Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

A recent proposal by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) aims to ban truck and bus drivers from using cell phones while behind the wheel -- either hand-held or hands-free. The recommendation follows yet another fatal trucking accident believed to have been caused by a distracted driver. The recent accident took the lives of 11 motorists on Interstate 65 in Kentucky. Authorities believe the truck driver was distracted by his phone when he crossed the median and slammed into a van full of people on their way to a wedding. The truck driver and 10 people in the van were killed.

Phone records reveal that the trucker had used his cell phone for calls and text messages just seconds before the fatal accident.

Trucking accidents in Illinois that are caused by distracted drivers are completely preventable. As current law states in Illinois, only drivers that are under the age of 19 or those who are traveling through a school or a construction zone are prohibited from using a cell phone behind the wheel. All drivers in City of Chicago have been banned from using a hand-held cell phone while driving.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys understand the reasoning behind such proposals, which have been made more than once by the NTSB. Traffic accidents that involve commercial vehicles have a high risk of fatally injuring someone. Passenger-vehicle motorists can be as cautious as possible, but without commercial driver attention, fatal accidents may be completely unavoidable.

The most recent recommendation from the NTSB supplements an earlier recommendation asking that federal regulations prohibit commercial truck drivers from both using hand-held cell phones and text messaging devices while driving.

"This is the most comprehensive recommendation we've made," NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman.

The support for these kinds of restrictions has been nearly unanimous, although the trucking industry is questioning the need to prevent drivers from using hands-free devices.

The NTSB is unable to enforce the recommendation and has forwarded it to all 50 states and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Currently, only 34 states prohibit all drivers from texting while operating a motor vehicle. Nine states prohibit hand-held cell phone use by drivers. No state bans hands-free devices.

The recommendation would only affect drivers of commercial trucks and bus drivers. It would only apply to these individuals when they're driving a commercial vehicle. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this would apply to approximately 3 million drivers.

"This is not going to be popular. But, we're not here to be popular. We're here to do what needs to be done," Hersman said.

Continue reading "NTSB Pushes Cell Phone Ban to Reduce Truck and Bus Accidents in Illinois" »

A new resident to the state was killed while exploring the area on her bike. The woman was killed in a Chicago bicycle accident when she was riding north on Wabash and rode between a car and a dump truck that had stopped for a red light at Wacker Drive, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Police say she lost her balance and fell under the rear axle of the dump truck. As the intersection's light turned green, the truck took off before she could get out from under the wheels. A witness shouted out to the driver. The truck came to a stop and remained at the scene. Police are still investigating the incident. No charges have been filed.

“It’s a tragic accident,” Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said. “It appears from witnesses . . . the bicyclist had lost her footing and slipped under the wheels.”

Our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys understand the risks of cycling in the city. As a matter of fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were more than 600 bicyclists killed in traffic accidents on U.S. roadways in 2009 alone. Another 51,000 bicyclists were injured in because of these accidents. Illinois saw 20 bicyclist deaths in 2008 and hundreds more injuries. About three quarters of the state's serious and fatal bicycle accidents occur in Chicago.

As we recently reported on our Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Blog, the city is pushing for even more residents and visitors to use bicycles as an effective and convenient form of transportation. In an effort to make two-wheeled transportation more appealing, the city and Chicago's Department of Transportation (CDOT) just recently celebrated the installation of its first on-street bicycle parking corral. This new parking corral is located on Milwaukee Avenue just south of North Avenue. This new bicycle parking lot allow for parking for more than 12 bicycles in a space that was previously used to 1 or 2 motor vehicles. This is the first of many that will be installed throughout the city.

Separate bike lanes are also being installed and may have saved a life in this case.

As the city pushes for more bicyclists, motorists are urged to adapt to these new road travelers.

Here are some safety tips for bicyclists, from Secretary of State Jesse White, to help keep you safe on our roadways:

-Abide by the same traffic laws as motorists.

-You must ride in the same direction as traffic. Riding in the opposite direction of traffic is not only dangerous, but it is also against the law.

-Allow at least 3 feet of space between you and a bicyclist when passing.

-When walking or riding your bicycle on a sidewalk or along a crosswalk you are required to obey all pedestrian signs and signals.

-You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on sidewalks or crosswalks.

-When approaching a pedestrian from behind, make sure you slow down and give an audible warning signal to notify them of your presence before passing.

-Bicycles are allowed to be parked on the road at any angle to the curb or edge of the
roadway where parking is allowed. When parking is allowed on a sidewalk, you may park
your bicycle so it will not be in the way of pedestrians.

-Slow down at intersections and railroad crossings to make sure it's safe to cross.

-Keep both hands on the handlebars at all times. You are urged to use a backpack or a bike carrier to hold your books, lunch or other items you may need to transport.

-Ride slower on wet streets, loose gravel or bumpy roads.

Continue reading "New Resident Run Over by Dump Truck in Illinois Bicycle Accident" »

Investigators are searching for answers in the aftermath of a deadly train accident between a tractor-trailer and a Chicago to California bound Amtrak that left 6 dead and many others injured.

According to the San Francisco Gate, the train vs. truck crash occurred at 11:30 a.m. on June 24th on a remote highway crossing 70 miles east of Reno, Nevada. The crossing gate and blinking safety lights were functioning and initiated 25 seconds before the train reached the crossing. Investigators are not sure why the truck driver failed to heed to the warnings in time even as other trucks in the convoy did.

The two other truck drivers and the train’s engineer looked on helplessly as the tractor trailer slammed into the double-decker Amtrak passenger train and burst into flames. The driver applied the brakes too late and skidded for the length of a football field before the collision. The resulting fire was intense enough to keep search teams from entering the wreckage until Saturday, after the two train cars burned out. Among the dead were the truck driver, the train’s conductor, and some of the estimated 195 passengers on board. An exact passenger estimate is difficult to ascertain as Amtrak does not record the amount of passengers that actually board the train.

The National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, is now investigating exactly what caused the seemingly avoidable crash. Investigators are focusing on the driver of the truck, including his medical and driving history, training, experience, toxicology report, and cell phone log. Investigators are currently baffled as to why the driver was unable to see the oncoming train on a clear day with functioning warnings. Reuters is reporting that the driver had received five traffic citations while driving commercial vehicles in the past three years. Three of those tickets were speeding citations received as he drove a school bus.

The driver worked for John Davis Trucking Co. in Battle Mountain, Nev., a family owned company that specializes in hauling ore from local mines. According to CNN, records indicate that the company has had 19 previous safety violations and had a fatal single-vehicle accident in May. One such citation was issued for operating a truck with tire treads so bare that it had to be taken off the road. Investigators are set to meet with representatives of the trucking company this week in an attempt to gain records on the driver and investigate the company itself.

Authorities are not entirely sure whether it was human error or a mechanical failure that caused the crash, and it may take the NTSB a year to pinpoint the probable cause. Lawyers are already investigating the incident to determine who is at fault so that they may seek compensation for the injured passengers and the devastated families who lost their loved ones in the tragic accident.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration’s online database, an average of 163 accidents have occurred at Illinois rail crossings since 2001, with a total of 270 fatalities over that period. In 2009, there were 1,896 incidents at public highway-rail crossings in the United States that resulted in 247 deaths. The entire FRA database may be explored by going to their website.

