Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

A volunteer firefighter remains in critical condition after a devastating collision involving a semi tractor-trailer last week. BeaumonteEnterprise.com reports that after a previous tanker exploded on the roadway, firefighters were on the scene redirecting traffic around the wreckage. A female firefighter was directing traffic around the explosion when an 18-wheeler semi truck backed up and subsequently ran over the woman. The woman sustained traumatic injuries to the left side of her body, requiring her arm to be amputated above the elbow – she currently remains in intensive care. The driver of the commercial vehicle has received a citation for unsafely backing.

Large commercial vehicles are notorious for the severe harm and injury that is often sustained as a direct result of a collision. Given that a majority of semi trucks range from 10,000 – 80,000 pounds, injuries from these types of accidents are often very serious and frequently result in fatality. Some of the most common injuries sustained in a semi truck accident include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken Bones
- Amputation
- Injuries to back/neck
- Whiplash

Numerous studies and published statistics have revealed that a majority of these injury-resulting accidents occur for various reasons. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently conducted a study which found that the most common associated factors in large commercial vehicle accidents are due to: driver fatigue, illegal drug or alcohol use, interruption in traffic flow, unfamiliarity with roadway, driving too fast for roadway conditions, in-attention, distractions (such as cell phone use), as well as, false assumption of other road user’s actions.

Our Chicago semi truck accident lawyers know that efforts must be taken in order to decrease the increasingly high number of truck accidents that occur each year. More often than not, these trucking accidents occur as a direct result of negligence on behalf of the semi truck driver and/or the driver’s trucking carrier. When the driver of a large commercial vehicle operates in a manner that poses a significant threat to public safety, the risk for accidents resulting in personal injury or wrongful death substantially increases.

If you or a loved one has sustained severe injury, or even death, as a result of an Illinois semi truck accident, you may be able to seek compensation for damages incurred due to another’s negligent actions. Please contact an Illinois semi truck accident attorney to see what legal rights may be available to you.

An 81 year-old woman was walking during the early morning hours when she was struck and killed by a garbage truck in Geneseo, Illinois – according to QCTimes.com. Illinois police reports state that the woman was traveling south on the sidewalk west of Center and Main Streets in Geneseo, when she -attempted to cross Main Street. An oncoming garbage truck made a right turn and struck the pedestrian in her attempt to cross the street. The 81 year-old woman was immediately transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The article states that the Illinois State Police will handle the commercial vehicle aspect of the collision and help Geneseo police reconstruct the accident throughout this extensive investigation.

Our Illinois semi truck accident lawyers know that when any type of vehicle, especially a large commercial vehicle, collides with a pedestrian – there is high potential for serious injury or even death. Recent pedestrian accident statistics for the United States provided by the National Highway Traffic Association and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show just how severe the results of pedestrian accidents can be:
- Pedestrian Fatalities account for over 11% of motor vehicle fatalities
- Over 180,000 pedestrians have been killed in motor vehicle accidents from 1975-2005
- On average, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic-related accident every 8 minutes
- On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic-related accident every 111 minutes
- In 2009, there were a reported 59,000 pedestrian injuries
- In 2009, over 4,092 pedestrians were killed in a collision with a motor vehicle

When a pedestrian is struck by a large commercial vehicle, the injuries sustained are often severe and life-threatening. Some of the potential pedestrian bodily injuries sustained are: fractured bones, traumatic brain injury, injury to spinal cord, paraplegia, and even coma.

Every year, our Chicago personal injury lawyers handle a variety of cases involving motor vehicle accidents and pedestrians and have obtained successful verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Recently, we obtained a $1.25 million settlement on behalf of a 50 year-old woman who was struck by a bus while crossing a Chicago crosswalk. The accident victim suffered multiple injuries including fractures to her pubic, rib, and spinal cord as a result of the accident. The driver of the vehicle ultimately pled guilty for failure to exercise due care and striking a pedestrian.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as the result of a Chicago pedestrian accident, please contact an experienced Chicago truck accident attorney to see what legal rights and relief may be available to you.

Earlier today, our Illinois semi truck accident attorneys read a report on BakerCountyPress.com detailing a fatal collision between a semi truck and a pedestrian. The 41-year-old victim attempted to cross a busy county roadway when he was struck by an oncoming Freightliner truck. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Charges against the semi truck driver are pending further investigation into the accident – including the toxicology results of the victim. This accident is the second pedestrian accident in the area within the past week. The other accident involved a hit-and-run accident involving a truck and a 14-year-old young girl who sustained minor injuries.

In recent years, collisions between large commercial vehicles and pedestrians have become increasingly common. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a study to evaluate pedestrian traffic safety. The study found that in 2009 over 4,000 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States and an estimated 59,000 were injured. On average, it was determined that a pedestrian is killed every two hours and injured every nine minutes in traffic related collisions. A similar study was conducted in 2007 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It was determined that over 265 pedestrian fatalities resulted from collisions with large commercial vehicles while over 101,000 injuries were sustained.

