Articles Posted in Truck Accident

Truck accidents occur every day in Illinois with some resulting only in minor damages and others causing serious injuries. The type of truck involved and the nature of the crash may vary but as a group, these accidents result in greater vehicular damage, more significant injuries, and more fatalities than accidents that do not involve trucks, making truck accidents some of the most dangerous collisions possible.

Most trucks are large, heavy vehicles with wide turning radii, significant momentum, and limited visibility. When a truck accident occurs, many assume that a semi truck was involved but in truth, truck accidents can involve many types of other vehicles, including work trucks like garbage trucks.

Following a truck accident, victims in another vehicle may seek advice from a Chicago truck accident lawyer to learn whether or not they may be able to bring a claim for their damages, including any medical bills they will incur. If the truck driver or truck owner was responsible for the crash, often these victims have a valid claim for a financial recovery.

In truly tragic accidents, one or more victims may lose their lives, leaving behind friends and loved ones who suffer losses too great to ever be made right and just.

One such collision occurred in Glenview on Tuesday afternoon when a garbage truck and a car collided, causing the car to roll over and become trapped under the truck. The car then caught fire, damaging the vehicle as well as the garbage truck near Harlem Avenue and Harrison Street. All three people inside the car were killed.

Police are still investigating the incident and have not yet determined how the two vehicles collided or whether any citations will be issued.

Continue reading

A collision on the Kennedy Expressway left one dead and backed up traffic for hours last week in Chicago.The crash occurred Monday morning near Cumberland Avenue as traffic began to slow. A 65-year-old man in a Ford Explorer began to slow his vehicle for heavy traffic and was struck from behind by a semi truck that failed to slow or stop. The collision forced the Ford to strike a Lincoln Town Car in front of him, causing a second impact for the Ford driver. His vehicle was destroyed and unfortunately the driver died as a result of his injuries.

The driver of the Lincoln was taken to Resurrection Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries. The semi truck driver was not injured and did not receive medical treatment, according to authorities.

The collision closed all outbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway between the Edens Expressway and Cumberland Avenue for three hours during morning rush hour but all lanes were reopened in the late morning.

Police have determined that the semi truck driver caused the collision when he was unable to slow down in time to avoid the crash. It is not clear whether the semi driver has been charged or will be charged with any violations in relation to the accident or why he failed to stop for traffic.

Crashes involving semi trucks are particularly dangerous due to the large size and mass of the truck when compared to a standard passenger vehicle. In fact, a semi with a trailer can be 20 times the size of an opposing car. This means that in a car versus semi collision, the car almost always sustains extreme damage and the passengers often are injured.

This size differential makes truck crashes more deadly than almost any other type of crash, as indicated by the collision that occurred earlier this week. With trucks making up a large portion of all vehicles on the road, it is nearly impossible to avoid them, making innocent car drivers at risk for crashes.

What many people do not realize is that commercial drivers, including semi truck drivers, have a different standard of conduct in some situations than others. This is because of the inherent danger that comes with driving a truck and the responsibility that is entrusted to truck drivers. While the increased regulations are designed to keep the roads safer, many of the semi crashes that result often occur as a violation of one or more safety standards or general regulations.
Continue reading

A three vehicle crash on the Edens near Northbrook left four people injured on Sunday night, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Illinois State Police Department reported that a truck traveling northbound attempted to switch from the right lane to the center lane when it was not clear to do so, striking a vehicle in the center lane. The truck then veered hard to the right where it struck a second vehicle. After the second impact, the driver of the truck lost control, veered left across all lanes of traffic, and stuck a wall on the highway shoulder.

After the truck came to a rest, one of its gas tanks caught fire. Four people were injured in the collision and transported to local hospitals. A 10-year-old girl and a woman both suffered life-threatening injuries and their present conditions are not known.

Another woman and a man also were injured in the crash which caused traffic in both lanes to be diverted for a period of time.

Illinois State Police confirmed they cited the driver of the truck for improper lane usage, failure to have insurance, and failure to display a medical card and log book.

This collision is a reminder of just how serious crashes with semis can be. Semi trucks can be 20 times larger than a standard passenger car with a mass to match. This means that in a collision, a standard passenger vehicle is no match for a semi and often suffers extreme damage.

In 2011, there were 10,033 crashes involving semi trucks and 93 fatal crashes involving semis in Illinois. This number accounted for 3.6 percent of all crashes but 9.7 percent of fatalities. Of those fatalities, 74 were occupants in vehicles other than the semi and 4 were pedestrians, meaning that 15 of the deaths involved semi-truck drivers and occupants.

Semi truck collisions are also particularly deadly because semis often travel at high rates of speed. Truck drivers spend a large percent of their time on highways and freeways which allows the truckers to drive fast. Increased speeds means that the forces involved in any collision are significant and can lead to serious injuries.
Continue reading

A 23-year-old driver of an Oldsmobile lost his life early Saturday morning in a collision with a semi truck in Chicago.