It is important to note that Illinois has many busy railway crossings and their safety mechanisms can malfunction. Drivers must not let their familiarity with crossings lull them into a false sense of security. Never attempt to cross a rail after the warning has sounded, even if the gate has not come down yet, and always keep watch for unexpected trains. Human error is an ever-present danger that must be respected.

Continue reading "Cause of deadly collision between Chicago to California Amtrak train and semi truck still unknown" »

Chicago trucking accidents are a summer hazard, as more of us hit the road through the warm summer months. Teenagers and younger, less experienced drivers, may be at particularly high risk. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is urging teens, parents and other safety advocates to talk about the risks of trucking accidents in Illinois and elsewhere.

Our Chicago accident attorneys have reported about the high risk of teen car accidents over the long summer break. But when it comes to semis and other large commercial trucks, we are all at high risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports nearly 3,400 were killed and 74,000 injured in 300,000 commercial trucking accidents in 2009.

Of those, more than 80 percent were occupants of passenger vehicles involved in crashes with large trucks, or were non-occupants, such as bicyclists or pedestrians. Illinois trucking accidents claimed 90 lives in 2009.

The FMCSA reports a fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh 80,000 pounds -- 20 times the weight of a passenger car -- and can require twice as long to stop. Trucks also have large blind spots, which can result in passing accidents.

“We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “They are: buckle up, don’t drink and drive; don’t speed, don’t text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck’s blind spots.”

Federal statistics show the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the deadliest days of the year for teen drivers. An average of 16 teens die on the nation's roads each day during the summer -- twice as many as are killed during the rest of the year. In the last 5 years, nearly 4,000 motorists between the ages of 16 and 24 have been killed in crashes with large trucks.

Just this week, a 21-year-old Chicago man was killed while driving a minivan in Milwaukee after his vehicle was involved in a crash with three semis, the Oak Creek Patch reported.

"Prom, graduation, and summer are fantastic times for youth to celebrate and enjoy. However, with these fun times come unfortunate tragedies,” said Sandy Spavone, President of the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). “Through education, enforcement, and legislation lives can be saved and injuries prevented."

Continue reading "Chicago Trucking Accidents a Summer Danger - Young Drivers at Highest Risk " »

A semi truck vs. car accident that occurred in downstate Illinois has resulted in the death of two girls and injuries to six others, according to herald-review.com. Illinois state police are saying that the victims fatally injured were ages 12 and 15 years old, both from Mattoon. The collision occurred on Illinois 316 just west of Loxa on the morning of June 1.

The two victims were traveling in a van that was involved in a collision with a semi truck. The van rolled over in the accident, ejecting seven people. The driver of the van, a 26-year-old woman from Mattoon, was reportedly in a hurry and passed a vehicle traveling east bound. The driver lost control of her van and then entered the westbound lane.
When the van crossed the center line, a semi truck was passing by in the opposite direction. The trucker was unable to avoid striking the van, making contact with the rear passenger side the vehicle. The van then rolled into a ditch on the North side of the highway.

Troopers ticketed the van driver for improper lane usage, no valid drivers license, driving an uninsured vehicle, speeding, and not wearing a seat belt. The accident is still being investigated. At least 5 of the occupants were not wearing seat belts. Due to the fatalities and seat belt violations, it is possible that the Coles County State's Attorney's office could upgrade the charges against the at fault driver.

One of the girls fatally injured was helicoptered to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, and the other was taken by Mattoon Fire Department ambulance to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. The others injured were taken to the same to hospitals by ambulance.

While our hearts go out to the victims and their families, a case like this raises several issues.

First, there is a basic safety issue. A crash like this reminds us of the need to wear seat belts. There is the possibility that lives might have not been lost and injuries to others might not have been as severe if everyone was belted in the van.

According to the Illinois Secretary of State's office, nationally in 2008 child restraints and safety belts saved the lives of over 13,000 vehicle occupants over the age of 4. If properly used, child car seats reduce the risk of death by 54% for toddlers and by 71% for infants. Front seat shoulder belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and reduce the risk of serious injuries by 50%.

In 2008 over 90% of drivers and passengers wore seat belts. Further, over 90% of children were placed in child passenger safety seats.

In 2009, 130,223 people were cited and convicted in Illinois for not wearing safety belts, and 5388 people were convicted for not properly placing their child in a car seat.

As far as a civil claim is concerned, it appears that the driver of the van was uninsured. If an Illinois personal injury lawyer gets involved in the case on behalf of one of the victims, he or she might explore the possibility of an uninsured motorist claim. There, the injured passenger can make a claim against his or her own family's auto insurance policy. Click here to read more about Illinois uninsured motorist claims.

A Chicago area car vs. truck crash has resulted in the death of a 60-year-old Park Forest woman, according to the Southtown Star. One other person was also injured in the collision that occurred Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 80.

The accident involved two semi trucks and a passenger vehicle, and occurred just after 2:15 PM on the interstate's westbound lanes in the area of Interstate 355. The car was struck from behind by one of the trucks, causing the vehicle to spin into another lane where a second truck slammed into it.

The injured driver was taken by ambulance to Silver Cross Hospital. The name of the victim fatally injured has not been released.

The Illinois state police are handling the crash investigation. Westbound traffic on the interstate was shut down for around three hours due to the crash.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

It has not been reported if an Illinois injury attorney is involved in the case or if a civil lawsuit has been filed.

A Chicago area semi-truck crash in southwest suburban Channahon has resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to 2 children on Tuesday afternoon, according to WGN-TV.

Channahon Police are saying that a white SUV heading west on Eames Street was hit by a truck as the SUV tried to make a left turn onto Bell Road around 3:30 p.m. The truck crashed into the passenger side of the SUV, knocking it into a light pole and killing the female driver.

Two girls, ages 4 and 7 months were riding in the backseat. It took 40 minutes to remove the 4 year old from the vehicle. Both were taken to hospitals, one airlifted to Advocate Good Samaratin Hospital in Downers Grove. Police are saying the children's injuries were not life threatening.

The truck driver was not injured and no traffic tickets have been issued so far. The accident is still under investigation, and the Illinois State Police are handling the crash reconstruction.

People that live in the area are saying that several deadly accidents have occurred at that intersection.

Read the story as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times here.

Illinois truck crash attorney Gary Annes of Abels & Annes recently resolved a tractor-trailer vs. automobile accident claim on behalf of a Chicago resident for $825,000.

The claim arose out of a collision that took place in August, 2009 in the afternoon hours. Both the plaintiff and the defendant truck driver were headed northbound on Interstate 94. The tractor-trailer was in the center lane and our client was in the right lane. The semi truck change lanes, failing to observe the plaintiff, and struck the rear driver's side of her car with the front passenger side bumper of the truck.

The impact sent our clients car spinning across three lanes of traffic into the left retaining wall. The front end of her car struck the wall, causing the vehicle to bounce back while still spinning. As the vehicle spun, the passenger side sideswiped another vehicle, causing a third impact. Finally, the vehicle struck the right retaining wall with the rear driver side of her vehicle for a fourth impact before coming to a rest.

