Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

MyFoxChicago.com recently released a news report detailing a devastating Kane County school bus accident that resulted in the injury of nine special-needs schoolchildren, as well as, the driver of the school bus. Our Chicago accident lawyers learned that according to police reports, the accident transpired as the bus was traveling eastbound on Granart Road when it traveled off the roadway for an unknown reason. The bus driver attempted to adjust the vehicle’s path but was unable to before the school bus went into an off-roadway ditch. Subsequently, this caused the school bus to tipped over onto its side – but did not roll over. Fortunately, all of the school children were wearing safety belts which ultimately help prevent substantial severe injury.

At the time of the initial report, the bus accident remained under investigation with no citations being issued. However, earlier today our accident lawyers in Chicago read a follow up article to the unfortunate accident posted on DailyHerald.com. According to the news article, a number of students on the bus, which was operated by Illinois Central School Bus, assert that the accident occurred as a result of the bus driver falling asleep behind the wheel. Several witnesses have stepped forward alleging that the school bus driver has displayed a continued pattern of fatigued driving, beginning when the driver began the bus route in September.

Our Chicago trucking accident attorneys learned that many of the school-children began noticing a regular pattern of the bus driving nodding off and swerving erratically during travel. One of the students even alerted her mother about her concerns who subsequently called into Illinois Central numerous times to complain. However, the safety director of Illinois Central has released a statement asserting that his company never received complaints about the driver although the driver was monitored in October after a concerned call from the school district.

A camera was equipped into the driver’s bus for several days while he was being monitored. The driver’s company found no evidence of the driver falling asleep during transportation. Shortly thereafter, the bus company contacted the school district to let them know that the driver posed no safety concerns. According to the news report, the Kane County sheriff’s officials are still conducted a thorough investigation into the accident and officials are not planning to release the information pertaining to the accident until late next week. The driver’s toxicology results are still pending.

TheHour.com recently released a news report which revealed that a semi truck driver who caused a devastating fatal collision in early August of this year will not face criminal charges for his role in the collision. According to the report, the initial accident occurred along an interstate highway when a semi tractor-trailer collided into a van owned by the YMCA, which was transporting children on the way home from an amusement park. The collision resulted in the untimely death of a 12 year-old girl who was a passenger in the van. Our Illinois truck accident lawyers read that despite the review conducted by the prosecutor which revealed that the semi truck driver was operating his commercial vehicle 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit when he lost control of his vehicle; there are no findings of criminal negligence that is required by law to pursue a criminal case of vehicular manslaughter.

Although the article does not reveal of the family of the 12 year-old accident victim wishes to pursue civil legal action against the truck driver, from our experience as accident attorneys in Chicago, the family of the deceased may have a cause of action for wrongful death. Wrongful death cases arise when the wrongful or negligent conduct of another, through action or inaction, caused the untimely and premature death of another. In this particular case, by the semi truck driver deviating from the posted speed limit and operating his semi tractor-trailer 11 miles per hour over the limit at the time he lost control of his vehicle, he may be found liable through civil litigation.

If pursuing an Illinois trucking accident lawsuit, under current Illinois statute, those bringing about a claim of wrongful death must assert that the negligent or default act of the accused party would have entitled the injured party to seek legal relief to recover damages if premature death has not incurred as a result of the accident. Additionally, those asserting the claim of wrongful death must prove that monetary damages have resulted as a direct result of the victim’s death.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an Illinois trucking accident, please contact our experienced accident attorneys as soon as possible. Having represented hundreds of victims of negligence, our attorneys know the devastating and tragic effects that accidents have on victims and their entire families. Often times, those individuals who sustain serious injury in these accidents incur large medical bills; lost income, love recovery time, as well as, life-long disability. Contact our Chicago truck accident attorneys for a free consultation to help determine what legal rights and relief may be available to you.

A Chicago truck accident lawyer at Levin & Perconti recently read an article on TheCalifornian.com detailing a wrongful death lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of a 4 year-old boy whose life was taken as the result of a semi truck collision that occurred late last year. The fatal accident initially transpired when a semi tractor-trailer collided into the rear end of the passenger vehicle attempting to make a left-hand turn on an interstate highway.

Upon impact, the passenger vehicle driven by a 48 year-old woman was pushed into oncoming traffic, causing an additional collision with another passenger vehicle occupied by the 4 year-old boy. Despite reports that the boy was properly restrained in a child-safety seat, he was pronounced dead at the scene after a collision with both the passenger vehicle and the semi tractor-trailer.

As the result of the devastating trucking accident, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed earlier this month alleging negligence against both the semi truck’s trucking company, as well as, the Department of Transportation. The lawsuit also hopes to expose the dangers of the interstate highway where the accident transpired. According to the news report, the safety of that particular highway has been questioned for well over a decade with many stating that the highway needs to be widened.

Our Chicago accident lawyers read that the goal of this trucking litigation is not only to seek compensation for the accident victim’s family, but to improve roadway conditions so that similar accident fatalities are eliminated. The wrongful death lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages from the trucking company, including loss of future income, support and services from the boy, as well as, any court fees that result from litigation.