Every year, our Chicago truck accident lawyers handle a variety of cases involving motor vehicle accidents and pedestrians and have obtained successful verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Recently, we obtained a $1.25 million settlement on behalf of a 50-year-old woman who was struck by a bus while crossing a Chicago crosswalk. The woman suffered multiple injuries including public, rib, and spinal fractures as a result of the accident. The driver of the vehicle ultimately pled guilty for failure to exercise due care and striking a pedestrian.

Any collision involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian can be severe and life-altering. If you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, it is important to obtain legal aid from experienced truck accident attorneys in Chicago. Our attorneys ensure that our clients are properly compensated for their devastating injuries and losses. If you or a loved one has sustained severe harm, or even death, as the result of a semi truck accident you may be able to seek compensation for damages incurred. Please contact an Illinois truck accident attorney to see what legal rights may be available to you.

Our Illinois truck accident lawyers recently read on Fox59.com another devastating account of a fatality resulting from a semi truck colliding with a disabled roadside vehicle. A small passenger vehicle had stopped on the shoulder of a busy interstate highway to change a flat tire when another vehicle stopped to help provide the vehicle assistance. Although both vehicles were completely off the roadway and had enabled their hazard lights, an oncoming commercial vehicle drove onto the shoulder, striking the driver of the vehicle who had stopped to provide assistance and killing him instantly.

The other drivers also sustained injuries as a result of flying debris due to the collision. Local authorities state that the investigation is ongoing and that alcohol or drugs were not a factor in the accident. The driver of the semi truck, as well as, his vehicle have been placed “out of service” for multiple violations. These violations include failure to maintain a logbook and a deficiency with the air brake connections.

When a large commercial vehicle collides with a disabled vehicle, the results are almost always tragic. Due to the sheer size and weight of semi trucks, a collision at any speed – especially with a stopped vehicle – will cause severe injury and often times death. With that in mind, when a semi truck is carelessly or negligently operated -- it is not only against the law but it is also an extreme safety hazard to our roadways.

Semi truck drivers are required under state and federal law to adhere to the rules and regulations provide by such administrations as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These rules are established to maintain safe roadways and prevent the thousands of injuries and deaths that result from semi truck accidents each year. These rules also require that semi truck drivers adhere to a minimum standard of care in order to maintain the safe operation of their vehicle. A semi truck accident caused by a violation of these standards is grounds for negligence.

Unsafe carriers and their drivers need to be held legally responsible for their negligent operation. If you or a loved one has been involved in a semi truck accident, please contact a Chicago truck accident attorney. Our experienced attorneys are well versed in federal and state trucking laws and can help accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve from the damages sustained as the direct result of a negligent semi truck accident.

Earlier today, our Chicago semi truck accident attorneys read a report on WFTV.com detailing a deadly crash involving a semi truck and a pedestrian. The 48 year old pedestrian was stopped in the emergency lane of a highway to fix his vehicle when he was run over by an oncoming semi truck. The accident caused traffic to come to a complete stop for over several hours. Local authorities state that the accident is currently under investigation and charges are still pending.

Unfortunately, traffic crashes involving pedestrians has been increasingly on the rise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a study in 2009 evaluating the pedestrian traffic safety. In 2009 alone, over 4,092 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 59,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States. The study also found that on an average, a pedestrian is killed every two hours and injured every nine minutes in traffic crashes. In another similar study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, it was found that in 2007 over 265 pedestrians were killed and 101,000 injuries results from semi truck accidents.

Just last year, the state of Illinois developed a pedestrian law to help curb the increased number of pedestrian deaths. According to this law, all drivers must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian under the following circumstances:

At pedestrian crosswalks that lack traffic signals or stop signs

When making a turn at any intersection

When a pedestrian is leaving or entering a street or highway from an alley, building, private road, or driveway

To persons working on highway construction in a maintenance area

To a person with disabilities

Any driver found in violation of these pedestrian laws may be fined $50-$100.

In addition, pedestrians must also practice extreme caution near busy roadways. In the unfortunate chance that your vehicle disables on the roadway, always follow the proper safety precautions when pulling into the emergency lane:

Always pull far enough over to avoid oncoming traffic

Always use flashers or flares to notify approaching vehicles

Never exit vehicle if there is a lot of traffic

Our Illinois accident attorneys have dealt extensively with motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians and have obtained successful verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. Recently, we settled a lawsuit for $1.25 million on behalf of a 50 year old woman who was struck by a bus while crossing a Chicago crosswalk. The woman suffered multiple pelvic, rib, and spinal fractures as a result of the accident. The driver of the vehicle pled guilty for failure to exercise due care and striking a pedestrian.