The plaintiff had an immediate onset of back pain, neck pain chest pain, facial pain and right ankle pain following the collision. She was taken by ambulance to St. Margaret Hospital's emergency room. Upon arrival at the ER, a history was taken, she was examined and diagnostic tests were performed. Glass shards had to be removed from her face and eyelids. She was initially diagnosed with cervical strain, ankle sprain and multiple contusions and abrasions. She was prescribed pain medication and instructed to follow-up with a medical doctor.

Due to ongoing and increasing pain, our client sought follow-up care two days later at Ingalls Memorial Hospital's emergency room. She complained of increasing neck, back, abdominal and rib pain from the collision. She was again given pain medication and told to follow-up with a physician.

A week later she had an appointment with a board-certified neurologist. At that time she was still having neck pain, back pain radiating into her left buttock, chest pain, right knee pain and right ankle pain. Additional diagnostic tests were ordered and physical therapy was prescribed.

In the coming months, a lumbar MRI was ordered which identified protrusions at L1-L2 and L3-L4 and a bulge at L4-L5. The physician prescribed additional pain medication.

Despite the pain meds, she continued to suffer from low back pain. The doctor soon prescribed a course of epidural steroid injections and facet joint injections. The client underwent injections and while she did obtain some temporary limited relief, the majority of her pain persisted. She then had bilateral medial branch nerve blocks. Again, her pain persisted. In response, the neurologist recommended fusion surgery and referred her to a board-certified neurosurgeon.

The plaintiff underwent lumbar fusion surgery in August, 2010. She then went for follow-up treatment and physical therapy over the coming months.

The claim settled without having to file a lawsuit, saving the client time and litigation costs.

If you have been injured in a Chicago truck crash, contact the Illinois personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for free, no obligation consultation. Contact us online or call 312-924-7575.

Illinois work injury lawyers and Chicago motor vehicle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have agreed to represent a truck driver that was injured on the job. The client will be pursuing both a worker's compensation claim and a third party claim.

In the course of his employment, the trucker was making a delivery in Chicago earlier this month. He was working on a loading dock when a forklift driver quickly turned a corner and struck him. The forklift was moving too fast for conditions on the loading dock.

Immediately after the collision the truck driver started experiencing back and neck pain. An ambulance was called and he was taken to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center.

Over the next several days the claimant's pain became so bad he could barely get out of bed. He has since started treatment with an orthopedic doctor in the Chicago area.

Due to the fact that the truck driver was injured during the course of his employment, we will be pursuing a work comp claim on his behalf. Further, because he was injured by the negligence of another party, we will be pursuing a claim against the forklift driver and his employer.

If you've been injured on the job, call the Chicago work accident lawyers at Abels & Annes at 312-924-7575 for free consultation. There is no attorney's fee unless we recover for you.

A man is been killed in an Illinois truck versus car crash that occurred in downstate Murphysboro, Illinois on Tuesday, CBS news is reporting. The collision occurred at the intersection of Country Club Road and Route 13 in front of a Walmart around 9:30 AM.

After the truck crash, the 72-year-old driver of the car involved in the accident, who is a Murphysboro resident, was transported by ambulance to an area hospital and pronounced dead less than an hour later. The driver of the box truck was not seriously hurt.

The accident reportedly occurred when the car turned left in front of the truck, however the traffic signals at the intersection were not described in the news story. Further, it's being reported that the truck driver was cited by the Illinois State Police for logbook violations.

The Illinois State Police, Murphysboro Police Department, Murphysboro Fire Department, and Jackson County Sheriff's Department all responded to the scene of the accident and assisted in the crash investigation. Traffic on Route 13 had to be narrowed to one lane due to the accident.

Click here to read the story as reported by NBC news.

Motorists are at high risk of fatal injuries in Chicago car accidents involving rear-end collisions with tractor-trailers, according to new research released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Our Chicago trucking accident attorneys understand the risk posed to motorists by large commercial trucks on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that large commercial trucks are involved in nearly 400,000 accidents each year. More than 4,000 motorists were killed in such crashes in 2008; in three-quarters of those cases the victims were occupants of passenger vehicles or non-occupants, such as bicyclists and pedestrians.

Now the IIHS reports antiquated underride guards may result in serious or fatal injuries to motorists involved in rear-end collisions with commercial trucks; 80 percent of the rear-end collisions examined in the study resulted in underride, which substantially increases the risk of injury to occupants of passenger cars. In just 1 in 5 cases did rear-end collisions not result in a car being forced beneath the semi.

"Cars' front-end structures are designed to manage a tremendous amount of crash energy in a way that minimizes injuries for their occupants," says Adrian Lund, Institute president. "Hitting the back of a large truck is a game changer. You might be riding in a vehicle that earns top marks in frontal crash tests, but if the truck's underride guard fails — or isn't there at all — your chances of walking away from even a relatively low-speed crash aren't good."

The Institute has been studying the issue since the 1970s; the latest report found rules had not been updated since 1996 and most guards did not protect the entire rear of a truck, leaving motorists particularly vulnerable to underride crashes when striking a trailer at an angle. As a result, the group is petitioning the NHTSA to mandate better protection.

"Underride standards haven't kept pace with improvements in passenger vehicle crashworthiness," Lund said. "Absent regulation, there's little incentive for manufacturers to improve underride countermeasures, so we hope NHTSA will move quickly on our petition."

Continue reading "Underride accidents increase risk of fatal injuries in Chicago trucking accidents" »

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers hail the government's long-overdue decision to require data recorders to track hours of service for long-haul truckers.

Fatigued truck drivers are a significant danger throughout Illinois and increase the risk of car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 380,000 large trucks were involved in accidents in 2008, claiming more than 4,000 lives and injuring 90,000.

For decades, the government has relied upon a system of hand-written log books to enforce hours-of-service regulations. The rules limit the hours per day and per week that a trucker can remain behind the wheel. When combined with the fact that truckers are typically paid by the mile -- and therefore make the most money for traveling the furthest distance in the shortest amount of time -- the antiquated system has become a mockery that is ripe for abuse and routinely exposes innocent motorists to exhausted drivers barreling down the highway in 80,000 pound tractor trailers.

"We cannot protect our roadways when commercial truck and bus companies exceed hours-of-service rules," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "This proposal would make our roads safer by ensuring that carriers traveling across state lines are using EOBRs to track the hours their drivers spend behind the wheel."

The electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) are in use by several carriers nationwide and can be mandated for truckers or trucking companies that are found in violation of hours-of-service rules. But the new regulations will mandate the recorders for 500,000 carriers nationwide. Violations could result in a fine of up to $11,000.

"This proposal is an important step in our efforts to raise the safety bar for commercial carriers and drivers," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "We believe broader use of EOBRs would give carriers and drivers an effective tool to strengthen their HOS compliance."

Safety organizations -- including Road Safe America, which was founded by parents who lost their child in an accident with a tractor-trailer, have been pushing for the move for years.

The organization is now encouraging the government to use the data recorders in conjunction with mechanical speed-limiters, saying the two issues go hand-in-hand.

Continue reading "Mandated data recorders for truckers could reduce number of Chicago car accidents" »

An Illinois truck versus pedestrian accident has resulted in the death of a 44-year-old man in the Bridgeport neighborhood, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The accident happened just before 3 PM on Wednesday in the 2800 block of S. Archer Ave.