Early reports indicate that the driver was behind the semi on northbound State Street when the semi began to slow in anticipation of a left turn. It is not clear whether the semi truck driver used his turn signal or otherwise indicated his intention.The driver of the Oldsmobile reportedly did not slow down enough to avoid a collision and struck the rear of the semi’s trailer, causing significant damage to the vehicle. The driver was transported to John H. Stroger, Jr. hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Collisions between semi trucks and standard vehicles are often deadly. The most deadly car versus truck collisions are known as underride collisions, where a portion of the car or other vehicle is forced underneath a portion of the truck and/or trailer. Both rear end collisions and collisions from the side are likely to cause a degree of an underride crash. It is unclear at this time whether the collision that killed the Oldsmobile involved any underriding of his vehicle.

As a result of the serious injuries caused by collisions like this in the past, most semis are now required to have underride guards on the rear of their trailers. Though they can differ to some degree, most underride guards consist of a horizontal steel bar that hangs below the lower edge of the rear of a trailer. The bar is designed to withstand the force generated in a collision and prevent a vehicle from sliding underneath the trailer. Keeping a vehicle from being forced beneath a trailer means that the top of the vehicle is less likely to be sheared off, reducing the number of serious injuries, including decapitation.

Though the underride guards have improved safety, a new study suggests the guards do not do enough. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (“IIHS”) recently tested several models of underride guards and recorded the results. What IIHS learned was that the force created in many rear-end collisions is too great for the guards to be as effective as intended, meaning that stronger guards should be used for increased safety.

Also important, the study found that the guards were most successful at preventing vehicles from traveling under a trailer when the vehicle hit the rear of the trailer in a head-on manner. The guards were much less successful when a vehicle struck it at an angle or from the side. This means that drivers who rear end trailers while changing lanes are not as protected in a collision as those who strike trailers directly from behind.

This new study shows why it is important for safety devices to be evaluated and reviewed on a regular basis. Drivers should be aware that the guards are not effective in every type of collision and that underride collisions still occur far too often. The best thing any driver can do is be aware of the surroundings, pay attention to traffic, and make sure you you leave plenty of distance between your vehicle and a vehicle in front of you.
Continue reading

Chicago truck accident lawyer Gary Annes has settled a case for a driver that was injured in a February, 2011 collision. In this case it was a trucker who was injured due to the actions of a negligent driver.

Our client was driving a semi-tractor-trailer northbound on I-94 in the third lane of traffic in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The at-fault driver was operating a 1997 Oldsmobile Regency northbound on I-94 in the first lane of traffic. A third vehicle was driving northbound in the second lane of traffic.

At that time the defendant lost control of his vehicle and struck the vehicle in the second lane of traffic. This impact caused this vehicle to spin out and strike the plaintiff’s truck with a heavy impact.

The investigating deputy from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department determined that the Oldsmobile driver was speeding-driving too fast for conditions and further failed to maintain control of his vehicle. The deputy also found that the defendant was uninsured.

It was clear from the undisputed facts that the sole proximate cause of the truck vs. car accident was the negligence of the uninsured driver.

The truck driver had an immediate onset of severe head, back and right shoulder pain. Shortly after the collision he developed right hip pain and right ankle pain. He was taken by ambulance from the scene of the incident to St. Catherine’s Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Upon arrival at the Emergency Department a history was taken, he was examined and diagnostic tests were performed. The truck driver complained of severe head, back and right shoulder pain, as well as pain in his right hip and right ankle and pain with turning his head. X-rays showed separation of the acromioclavicular joint with the clavicle overriding the acromion in the right shoulder. His right arm was placed in a sling, he was given pain medication and muscle relaxants, told to stay off work and instructed to seek follow up care from an orthopedic surgeon.

Over the next couple of days the client’s pain worsened, especially in his right shoulder. He followed up with a medical doctor on February 23, 2011. There he complained of severe right shoulder pain with some low back pain as well. An initial conservative course of treatment was recommended. He was instructed to keep his arm in the sling, prescribed pain medication, stay off work and to seek follow up care.

On March 3, 2011 the trucker sought follow up treatment from an orthopedic surgeon. His most significant complaint was of right shoulder pain, loss of range of motion and loss of strength. The surgeon initially diagnosed him with a right shoulder Grade I acromioclavicular strain, prescribed a course of physical therapy and kept him off work.

Despite his compliance with the course of physical therapy he had no improvement in his shoulder. Based upon updated diagnostic testing the surgeon determined that the plaintiff may have torn and stretched the ligaments of his shoulder. He prescribed new medication and a course of occupational therapy.

Again, despite the truck driver’s compliance with the prescribed therapy he had no improvement in his shoulder pain. He went to see his primary care physician. He complained of right shoulder pain and head pain since the collision. His doctor instructed him to obtain a right shoulder MRI and head CT. There was a slight abnormality with the head CT and a brain MRI was ordered.

Following the head CT our client was seen by neurological surgeon on April 18, 2011. The doctor determined that the complaints of head pain were as a result of a concussion suffered in the motor vehicle collision.

The MRI revealed impingement in the shoulder. His orthopedic surgeon performed an injection of lidocaine into the shoulder on April 21, 2011. While there was some immediate pain relief, it only lasted a few days. The surgeon sent him for another course of therapy.