The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti know first-hand the devastating consequences that result from accidents involving pedestrians. If a pedestrian is killed, the victim’s family may be able to make a wrongful death claim. According to Illinois Statute, whenever the death of a person is caused by a wrongful act, neglect or default of another, the injured party or their family is entitled to legal action to recover damages. Please contact an Illinois accident lawyer if you or a loved one has been injured or died as the result of a negligent driver to see what legal rights may be available to you.

Our Illinois truck accident attorneys recently read a report on ToledoBlade.com which detailed a severely destructive accident which ultimately resulted in three deaths and one critical injury. The initial collision occurred when a pickup truck attempting to merge onto a busy highway collided with an oncoming semi truck. At the time, both drivers were unharmed and pulled over to the side of the road and exited their vehicles. Two additional vehicles, a semi truck and a passenger vehicle, pulled over to provide assistance for the first accident. As the four individuals remained outside of their vehicles along the side of the roadway, a motorcycle and a semi truck proceeded to collide into the stopped vehicles and their drivers.

The driver of the semi truck who pulled over to provide assistance sustained severe injuries after jumping off the overpass to avoid being struck. The pickup driver from the initial accident, the driver of the automobile who pulled over to provide assistance, in addition to, the driver of the motorcycle were pronounced dead at the scene. While initial investigations are still being conducted, local authorities describe the impact of the third semi truck to be substantially severe due to the fact that there were no major signs of braking prior to impact. Authorities believe that data provided by the semi truck’s speed recorder could provide valuable information to the cause of the second accident.

The trucking company that owned the semi that caused the second collision has had a long history of semi truck accidents. According to federal records, the company’s trucks have been involved in over 389 accidents in the past two years of which 12 resulted in fatalities. Employing over 5,467 drivers, the company continuously ranks low in federal scores for driver fitness and vehicle maintenance. On the other hand, the company did rank favorably for driver safety and compliance with hours-of-service regulations intended to decrease driver fatigue.

Our Chicago accident attorneys maintain extensive knowledge and experience when handling devastating accidents such as this one. We continue to provide legal representation to those whose lives have been turn upside down as the result of a semi truck accident. Negligent semi truck drivers and trucking companies need to be held responsible for the harm they have inflicted by means of compensatory and punitive damages. If you or someone you know have been severely injured as a result of a semi truck accident, please contact an Illinois injury attorney to find out what legal rights may be available to you.

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 accident that occurred on April 19th left one Illinois pedestrian dead and seriously injured another. The accident occurred when a sports utility vehicle crashed into a semi-truck, causing the SUV to roll over onto the sidewalk and trap two people that were pedestrians on the sidewalk. Thanks to the witnesses that worked so hard to save the man trapped under the vehicle, that man is expected to be completely fine. According to the Chicago Sun Times, a group of people that witnessed the accident came together and were able to lift the SUV, which weighed over 3,000 pounds, off of the trapped man so he could be taken to a hospital. The woman that was killed had also been trapped under the vehicle and the bystanders were able to get her out as well, but unfortunately her injuries were too severe for doctors to save her. The two pedestrians that were involved in this accident were a married couple that were walking to the bank in order to get some exercise. At this point, the Lombard Police are not sure what caused the initial accident, but it is still under investigation. To read more about this pedestrian accident, please click on this link.

Unfortunately, pedestrians are killed as a result of car and trucking crashes all the time. In 2003, eleven percent of all motor vehicle deaths were pedestrian deaths. According to Walking Info’s website, the most common group of people that are at risk for getting struck by a car are very young boys that may have the highest tendency to dart out into the street. The least common age group to be affected by pedestrian crashes are the elderly population which is probably a result of this age group being the most cautious pedestrians and those least likely to walk in highly traffic-filled areas. It is important for all walkers to be cautious and alert when walking, especially in areas where traffic is heavily congested. Even though pedestrians have the right of way, many drivers may not always stop in time so everyone should always double check before crossing the street.

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 truck accident lawsuit was settled in favor of the Plaintiff and he was awarded $5.5 million. The truck lawsuit resulted from a 2005 truck accident in which the Plaintiff was walking and was run over by another trucker while he was out of his own truck inspecting his load. His car accident attorney was able to get him a settlement this high because of how severe his personal injuries were, including permanent brain damage, loss of sight, smell, taste, crushed facial bones as well as other horrible injuries. For more information on this truck accident settlement, click here.

A 59-year-old male pedestrian was killed after being struck by a semi-trailer truck in Chicago Illinois. The man was crossing the street at West Chicago and North Ashland when he was struck by the 18-wheeled semi-truck. No citations have been issued against the driver in the truck accident. The police major accident investigation unit is still investigating the truck accident. To read more about the automobile accident, please click the link.