Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Our Chicago truck accident attorneys recently read a news report posted on STLToday.com containing an interview with a veteran truck driver who discussed the various aspects of the trucking industry, including the most problematic – sharing the road with passenger vehicles. The 51 year-old large commercial vehicle driver, who frequently transports cargos of gasoline, reveals many of the problems he faces each day on the road and shares what motorists can do in order to participate in safe travel on our nation’s roadways.

In a question and answer-type interview, the trucker discloses that the most dangerous thing a passenger vehicle driver can do while traveling around a large commercial vehicle is to cut off a semi truck. Given that commercial vehicles take considerably longer to brake, it is extremely hazardous to cut off a truck. The semi truck driver encourages motorists to learn the dangers associated with driving a large tractor-trailer and to avoid tailgating and cutting off the vehicle at all costs. Often times, these large trucks are traveling slower because they are transportation very large and very heavy cargos, in addition to, ensuring that safety is a top priority.

However, the tractor-trailer driver admits that in addition to questionable driving behavior of passenger vehicle drivers, truck drivers are often guilty to dangerous driving behavior. The trucker reveals that there are a number of semi truck drivers on our roadways who are not very good drivers and should not even be operating on the roads.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers learned that the semi truck driver recommends the following safety precautions for smaller passenger vehicles when traveling near or around large commercial vehicles:
- Stay out of a semi truck’s blind spot
- Refrain from staying around a truck – if you’re going to pass a truck, pass and go
- Never tailgate
- Always watch a truck’s signals to make sure of their intentions

Our Illinois truck accident attorneys continue to urge our readers to drive carefully around large commercial vehicles. Collisions involving large commercial vehicles, whether through the fault of the passenger vehicle driver or a semi truck driver, can cause substantial property damage, personal injury, or even death. If you or a loved one has been involved in any type of motor vehicle accident, including an Illinois trucking accident, please contact our experienced accident attorneys for a free consultation to determine what legal rights and relief may be available to you.

The issue of sleep apnea and truck drivers has continued to be a reoccurring topic in news reports, as well as, the common cause of commercial vehicle accidents resulting in injury or fatality around the nation. Every Chicago truck accident lawyer at Levin & Perconti believe that now, more than ever, is the perfect opportunity to educate our Illinois trucking accident blog readers about this common medical disorder.

According to a recent article posted on HuffingtonPost.com, which discusses the frequent link between sleep apnea and obese semi truck drivers, defined obstructive sleep apnea as a disorder which is commonly characterized by having pauses in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep which ultimately creates disrupted sleep. The medical issue of sleep apnea is most common in individuals who are overweight and poses a severe threat during roadway travel. Truckers who have sleep apnea can often prove dangerous due to the fact that sleep apnea frequently causes daytime drowsiness – which proves increasing fatal for drivers of 80,000 pound commercial vehicles.

Two government advisory panels recently released a recommendation that would call for all obese commercial vehicle drivers with a body mass index of 35 or higher be screened for sleep apnea. This recommendation, which was developed at the public meeting of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and the Medical Review Board, will be further discussed and reviewed early next year. Additional recommendations on the concept of mandated sleep apnea screenings for truck drivers will be finalized before presentation to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

According to an article posted on Today’s Trucking, if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration agrees to implement the proposed recommendations, it would ultimately lead to guidance on the proper steps to take of a commercial vehicle driver does not pass the screening test. Our Chicago trucking accident lawyers read that the guidance would include conditions that would cause for immediate commercial vehicle driver disqualification, such as falling asleep at the wheel or involvement in a fatigued-related collision. Additional guidance allows for a semi truck driver to obtain a 60-day conditional card during evaluation and treatment of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous condition that could lead to tragic collisions if not properly diagnosed and treated. Our Illinois accident attorneys are thrilled to learn that topic of sleep apnea and truck drivers is garnering nationwide attention and promoting safe driving habits for drivers of large commercial vehicles.

A Chicago truck accident lawyer in our office recently brought attention to an article published on TruckingInfo.com detailing the release of the newest truck safety data and its effect on pending legislation concerning truck driver’s hours of service. Data gathered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that large truck accidents accounted for over 4,000 fatalities in 2010, a substantial increase in the 3,380 fatalities reported the previous year.

In light of these recent statistics, the Truck Safety Coalition issued a press release stating that that the latest data further supports the reformation of truck driver’s hours of service. The Truck Safety Coalition, which is a partnership between the Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) Foundation and the Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T.), says that the new data supports the firm positions of safety groups, families or truck crash victims, and labor to issue a safer alternative to the current truck driver hours of service rule in an effort to reduce driver fatigue.

According to their website, our Chicago truck accident attorneys learned that the Truck Safety Coalition is highly dedicated to: reducing the number of fatalities and injuries caused by large truck related crashes, providing compassionate support to truck accident survivors and the families of large truck accident victims, as well as, educating the public, policy makers, and the media about various trucking safety issues – such as the trucking industry’s current hours of service rules.

Under current hours of service regulations established by the Federal Motor Carrier Transportation Administration, property-carrying commercial vehicle drivers are regulated to various operational limits that include:
- 11 Hour Driving Limit: Drivers are permitted to drive a maximum of 11 hours only after they have received 10 consecutive off duty hours
- 14-Hour Limit: Drivers are not permitted to drive past the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, which must be followed by 10 consecutive hours off duty. The 14 hour limit is not extended during off duty
- 60/70 Hour On-Duty Limit: Drivers are not permitted to driver after 60/70 hours on duty within 7/8 consecutive days. A driver is permitted to restart a 7/8 consecutive day period only after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.
- Sleeper Berth Provision: Drivers using their in-cab sleeper berth are required to take at least 8 consecutive hours, in addition to, a separate 2 consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or a combination of the two.

Our accident lawyers in Chicago commend the dedication of various agencies, such as the Truck Safety Coalition, in their efforts to garner nationwide attention to the severity of trucking accidents and jump-start legislative reformation on federal trucking laws.

With the winter months upon us, our Chicago truck accident attorneys could not think of a better opportunity to provide our readers with safety tips for winter travel. The state of Illinois is notoriously known nationwide for the immense traffic and unfortunate collisions that plague our roadways and interstate highways. Regrettably, these factors substantially increase during times of adverse weather conditions and questionable roadway circumstances. Often times, these accidents are commonly attributed to collisions involving semi trucks or other types of commercial vehicles given the increase difficulty to adequately maneuver 80,000 pound vehicles during icy conditions.

In order to make our roadways a safer place to travel and decrease the number of collisions this winter, each Chicago truck accident lawyer at Levin & Perconti recommends that drivers of all types of vehicles follow these simple safety tips provided by TravelSense.org:
- Routine Vehicle Maintenance: Drivers should always keep up to date on routine vehicle maintenance, such as proper tire inflation. It is also important to ensure the vehicle’s defrosters are in proper working condition.
- Know of Weather Conditions Before Travel: Drivers should always check weather conditions before embarking on their travel journey in order to avoid potentially dangerous weather conditions such as a blizzard, hail, or frozen rain.
- Keep a Winter Safety Kit: Drivers should keep a winter safety kit in their vehicles during travel in case of an unexpected or unavoidable circumstance. The safety kit should include: an ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, blankets, first aid kit, as well as a portable radio. Additionally, drivers should always ensure a cell phone is kept on hand in case of emergencies.
- Make Frequent Rest Stops: Winter driving causes substantially more fatigue than during other seasons. When traveling long distances, it is important to make frequent stops to take a break and stretch your legs. Although frequent stops increase overall travel time, it will significantly improve driver alertness and prevent potential collisions.
- Allow Enough Time for Travel: The last important safety tip for drivers is to make sure enough time is given for travel. With adverse roadway conditions, driving at a reduced speed than normal is not only encouraged, but a necessity in order for safe travel.