When these types of catastrophic trucking accidents transpire, it is important to seek legal aid from experienced Chicago trucking accident attorneys. Recently, our lawyers obtained a $6.5 million settlement on behalf of 32 year-old Huntley woman who was fatally injured when a semi tractor-trailer rear ended the passenger vehicle which was also transporting both her husband and young son. The settlement was also a $4.7 million record Kane County wrongful death settlement when it was revealed that the defendant truck driver was operating under the influence of marijuana, in addition to, an overloaded semi tractor-trailer.

If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in an Illinois trucking accident, please contact an accident lawyer in Chicago to see what legal rights may be available to you.

Within the upcoming week, members of the National Transportation Safety Board are set to meet in order to determine the cause of a devastating fatal commercial vehicle accident that transpired in 2010, which ultimately resulted in two fatalities and thirty-eight injuries. According to a report posted on STNOnline.com, board members will additionally consider purposed safety recommendations on the issue of distracted driving within the realm of commercial vehicles, particularly the school bus industry.

The multi-vehicle accident in question occurred on August 5, 2010 when a pickup truck rear-ended a stopped semi tractor-trailer on an interstate roadway. The initial crash caused a domino-effect of collisions which including two school buses transporting a high school band that were following from the rear. The first school bus collided into the rear of the pickup track, which was subsequently hit by the second school bus. As a result of the collisions, a 15 year-old passenger in the school bus and the 19 year-old driver of the pickup truck were killed.

Our accident lawyers in Chicago read that an initial investigation was conducted shortly after the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board and the state’s Highway Patrol. The preliminary report revealed that inattentiveness on behalf of the first school buses driver caused the initial collision, while close following distance between the first and second school bus caused the last rear end collision. Originally, the NTSB was looking into whether the use of safety belts for passengers in the school buses should have been used.

With over twenty-four students sustaining injuries, two requiring hospitalization, the deputy of director of the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety released a statement after review of the accident stating that it was “inexplicable” why the driver of the first school bus failed to alter the vehicle’s travel path and adequately react to the slowing traffic on the roadway. Given evidence gathered since the accident last year, it is believed that the bus driver was texting prior to the fatal collision.

Distracted driving by commercial vehicle drivers is a commonly discussed issue on our Illinois trucking accident blog. Time after time, every Chicago truck accident lawyer at Levin & Perconti reads about or personally handles devastating accidents that are a direct cause of driver distraction. Any time any type of vehicle is operated by a driver who becomes distracted, commonly through cell phone conversations – verbal or texting, the risk for driving errors substantially increase. Distracted driving can be eliminated when drivers avoid multi-tasking and stay focused on safe travel.

A number of months ago, our Illinois trucking accident blog reported the devastating story of 5 year-old boy that was killed when a semi truck hauling a cargo of logs collided into his house. The latest report posted on WMTW.com states that no criminal charges have been filed against the 57 year-old driver of the semi truck. Although the driver of the semi tractor-trailer admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel when his logging truck tipped over onto a house – subsequently killing the 5 year-old boy who was asleep on the couch, the prosecutor in this case revealed that a reconstruction of the accident proved there was no basis for criminal charges.

Despite the tragic nature of this accident which caused additional injury to other individuals in the house, no criminal charges have been filed after it was proven that speed, roadway conditions, as well as, the condition of the truck did not play a contributing factor in the fatal collision. The prosecutor stated that in order for a charge of manslaughter to be filed, recklessness and criminal negligence must be proven -- which was not the case in this accident. The report states that the 57 year-old driver of the commercial vehicle has had no previous criminal record.

The news report does not confirm if the family of the accident victim wishes to seek civil litigation against the truck driver for his role in the fatal accident. From the perspective of a Chicago truck accident lawyer, the accident victim’s family may have a cause of action for a wrongful death claim. In Illinois, a wrongful death claim asserts that the death of an individual was caused by the wrongful act, either through negligence or default, of another.

Illinois statute also provides that those bringing about a wrongful death claim must prove that the negligent or default act would have entitled the injured party to seek legal relief to recover damages if premature death had not occurred, in addition to, proof that monetary damages have resulted from the victim’s death.

When a devastating accident caused by another’s negligence does not constitute criminal charges, civil litigation can provide adequate relief to those who have been harmed as a result of a negligent driver. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed at the hands of a negligent driver, please contact our Illinois trucking accident attorneys to see what legal rights may be available to you.

A truck accident lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a woman and her two children who were struck by a tow truck in an accident that transpired early last year. VCStar.com reports that the accident occurred in August 2010 when the tow truck driver struck a woman while she pushed her two children in a stroller across a crosswalk. Upon striking the victims, the tow truck continued travel even though the stroller containing the two children was caught under the truck’s bumper. Multiple motorists at the scene of the accident made several attempts to get the tow truck driver to stop. Fortunately, no fatalities resulted in this devastating collision, although the accident victims did sustain severe, as well as, long-term injuries.

