blood alcohol level well over the legal limit and an open bottle and brandy was found in his truck.

The accident has rightly caused considerably outrage within the city as residents question how such egregious conduct could have occurred without being caught by city officials. As our Chicago truck accident attorney Steve Levin explained it was hoped that this lawsuit, “will prompt the City to create more effective drug and alcohol screening processes for employees, especially those operating large vehicles and heavy machinery.”

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the same idea has apparently been grasped by several powerful city officials. Aldermen Edward Burke and Pat O’Connor recently proposed new rules which would require all city employees to be subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The goal is that this crackdown would minimize errors in judgment by city officials that result in harm to others—like the egregious conduct in the Gold Coast accident.

Interestingly, the aldermen also believe that the new rules would limit workers compensation claims filed by city employees for injuries they sustain on the job. Cited were statistics compiled by the National Institute of Drug Abuse which found that abusers of drugs and alcohol were five times more likely to file such compensation claims. Under current rules only police officers, firefighters, and commercial drivers are subject to these random drug tests.

Continue reading " Calls For Drug Testing of All City Workers Following Gold Coast Accident " »

Recently, The News Gazette reported two Illinois truck accidents that took the lives of three individuals and injured seven. The accidents, which both involved semi-trailer tractors, happened on I-57 just south of Mattoon, Illinois.

The first accident, which resulted in one fatality, involved the collision of two semi-trailer tractors. One of the semis fatally struck another semi that had pulled off to the shoulder of the road as a result of a flat tire. The semi that caused the collision caught fire, subsequently causing the driver’s death. The driver of the parked semi was taken to the hospital for the injuries he sustained.

The other accident, which occurred only a few hours after the first, resulted in two deaths and six injuries. This accident transpired when a semi-trailer tractor collided with a van that had slowed down due to the traffic caused by the previously mentioned accident. After the semi collided with the van, it proceeded to strike another vehicle, as well as, another semi-trailer tractor. After the eight individuals involved, both drivers and passengers, were taken to nearby hospitals – two did not survive. Ultimately, both accidents caused traffic on I-57 to be re-routed for more than a few hours.

Although lives were lost and injuries were sustained, these unfortunate accidents are almost impossible to predict, let alone regulate. While the specifics of these accidents still remain unknown, the concept of semi-truck driver safety must be addressed. Large trucks account for the sizeable increase in highway deaths. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there are many factors that contribute to trucking accidents. Those factors include the breaking capability of trucks (especially if they are carrying large cargo), in addition to, driver fatigue.

Our Illinois injury lawyers at Levin & Perconti cannot stress the importance of driver safety for vehicles of all sizes. The rules of the road must be followed by all drivers, especially those who are operating large trucks. The truth is smaller vehicles have a substantial vulnerability to larger ones that weigh 20-30 times more than an average passenger car. Due to this, lives should not be cut short because of carelessness or negligence.

News is still sketchy, but the Chicago Tribune reported recently on an Chicago bike accident involving a local bicyclist and a truck owned by the City of Chicago.

The collision occurred in the North Center neighborhood near the intersections of Cullom and Lincoln Avenues. According to the initial reports, a 20-year-old bicyclist was traveling east on Cullom Avenue when we she went past a stop sign and into the intersection. At that moment a city truck was also going through the intersection, heading north on Lincoln. The two collided, sending the bicyclist off the cycle and into the road.

As expected, the woman suffered severe injuries as a result of the run-in with the large truck. Following the accident she was rushed to the hospital in serious condition. The truck driver remained at the scene following the accident and no citations have yet been issued.

It seems that Illinois bike accidents have been popping up in local papers with increased frequency as of late. Though, many Chicagoans have long been aware of the prevalence of bike accidents on our city’s streets. Metropolises like ours include residents who use various modes of transportation. Semitrailers, city trucks, SUVs, small cars, bikes, mopeds, Segways, and pedestrians all used the city’s roadways each day. Consequently there remain many opportunities for deadly collisions to occur, especially when others fail to travel with appropriate care.