Our Chicago accident lawyers know it is no secret that winter and holiday travel can be an unpleasant and stressful experience. However, when safe travel habits such as the ones previously mentioned are implemented, it helps prevent potentially dangerous situations for you and your loved ones.

Yesterday, our Chicago semi truck accident attorneys read a report on Statesman.com discussing the common link between a semi truck driver’s health and their driving ability. With over 86% of the nation’s 3.2 million truck drivers overweight or obese, driver health has become a terrible problem in the trucking industry. The article reports that not only is truck driver health an issue for truck drivers, but also for anyone who travels the roadway with them. Research conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revealed that 87% of accidents involving large commercial vehicle drivers was a direct result of various types of driver error. Of that percentage, 12% of semi truck accidents were because the driver fell asleep, had a heart attack, was in diabetic shock, and/or had another type of health problem.

The article continues to go into detail and discusses that even though the United States Department of Transportation requires commercial vehicle driver license holders to regularly pass a medical exam every two years, many driver are found to be in extremely poor physical conditions. During these medical exams, truck drivers are check for various medical ailments, including: severe heart conditions, high blood pressure and respiratory maladies (i.e. sleep disorders). Given the increasingly poor health conditions and rising insurance costs, trucking carriers and industry groups have been on a crusade to curb this increasing epidemic and fix driver habits.

With preventable semi truck accidents commonly attributed to truck drivers who were tired, diagnosed with sleep apnea or physically unfit, transportation carriers have developed initiatives that encourage truck drivers to lose weight, get in shape, as well as, improve overall health. Some of the initiatives trucking carriers are implementing include: conducting health seminars for truckers, constructing on-site work out facilities, bringing in nutritionists and fitness trainers to work with drivers and even offering drivers financial incentives to stop smoking and lose weight.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers commend the efforts of trucking carriers for encouraging healthier practices for their commercial vehicle drivers. When a healthier lifestyle is taught and encouraged, it allows drivers to safely perform the demanding job of operating a large commercial vehicle, as well as, keep our roadways safe. With over 5,000 fatalities resulting from semi truck accidents in 2010 and over 100,000 sustaining serious injury – according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, any measure taken to help prevent these life-altering accidents and make our roadways a safer place to travel is highly beneficial.

Recently, our Chicago truck accident attorneys read a report on SunHerald.com detailing several laws that have been implemented by a number of states which permit heavier commercial vehicles to operate on our nation’s roadways. Despite the national weight limit of commercial vehicles on interstate highways as a mandated 80,000 pounds, numerous states are now legally permitting and granting exceptions to semi trucks that weigh up to 100,000 pounds. With these exceptions in place, many individuals are now arguing the safety of allowing such massive vehicles to share the roadways with significantly smaller vehicles.

Those in favor of the increased weight limit argue that higher weight restrictions actually encourage highway safety due to the fact that it will require fewer commercial vehicles to transport the same amount of cargo. Supporters state that with fewer commercial vehicles on our roadways, the amount of pollution and cost of doing business will significantly decrease.

On the other end of the spectrum, critics of this exception argue that heavier commercial vehicles create a significant threat to highway safety because larger vehicles take considerably longer to stop and are noticeably difficult to maneuver. Additionally, those opposed to the increased weight limits contend that heavier trucks will cause substantial highway damage which will ultimately cost taxpayers more money each year.

In light of the heated debate on the issue of increased weight restrictions on large commercial vehicles, a new bill has been submitted to the United States Congress, titled the Safety Highway and Infrastructure Preservation Act, which would put a freeze on the 80,000 pound limit. Legislators argue that heavier vehicles are considerably more likely to be involved in semi truck accident, in addition to, causing severe highway damage. A study recently conducted in Illinois revealed that raising the weight limit of commercial vehicles to 97,000 pounds would cause an additional $162 million in damage to federal highways in the state each year.

Our Chicago semi truck accident lawyers urge lawmakers to take careful consideration when enacting laws that may ultimately pose a significant threat to safety of those traveling our roadways. Given the already substantial amount of semi truck accidents that occur each day throughout our nation, increasing the weight limit of large commercial vehicles will in the end do more harm than good. When a vehicle’s weight increases, the stopping distance required for the vehicle increases as well … eventually causing more frequent, as well as, seriously life-threatening accidents.

Earlier today, TruckingInfo.com reported that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has ordered a trucking company to shut down for the second time in the past decade. The carrier was ordered to shut down on November 8 after investigators found substantial patterns of hours-of-service and vehicle maintenance violations. After a lengthy investigation conducted by the FMCSA, the trucking carrier has been deemed an imminent hazard to public safety. The investigation stems from a two-year assessment of the carrier’s safety performance.

As a result of the investigation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration declared the trucking company “seriously deficient” in four out the seven BASIC categories: unsafe driving (66.9%), fatigued driving (99.3%), driver fitness (77.3%), and vehicle maintenance (100%). During the course of the investigation, the carrier’s 18 commercial vehicles were inspected 192 times of which numerous vehicles were placed out of service 58% of the time. Additionally, the trucking carrier’s drivers were inspected 245 times in the past 24 months … with drivers placed out of service 16% of the time. The national average out of service rate for drivers is only 5.5%.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the trucking company has been involved in seven serious crashes within the past year, of which four resulted in injury and one in fatality. Additional evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that the trucking carrier allowed or required drivers to falsify driver’s log records. All of these violations substantially increase the likelihood of a semi truck accident resulting in serious injury or death.

Regrettably, our Chicago semi truck accident lawyers read, this was not the first time this particular carrier has found themselves in trouble with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In 1995, the trucking company was the first carrier to be criminally charged for altering log books. Former employees of the carrier testified that the carrier’s supervisors and the company’s president taught drivers how to falsify their books, in addition to, ordering the destruction of incriminating driver logs before the criminal trial began.

Our Chicago truck accident attorneys commend the efforts to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to help make our roadways a safer place to travel. Trucking carriers and their drivers are held to increased standards of care when transporting 80,000 pound vehicles and when any type of violation occurs, the increased risk of semi truck accidents resulting in debilitating injuries or death considerably increases.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an Illinois semi truck accident, please contact our experienced accident attorneys to see what legal rights may be available to you.

Our Chicago truck accident attorneys recently read a report on TruckingInfo.com detailing the latest published truck data by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Published last month, the “2009 Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts” shows continued improvement in commercial vehicle safety. According to the data, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes has dropped 31% from 2007 to 2009, with the number of accidents decreasing from 4,633 to 3,215. Furthermore, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes per 100 million vehicles dropped 26%.

Additional key points from the 2009 Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts included:
- Of the 33,898 individuals killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2009, 10% died in crashes involving a commercial vehicle
- In 2009, commercial trucks accounted for 10% of all miles traveled and 4% of registered vehicles. These trucks accounted for 7% of vehicles in fatal crashes, 2% of injury-resulting accidents and 3% only involving property damage
- Semi tractor-trailers accounted for 61% of commercial trucks involved in fatal crashes
- Of the commercial trucks involved in fatal crashes, 3% were transporting hazardous materials (hazmat)
- Only 2% of truck drivers in fatal accidents were determined legally intoxicated compared to 23% of passenger vehicle drivers.
- Police reports state that of the 82% of truck drivers involved in fatal accidents were wearing their seat belts – compared to 63% for drivers of passenger vehicles.
- Driver-related factors such as speeding or failure to stay in lane accounted for 31% of fatal truck crashes – compared to 62% for passenger vehicles.