Filed yesterday, the lawsuit charges both the defendant tow truck driver, as well as, his two trucking companies with negligence, battery and assault. During the investigation, our Chicago truck accident attorneys read that it was revealed that the truck driver was not only an illegal immigrant, but has maintained a 25 year criminal history. Some of the tow truck driver’s prior convictions include both drug abuse and traffic violations. The driver was also on parole at the time of the tragic collision. In addition to being named defendant in this personal injury lawsuit, the tow truck driver is currently incarcerated pending trial for driving under the influence of alcohol, causing an injury, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Victims of these types of devastating accident are often able to seek legal relief from the damages they have incurred as the result of another’s negligence. Through civil litigation, truck accident attorneys can help compensate accident victims and their families for the harm they have sustained due to any and all types of motor vehicle accidents. These damages commonly include, but are not limited to: cost of medical expenses, loss of wages, physical and emotional pain and suffering, in addition to, punitive damages that aim to punish the wrongdoer’s negligent behavior.

Those who knowing commit negligent acts, whether it be the truck driver or their trucking carrier, must be held legally liable for the harm they have carelessly inflicted on their accident victims. In these types of complex cases, it is important to seek legal aid from experienced Chicago accident attorneys. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident, please contact our Chicago truck accident lawyers to see what legal rights and relief may be available to you.

WTHITV.com recently reported a devastating Illinois truck accident that took the life of a 2-year-old girl. The fatal accident transpired near the intersection of Illinois Route 33 and Effingham County Road 1950 East when a tow truck traveling westbound crossed the roadway’s center line and collided into a passenger vehicle. The 2-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The Illinois girl’s parents required additional medical attention for their injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital. Local authorities state that the cause of this accident continues to remain under investigation. The 23-year-old driver of the tow truck has been ticketed for his role in the accident.

Harrowing statistics provide that younger children have become increasingly common victims in motor vehicle accidents resulting in injury or fatality. ConsumerReports.org recently revealed that roadway collisions kill approximately 260,000 children a year and injure about 10 million. Tragically, these motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among children ages 10-19 years old, in addition to, the leading cause of disability in children. Additional research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that children ages 0-14 years old are highly susceptible to injury or death in motor vehicle accidents around the country. Statistical figures from the NHTSA provided that of the 42,643 traffic fatalities in the United States in 2003, over 5% (2,136) were children ages 0-14 years old.

Any Chicago truck accident lawyer at Levin & Perconti will tell you that the only way to prevent the devastating injuries that may occur as a result of a motor vehicle accident is to ensure that your child is properly and safely restrained in a child safety seat. Failure to properly fasten a child in a safety seat or seat belt is a common contributive factor is more than half of motor vehicle accident resulting in child injury or death. In the event of a collision, failure for an individual of any age to wear a safety belt significantly increases the likelihood of sustained serious injury or death.

If you or your child has been injured in an Illinois truck accident, you may be able to obtain compensation for damages incurred. Common damages include compensation for: lost wages, medical bills, funeral expenses, in addition to, physical and emotional pain and suffering. Please contact our Chicago truck accident attorneys as soon as possible to see what legal rights and relief may be available to you.

Earlier today, our Illinois semi truck accident attorneys read an article in WDay.com reporting a semi truck driver who has been criminally charged for causing a fatal semi truck accident. The accident, which transpired last December, occurred when the 65-year-old semi truck driver failed to stop at a red light at an intersection – ultimately colliding with a van carrying four occupants. The accident resulted in the death of the 8 and 5-year old passengers. The driver and the children’s father, as well as, his 3-year-old child sustained injuries that required a week long hospital stay. The semi truck driver has been charged with two counts of negligent homicide and one count of aggravated reckless driving. The driver has been sentenced to jail for one year with 305 days suspended. He will also be required to serve 18 months of probation, as well as, 100 hours of community service that emphasis on highway safety.

When the operator of a large commercial vehicle fails to adhere to traffic signals, the results are always disastrous. Semi truck drivers are required by federal and state law to safely operate their vehicles with a standard of care. When this standard of care is violated and an accident ensues, the truck driver and their company may be held liable for negligence. When this type of negligent driving causes an accident that results in a fatality, the driver and company may be subject to a wrongful death lawsuit in addition to facing possible criminal charges.

Our experienced Illinois truck accident attorneys have handled cases involving semi truck accidents. We recently obtained a record $6.5 settlement for the accident victims of an Illinois semi truck accident. Due to a negligent truck driver, who was later found to be under the influence of marijuana and operating an overloaded trailer, an Illinois family suffered a devastating loss in an accident that killed a woman and severely injured her husband and son. Our lawyers can help victim’s family members, as well as, those injured themselves seek justice against the negligence of wrongdoers.

Our Illinois personal injury attorneys provide qualified legal representation to those whose lives have been significantly altered at the hands of a negligent driver. Our attorneys ensure that our clients are properly compensated for their devastating injuries and losses. We hold truck drivers, as well as, their companies liable for their failure to safely operate large commercial vehicles. Victims of these accidents may be able to seek compensation for various damages including: loss of wages, pain and suffering, as well as, punitive damages that punish the wrongdoer’s negligent behavior. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a semi truck accident, please contact a Chicago accident attorney to help evaluate your case.