Continue reading " City of Chicago Truck Hits Bicyclist " »

Yesterday two of our Chicago injury attorneys filed a lawsuit on behalf of a 27-year old victim who was severely injured when a City of Chicago worker drove his truck into a crowd of people on the corner of Rush and Cedar streets. Steven M. Levin and Susan L. Novosad officially filed the suit in the Circuit Court of Cook County for Stephen Dewart who was hit as he was participating in a photo shoot for his wife’s company.

Mr. Dewart was one of eight people struck by the Streets and Sanitation vehicle which was manned by an intoxicated city worker. The reckless driver had a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and an open brandy bottle was found in his vehicle. His intoxication led him to veer off the road on into the passersby.

The accident has had significant impacts on Mr. Dewart and his family. Steve Levin explains, “Stephen suffered several spinal fractures, a broken fibula and a broken tibia, and was hospitalized for six days.” He was required to have a surgical rod placed in his lower leg and is confined to a wheelchair. A lengthy and grueling physical therapy and rehabilitation process lay in front of him.

Beyond the physical injuries, Mr. Dewart’s future plans were temporarily derailed because of the accident. Levin reports that, “Stephen was supposed to start law school last week, but had to defer his admission for a year in order to recover from his injuries.”

Continue reading " Levin & Perconti Files Suit For Victim of City Worker Drunk Driving Accident " »

The Chicago Tribune reported this weekend on a frightening train collision that occurred at Union Station. According to report, the crash involved a Metra train and an Amtrak train. Apparently both trains were moving around 8:30 a.m. on Friday when at least two cars on the Metra train struck the engine of the Amtrak train bound for Carbondale. Twelve passengers were injured in the collision, but fortunately all of them are expected to recover. One of the women on the front of the train went into labor right after the accident. She was escorted off by emergency personnel.

The impact was not high-speed, but it still resulted in blown windows and broken glass being scattered through some of the cars. Those on the train reported that the impact was felt strongly and was very abrupt. It remains unclear exactly what errors allowed the Chicago train accident to occur. Investigators explain that they are now focusing on possible switching mistakes related to both trains. The accident occurred on the south end of the station which the location of many yard switches.

Whatever the case, it is obviously an egregious breach of protocol when two trains collide. The maintenance and operation of Union Station is the responsibility of Amtrak. The control center at the station directs train movements, including the switches. The operation occurs much like at airports, with Amtrak employees communicating with train engineers to direct them properly into and out of the station.

Continue reading " Authorities Continue to Investigate Cause of Chicago Train Collision " »

When handling legal affairs following tragic accidents, our Illinois injury attorneys have witnessed many heartbreaking examples of families suffering unspeakable losses. In particular, the most gut-wrenching vehicle crashes involve young children. Severe injury or death to children is perhaps the most devastating possible consequence of these accidents.

The Republic reported earlier today on one of those tragic accidents, representing the worst form of truck crash. Authorities explained that a 2003 Chevy van with eight passengers was traveling in rural Coles County in Southern Illinois when the driver lost control of the machine. The errant vehicle was near the town of Loxa when the van went across the center line and struck a semi-trailer traveling in the opposite direction.

As a result of the impact seven of the eight people in the vehicle were ejected. The van flipped over in the wreck and landed in a ditch near the side of the road. When emergency rescue personnel arrived at the scene two young female passengers, a 12 year old and 15 year old, were pronounced dead. Six other people were injured.

Police reported that tickets were issued to the van’s driver for a variety of negligent conduct including improper lane usage, failure to wear a seatbelt, an invalid driver’s license, lack of insurance, and speeding. Highway accidents often involve the most severe injuries because of the speed and size of vehicles using the roadway.

Continue reading " Negligent Driving Results in Two Illinois Crash Deaths " »