In light of these statistics, our Chicago semi truck accident lawyers continue to encourage safe driving habits by drivers of all types of motor vehicles. Despite recent evidence of improved semi truck safety, devastating semi truck accidents transpire each and every day.

Since 1992, our Chicago personal injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti continue to fight for the legal rights of those who have been harmed by the negligent acts of all types of drivers. Semi truck drivers are required to operate their vehicles to an increased level of safety to ensure the safety of surrounding motor vehicles. Often times, failure to maintain the safety of a semi truck results in devastating and life-altering consequences. If you or someone you know has sustained injury in Illinois semi truck accident, you may be able to obtain compensation for damages incurred, in addition to, punishing the wrongdoer for their careless conduct.

After a six-month comprehensive study, the National Transportation and Safety Board has just released a safety report which provides unsettling safety statistics for a common type of commercial vehicle, curbside buses. AllHeadLineNews.com reports that the National Transportation and Safety Board reviewed obtained data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from January 2005 to March 2011. The study ultimately revealed that curbside buses are seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than other conventional carriers. Additionally, it was found that there are 1.4 deadly accidents, per 100 vehicles for curbside buses that have fewer than 10 carriers or that have been in business less than a decade.

According to the safety report published last week, curbside buses are also substantially more likely to be out-of-service for driver violations, such as fatigued driving and fitness violations. The article states that many of these safety violations are not revealed on a consistent basis due to the fact that many curbside buses are excluded from regular inspections that are conducted during vehicle operating. A contributing factor in the lack of safety inspections has been due in part to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s lack of inspectors and enforcers. The agency has only 878 employees reviewing compliance of over 765,000 buses … which makes an unfortunate ratio of 1 worker to 1,000 carriers.

The review was conducted by the National Transportation and Safety Board as a result of numerous fatal commercial vehicle accidents around the nation earlier this year. One bus accident that transpired earlier in March resulted in the deaths of over 15 passengers. Within the same month, two other additional crashes occurred and caused one of the commercial vehicle carriers to be placed out of service by the United States Department of Transportation. In response to the accident rate, the National Transportation and Safety Board has issued a number of safety recommendations, such as installing seat belts and improving emergency exits, with the hopes that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will implement these recommendations.

In the past year, the commercial vehicle accident rate has been skyrocketing. Our Chicago semi truck accident attorneys urge legislators to readily construct and enforce safety laws in order to make our roadways a safer place to travel – whether for curbside buses, semi tractor-trailers or passenger vehicles. If you or a loved one has been involved in an Illinois semi truck accident, please contact an Illinois truck accident lawyer to see what legal rights may be available to you.

The amount of time it takes a large commercial vehicle, which may weigh up to 80,000 pounds, to come to a complete stop takes twice as long as a passenger vehicle operating at the same speed. Unfortunately, this is only accurate if the commercial vehicle’s brakes are in proper working condition. ReadingEagle.com recently published a report detailing frequent findings of brake deficiencies in large semi trucks during routine safety inspections across the nation. Brake deficiencies consistently top the list of violations discovered during these state police conducted inspections. Our Chicago truck accident attorneys read that when a large commercial vehicle travels with poorly maintained or out of adjustment brakes, it significantly affects their ability to stop – which may ultimately play a contributing factor in semi truck accidents that results in injury or even death.

According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, more than half of the trucks taken out of service this year during roadside inspections were for brake-related violations. The executive director of the CVSA commented on the issue stating that, “brakes are a major factor in being able to operate a commercial vehicle safely and continue to be cited as one of the leading factors in semi truck accidents due to defects and improper maintenance and adjustment.” With the increase in commercial vehicle safety within the past month, with initiatives such as Operation Safe Driver, state troopers patrolling our roadways nationwide are frequently inspecting large commercial vehicles for excessive weight, equipment violations, driver violations (exceeding hours of service), in addition to, brake deficiencies.

Research conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently determined that brake deficiencies account for over 30% of large truck accidents each year. Some of the most common brake deficiencies include: excessive wear of brake components, improper brake pressure balance, or out of adjustment brakes. In the event of an Illinois semi truck accident, the truck driver as well as his/her trucking carrier may be found liable for negligence if the vehicle had not been properly maintained or inspected prior to travel. Drivers have a duty to themselves and others to operate their vehicles safely and maintain proper vehicle maintenance. When that duty is breached and injuries occur, legal action can and should be sought.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of an accident at the hands of negligent driver, please contact an Illinois personal injury lawyer to see what legal rights may be available to you.

Our Illinois semi truck accident lawyers recently read a report published on KSPR.com detailing the arrest of a semi truck driver upon discovering marijuana in his commercial vehicle. The article reports that during a routine inspection of the semi truck by a commercial vehicle officer at an interstate highway weigh station, the officer discovered discrepancies between the conversation with the truck driver and the inspection of his vehicle. The inconsistencies prompted the officer to ask to search the commercial vehicle where 213 pounds of marijuana were uncovered. The driver of the commercial vehicle was immediately arrested and is currently facing charges of drug trafficking.

Although the article does not state if the driver of the commercial vehicle was under the influence of marijuana during vehicle operation, the subject of semi truck drivers and marijuana use has proven to be an increasing epidemic in the past few years. According to a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Traffic Safety, is was discovered that over 15% of semi truck drivers involved in the research tested positive for marijuana during the study. An additional study was conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that 12.5% of all fatal truck accidents involved the use of marijuana.

Marijuana use by the driver of an 80,000 pound vehicle can pose a significant threat to driving ability, in addition to, the safety of surrounding vehicles. Marijuana directly impairs a commercial vehicle driver’s central nervous system, which can cause side effects such as: slowed reaction time, temporary memory loss, as well as, difficulty concentrating. These side effects will ultimately hinder a driver’s ability to properly control his/her vehicle and may result in a semi truck accident resulting in property damage, injury, and tragically -- even death.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers share comprehensive knowledge when handling civil cases involving Illinois semi truck accidents in which marijuana use played a contributing factor. Recently, we obtained a $6.5 million settlement on behalf of an Illinois family who sustained severe injury and loss at the hands of a negligent semi truck driving accident. During the accident investigation process, it was discovered that at the time of the accident, the semi truck driver was under the influence of marijuana, in addition to, operating an overloaded trailer.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an Illinois semi truck accident, please contact the experienced Illinois wrongful death attorneys at Levin & Perconti to see what legal rights may be available to you.
.

In the recent months, nationwide attention has been garnered on commercial vehicle safety through initiatives campaigned by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, as well as, the United States Department of Transportation. Due to this, a large number of commercial vehicle inspections have been conducted in the past couple weeks resulting in numerous issued violations. A recent report by the Wall Street Journal Online detailed how surprise commercial vehicle inspections have led to an increasing number of commercial vehicle and driver violations.

According to the report, federal authorities have conducted more than 30,000 surprise inspections nationwide of commercial vehicles (mainly large buses) through a variety of actions aimed at improving passenger safety in light of numerous high-profile tour bus crashes in the past year. Our Chicago semi truck accident lawyers read that through thorough investigations and compliance reviews, over 46 motor coach companies have been shut down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration due to unsatisfactory evaluations. Strict regulations have been imposed on commercial vehicles due to a number of fatal accidents, such as one bus accident that occurred last March which resulted in over 15 fatalities.

The article points out that many commercial vehicle carriers are finding the new safety initiatives favorable and believe that surprise inspections will consistently encourage safe operating habits of commercial vehicle drivers, as well as, regular vehicle maintenance. On the other hand, many carriers would like to see law enforcement cracking down on commercial vehicle operators traveling at unsafe speeds. Given that one of the most common causes of commercial vehicle accidents is driver control, law enforcement nationwide must make it a priority to rigorously enforce speed regulations.