Recently, our Illinois trucking accident attorneys read a report on BangorDailyNews.com that detailed a destructive semi truck accident that took the life of a 5 year old boy. While the accident is currently still under investigation, reports state that the accident occurred as a result of the semi truck driver falling asleep behind the wheel. The 57 year old semi truck driver was hauling a tractor trailer loaded with logs on U.S Route 201 when he fell asleep and struck two utility poles and ultimately crashing into a nearby house. Upon collision with the utility poles, the semi truck’s contents fell onto the house, causing its collapse. The young boy who was killed was sleeping on the couch when the house collapsed. The other five residents of the house were taken to the hospital for their injuries.

Semi driver fatigue has played a reoccurring factor in trucking accidents across the country. Driver fatigue commonly occurs as a result of lack of sleep, lack of quality sleep, prolonged driving, in addition to, lack of breaks. Fatigue ultimately leads to deterioration in driving performance, weakened steering ability, inability to maintain distance with surrounding vehicles, and subsequently the increased inclination to mentally withdraw from the duty of driving -- according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Due to the common occurrence of semi truck driving accidents as a result of driver fatigue, the FMCSA regulates drivers with hours of service policies. These regulations limit the amount of hours a semi truck driver is able to operate.

The report does not confirm if whether the driver is currently facing any charges or if the family of the deceased boy is seeking legal action. From our experience as Chicago truck accident attorneys, it appears as though this is a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death cases arise when the wrongful or negligent conduct of others causes a premature death. The family of the deceased may be able to seek damages including: medical, funeral, and burial expenses, as well as, punitive damages that punish the wrongdoer’s negligent behavior.

Our Chicago accident attorneys send our sincere condolences to those who have been negatively affected by such a devastating accident. Truck drivers are held to an increased level of responsibility to the public to maintain the safety of their vehicle. Due to a semi trucks sheer size and weight, a wrong move could prove deadly for the driver or anyone else in its path. When proper trucking regulations are followed, these types of accident can be easily avoided.

An Illinois trucking accident that occurred near Lake Springfield on June 8th left a teenage girl with serious personal injuries. The accident occurred when the teenage victim got into an accident with a truck, spun around and was struck by another truck, causing the car to end up in a ditch. According to The State Journal-Register, at this point in time police are not sure which driver caused the truck accident and therefore no citations have been issued. The driver of the passenger car and her passenger were taken to a local hospital following the accident, and the teenage driver is still hospitalized. Neither of the semi-drivers were injured and did not need to go to the hospital following the accident. To read more about this Springfield trucking accident, please click on this link.

Teen drivers are at a higher risk of getting into traffic accidents than any other age group, and according to the National Safety Counsel, teenage traffic accidents account for about 44% of teenage deaths each year. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teenage inexperience is a major factor in accidents involving teens and this issue is likely not helped out by the fact that the process for getting a driver's license is not a very difficult or demanding. Like any other skill, learning to drive well and safely takes time and practice. This is one of the reasons that teenage drivers are at such a higher risk for accidents. Illinois accident attorneys remind adults to help young drivers learn the rules of the road and help make sure that teenage drivers get plenty of practice with experienced drivers before they are on the road alone.

Another major issue affecting teenage drivers is distractions that take teens attention off of the road. According to ABC News, distractions while driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Distractions range from talking on a cell phone, sending and receiving text messages, adjusting the radio, eating while driving, to other teenagers in the car that cause the driver to become distracted. To combat this issue, please talk to your teens about how dangerous it can be to lose focus from the road and how important it is to not let these distractions in while driving. One of the best ways to show teens how to not let distractions become the cause of an accident is to set an example and make sure not to allow distractions to take your focus of the road when you are driving with the teens in the car.

A tragic accident that occurred earlier this year and left a six-year-old Edwardsville girl dead, has been ruled an accident. The accident occurred when a pickup truck was pulling out of a driveway and backed up over the young girl as she rode her bike near her home. The young girl did not die immediately following the accident, but died shortly after in a local hospital. According to The Chicago Tribune, the investigation into the tragic trucking crash has been closed, after a coroner’s jury ruled the death an accident. The driver of the truck has not yet and is not expected to face any criminal charges. It is unknown at this point whether the family of the victim will file civil charges against the driver. If you would like to read more about this terrible trucking accident, please click on this link.

Even though this specific accident was determined to be an accident, it shows us what can happen when a driver fails to pay enough attention to the road or fails to be extra cautious when driving in a neighborhood with children. Chicago injury attorneys want to remind readers of the importance of always looking around and being aware when driving. Small children are not going to be as cautious as adults and may dart out into the street to retrieve a ball or toy, so it is always worth taking the extra few seconds to look around especially when you are driving in an area which has small children around.

An Illinois teen was killed in a trucking accident that occurred on Illinois Route 48 on May 6. The Taylorville girl was driving when she went off the road, crossed the center line and crashed into a semi-truck that was traveling the other direction. According to The Herald Review, the Illinois accident occurred early in the morning and a third car was involved as well. The only person that suffered any personal injuries was the young teen who unfortunately had too severe of injuries to recover and died as a result of the accident. If you would like to read more about this tragic Sangamon County trucking accident, please click on this hyperlink.