The pedestrian was hit by a Chicago Department of Transportation truck. The city employee remained at the scene until police arrived. The Chicago Police Department issued the driver tickets for operating a vehicle in reverse and for striking a pedestrian. The name of the truck driver has not been released. It was also not reported whether the truck involved was out clearing snow after this week's blizzard.

The pedestrian victim died at the scene of the accident, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. An autopsy is scheduled for today. The name of the victim has not been released.

The Chicago Police Department's major accident investigation unit is handling the investigation.

It has not been reported when the city driver is scheduled to appear in traffic court or if a Chicago pedestrian accident attorney is involved in the case yet.

An Aurora man was killed on Friday morning in a Chicago area truck vs. pedestrian accident, according to the Beacon-News. The collision occurred in an Aldi grocery store parking lot in Batavia. A semi-tractor was backing up to a semi-trailer and the driver failed to observe a pedestrian walking behind him around 10:45 a.m.

The truck driver planned on moving the trailer from one spot to another in the lot, which is located in the 1200 block of North Kirk Road. The vehicle backed over the pedestrian victim.

The 53-year-old pedestrian was taken by ambulance to Delnor Hospital in Geneva where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The Batavia Police Department is handling the investigation. The truck driver, age 46 from Sandwich, Illinois, has not yet been issued any traffic citations.

It has not been reported if a Chicago pedestrian accident attorney is involved in the case yet.

Click here to read the story in the Kane County Chronicle.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys remind motorists of the state's website, www.gettingaroundillinois.com, which has long been a favorite of travelers, truckers and weather forecasters and has been redesigned just in time for the winter driving season.

The site provides information on weather, road condition, road construction, travel delays, preferred trucking routes and average daily volume of traffic. As we have reported here before in preparation for winter driving season, proper planning, especially during the busy upcoming holiday travel season, can reduce your risk of being involved in a serious or fatal Chicago car accident.

“The relaunched Getting Around Illinois site makes it easier than ever for the public to tap into a wealth of travel information compiled by IDOT staff," said Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig.

Authorities will be out in force through the holidays in an effort to reduce the number of fatal crashes. After several years of declines, the number of people killed in accidents on Illinois roads could increase this year, according to state statistics. There were two fewer fatalities through Dec. 14 of this year. So far this year, 877 motorists have been killed in fatal accidents on Illinois roads, compared to 879 during the same period last year.

The site's interactive map of Illinois permits users to map their trips and include stops at points of interest throughout the state. It also includes the locations of gas stations, restaurants, hotels, museums, schools and government offices. Forecasts and road conditions are updated every 10 minutes and the site has averaged 50,000 hits a month since its debut five years ago. Among the improvements in the redesign is enhanced information for the commercial trucking industry, including weight restrictions on local roads and bridges. IDOT hopes the new information will reduce the number of heavy or illegal trucks on area roads while lowering the risk of serious and fatal tractor-trailer accidents in Illinois.

Continue reading "Illinois traffic website provides weather and construction information to reduce risk of Chicago car accidents" »

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule instituting a nationwide ban on text messaging by truck drivers, school bus drivers and the operators of other commercial vehicles.

Our Chicago accident attorneys reported earlier this fall when the new regulations were announced at the second annual Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, D.C. The final rule went into effect at the end of October. Not only can drives face fines and other penalties for texting while driving, a violation can also prohibit a driver from renewing or obtaining a commercial driver's license.

Nationwide, 1 in 9 traffic fatalities involves a large commercial truck, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2008, a total of 4,229 motorists were killed and more than 90,000 were injured in accidents involving large commercial trucks. Illinois trucking accidents resulted in 136 traffic fatalities.

Federal statistics show the truckers who text message are more than 23 more times likely to be involved in an accident, near accident or other dangerous driving behavior, such as drifting across lanes.

Drivers may be fined $2,750 and employers face fines of up to $11,000.

The government continues to focus on the dangers of text messaging because of its exploding popularity and because it involves all three forms of driver distraction: cognitive, visual and manual. The wireless industry reports the number of text messages has increased from 32.6 billion in the first six months of 2005 to 740 billion in the first six months of 2009.

A CBS News/New York Times poll found that 90 percent of those surveyed think that all drivers should be prohibited from text messaging. So far, 30 states, including Illinois, have passed such laws.

Continue reading "Text messaging ban for commercial drivers reduces risk of Illinois trucking accidents, bus accidents" »

Illinois auto accident attorneys at Abels and Annes have reached a settlement in a Chicago area semi truck versus car crash case on behalf of two plaintiff's. The lawsuit stems from a collision that occurred on October 19, 2009 just after 9 AM in Bellwood, Illinois.

The claimants, who are brother and sister, were traveling in their 2002 Buick northbound on 25th Street. At that time they stopped for red light at 25th and Madison Street. While they were waiting for the light to change their vehicle was rear-ended by a semi truck.

The Bellwood Police Department responded to the accident. After an investigation they cited the truck driver for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Immediately after the accident, our client that was riding as a passenger developed severe low back pain. She sought treatment with an orthopedic physician in Chicago area. Due to her significant low back complaints the doctor ordered an MRI. The scan revealed my client sustained herniated discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1 in the crash. She had to have lumbar epidural steroid injections at L4-L5 and L5-S1 on three occasions to relieve her pain.

Her portion of the lawsuit settled for $61,000.

The other plaintiff had back and neck pain after the accident. He was treated shortly after the accident at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

Over the next several days the plaintiff's pain only worsened. He then treated with an orthopedic in Chicago. An MRI taken at a later date was negative for more serious injuries.

His portion of the claim settled for $19,000. The lawsuit was pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

If you have been injured in an Illinois truck accident, contact the Chicago personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free consultation. There is no fee unless a recovery is made on your behalf. Call 312-399-8988.

A truck versus car accident in Mount Vernon, Illinois has resulted in the death of one person and injuries to another. The Southern Illinois truck crash occurred Friday morning on Interstate 57, according to the Mount Vernon Register-News.

The Jefferson Fire Protection District has released information stating that an out-of-state vehicle was hit by a semi truck in the area of the "north split" on Interstate 57/64 in the southbound lanes. The vehicle from out-of-state was a Saab and it sustained heavy damage to its driver side in the accident.

The driver of the Saab was killed and a passenger in the vehicle was taken by ambulance to Crossroads Community Hospital for medical care. The severity of the passenger's injuries has not been reported. The semi truck driver was not hurt.

The trucking accident investigation is being handled by the Illinois State Police. The cause of the crash has not yet been reported.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2009 alone, 64 people were killed in tractor-trailer crashes in our state. Of those fatalities, 35 occurred in rural areas of Illinois.

A downstate Illinois auto accident as claimed the life of a a 28-year-old Chicago resident, according to the Herald Review. The accident happened early on Saturday morning near Mattoon, Illinois when another driver crossed the centerline on Interstate 57.

The driver that caused the accident reportedly was headed southbound in a Chevy Aveo and crossed the centerline after swerving to miss an animal in the road, and then struck the victim's northbound Chevy Lumina. Immediately after the Aveo hit the Lumina, a semi truck hauling two trailers rear-ended the Lumina.

The impact somehow caused the driver side door to detach from the vehicle. The victim, who was seat belted, was ejected from his vehicle. He was then run over by a second semi truck.