In an effort to continue safe regulation, administrators at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are developing a smartphone application that would give consumers full access to information regarding the safety records of all commercial vehicles, especially bus companies. The application will also provide an easier way for motorists to report commercial vehicle safety violations to the FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database. The application is expected to hit markets next month.

Our Chicago truck accident attorneys commend the efforts of agencies across the country to enforce federal and state commercial vehicle rules and regulations on a regular basis. By holding commercial vehicle drivers and their carriers to a higher standard, it encourages safe driving habits every time a vehicle is operated on our nation’s roadways and in turn help prevent that thousands of injuries and fatalities that result each from semi truck accidents.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has kicked off their annual Operation Safe Driver campaign this week. According to TruckingInfo.com, the campaign is designed to help reduce the aggressive and distracted driving of commercial vehicles around the country by garnering nationwide driver awareness. Throughout this week, law enforcement agencies across the United States will be rigorously monitoring any exhibits of aggressive or distracting driving behaviors of commercial, as well as, passenger vehicle drivers. The executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance commented that many of the 4,000 deaths that result from large truck or bus accidents each year are attributed to unsafe and aggressive driving practices by both passenger and commercial vehicle drivers.

Operation Safe Driver will take place all across the United States, as well as, Canada and Mexico. The campaign, sponsored by agencies such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, as well as, American Trucking Association, aims to increase activities related to commercial and non-commercial vehicle traffic enforcement. Additionally, Operation Safe Driver seeks to rigorously enforce: use of safety belts, driver roadside safety inspections, driver regulatory compliance, implementation of commercial driver educational and awareness programs, in addition to, raising public awareness about safe operation around large trucks and buses.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers continue to advocate safe driving practices by passenger vehicle drivers, especially around large commercial vehicles. Here are some helpful tips to avoid a potentially life-altering Illinois semi truck accident:
- Avoid semi truck blind spots. If you cannot see a truck driver’s mirrors – they cannot see you
- Never cut off a semi truck. Trucks take significantly longer to brake than passenger vehicles
- Never tailgate a semi truck. The greater the distance between your vehicle and a commercial vehicle will decrease the risk of a collision
- Never speed. Always obey posted speed limits
- Always wear your safety belt

The Illinois semi truck accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti encourage readers to recognize unsafe driving practices and operate their vehicle with the utmost standard of care. Even a minor driver error can often prove fatal on our busy Illinois roadways. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident as a result of a negligent driving error, please contact our experienced Chicago accident attorneys to see what legal rights and representation may be available to you.

The State Police of District 16 in Illinois released earlier this week a summary of their September 2011 monthly statistics for law enforcement activity. In an article published by Journal Standard.com, it was reported that District 16, which serves Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, and Jo Daviess counties, handled over 1,433 incidents during the month of September. Of those 1,433 incidents, over 1,355 involved troopers on field patrol. Overall, Illinois State Troopers issued 366 citations for drivers violating speed laws, 97 seat belt violations, as well as, 22 arrests made for driving under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, troopers inspected over 103 Illinois semi trucks to determine if federal compliance standards were being met in accordance with regulations mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. After a thorough investigation of large commercial vehicles, 31 were placed out of service due to driver or vehicle violations.

In 2010, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance released updated Out-of-Service Criteria for placing commercial vehicles out-of-service during roadside vehicle inspections. Serious violations are defined as those that render a commercial vehicle or commercial vehicle driver an immediate threat to the general public. A vehicle or driver will be placed out of service until the issues are remedied or repaired. The following contains several criteria which may render a vehicle or driver out-of-service:

Defective Breaks: a vehicle will be placed out of service if 20% or more of its service breaks has one of the following defects
- Any steering axle brake defect
- Won’t actuate effectively or friction material won’t contact drum/rotor.
- Audible air leak at chamber.
- Missing brake on any axle required to have brakes.
Brake smoke/fire
- Brake malfunction causing smoke or fire to emit from wheel end, not including overheating due to severe brake use.
Fuel Systems
- Dripping leak anywhere, including reefer/heater fuel system.
- Fuel tank loose due to broken or missing bolts and/or brackets.
Securement of Cargo
- Cargo that is likely to roll is not restrained by chocks, wedges, cradle or other equivalent means
- Articles secured by transverse tiedowns are not in direct contact with one another and are not prevented from shifting while in transit.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers commend the efforts of our state police department to help make our roadways a safer place to travel. Strict commercial vehicle regulations are enacted to help prevent the thousands of semi truck accidents that occur each year. It is important to not only have these regulations put in place, but to have law enforcement rigorously enforce these rules and regulations. When commercial vehicle violations are identified, it helps put the focus back on maintaining the utmost vehicle safety, as well as, saving lives.

Earlier today, our Illinois semi truck accident lawyers read a report posted on TruckingInfo.com detailing a newly proposed study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Through this study, the FMCSA aims to investigate the various characteristics of individual commercial vehicle drivers that may be a potential factor in semi truck accidents. On October 3, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published an Information Collection Request to the Federal Register for a study to identify, verify, quantify, as well as, prioritize commercial driver risk factors.

The three part survey, titled “Commercial Driver Individual Differences Study," will help determine risk factors by connection similar characteristics exhibited by individual drivers, their driving records, and Department of Transportation reportable crashes. The study will also look at various personal factors including: demographic characteristics, medical conditions, personality traits, performance capabilities, in addition to, work environmental factors. In a statement made by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the information gathered in this study will be used to develop future safety initiatives for large commercial vehicles.

Our truck accident attorneys in Chicago applaud the efforts made by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to help determine the various underlying causes of semi truck accidents. Any initiative established to help make our roadways a safer place to travel will help prevent the thousands of injuries and fatalities that occur each year from collisions with large commercial vehicles. In a previously conducted study by the FMCSA, it was reported that there was over 286,000 accidents in 2009 involving large commercial vehicles in the United States. Of those accidents, over 2,900 resulted in at least one fatality while 51,000 resulted in at least one non-fatal injury.

Our Chicago truck accident attorneys have provided experienced legal representation to those who have sustained harm as the result of a semi truck accident. Recently, we obtained a $6.5 million settlement on behalf of an Illinois family who sustained severe damages as the result of a negligent semi truck driver. Through an extensive investigation, it was found that the truck driver was operating under the influence of marijuana, as well as, operating an overloaded trailer. The devastating accident caused the death of a 32-year-old woman and substantial injury to her husband and son and resulted in a record Kane County $4.7 million wrongful death settlement.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an Illinois semi truck accident, please contact an Illinois truck accident lawyer. Our knowledgeable attorneys will provide a free initial consultation to help determine what legal rights may be available to you.

Recently, our Illinois semi truck accident lawyers read an article on Kens5.com detailing a semi truck accident victim’s account of the deadly accident that took the life of her husband. The accident, which occurred in May of 2010, transpired when the women and her husband were traveling along an interstate highway when they had come to a stop in a construction zone. The semi truck traveling behind the couple failed to notice the reduced speed and slammed into the back of their vehicle while traveling at a speed of 65 mph. The woman’s husband suffered severe brain injury as a result of the accident and died a few days later.

During the accident investigation process, it was discovered that the driver of the commercial vehicle had been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea two months prior to the fatal collision. Given the increasing epidemic of semi truck drivers with sleep apnea, in addition to, the shocking statistics of accidents caused by truck driver sleep apnea, the accident victim’s widow created a foundation to help garner nationwide attention towards this prevalent issue. The mission of the foundation is to “promote and/or improve public awareness of the sleep apnea problem in the commercial motor vehicle industry.” The foundation’s overall goal is to ensure the future safety of our roadways, as well as, encourage the trucking industry to establish and administer programs that identifies and treats sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is defined as a disorder in which an individual exhibits one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep – according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. This chronic condition significantly disrupts the sufferer’s sleep and causes poor sleep quality. One of the most substantial side effects of the disorder is ongoing daytime fatigue. When the driver of an 80,000 pound commercial vehicle is diagnosed with this condition, it can pose a significant threat to safe operation. According to a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, up to 28% of all licensed commercial vehicle drivers have sleep apnea.