While it is unknown at this point exactly what caused the teenage driver to lose control of her vehicle, teenage drivers often tend to be more involved in car accidents than older and more experienced drivers. One main reason for teenagers being involved in more accidents is that they are younger and less experienced than older drivers and often lack the ability to judge situations on the road in order to avoid accidents. Additionally, younger drivers tend to be more likely to allow distractions to get the best of them while on the road. This can include talking to friends while driving, listening to and changing the radio, texting while behind the wheel, talking on the phone while driving, as well as other distractions that can take the young drivers focus away from where it needs to be, on the road at all times. The combination of the lack of experience and the many possible distractions that teenage drivers face are the leading causes of the higher rate of teenage accidents.

The driver of a truck that struck and killed a small child and injured four others and then fled the scene has been charged with five felonies in connection with this tragic hit-and-run accident that occurred in Cartage, Illinois in December. The hit-and-run prison sentence has not yet been determined but the driver responsible can face up to 15 years in prison in connection with the hit-and-run felony. The accident occurred when the defendant was driving a pickup truck with a trailer towed behind it and the trailer broke of the truck and crossed the center line striking an oncoming vehicle. According to The Whig, the driver turned his truck around and passed the accident and drove away after causing the terrible accident. To read more about this Illinois trucking accident, please click on this link.

In Illinois, it is a serious offense to leave the scene of an accident. According to Illinois driving laws, any driver involved in a car or truck accident where people are injured or property is damaged is required to stop at the scene, exchange information and provide help if needed. If a person in Illinois fails to stop after damaging property it is considered a misdemeanor hit-and-run (Class 4 felony carrying up to $25,000 in fines and up to 3 years in prison) and if a person is injured and a negligent driver leaves the scene, they can be charged with a felony hit-and-run (Class 2 felony carrying up to $25,000 in fines and up to 7 years in prison). If a person is killed during the hit-and-run, the charge is a Class 1 felony carrying up to a $25,000 in fines and up to 15 years in prison. While it may be scary to be in a car accident and leaving is scene of an accident is never the right choice. Always make sure if you are involved in an accident that you stay and make sure that everyone is okay and that information is exchanged.

On April 14th two North Aurora teens were killed in a fatal accident involving their passenger car and a garbage truck. According to the Chicago Tribune, the trucking accident occurred on Illinois Highway 47 in the early afternoon near Waubonsee Community College. According to the truck driver the accident happened when he was driving on IL 47 and the passenger car turned into a driveway in front of his truck. Aside from the two teenagers that were killed in the crash, a man was also injured. It is unknown if this was the truck driver or another person that was in the passenger car. To read more about this tragic accident, please click on the link.

Unfortunately teenage drivers are the age group with the highest fatal crash rates as well as the highest traffic violation rates. Several of the factors that are believed to contribute to the high number of teenage accidents is that teenagers are the most likely to take risks, to have a low risk perception, to have poor hazard detection, to lack driving skill and to be distracted while driving. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles website, in 2008 there were 164 fatalities in the state of Illinois that were either teenage drivers, passengers of teenage drivers, or people that were killed as a result of a teenage driver. One way to helpfully lower these statistics is to impose stricter driving rules and driving education for teenage drivers and with that hopefully there will be less of these tragic teenage trucking accident.

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.

A tragic trucking accident that occurred on March 26th resulted in the death of eleven people. The accident occurred when a truck crossed over the highway median and crashed directly into a church van that was filled with a group of people on their way to a wedding. According to Boston.com, among the victims were the truck driver, and ten passengers in the church van. Two child passengers of the church van survived the terrible accident. To read more about this car crash, please click on the link.

The trucking company that owned the truck that was involved in this accident had repeatedly failed safety checks and had received poor safety rating from federal regulators of trucking companies. According to Google, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board has stated that they will be investigating the trucking company as part of the accident investigation, looking at their safety culture, training, accident history, and how they handle driver fatigue. This accident serves as an unfortunate reminder of the importance of trucking safety and the reason trucking companies need to always be on top of safety for their trucks and drivers. To read more about the unsafe trucking company that caused the trucking crash, please click on the link.

Luckily, two children that were involved in this horrible accident did survive the crash. The evidence shows that that the children were riding in safety seats, which are required by law for all children under a certain age. This tragedy goes to show the importance of following these child safety laws and making sure that anytime small children are riding in a car, that the car is properly equipped with safety seats for the young children. While it is unknown at this time if the adults in the accident were wearing their seat belts, the safety precautions taken for the children were likely what saved their lives.

An Illinois trucking accident left a 6 year old boy dead and his father seriously injured. The accident occurred in Pilsen on March 19th when the young boy and his father were crossing the street on their way home from the boy’s school. According to The Chicago Sun Times, the area where they were hit had no traffic lights or stop signs and they were struck by a semi truck as they were crossing the street. Both victims were taken to Stroger Hospital following the truck crash, but unfortunately the little boy’s injuries were too severe and he died. The truck driver has been ticked with hitting a pedestrian. To read more about this tragic pedestrian accident, click here.