The Illinois State Police are handling the investigation. The crash occurred in Coles County. No one else was injured in the crash, including a 22-year-old woman and a one-year-old child that were riding with the victim.

The News-Gazette is reporting that the driver that caused the accident was ticketed for improper lane usage.

There is no word if there are any Illinois accident lawyers involved in the case yet.

A 32-year-old man from Chicago lost his life on Tuesday when he was involved in an Illinois truck vs. motorcycle accident, according to the Chicago Daily Herald. The crash occurred in Elk Grove Township around 11:40 AM.

The truck was headed in a westerly direction on Higgins Road, just west of Landmeier, where it was in the left lane while turning right turn into a parking lot. The motorcycle rider was in the right lane and hit the side of the truck as it was turning into the lot.

The motorcyclist suffered severe head and chest injuries. He was rushed by ambulance to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where there is a Level I trauma center. Physicians were initially able to revive him, but he passed away around 1:30 PM.

The Cook County Sheriff's Department responded to the accident, and the Sheriffs accident reconstruction unit is investigating.

It is not been reported if Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys are involved in the case yet. Once involved, they will certainly look into whether there was negligence on the part of the truck driver in swinging the right turn from the left lane.

WGN news is reporting that the victim was Mariusz Koziel, age 32, who resided on the Northwest Side of Chicago.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, in the year 2009 there was a total of 3,846 Illinois motorcycle accidents. In those crashes, 130 motorcyclists were killed and 3,152 were injured. The State further reports that there were a total of 9,319 Illinois truck accidents last year. In those tractor-trailer crashes, 62 people were killed and 1,603 were injured.

A Chicago area pedestrian accident has resulted in the death of a construction worker in southwest suburban Forest View, Illinois, according to CBS News. The accident occurred on Friday afternoon when a semi-truck exiting the Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55) made an illegal right turn and struck the worker on the Harlem Avenue off-ramp.

The construction worker was employed by Midwest Fencing, who was working a project for IDOT. The victim was making repairs to a barrier fence at the time of the accident, according to IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell.

Because of the construction, there were reportedly no right turn signs for trucks at the bottom of the off-ramp, but for reasons unknown, the trucker still made the right turn.

The semi was southbound on I 55 and turning north on to Harlem. The worker that was killed, Aurelio Rosales, was a Chicago resident. He was rushed to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The Illinois truck vs. pedestrian accident is being investigated by the Forest View Police Department with the help of an Illinois State Police reconstruction officer.

It has not been reported if the truck driver was being issued any traffic tickets, or if a Chicago pedestrian accident attorney is involved in the case. However, NBC News is reporting that citations against the driver are pending.

In a case like this, the family of the victim could have two separate claims to pursue. First, the worker was killed while on the job, so there is an Illinois workers' compensation claim. Second and more significantly, there is negligence claim to investigate against the truck driver and trucking company.

Police are looking for the vehicle responsible for a Chicago car accident that injured nine people over the weekend, the Sun-Times reported.

The three-car accident injured nine motorists Saturday night on the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94) on the city's South Side, according to Illinois State Police. The crash happened about 10 p.m. near 130th Street when a vehicle struck another vehicle in the northbound lanes. The second vehicle collided with a third vehicle before being pushed into a ditch with five motorists inside.

The vehicle that started the accident fled the scene. No one was taken to the hospital in the third vehicle; four people were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Among the passengers in the car forced into the ditch: One person was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious to critical condition; two were taken to Metro South Medical Center and one was transported to Roseland Community Hospital.

Elsewhere over the weekend, an Illinois motorcycle accident claimed the life of a rider in Will County. The accident happened on Center Point Drive in Elmwood when the motorcycle veered off the roadway and crashed shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday. The rider was taken to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead.

A Chicago semi accident claimed the life of a 92-year-old woman on Friday afternoon in Riverside, the Breaking News Center reported.

Police responded to the crash at First and Forest avenues at about 1:30 p.m. Police found a heavily damaged 2001 Chevy Impala sitting in the intersection and a semi sitting in a nearby wooded area. A 92-year old passenger in the Impala was transported to Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, where she was pronounced dead. Several other occupants were also transported to the hospital.

Cause of the accident remains under investigation.

A Chicago semi accident forced the closure of the northbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway early Wednesday morning, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The crash happened at about 3 a.m. near the 67th Street exit. Northbound lanes were closed after a semi pulling a double trailer was involved in an accident with three other vehicles. The truck jacknifed, causing fuel to spill across the road from one of its tanks, according to Illinois State Police.

A Hazmat crew worked with the Illinois Department of Transportation to clear the scene.

Illinois trucking accidents pose a serious threat to passenger cars. Despite the relative few number of large trucks on the road, trucking accidents accounted for 10 percent of Illinois traffic fatalities in 2008, according to the Department of Transportation.

The occupants of a passenger car involved in an accident with a large truck are the frequent victims.

A total of 14,632 trucking accidents were reported in Illinois that year, claiming 115 lives and injuring 2,940. Of the 115 killed, only 5 were occupants of a tractor trailer. Ninety-nine occupants of other vehicles were killed, along with eight pedestrians and a bicyclist.

Of the 2,940 reported injuries, three-quarters involved victims outside the truck.

The vast majority of Illinois trucking accidents occurred in urban areas: 12,101 compared to 2,531 in rural areas. Accidents on highways accounted for more than half of all urban trucking accidents in Illinois, although nearly 3,000 occurred on city streets.

Nationwide, 380,000 large trucks were involved in accidents in the United States in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 4,229 people were killed and more than 90,000 injured.

An Illinois pedestrian accident has claimed the life of a woman that was struck by a minivan in Lombard on Monday night, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Another pedestrian was critically injured.

The accident happened when a Jewel semi truck that was traveling eastbound on Roosevelt Road collided with a minivan that was headed northbound on Main Street. The minivan then lost control and rolled over, hitting a man and woman walking on the sidewalk.

The male pedestrian's legs were pinned under the minivan and bystanders came to his rescue, lifting the van off of his legs and freeing him. Both victims were rushed to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. The female pedestrian died Tuesday morning.

The accident is being investigated by the Lombard Police Department. It has not been reported if any traffic tickets were issued or which driver caused the crash.

Click here to read the story as reported by the Chicago Breaking News Center.

A Chicago semi accident claimed the life of a 6-year-old boy and critically injured his father in a Friday afternoon accident on the South Side, WBBM News reported.

The semi was southbound on South Ashland Avenue when it struck the victims as they attempted to cross the street between West 18th and West 19th streets shortly after 3 p.m. The Chicago Tribune reported the semi was traveling cab-only, and was not towing a trailer at the time of the accident.

Father and son were both transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

The child was pronounced dead at 3:38 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. The 45-year-old man remained hospitalized in critical condition over the weekend.

The 67-year-old truck driver, of Fortville, Indiana, was ticketed for striking a pedestrian in the roadway, according to police. No additional charges are expected.

Police say the victims were hit as they attempted to cross the street at an intersection that lacks signs, stoplights or other traffic control devices. The street was closed for several hours while police investigated.