Our truck accident attorneys in Chicago encourage trucking companies and their drivers to help prevent, as well as, decrease the increasing epidemic of semi truck accidents caused by driver sleep apnea. When the unsafe operation of a large commercial vehicle causes a fatal accident, such as this one, victims may be able to obtain legal relief. If you or a loved one has been involved in an Illinois semi truck accident, please contact an Illinois truck accident attorney to see what legal rights may be available to you.

Recently, our Chicago semi truck accident attorneys read a report on TruckingInfo.com that designated a frequented Chicago highway intersection as the most congested in the United States. According to a new annual report conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute and the Federal Highway Administration, the intersection of I-290 at I-90/I-94 in Chicago is the most congested freight-significant highway interchange in the country. The study found that the average speed through the local intersection during peak congestion is 22.34 mph while at non-peak periods the average speed was 31.89 mph.

The research conducted by the ATRI is done to determine the level of truck-oriented congestion at 250 highway locations around the world. Encompassing a variety of tools and software, the ATRI is able to obtain data from trucking operations to determine the congestion ranking for each location. This continuous research is a part of an initiative titled “Freight Performance Measures” conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute. According to the report, the FPM initiative examines techniques to assess the levels at which truck-based freight was affected by traffic congestion in 2010.

Trucking carriers have commended the efforts of the ATRI to help pinpoint the areas of traffic congestion that affect their drivers and shipments everyday. The CEO of a large trucking carrier was quoted in the article stating that, “strengthening the efficiency of supply chains is becoming a critical component of U.S. economic growth … fortunately, the ATRI’s report goes far in using real-world data to tell us where the impediments lie.” Overall, this type of information is highly useful to private and public sector freight stakeholders that wish to better understand the severity of congestion and mobility constraints experienced along the highway transportation system.

Our Illinois truck accident lawyers continue to encourage the development of new technology to help better maintain and navigate our roadways. With that in mind, even with great advances in technology -- our Illinois roadways will continue to remain congested and hazardous. It is always important to adhere to all traffic safety laws and avoid distractions during vehicle operation in order to prevent potentially life-threatening motor vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in any type of motor vehicle accident, please contact a Chicago semi truck accident lawyer. Our attorneys will provide a free consultation to help determine what legal rights may be available to you.

Recently, our Illinois semi truck accident attorneys read a report on the StockMarketReview.com detailing a recent recommendation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board. These recommendations come in light of the frequent re-occurrences of fatal semi truck rollover accidents. With over 1,300 commercial vehicle rollovers occurring each year, roadways all around the country have been put in significant danger for accidents resulting in injury or even death.

The NTSB recently conducted an investigation into the cause of a cargo tank trailer rollover accident that occurred in 2009. The semi truck was hauling a cargo trailer containing 9,000 gallons of liquefied petroleum gas when it overturned on an interstate highway. The rollover caused the truck’s trailer to detach from the vehicle – subsequently colliding into a steel guardrail. The collision caused the cargo’s gas to be expelled from the trailer, igniting into a fireball.

Through the investigation, the NTSB determined that the cause of the crash was directly related to the driver’s action to avoid a car in the neighboring lane. Crash investigators determined that the semi truck trailer’s high center of gravity contributed to the rollover accident. These types of rollover accidents have been a severe concern by the NTSB for over 40 years. Given that tankers do not permit driver error and are highly susceptible to rollover accidents, the NTSB recommends that new trailer regulations be implemented to help stop the frequency of semi truck rollover accidents.

Although the NTSB is not permitted to change legislation applied to large commercial vehicles, the Board does recommend that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in addition to, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that would require all semi truck trailers containing cargo tanks exceeding 10,000 pounds be fitted with rollover stability control systems. Currently, two types of rollover stability control systems exist including Electronic Stability Control and Roll Stability Control. Each of these systems gives commercial vehicle drivers better control over cargo tankers in preventing jackknifes and rollovers.

Our Chicago accident attorneys commend the efforts of the National Transportation Safety Board to help make our roadways safer against devastating semi truck accidents. With semi truck rollover accidents accounting for over 300 deaths and 2,700 injuries each year, new rules and regulations must be enacted to help save lives on our roadways. If you or someone you know has been involved in any type of motor vehicle accident, please contact our Illinois personal injury attorneys. Our attorneys will provide a free consultation to help determine what legal rights may be available to you.

Earlier today, our Illinois semi truck accident attorneys read an article on TruckingInfo.net detailing a recent recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board to outright ban cell phone use for drivers of commercial vehicles. This proposal stems from the recent investigation of a 2010 semi truck accident that resulted in eleven fatalities. The accident occurred when the 45-year-old driver of a semi truck crossed an interstate highway median and collided head on with a passenger van containing twelve occupants.

The collision resulted in the death of nine adults, a small infant, as well as, the driver of the semi truck -- with the only two small children surviving. Investigation into the accident concluded that the driver of the commercial vehicle has used his cell phone while driving for a total of 69 times for calls and text messages 24 hours before the accident. Further results showed that the driver had also made four calls in the minutes prior to the accident. The Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this semi truck collision was the commercial vehicle’s driver failure to maintain control of his combination vehicle due to mobile phone distraction.

According to the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, distracted driving is becoming increasingly prevalent … and can be especially lethal when the distracted driver is at the wheel of a vehicle that weighs 40 tons and traveling at highway speeds. Although the Safety Board does not have any legal power to change distracted driving laws for commercial vehicles – they do have the ability to advise other administrative agencies, The Board recommended to the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to outright prohibit the use of handheld and hands-free cellular telephones by all drivers of commercial vehicles during operation– except in emergencies.

Our Chicago accident attorneys commend the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board. The rate of injuries and fatalities can substantially decease when laws are created to help eliminate traffic dangers on our roadways. With the increasing cause of accidents due to cell phone use, drivers or all types of vehicles need to limit cellular use in order to prevent the reoccurrence of this type of devastating accident.

Our Chicago trucking accident lawyers just learned of a fatal accident involving a tractor trailer truck and a tour bus that occurred early this morning. Reports from CBS News indicate that at least one person, the semi-truck driver, was killed, and over thirty other people sustained injuries. The Spectator reported that the accident occurred when the semi-truck struck the back of the bus, which was pulling back onto the highway from the side of the road. Following the collision, both vehicles became engulfed in flames. It is being reported that all 46 passengers on board were able to get out, but at least thirty of them were hospitalized.

We will continue to monitor reports to learn more about the potential causes and consequences of this tour bus accident. It comes just five days after two people were killed in another crash involving a tour bus. That rollover crash, which occurred just 45 miles from today’s accident, is said to have been caused by a tire blowout in the bus.

Forbes.com cites a statistic from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety that says that since January, 32 people have already been killed in tour bus accidents. That’s already two more than the number killed in tour bus accidents in all of 2010. With statistics like these, it is important for both passengers and tour bus operators to start thinking of ways to reduce these numbers to help ensure the safety of future passengers and others on the road. Unfortunately, despite increases in the number of these types of vehicles on the roads, the government does little to regulate them.