It is important for drivers of any type of vehicle to make sure to always yield to pedestrians, who always have the right of way. Even if there are not traffic signals or stop signs, drivers must always yield to pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Association, in 2005 close to 5000 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States and pedestrian deaths are more common in urban areas. Given the high number of pedestrian deaths that occur each year, we must remember to always stay alert and watch out for pedestrians!

A trucking accident that occurred on the Dan Ryan Expressway on February 20th left an Illinois adult and two children seriously injured. The accident occurred when the van they were traveling in blew a tire and crashed into a semi-truck. The man and two of the children were not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident and were ejected from the vehicle, and are all listed in critical condition at local hospitals. According to The Chicago Sun Times, two other adults and one other child were involved in the crash, but luckily they were wearing their seat belts and therefore were not ejected from the car. If you would like to read more about this Chicago trucking accident, please click on the link.

Drivers and their passengers should always wear their seat belts whenever they are traveling in a car. Wearing seat belts have been found to be the best way to reduce injuries in car accidents. As this accident shows, accidents can occur even when you are paying attention to the road and driving cautiously, in the event of a tire blowing out or some other car malfunction. Because these types of accidents are possible, and because even though you may feel that you are a safe driver but you can never know about the other drivers on the road with you, it is crucial to always wear your seat belt. For seat belt safety statistics, please click on the link.

A Randolph County trucking accident on Route 13 that occurred when the driver of a vehicle attempted to pass a semi truck and crashed into a ditch, flipping the vehicle. The driver was not fatally injured, but one of the passengers was thrown from the car and died as a result of her personal injuries. The other three passengers were injured but are all expected to recover fully. According to WSIL TV, at this time the accident is still under investigation and the charges are pending. If you would like more information on this trucking accident, please click on this link.

A trucking accident resulted in the death of one young boy and injured his two siblings and their parents. According to Savannah Now, the fatal accident occurred on December 27th when the family’s van was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer carrying paper products that was going very fast. The victim’s car had just slowed down due to holiday traffic congestion and the truck had not responded to the slowing speed and when it hit the car, the car was pushed off the roadway. While the truck driver is suspected of driving too closely, at this time no citations have been issued and no charges have been filed at this point. To read more about this fatal trucking accident, click here.

A teenage boy that was visiting his family in Lake County for the holidays was killed in a tragic truck accident on December 26th. According to Chicago Breaking News, the truck accident occurred on Illinois 60, when the boy’s uncle was driving his truck and lost control of the car. The accident killed both the young boy and his uncle. If you would like more information on this fatal Lake Forest truck accident, please click on the link.

A trucking accident that occurred on December 17th in Alton is under investigation as to who was at fault for the accident. The accident, which left an Illinois teenager dead, is said to have been caused by the teenage driver according to police reports but an eyewitness says that the accident was caused by the truck driver. According to The Telegraph, the trucking accident that occurred on Illinois Route 140 occurred when the teenage driver was driving through an intersection and the truck turned in front of the car, and the issue is whether the teenage driver had a green light at the time of the accident. To learn more about this fatal accident, please click on the hyperlink.

A trucking accident lawsuit has been filed by the mother of the victim of a trucking accident that occurred earlier this year. According to the trucking accident lawsuit, the accident occurred when a truck smashed into the car the victim was riding as a passenger in while the car was waiting at a stop light. The lawsuit names both the truck driver and the trucking company as defendants in the lawsuit. According to Sunday Gazette Mail, the complaint alleges that the truck driver was drunk at the time of the trucking accident. The truck driver is currently in custody awaiting trial on drunk driving charges. Please click on the hyperlink in order to read more about this trucking accident lawsuit.

A trucking accident lawsuit has been filed in connection with the death of two teenagers who were killed on November 9th while working on the median of I-75 after a truck driver was driving negligently and veered off the road, striking the two young kids. According to The Examiner, the wrongful death lawsuit seeks $5 million dollars. The trucking accident attorney for the Plaintiff represents the mother of one of the victims’ young daughter. The lawsuit alleges that the truck driver either fell asleep at the wheel, was under the influence at the time of the trucking accident or was texting when the accident occurred. No criminal charges have been filed at this point. If you are interested in reading more about this trucking accident, click here.

A high school student was killed in a trucking accident on October 29th that occurred on IL Route 9 near Hoopeston. The victim was the passenger in his friend and basketball teammate’s pickup truck on their way to morning practice when the driver lost control of the truck which entered the path of on oncoming semi-truck. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime and the driver and friend was issued a citation for improper lane usage. According to The Commercial-News, fellow students and teammates at Hoopeston Area High School were mourning the loss of a friend and said that he had a lot of friends. For more information on this tragic Illinois trucking accident, click here.

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 Morton truck accident that occurred last week and injured 12 people, 4 of which were children, is believed to have been alcohol-related. According to the Pekin Times, the truck driver that caused the truck accident was driving very fast and passing cars while in a no-passing zone. The driver also had his driver’s license suspended for a previous DUI and following the truck accident his blood alcohol content was more than 3 times the legal limit in Illinois. The driver has been cited with a DUI, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license and at this point criminal charges have not yet been filed. For more information on this drunk driving accident, click here.