The boy was a student at Cooper Elementary School, which is just a block east of the intersection and lets out at 3 p.m. A retired police officer who witnesses the accident questioned why no crossing guards were posted at the intersection, which he said gets busy after school.

There were 14,632 Illinois semi accidents in 2008, which killed 115 people and injured 2,940, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Eight pedestrians were killed and 30 more were injured in Illinois accidents involving semis.

Three-quarters of all fatal car accidents occur in urban areas or withing 5 miles of an urban area, according to new research released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As reported earlier this month on Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Chicago is the third-most congested urban area in the country after Los Angeles and New York, leading to an increased risk of serious or fatal Chicago car accidents.

In Illinois, the numbers are even more striking -- 94 percent -- or 19 of every 20 fatal accidents -- occur within 10 miles of an urban area.

-95 percent of speed-related traffic fatalities in Illinois occur in and around urban areas.
-95 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents in Illinois occur in and around urban areas.
-99 percent of fatal Illinois pedestrian accidents occur in and around urban areas.
-96 percent of fatal Illinois trucking accidents occur in and around urban areas.
-94 percent of fatal Illinois drunk driving accidents occur in and around urban areas.

Nationwide, the numbers trend lower than they do in Illinois but are still striking:

-More than half (53 percent) of fatal motorcycle crashes occur in urban areas -- 9 in 10 fatal motorcycle crashes occur within 10 miles of an urban area.

-74 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas -- while 95 percent occur within 10 miles of an urban area.

-About one-third of fatal trucking accidents occur in urban areas -- 83 percent occur within 10 miles of an urban area.

-Two-third of all interstate highway fatalities occur within 2.5 miles of an urban area.

-85 percent of all speed-related fatal traffic crashes occur within 10 miles of an urban area.

-86 percent of all fatal drunk driving accidents occur within 10 miles of an urban area.

Continue reading "Illinois traffic fatalities center around Chicago accidents" »

Lawmakers are considering a back-to-back increase in the speed limit for semis and large trucks, which opponents contend could increase the risk of Illinois trucking accidents.

Lawmakers in the senate have proposed a law that would increase the speed limit to 70 mph on downstate highways. The new rule would apply to both cars and trucks and effect mostly rural interstate highways, WJBD News reported.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Dale Risinger, of Peoria, said he didn't think the increased speed for trucks would be a safety hazard. "Thirty-three states have 70 mph or greater on their highways, and those that have raised their speed limits have shown their accident rates haven't increased."

As reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers blog, Illinois semis were just given the green light on Jan. 1 to increase speeds to 65 mph on most interstates outside the Chicago area.

Before Gov. Pat Quinn signed that increase into law, trucks were limited to 55 mph on Illinois highways.

Like that increase, the proposed legislation would not allow the higher speed limit for trucks traveling in Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake, Mchenry and Will counties in the Chicago area.

Many people underestimate the increase in force that comes with a Chicago car accident at interstate speeds. As we reported last year in our Illinois Safe Driving series, speed not only increases a driver's reaction time, it exponentially increases the force of collision -- so an accident is not twice as likely to be fatal at 50 mph than at 25 mph -- federal research shows it is 15 times more likely to be fatal.

Continue reading "Increased speeds could increase risk of Illinois car accidents and Interstate trucking accidents" »

A 36-year-old woman was struck and killed by a semi early last Tuesday morning, after stopping her vehicle on the Tri-State Tollway to check for a flat tire, the Chicago Breaking News Center reported.

The Chicago trucking accident occurred shortly after midnight. The victim was southbound on I-294 when she pulled over at Rexford Road in Alsip to check for a flat tire on the passenger side of her vehicle, according to the Illinois State Police.

Moments later, a semi struck her and side-swiped the driver's side of her vehicle, police reported. The Frankfurt woman was identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police reported that drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the accident, which remains under investigation. The semi driver was being questioned on Tuesday but was not under arrest.

In 2008, a total of 135 pedestrians were killed in Illinois traffic accidents and more than 5,400 were injured --accounting for about 15 percent of all Illinois traffic fatalities.

A total of 14,632 Illinois trucking accidents were reported in 2008. More than 12,000 occurred in large urban areas, primarily Chicago. Illinois accidents involving semi tractor-trailers killed 115 and injured 2,940. Eight of the deaths and 30 of the injuries involved Illinois pedestrians, according to IDOT.

As reported earlier this month on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer blog, Scott's Law mandates that motorists move over for stopped law enforcement or safety vehicles.

Moving into an outside lane whenever possible is also a good way to help ensure the safety of motorists in or around stranded or disabled vehicles at the side of the road.

One person was critically injured in a Chicago bus accident involving the congressional campaign bus of Republican Robert Dold, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Dold was not aboard the bus when it crashed in Glenview late on Friday, January 29th. He was the eventual winner for the nomination in Illinois' 10th Congressional District, which stretches from Chicago's northern suburbs to the Wisconsin border.

Glenview police reported that the bus was eastbound when a westbound BMW turned into its path. The driver of the BMW was taken to Advocate Lutheran Hospital in Park Ridge. Cause of the Illinois bus accident remains under investigation.

The bus is rented to the campaign and was returning home for the night. No one from the campaign was involved in the accident, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

While initial reports are that the car turned in front of the bus, and perhaps caused the accident, commercial buses and bus drivers are heavily regulated because of the danger an accident poses to other motorists. Getting into an accident with a bus can be as serious as being involved in a Chicago trucking accident.

Statistics on Illinois school bus accidents in 2008 show that 2,418 crashes claimed six lives and injured 341 people. All six deaths occurred outside the bus, including three occupants of other vehicles, and three pedestrians.

A total of 136 large trucks and 12 buses were involved in fatal crashes in Illinois during 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Another 3,337 were injured in Illinois trucking accidents while 963 were injured in accidents involving buses in Illinois.

The federal government issued tough new federal guidelines this week, making texting illegal for all commercial truck and bus drivers.

As the Chicago bus accident lawyers and the Illinois trucking accident attorneys at Abels & Annes reported last fall, the new ban is the outcome of a federal distracted driving summit.

The prohibition is effective immediately, according to CNN. While new Illinois state law already prohibits texting for all drivers, the federal ban targeting commercial truck and bus drivers in important because of the large numbers of out-of-state commercial drivers on Illinois roads.

In 2008, fatal Illinois trucking accidents claimed 136 lives, making Illinois one of the deadliest states in the nation for semi accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe," said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving."

Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles face fines of up to $2,750.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a driver's eyes are off the road for 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds while texting and texting drivers are 20 times more likely to get into an accident.

Continue reading "Federal texting ban could reduce Illinois trucking accidents, Chicago bus accidents " »

A Chicago trucking accident involving three vehicles, including a milk truck, occurred about 8 a.m. Saturday on Illinois Highway 53, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center.

The Chicago car accident happened on Highway 53 just north of Kirchoff Road near Rolling Meadows, Illinois State Police reported.

Authorities reported a driver cutting across lanes to make his exit caused the milk truck to roll over and spill its cargo.

The vehicles were headed south, three abreast, when the 22-year-old driver in the far left lane attempted to cut his Toyota Highlander SUV across traffic to make his exit.

The adjacent car swerved to try to avoid a collision. But, in doing so, the Mazda sedan collided with the milk truck. The truck lost control and tipped over on its right side, spilling its load of milk across the roadway.