Currently, tour bus passengers are not required to wear seat belts, thereby increasing their risk for injury or death in the event of an accident. There is also little monitoring of tour bus drivers or the vehicles themselves. Our Chicago personal injury lawyers were shocked to learn that many tour companies do not perform background checks on drivers, and all they need is a commercial driver’s license to operate these large vehicles. Additionally, as with truck drivers, tour bus drivers run the risk of accidents caused by driver exhaustion because little is done to police driver hours.

Although what caused this accident is not clear at this point, our Chicago semi-truck accident lawyers hope that the 2011 increase in tour bus accident deaths will motivate state and federal lawmakers to consider new regulations to protect the safety of tour bus passengers and other drivers on the road. Due to the size of these vehicles, the risk for catastrophic personal injury and death increases greatly when an accident involves a tour bus. Therefore, tour bus operators and drivers must ensure that their vehicles are in safe operating condition at all times. Operators must thoroughly screen their drivers to make sure they have proper experience and an understanding of how to safely operate their vehicles. They should also take measures to limit their drivers’ hours of service to ensure that they do not drive distracted or fall asleep behind the wheel.

My Suburban Life reported this week on a few issues that may affect all drivers on Illinois roads this New Years’ holiday. The Illinois State Police plan on providing a strong showing of troopers on the roads during the holiday to ensure that all drivers are secure and abiding by safe driving practices.

The Department is deploying Alcohol Concentration Enforcement details for the holiday weekend, which is intended to provide even more disincentive for drinking and driving. There will also be several roadside safety checks, and new details concentrating on distracted driving. Those distracted driving forces will be watching for cell phone calls and texting while driving. On top of all of that, even more troopers will be focused on seat belt compliance, traveling too closely, and improper lane usage.

In addition, the Illinois Secretary of State issued a statement urging all drivers to be extra safe this holiday weekend. Jesse White explains, “Please don’t drink and drive and remember to buckle your safety belt—it’s your best defense against a drunk driver. If your celebrations for 2011 include drinking, designate a sober driver or use public transportation.”

Continue reading "Illinois State Police to Provide Close Supervision of Roads During New Years" »

A new state police effort in Chicago known as a “Combined Corridor Enforcement” will get underway this month in an effort to catch drivers engaging in several common distracted driving actions. According to My Fox Chicago the project will focus on what are known at the “Fatal Five” violations: speeding, failure to use seatbelts, Driving Under the Influence, following too closely, and improper lane usage.

Also, the Illinois State Police in the Chicago-area will concentrate on drivers who text while behind the wheel and fail to move over when emergency vehicles are approaching. The crack-down will be specifically focused on the Interstate 355 corridor, portions of the Tri-State Tollway, and parts of Reagan Memorial Tollway.

The enforcement program is a joint effort intended to reduce crashes in areas on the highway where they are common—when cars approach off-ramps and at interchanges. Of course, our Chicago car accident attorneys at well aware of the problems that exist at these risky locations on the high-speed roadways. Any location where travelers go from a fast speed to a slower speed presents unique challenges that put all drivers at risk. That risk is magnified tremendously when drivers engage in behavior that distracts them.

The consequences of this distracted driving are exponential. Lives literally hang in the balance, and so the importance of eliminating these deadly behaviors cannot be overstated. We encourage all travelers to exercise extreme care both in these risky locations as well as at all times when behind of the wheel of these machines.

As State Police District Chicago Commander David Nanninga said, “The Illinois State Police would like to remind motorists how important it is to practice safe driving habits and eliminate distractions while driving.”

While a recent study of Chicago accident deaths shows improvement, there is still a long way to go. Around 300,000 accidents occur each year in Chicago and the surrounding areas, and about one fatal accident occurs each day. Of these accidents, many were trucking accidents. Certain safety features that have been added to roads in recent years, are believed to account for the reduction of close to 200 less deaths each year in the area. One of the safety features that has led to less fatal accidents are the addition of cable median barriers in certain areas. These barriers are high-tension steel cables that are aimed to prevent vehicles that are out of control from traveling into other lanes or flipping over into oncoming traffic. These barriers are especially useful for out-of-control trucks because a flipped over truck blocking the roadway can not only lead to many accidents and often fatalities, but can also block traffic for a long stretch of time. These barriers have helped keep trucking accidents much more contained and less dangerous than they would have been in areas without reinforcements. The areas that have these barriers are mostly in more densely populated areas and the number of fatalities in these areas is decreasing more dramatically than in areas with more rural roads that lack these types of safety features. Additionally, areas where the crash rates are reducing at an even higher rate, have added more highway dividers and pavement markings that also aim at keeping vehicles in their own lanes. These improvements are especially useful for trucks which often lead to such dangerous conditions when they flip over for crash into another lane of traffic.

One of the factors that the study cites as still being a big problem for Chicago drivers is the high incident of late-night driving accidents. This is especially relevant for trucking accidents because of how many truckers drive on overnight trips. According to Chicago Breaking News, the reasons that the study cites as leading to more late night crashes are things like impaired drivers, tired drivers, faster speeds because of less traffic and slower reaction times when driving at night. Chicago accident attorneys remind truck drivers of the danger of driving late at night when you are overly tired. Tiredness is the cause of many traffic accidents and whenever you feel like you need more rest of the road, please make sure to pull over and rest before getting back on the road. This is one way that individual drivers can help reduce the number of tragic accidents, and if everyone does their part to make sure they do not driver when impaired, tired or distracted, the number of traffic accidents each year will greatly decrease. To read more about this reduction in traffic accidents study, please click on this link.

A trucking safety coalition hopes to have the hours of service that truck drivers can drive in a day reduced by 27 percent, in accordance with the new hours of service law that has recently gone into effect. According to The Trucker, the document filed by the Truck Safety Coalition argues that there should be no more that eight hours of consecutive driving per shift and cites information that after this threshold is when most trucking accidents occur. Additionally, the Coalition suggests that the maximum driving hours per seven day week be 40, and the maximum number of on-duty hours per seven day week be 60. The document also suggest that their be at least 48 hours of off-duty time between each five day stretch of working. This document was filed in connection with the recent hours of services rule, and the people proposing the rule say that the newer law calls for these restrictions in trucking driving hours. To read more about the new hours of service law and what it requires of trucking companies and drivers, please click on this link.

The reason that limiting the number of hours that a trucker may drive consecutively, and how many days in a row drivers may drive, is because without any restrictions many trucking companies encourage, or truck drivers themselves choose to, drive when they are exhausted and when it is not safe for the drivers to still be on the road. Illinois accident attorneys ask trucking companies to take this into consideration and to follow the new rule setting out hours of service in order to hopefully help reduce the number of trucking accidents that occur each year due to driver fatigue.

When truckers take to the highways, there are a number of safety precautions to consider. On long trips, one may be motivated to drive without a safety belt, but this decision can lead to devastating personal injuries should an accident occur. Therefore it is important to remind drivers and truckers alike to buckle up at all times.

A recent study entitled the Large Truck Crash Causation Study found that in trucking accidents about 23 percent of truck drivers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. Many truckers feel that in a big truck and on a long ride, the seat belt may be too uncomfortable and the large truck cab space will offer enough protection in the event of a crash. However, seat belts are just as important in large trucks as they are in passenger vehicles and they can often be the one small safety measure that saves a life in the event of a traffic accidents. One of the main benefits of a seat belt in a car accident is that it can be what keeps a driver from being ejected from the vehicle. The seat belt will often stop the driver, or passenger, if the force of the crash would normally have caused the person to be thrown from the truck or car. To read more information on the importance of seat belt usage and seat belts can make such a crucial difference in a car accident, please lick on this link.

Chicago accident attorneys remind all truck drivers that they should always wear a seat belt, no matter the length of the trip or how safe a driver they feel they are. Even a short trip can result in an accident, and even the safest driver can encounter a dangerous driver or situation that would lead to an accident. This is why it is so important to make sure to always buckle up no matter what!