A young boy was seriously injured after he was struck by a truck on September 16th in Lake County. According to the Mundelein Review, the young boy was walking on the shoulder of the road on his way to school when he darted out onto the road and was hit by a landscaping truck. The boy was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his severe personal injuries, including severe breaks all over his body including a broken pelvis and skull fracture. The driver of the truck does not seem to have been impaired and therefore no charges were issued at the time of the truck accident. For more information on this Lake County truck accident, click here.

A young child was killed in Mt. Carroll on September 11th after he was struck by a semi dump truck. The young boy was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. The truck accident is still under investigation and the Carroll County police are not sure what caused the fatal truck accident. For more information on this tragic Carroll County accident, click here.

A teen was killed in a truck accident in which he was thrown from the bed of a pickup truck after it was struck by another vehicle. Four teens were in the truck, however only the one teen was killed from his personal injuries resulting from the crash. The driver of the other car was previously charged with driving while impaired and careless and reckless driving. For more information on this tragic truck accident, click here.

A ten-year-old girl is being treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center after suffering serious injuries in a truck accident near Chicago. The girl was riding with her mother who lost control of the vehicle, causing it to hit a barrier. The vehicle then spun across traffic and became lodged under a tractor trailer truck. The truck drug the vehicle for a short time before colliding with another semi-truck. The girl was pinned in the car and suffered a broken femur and other internal injuries. The mother was taken a local hospital with minor injuries. Read more about this truck accident near Chicago.

The passenger of a 1991 Ford Thunderbird that collided with a tractor-trailer truck was pronounced dead at the scene of the truck accident. According to a report, the Thunderbird pulled in front of the truck, causing the truck to hit the car. The driver of the car and three children who were also in the car were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries. Everyone in the car, including the victim, was wearing their seat belts. The report did not reveal whether the truck driver sustained any injuries in the accident. To read more about this truck accident, please follow the hyperlink.

A 30 year-old truck driver from Spring Grove was indicted on three counts of reckless DUI and one count of reckless homicide after turning himself in on April 28. The charges were for a fatal truck accident that occurred in Kane County in October 2008. The driver rear-ended a pick-up truck carrying a man, his wife and 3-year-old son, causing their vehicle to crash into a salt truck in front of them. The woman died at the scene of the truck accident. The man and his son were both injured in the accident. The Courier News reports that after the accident, the driver tested positive for marijuana. Read more about this tragic Illinois truck accident.

A 17-year-old driver was injured on April 27 when his van crashed into a semi-truck on the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago. Chicago Breaking News reports that the injured driver possibly was driving in the wrong direction on the highway when the accident occurred. Police continue to investigate and he may be charged with driving in the wrong direction. The van driver was taken to Loyola University Hospital near Chicago with serious, but not life threatening, personal injuries. The driver of the truck was not hurt in the accident. Read more about this Chicago truck accident.

On April 25, a teenage boy was killed in a dump truck accident in southern Illinois. It is reported that the boy was helping the truck driver remove gravel from the truck after the load began to shift. The driver said he would pay the boy to help. As they were working, the truck tipped and crushed the boy. No word on whether charges will be filed, however the driver was taken into police custody for an outstanding warrant and driving on a suspended license. Read about this dump truck accident.

A 57-year-old man and a toddler were both injured in an accident on April 14 when their Jeep SUV collided with a truck. According to police reports, the driver was traveling southbound when his vehicle crossed the center line and hit the tractor-trailer head on. Emergency workers extricated the man from the SUV and took him to a local hospital. The toddler was removed from the vehicle by his mother and also taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The truck driver suffered no serious injuries in the accident. The report did not elaborate on what may have caused the driver to drift into the path of the truck. Click on the link to read the full story of this truck accident.

A collision between a tractor-trailer and a car has caused the death of one woman and injuries to a man and a child. The truck accident occurred when the woman’s car crossed the median and crashed into the truck. The woman, from Lawrenceville, Georgia, died in the hours following the crash, while the two passengers are being treated in the hospital. The accident occurred during a rain storm and police officers say the truck driver did not have time to stop. Read more about this truck crash.

The driver in a fatal truck accident that claimed the life of a high school student in July has been indicted on charges of manslaughter. The 17-year-old driver lost control of his Toyota Tacoma truck, causing it to flip after going airborne. One of the passengers in the truck, another 17-year-old high school student, was killed immediately. Two other minors were hospitalized after the truck crash. The driver faces 3 to 12 years in prison. It is currently unknown whether the family of the teen killed in the crash has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in civil courts. Read more about this fatal truck accident.