The orthopedic performed a second shoulder injection on June 16, 2011. Our client received limited relief from his shoulder pain with this second injection. The physician continued the plaintiff’s medication and instructed him on a home exercise program. He diligently performed the recommended course of home exercises.

He last treated with his surgeon on September 26, 2011. He had been continuing with his home exercise program and his shoulder was improved with better range of motion. He was cleared to return to work and discharged.

Continue reading

Trucking accidents are a top concern for safety officials. What’s even more of a concern is tired truck drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are roughly 100,000 police-reported accidents every year that are the direct result of a drowsy driver. These accidents result in nearly 2,000 fatalities, more than 70,000 injures and nearly $13 billion in monetary losses.

Those concerns are exacerbated when the driver is at the wheel of an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer.

Definitions of drowsy driving generally involve varying degrees of fatigue, sleepiness, and exhaustion. For the purpose of the discussion at hand, drowsy driving is simply driving in a physical state in which the driver’s alertness is appreciably lower than it would be if the driver were “well rested” and “fully awake.”Our Chicago trucking accident lawyers understand that truckers face some tough schedules on the job. These drivers are oftentimes traveling our roadways on little to no sleep. Products are in demand and truckers are responsible for delivering the goods. Unfortunately, this demand often leads to fatigued and dangerous drivers. To help to reduce these accidents and to keep truck drivers awake and on their toes, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently issued a new rule to cut down on the number of hours that truck drivers are allowed to spend behind the wheel.

“Trucking is a difficult job, and a big rig can be deadly when a driver is tired and overworked,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The new hours of service (HOS) rule was finalized after the Administration held a number of public listening sessions across the nation. Within these sessions, trucking companies, employers, employees, safe driving advocates and members of the public were provided with an opportunity to bring up questions, comments and concerns regarding the issue and the dangers presented by tired truckers.

The Newly-Issued HOS Rule:

-Drivers’ approved work weeks have been reduced by 12 hours, from 82 hours to 70 hours behind the wheel in a seven-day period.

-Drivers are not allowed to drive for more than 8 consecutive hours without taking a 30-minute break.

-Drivers are allowed to take a 30-minute break whenever they feel it’s needed and whenever they feel drowsy.

-Drivers may drive only 11 hours a day. Researchers will be continuing research into the risks associated with an 11-hour work day.

-Drivers must rest for at least 2 nights when their 24-hour body clock demands sleep the most (from 1 to 5 a.m.).

-Drivers may use the restart provision once in a week.

-Fines for companies who violate the new rules will be strict. Companies can face maximum fines and punishments. Trucking companies can face fines of more than $10,000 for each offense. Drivers can face nearly fines of $3,000 for each offense.

Who is most at risk for drowsy driving?:

-People who drive after not getting enough sleep.

-Younger drivers. Drivers under the age of 30 are 4 times more likely to get into a drowsy driving accident.

-People who work long hours and shift workers.

-People who have undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders. This accounts for roughly 40 million people.

-Business Travelers.
Continue reading

Governor Pat Quinn recently signed several bills to regulate trucking in the state. One of these bills increased the speed limit for tractor-trailers from 55 mph to 65 mph on four-lane divided highways that are not interstates. Previous legislation increased speed limits to 65 mph on interstate highways outside of Cook County and many other northern counties.Our Chicago trucking accident attorneys believe that this is risky move as the perceived benefits of the increased limit could be outweighed by the risk of additional accidents.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concluded that there were approximately 12,545 deaths because of car and truck accidents in Chicago that were caused by rising speed limits in the U.S. between 1995 and 2005.

Congress established a national speed limit of 55 mph back in the 1970s. It was effective at getting states to participate by threatening to withhold funds from states that didn’t comply. The requirement was loosened for rural interstates in 1987 and then it was completely repealed in 1995.

A motorist that experiences an accident with a semi-truck or a tractor-trailer may have the legal right to compensation for their losses and injuries from either the driver of the truck or the business that employs the trucker. If a person is killed in one of these accidents, his or her survivors may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim.

With the list of simplified laws for truckers and trucking companies that Gov. Quinn recently signed, the Governor aims to clarify existing Illinois truck laws, improve trucking operations and allow for uniform speed limits on secondary highways.

–Senate Bill 1644 will be used to standardize gross weight regulations for trucks. There was some prior confusion after the legislation allowed standard 80,000-pound trucks onto local Illinois roads. The bill also allows a 400-pound weight exemption for trucks fitted with auxiliary power units.

–House Bill 2836 clarifies truck length limits. This limit depends on the type of equipment that is being pulled by a truck.

–Senate Bill 1913 will give the state a unified speed limit of 65 mph on four-lane highways outside of the Chicago area.

The Mid-West Truckers Association thanked Quinn for signing the legislation. The organization believes that the new laws will make compliance easier. The laws are the result of a year’s worth of work between the industry, Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

“We want to make sure we have simple, straightforward laws that can be complied with and can be enforced in a proper way,” Quinn said. He added that the changes will help create uniform rules for trucks, as well as help reduce emissions.

Continue reading