Recently, federal laws have gone into effect limiting the number of hours that truck drivers can be on the road consecutively. The goal of these new laws is to try to make the trucking industry safer for the drivers and other people on the road, by reducing the amount of overtired and fatigued drivers and hopefully reducing the overall number of trucking accidents that occur every year. These new regulations place certain restrictions on the number of hours a truck driver can drive at a time, and depend on the type of vehicle, on how many consecutive hours and days the driver has worked, and require a certain number of hours to be taken in the sleeper berth. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, these new regulations were determined after in-depth studies and analysis to help ensure that the new laws would improve trucking safety as much as possible. To read more about these hours of service federal laws to help reduce the number of trucking crashes, please click on this link.

The American Transportation Research Institute was recently hired to conduct a study to see how effective these new hours of service trucking rules were and if they were actually resulting in a reduction in trucking crashes. The recent study used data from 2003 and 2004 to see if any significant changes were present compared to the recent accident statistics. The study looked at both the overall number of accidents, as well as in what hour of driving the accidents occurred. The study indicated that the overall collision rate had decreased close to twelve percent and that preventable accident rate had decreased over thirty percent. This study seems to show that the new hours of service rules are making strides in making the trucking industry safer and that these new federal laws are successful in what they are aiming to do.

The truck involved in a tragic trucking accident that occurred in March of this year and resulted in the death of the driver and of 10 other people was found to have had no electronic recorder on board at the time the tragic trucking accident occurred. According to The Courier Journal, the reason this is significant is because these recorders are a way of determining how long a driver was on the road, letting investigators know if a violation occurred. This driver kept a handwritten log which was unfortunately destroyed in the fatal accident. To read more about this tragic trucking accident, please click on this link. Electronic recorders are not required but there is a big push for them to help regulate and control truck and driver safety, because they create a better way to ensure that drivers do not go over the required amount of hours that the law sets out as safe. According to Trucking Info, a new requirement was just recently enacted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Commission which will require that trucking companies who have been found to be in violation of the hour requirement at least ten percent of the time will be required to install electronic monitoring systems. Chicago accident attorneys remind trucking companies that this law will not go into effect until June 1, 2012 allowing the nearly 5,700 trucking companies that are affected to comply with this new law. The goal behind this new law is to increase safety by making it much more difficult for trucking companies that may lie about or be unclear about their driver’s hours to do this. An electronic recording system, as opposed to a handwritten system is much more precise and does not leave room for driver or trucking companies to change their actual hours.

A truck crash where a truck driver slid out of his lane and crashed into 22 cars that were waiting at the Chicago Skyway Toll Plaza was found to be the result of the driver falling asleep at the wheel. According to My Fox Chicago, toxicology tests revealed that the driver tested positive for having cocaine in his system at the time the trucking accident occurred. To read more about this trucking accident, please click on this link.

After reading this report, we felt it was necessary to address the issue of substance abuse among truck drivers. A recent study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration suggests that some truck drivers depend on drugs to help them stay awake and cope with the stress of the long trips on their own. Many trucking companies are beginning to take steps to combat this problem by requiring drivers to submit to drug-testing before getting behind the wheel.

Unfortunately, not all trucking companies have drug-testing currently in place. The company that employed the driver involved in the previously mentioned crash is one of the 120 Illinois trucking companies that have been found to fail to conduct these required drug tests. In addition to the 120 that fail to comply with mandatory drug testing for truck drivers, 55 other trucking companies failed to test new drivers before sending them out onto the road. A study which looked at 120,000 large trucking crashed between 2001-2003, identified about 3,000 crashes caused by truckers using illegal drugs and about 1,000 caused by truckers who had been drinking when the trucking accident occurred. Our Chicago accident attorneys hope that more companies in Illinois and throughout the country will take steps to implement mandatory drug-testing for drivers. These tests will help to protect the lives of truckers and passenger-vehicle drivers alike.

Recently, many have wondered if the structure in which trucking drivers are paid encourages them to drive beyond the amount of hours that is safe and could actually be responsible for more trucking accidents. The way truck drivers are paid is by mile as opposed to by how long they are working, which leads drivers to often times drive more miles and longer hours than what may be safe for them to be driving. Additionally, drivers are not paid for the as many as 30-40 hours per week that it takes to load and unload their trucks. According to The Rolla Daily News, many people within trucking organizations and truck drivers feel that a change in the structure of paying trucking drivers would not only be more fair to the drivers but would also increase overall safety within the entire trucking industry. However, on the opposite side of the debate from the people that feel that truckers should be paid for the hours they work, many say that if truckers are not paid for miles driven it could encourage drivers to lose the incentive to get a lot of miles in and instead cause them to relax possibly too much on the job. So while there are two sides to this issue, it is pretty apparent that something likely needs to be done to increase safety among trucking drivers. There are new hour limits being put into place to try to encourage safe driving, but since these restrictions are pretty new it is still hard to tell how successful they will be in increasing safety and reducing truck crashes. If you would like to read more about the issues facing truck drivers and the way in which they are paid, please click on this link.

Given all the construction that is done during the warmer summer months, it is important for drivers to be aware of all the workers present and to obey all posted signs that are intended to keep the workers and the drivers as safe as possible. According to Trucker News, there are certain tips for truckers and trucking companies to keep workers safe as well as save the company time, money, and help to avoid trucking accidents. One trucking company loss prevention director says that for their company they teach this safety in initial training, in refresher courses, and have signs and newsletters and other reminder handouts to help keep the truckers aware of the importance of construction zone safety and how to best insure this safety.

One big safety issue for truckers is to make sure to keep the speed at the construction zone speed limit. These limits are posted and are lower than the usual speed limit in the area and our intended to keep the area safer for workers. Speed is the biggest safety issue for truckers in construction zones and if truckers would obey the construction speed limits many accidents could be avoided. Additionally, truckers need to lookout for signage, workers and equipment. Being in a truck it can be hard to see all of this, so drivers need to make it a point to be constantly looking around and watching out for construction equipment. Another tip for drivers is to plan driving times to stay out of known construction areas during the prime time they are being worked on. This can be done by choosing to drive through that area during off peak hours. Following these simple tips can safe lives and avoid fatal accidents. Please click on this link for more information on how truckers can avoid construction accidents.

A trucking crash that occurred several weeks ago was caused by road rage and left two men facing attempted murder charges. The incident involved a dump truck and a passenger car and got so dangerous that the passenger car driver ended up firing shots into the truck. While the exact details are unclear, at this point multiple witnesses of this rush hour road rage incident report that the truck driver began intentionally hitting the car and pushing it into the guardrail on the side of the highway. According to The Washington Post, the incident occurred over the course of 20 minutes with the rage in the drivers rising and shots eventually being fired. While luckily no one was hurt, both drivers are being charged with attempted murder. The driver of the passenger car is also being charged with reckless use of a firearm, shooting a missile into an occupied vehicle, and child endangerment because the driver’s two year old daughter was in his car while he participated in this horrific incident. To read more about this road rage trucking accident, please click on the link.

Aggressive driving or “road rage” is a very dangerous condition that can greatly endanger both the driver and others on the road. Aggressive driving occurs when a driver gets so upset at something that occurs while they are driving that they take out their rage on other drivers and act irrationally on the road. According to AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety, over 1,500 people are injured in car accidents that are caused by aggressive driving each year. It is important to remember how dangerous it can be to let your anger get the best of you. If another driver is provoking you, ignore them and do not retaliate. Remember that giving in to road rage cannot only hurt you, but other people on the road as well.