Both the driver of the Mazda and the driver of the milk truck were taken to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries. The driver of the SUV was uninjured and charged with a lane violation.

Lane violations are a significant cause of serious and fatal Illinois traffic accidents.

In 2008, lane violations were responsible for 146 of 950 fatalities tracked by the Illinois Department of Transportation -- the highest total of any category for which a traffic-control violation was cited as the cause. Almost 6,000 people were injured in more than 35,000 Illinois car accidents attributed to lane violations.

An Auora man was serious injured in a suburban Chicago car accident involving a semi after a large block of ice flew off the top of the truck and slammed through the car's windshield.

The Illinois trucking accident occurred when the westbound semi drove beneath an overpass, causing a sheet of ice to smash through the car windshield and into the driver.

"There was blood everywhere, pouring from my head, nose and my eye. I was scared that I was losing so much blood that I was going to die," the victim told the Chicago Tribune.

The victim said he was headed to a daycare center his wife owns. He initially feared he was trapped by the large chunk of ice that landed in his lap but managed to push open the door and stumble away for help.

The truck driver continued west but other drivers stopped to help the man. The truck was described as a semi with a white trailer but witnesses were unable to provide a better description, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The DuPage sheriff's office is investigating the accident and is asking anyone with information to contact deputies at (630) 407-2400. The sheriff issued a bulletin of one safety precaution drivers can take to help protect themselves: leave plenty of room when following a commercial vehicle, especially in bad weather.

The victim suffered serious injuries to his face that threaten his sight, including a shattered orbital bone beneath his eye socket, glass in his eye and cuts to his lid and iris. He is at home recovering after surgery this week.

New Jersey recently passed a law allow for fines for vehicles with a dangerous accumulation of snow. Safety advocates are pushing for a similar law in Illinois. A spokesman for the Mid-West Truckers Association told the Tribune no such law exists for semis because there is no safe way to remove it. Clean off a trailer, would require the driver to climb 13 1/2 feet in the air and walk on snow and ice on the top of a truck.

"There might be more opportunity for accidents if individuals were required to climb on top of a truck," he said.

The victim said he believes the semi driver is responsible for his injuries.

On the Northwest Side of Chicago a pedestrian was hit and killed by a semi truck while crossing the street, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The pedestrian vs. truck accident happened at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Ashland Avenue around 10:30 p.m. in the Wicker Park neighborhood.

The victim, a 59 year old male Chicago resident, was taken to Cook County Stroger Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

The Chicago Police Department's Major Accident Investigation Unit is handling the crash investigation. No tickets had been issued to the truck driver as of this morning, however the investigation is most likely not yet complete. What exactly caused the accident has not been reported. Whether tickets are issued could depend on if there were independent witnesses to the accident.

As for a civil lawsuit against the truck driver and the trucking company, it is a good bet that the family of the victim will retain a Chicago personal injury lawyer to investigate a potential case.

Also see the story as reported by NBC News.

The past 24 hours was a dangerous time to be on the roads on the North Side of Chicago. In addition to the pedestrian accident in Wicker park, there was a motor vehicle accident on the Kennedy Expressway involving 3 motorcycles and a car, and there was a rollover SUV accident on the Edens Expressway in Skokie early Sunday where two people were killed.

The crash on the Kennedy caused all three lanes to be shut down for a period of time and backed up traffic for miles, according to the Chicago Breaking News Center. Two of the motorcycle riders were taken to Stroger and the 3rd was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A women in the car was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

The American Trucking Association is rolling out an 18-point safety plan this month that it claims will improve highway safety, in part as a response to the recent $23.8 million jury award stemming from a 2004 Chicago trucking accident that claimed two lives near Plainfield, Illinois.

The Chicago trucking accident lawyers at Abels & Annes applaud any move that will improve trucking safety. A 4,000 pound passenger vehicle doesn't stand a chance against an 80,000 pound semi traveling at 70 mph. Jury awards are often high because the injuries are catastrophic and liability can be compounded by overweight trucks, tired or inexperienced truck drivers and unsafe or poorly maintained trucks as trucking companies struggle to remain profitable in a tight economy.

"As the U.S. logistics and freight industry becomes increasingly dedicated to meeting ever-tighter supply chain delivery windows, American trucking fleets are trying to become even safer," the ATA announced, noting the industry claims to be the safest it has been since the U.S. Department of Transportation began keeping crash statistics in 1975.

Safety advocates believe the 18-point plan is a move in the right direction.

“I appreciate all the work that’s been done and I believe (the new safety agenda) is a good platform as we move into the next highway authorization process,” said John Hill, a former former Federal Motor Carrier Safety administrator. ATA’s new strategies “specifically address driver deficiency areas and give drivers tool they need to improve highway safety."

Others argue the plan is aimed at improving the group's image as it pushes for even heavier trucks, approaching 100,000 pounds. The Truck Safety Coalition blasted ATA for not going far enough.

“This is about longer and heavier trucks,” said Jennifer Tierney of Kernersville, N.C., who says her father was killed in a truck-related accident. “That’s what their agenda is. Bigger vehicles are more dangerous vehicles."

Tierney said if the trucking industry were serious, it would commit to reducing truck driver fatigue by reducing the legal hours they can drive (which is now up to 88 hours in a little over a week), support electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) and support increased mandatory behind-the-wheel driver training.

Yet advocates for the trucking industry say the number of trucks involved in fatal crashes has dropped 10 percent in the past two decades, despite a 50 percent increase in the number of registered trucks and a 70 percent increase in truck miles traveled.

The ATA's plan calls for:

Improving Driver Performance:
1. Policy on the use of non-integrated technologies while the vehicle is in motion
2. Policy supporting uniform commercial drivers license (CDL) testing standards
3. Policy supporting a CDL graduated licensing study
4. Policy supporting additional parking facilities for trucks
5. Policy supporting a national maximum 65mph speed limit for all vehicles
6. Policy supporting strategies to increase the use of seat belts
7. Policy supporting a national car-truck driver behavior improvement program
8. Policy supporting increased use of red light cameras and automated speed enforcement
9. Policy supporting graduated licensing standards in all states for non-commercial teen drivers
10. Policy supporting more stringent laws to reduce drinking and driving
Safer Vehicles:
11. Policy supporting targeted electronic speed governing of certain non-commercial vehicles
12. Policy supporting electronic speed governing of all large trucks manufactured since 1992
13. Policy supporting new large truck crashworthiness standards
Safer Motor Carriers:
14. Policy supporting a national employer notification system
15. Policy supporting a national clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol test results of
CDL holders
16. Policy supporting a national registry of certified medical examiners
17. Policy supporting access to the national Driver Information Resource
18. Policy supporting required safety training by new entrant motor carriers
For more details on ATA’s 18-point safety initiative, go to www.truckline.com.

Continue reading "Chicago trucking accident lawyers monitor trucking industry safety initiative" »

The Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys at Abels & Annes urge motorists to review "10 things all car, truck and bus drivers should know about motorcycles" to increase awareness as we enter the summer riding season.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 5,154 motorcyclists were killed in the United States in 2007 and another 103,000 were injured. In fact, the number of fatalities has exploded with the increase in registered motorcycles over the last 10 years.