The family of two minors injured in a truck accident is suing the U.S. Postal Service after a postal truck ran a red light, colliding with the boys. The lawsuit claims that the U.S. Postal Service is responsible for the driver’s actions as his employer. Read more about this truck accident lawsuit.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Kane County, Illinois by Levin & Perconti’s John J. Perconti. The lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a woman who was killed last fall in a serious trucking accident. The 32-year-old woman, along with her husband and 3-year-old son, were struck by a truck, causing their car to crash into the Illinois Department of Transportation dump truck in front of them. The woman’s husband and son were both seriously injured in the car crash. Allegedly, half of the brakes on the semitrailer that crashed into the family were not properly functioning and the truck driver had marijuana in his system. The personal injury lawsuit has been filed, but although the death was ruled a homicide, criminal charges have yet to be made.

For the Daily Herald article, click here.
For the Northwest Herald article, click here.

Recently, two deaths have been caused by truck accidents at monster truck shows. A 41-year-old man was killed after being crushed when one of the trucks crashed into him. Apparently, the man was struck after stepping in front of a truck. Eight days earlier, a 6-year-old boy died when flying debris at a separate monster truck show hit him. Both families have yet to file wrongful death lawsuits. Read more about these truck accidents here.

An 11 year-old was killed in a tragic truck accident in a Christmas parade this weekend. She fell from a truck and was run over by a parade float. She was pronounced dead after suffering severe head wounds.

For the full article.

The family of an 11 year old boy killed in a church bus wreck earlier this year has reached a $450,000 settlement with the insurance companies who represent the driver of the bus. The young boy died from injuries he sustained after the bus rolled down an enbankment and crashed into a tree. The bus driver was cited for driving too fast for the wintry conditions on the highway. For the full story, click here.

At least five firefighters, a woman and a child were personally injured on the Near North Side of Chicago when a car and a fire truck collided at the intersection of Division and Wells Streets. The fire truck caught fire after the truck accident. Five firefighters and the woman were taken to the hospital with personal injuries. The child was taken to the Children’s Hospital with personal injuries. None of the personal injuries were life-threatening. The crash caused the fire truck to slam into a condominium complex. Division Street was closed in both directions while a tow truck and at least six emergency vehicles attended to the injured and the debris from the truck accident. At this time, no lawsuits have been filed. To read the full story, click here.

Two children, aged 2 and 5, were killed and two more severely injured in a Texas truck accident caused in part by a distracted truck driver. The truck driver lost control while reaching for a cigarette, causing the 18-wheeler loaded with frozen chickens to flip. Moments later, a car carrying six passengers crashed into the overturned truck. A two-year-old and a five-year-old died at the scene and a one-year-old and fourteen-year-old were airlifted to an Austin, Texas hospital with serious injuries.

For the full story, click here.

A school bus transporting 21 students collided with a pickup truck and rolled over this morning in LaSalle County, Illinois. There did not appear to be any life-threatening personal injuries. The students were transported to two different hospitals with personal injuries. The conditions of the personal injuries from the truck accident are still unknown. The cause of the truck accident is still unknown. At this time, no lawsuits have been filed. To read the full story, click here.

Six people sustained personal injuries when the cab section of a semi trailer truck slammed into a house on the Southeast Side of Chicago. The accident occurred at approximately nine in the evening when the vehicle crashed into the house. Three victims were taken to Trinity Hospital and were in fair-to-serious condition with personal injuries, two were taken to Christ Medical Center with personal injuries and are in serious-to critical condition and a child was taken to a Children’s Hospital with personal injuries and is listed in serious condition. The cab ran through a stop light, struck a sport-utility vehicle and crashed into the house, injuring those inside. The driver of the cab was issued traffic citations. At this time, no lawsuits have been filed. To read the full story, click here.

The mother and father of a child born with severe brain injuries have filed a personal injury lawsuit arising from the truck accident where their unborn child sustained serious injuries. Both parents were severely injured in the accident but they did not know that their daughter would continue to suffer until she was born. The child was born with severe brain injuries that impede her ability to breath, swallow, and also to see. This devastating car and truck accident involved a stolen truck that police chased at speed. The truck crashed into the family’s car and resulted in serious auto accident injuries. The mother and father are seeking $14 Million in damages for the truck accident.

Read the story here.

Truck accidents are one of the most deadly and dangerous types of automobile accidents because the two motor vehicles can vary greatly in size and power. Some accidents can be caused by weather or an outside force, but too many result from the negligence of the driver. In recent years, truck traffic has increased, as have complaints of excessive speed by truck drivers. A family of five was recently killed by a truck driver in an accident. The family's car was stopped at an intersection when a truck pummeled into car killing the occupants almost instantly. The truck driver is being charged with five counts of dangerous driving causing death. The driver refused to provide a breath sample at the scene, but police reports indicate that excessive speed and alcohol were contributors. A wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver has yet to be filed.

A Cook County jury recently awarded $20.2 million in an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit to the families of three dead teens after it was found that the driver of a truck was mostly at fault for causing the automobile accident that lead to the wrongful deaths. The accident occurred five years ago over July 4th weekend in Indiana, when the teens were driving through an intersection on their way to see fireworks. Although initial media reports indicated that the teen driver was at fault, attorneys for the teen showed at trial that no alcohol or drugs were in any of the teens’ systems and that the driver did not even tap the brakes until 3 seconds after the truck and the car collided. The truck driver also had a history of falsifying driving records and had exceeded the number of hours he could drive for that week.

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