On March 29th a trucking accident left one trucker dead and two others with severe personal injuries. The fatal trucking accident occurred on I-65 in the wake of another trucking crash that had slowed down traffic tremendously. While traffic was slowed one truck was rear-ended by another truck which was then struck by a third truck, which was then hit by a fourth truck. According to JC Online, this chain reaction crash left the driver of the fourth truck stuck in the cab of the truck and he had to be extricated by emergency workers. Unfortunately, the fourth truck driver’s injuries were so severe that he died of the injuries while at the hospital. The drivers of the second and third truck were hospitalized from their injuries, but the driver of the first truck was left unharmed. No one was injured in the earlier crash that slowed the traffic down leading to the four-truck crash. To read more about this fatal trucking crash, please click on this link.

It is very important to be alert and cautious at all times when driving. Traffic accidents often occur when traffic suddenly slows down due to an accident or a construction zone. While a sudden change in traffic can be startling and hard to prepare for, if you are always being alert and driving at the appropriate speed there should be enough time for you to react and avoid a car accident. To help prepare yourself for this type of situation make sure that whenever you are driving you are watching the cars around you The Illinois Department of Transportation website offers useful tips for driving in construction zones as well as general defensive driving tips, such as if you see cars up ahead seeming to be slowing down or you see brake lights ahead, start slowing your car down so you don’t have to slam on the brakes when it could be too late. Taking these small steps could be what keep a chain reaction crash from occurring.

A recent study has shown that traffic deaths are at an all time low. According to Trucking Info, the reason for the decline is believed to be mostly attributed to certain factors such as safer roads, safer vehicles and an overall drop in the number of drivers. Additionally, certain campaigns have increased driver awareness and overall more cautious driving, such as campaigns that remind of the importance of not drinking and driving and of always wearing a seat belt when driving or riding in a car. To read more about this trucking accident study, click on the link.

While the decrease is clearly a step in the right direction, it is only the a step. These numbers are still high and need to drop further. The fight for driver safety will continue until people stop dying in traffic accidents. In addition to drivers taking it upon themselves to be safer and more aware on the road, the safety measures must be taken in other ways as well. When it comes to trucking accidents, to make sure they are less likely, the trucking companies have to take the initiative to encourage truck safety and driver safety and help insure that their trucks and drivers are safely on the road. Hopefully, if everyone can take it upon themselves, and trucking companies can take the steps to make safety a priority, the number of fatalities in car and trucking crashes will continue to decrease.

A national trucking company has recently announced that in 2009 they saw a large reduction in their trucking accident rates, with about a 13 percent decrease in accidents from the 2008 rates. The trucking company also reports that over the past five years their safety records have gotten better with each year, with 2009 showing the safest numbers yet. In addition to the decrease in accidents over the past several years, the trucking company has received more than 70 safety awards in the last year. These number are a great improvement to the trucking world and show the commitment to safety that some companies are choosing to make and what a remarkable difference that choice can make. To read more about these trucking crash statistics, click on the link.

The Chicago trucking accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti are pleased to see this reduction in trucking accidents and the care that some companies are putting into their safety efforts. We hope that other companies will choose to follow this lead and make their safety standards higher, causing their trucking accident numbers to decrease as well. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website offers several ways in which trucking accidents can be avoided, such as assuring that drivers drive no faster than the posted speed, that drivers never drive while they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that drivers are always well-rested when driving and that drivers always where their seat belts when driving to protect themselves in the case of a trucking accident. If other trucking companies can take these precautions into their training and find ways to ensure that drivers follow these simple precautions, the number of trucking crashes should continue to decrease.

According to Effingham Daily News, the recent adjustment in speed limit for truck drivers has some people unsure. The new law is scheduled to go into effect on January 1st and will raise the trucking speed limit to 65 miles per hour. Advocates of the higher speed limit say that this will allow truckers to go along with the flow of traffic more safely and that there is no evidence that the increased speed will lead to more or more severe trucking accidents. However, opponents of the bill argue that higher speeds will inevitably make it harder for trucks to stop and will make them hit things harder when crashing. For more information on this trucking bill, click here.

A Belleville personal injury attorney wants a new hearing and monetary damages from an insurance company that the attorney feels bribed a witness in connection with a trucking accident in 2006. According to The Chicago Tribune, the trial has since ended, but the attorney claims that the witness that claims to have seen the driver swerving prior to the accident from her apartment could not have actually seen this because her lease started six months after the trucking accident occurred. If you are interested in more about this possibly fraudulent verdict, click on this link.

A settlement has been reached with VH1 and the family of a West Side college student in connection with a fatal truck accident that occurred downstate last year. The truck accident was between a “Rock of Love with Brett Michaels” truck and a passenger car in which two college students were driving. The truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and struck the car killing both students. According to the Chicago Tribune, the family of one of the victims sued VH1, the parent company behind the show, and earlier this week the Judge approved a settlement agreement for $6.5 million. For more information on this fatal truck accident, click here.

A recent study shows that many motor carrier companies, that in total represent over 200,000 trucks in the United States, are currently violating safety laws in their operation which can lead to truck accidents. Some of the violations that have been found on trucks that are currently in operation are things such as defective brakes, bad tires, exceedingly heavy load and drivers with inadequate training or even dependency problems. All of the these violations are likely to be the cause of many truck accidents and are easily preventable. For more information on how these violations can be fixed and hopefully truck accidents can decrease, click here.

Over 200,000 accidents occur each year involving a truck and at least one passenger car. The best way to avoid truck accidents is to always leave as much space as possible between a truck and your car and never try to squeeze in next to the truck. Trucks have more blind spots than passenger cars and it is good to be aware of these in order to avoid serious accidents. If you have to drive near a truck try to make sure you are in a spot that the driver can view your car. When driving a passenger car behind a truck on an incline it is best to make sure that you leave extra space in case the truck rolls back slightly when its starts to move. If a truck is passing you, make sure to drive slowly because the spray from the truck can often reduce visibility. If you are attempting to pass a truck remember that they are much longer than a regular vehicle so allow extra time to be able to pass. Also make sure to never drive too closely behind a truck because it can be very difficult to stop in time if they stop short. For more helpful tips in avoiding a truck accident, click here.

Over the past several years, the United States has seen a shortage in skilled truck drivers. At Levin & Perconti, we have handled a number of truck accident cases where long hours and overworked drivers were often to blame. However, the economic recession plaguing the nation has created a surplus, rather than a shortage, in truck drivers. This surplus is attributed to the closure of many trucking companies and also due to a decrease in the amount of goods being shipped by trucks. According to a recent article, in the last three months of 2008, the amount shipped decreased by over six percent. Because of this, companies are laying-off truckers and lowering costs. To read the full account of how the recession is affecting the trucking industry, follow the link.

After a truck accident where negligence is suspected on the part of the truck driver or the trucking company, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible. If the victim of a truck crash wishes to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, lawyers can obtain data from a truck’s Electronic Control Module (ECM) or “black box”. These devices can provide important information regarding the truck’s operation that could prove useful in a lawsuit when they reveal problems such a truck driver fatigue or negligence by the trucking company. Most ECMs record data for 30 days but after that begin to write over old data, making it necessary to act quickly in the aftermath or a trucking accident. Read more about ECMs and trucking accidents.

A recent article highlighted the risk facing truck drivers that trucking jobs appear to carry added risks of lung cancer. That risk for truck drivers grows incrementally each year that workers remain in jobs as drivers and other roles that involve regular explosure to diesel fumes and other pollutants.

For the full article.

Trucking company workers who have been regularly exposed to diesel exhaust from vehicles have a higher rate of lung cancer according to a national study. Short-haul drivers had higher rates than long-haul drivers.

For the full article.