In 1997, 3.9 million motorcycles were registered and 2,116 fatalities were reported compared to the 5,154 deaths in 2007 when 7.1 million bikers were registered on our roadways.

"It's a fact that car drivers and other motorists are at fault most of the time in multiple-vehicle crashes that involve motorcyclists," said Motorcycle Safety President Tim Buche, of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. "That's why we've initiated several public outreach tools specifically targeting the driving community. MSF has life-saving messages for everyone, whether they are behind a handlebar or behind a steering wheel."

MSF has launched a new website, www.forcardrivers.com, aimed at helping car, truck and bus drivers safely interact with motorcyclists. One of the leading motorcycle safety advocacy groups in the nation, MSF's primary website also offers a wealth of information geared toward safe motorcycle riding.

10 things Car, Truck and Bus Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles:

1. Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle – they ignore it (usually unintentionally).

2. Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car's blind spots or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car.

3. A motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle's speed. Predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.

4. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance and predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

5. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.

6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.

7. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.

8. Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can't always stop "on a dime."

9. When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle - see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.

10. If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.

Continue reading "Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers advocate review of 10 things all car, truck and bus drivers should know about motorcycles" »

In the south suburbs of Chicago, several people were hurt on Monday morning in a multiple vehicle auto accident on Interstate 55, according to the Southtown Star. The car crash involved two semi trucks and four cars. Five motorists were reportedly injured.

The collision took place at Woodward Avenue and I-55 around 7:45 a.m. A vehicle reportedly lost control while moving southbound and crashed, and that caused a chain of subsequent collisions.

Darien-Woodridge Fire Department Paramedics rushed to the scene. The injured people were taken to three different hospitals in the area.

The crash blocked several lanes of traffic during the morning rush for over an hour. The Illinois State Police is handling the accident investigation.

In Chicago, Illinois a truck and a CTA train collided this past Sunday afternoon, according to MSNBC. The train accident occurred at 4648 N. Kedzie Avenue when a truck tried to get around the crossing gates while a CTA brown line train was pulling out of the Kedzie station. The train hit the back end of the truck, and it did not derail.

Service was delayed for an hour as workers moved the train back and got the truck off the tracks. Normal service was going again by 2 pm. The truck driver was ticketed for causing the collision.

While no injuries have been reported at this time, if people involved in the crash were injured, here's what could happen: The passengers on the train have a claim against the truck driver and the trucking company that caused the accident. Typically, trucks carry larger commercial insurance policies, so unless there were catastrophic injuries (and none were reported here) there should be enough insurance to cover the loss.

The CTA employees involved in the crash actually can make two claims. They have a workers' compensation claim, as they were injured on the job, and they would also have a 3rd party claim against the truck driver and truck company.

Finally, the truck driver has a case. Even though he was at fault, if injured, he has a work injury case. Work comp. is a no fault system for injured employees to make a recovery in the State of Illinois.

If you have been injured in a train accident, truck accident, or have been injured on the job, call Abels & Annes for a free consultation.

A car accident in the Chicago area has resulted in the death of a 43 year old woman, according to the Southtown Star. The woman's husband was driving the vehicle at the time of the December 23, 2008 accident.

The car crash occurred when the driver lost control of a 1994 Pontiac Bonneville, spun the car, came to a stop perpendicular to traffic in the northbound lanes, and was then hit by a passing semi truck.

The Southtown Star is reporting that there are DUI charges pending against the husband, but no charges have yet been filed. The husband was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The deadly auto accident is being investigated by the Illinois State Police.

In this accident, the estate of the wife will be able to make a claim against the husband's auto insurance policy for his negligence. While many people assume otherwise, this type of claim is not barred by Illinois law. Our law firm recently represented an Illinois family in a similar case.

It has not been reported if there is any liability on the part of the semi truck driver. The accident reconstruction done by the state police could possibly show that the truck driver was speeding, or that the accident was avoidable for some other reason.

If you or a loved on has been injured in an Illinois car crash or truck accident, call Abels & Annes for a free consultation.

In Lostant, Illinois several students were injured Wednesday night when a chartered bus was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a truck, according to the Associated Press. The accident happened on an icy highway in northern central Illinois. At least 36 people were sent to hospitals.

The truck vs. bus accident happened on Interstate 39 when the tractor-trailer jackknifed in in front of a bus carrying students and the two vehicles impacted. The students were taken to three different area hospitals. Thirteen students were taken to St. Margaret's Hospital in Spring Valley and twenty-three students were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.

The bus was returning from Chicago and all the students were from Dunlap High School in Dunlap, Illinois. Dunlap is a small town located on Illinois 91 in Peoria County, Illinois, with a population of around 1,000.

The interstate was shut down until the vehicles were cleared from the road.

A Chicago resident was killed and her passenger was badly injured in an auto accident near Kankakee, Illinois on Monday, according to WBBM News Radio. She reportedly lost control of her car after being distracted by a cell phone call.

The Chicago motorist was driving her 2000 Saturn northbound on Interstate 57 when she was distracted by her cell phone, lost control of her car, crossed the center median, and was struck by a southbound semi truck and another passing car.

The driver, age 20, was pronounced dead at the scene and her passenger, age 21, was taken to Riverside Healthcare in Kankakee. The southbound drivers were not injured. The Illinois State Police are handling the investigation.

Click here to read the entire story.

On May 15, 2008 on Interstate 290 in Cook County, a client of Abels & Annes, P.C. was injured when a semi truck struck the rear of her vehicle. Our client was traveling westbound on Interstate 290 in the left center lane just north of Illinois 72. The semi was traveling on the same road directly behind my client.

The plaintiff client slowed for traffic in front of her, and as she was about to come to a complete stop the truck, struck her from behind at a high rate of speed. The impact was strong enough to knock my client into the car that was in front of her. Her car was totaled. The truck driver received tickets from the investigating Illinois State Trooper for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident and for following too close.

Our client suffered several injuries. She sustained cervical and lumbar strain/sprain, a concussion, chest pain, and severe headaches. Initial medical treatment was sought later the same day at Christ Medical Center. There she had complaints of neck and shoulder pain, chest pain, and left sided headaches.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Semi Truck vs. Car Crash Settlement" »

On January 3, 2008 in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago a client of Abels & Annes, P.C. was injured when a semi truck lost control and rolled over shortly after it entered the Southbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) at LaGrange Road. The plaintiff was driving in the far left lane and her vehicle was struck by a Ford Taurus that had been forced into her lane by the semi truck. The truck driver reportedly was not sure was caused him to lose control of the vehicle, but thought that he may have hit a patch of black ice. The Cook County truck crash blocked all South lanes of the highway.

Our client was taken to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital by ambulance for back and neck injuries. She also had follow up treatment with a chiropractor in Chicago.

The truck driver was insured by Indiana Insurance. The injury case settled for $13,300.

Chicago, Illinois car crash lawyers from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with Northland Insurance Companies as a result of a car vs. truck accident that occurred at 120th and Halsted in Chicago, Illinois in February of 2007. Our client was southbound on Halsted when a commercial truck headed northbound lost control and hit the plaintiff.

Our client was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, Illinois with back and neck pain, muscle spasms and headaches. He later had follow up treatment with a chiropractic physician in Chicago. The truck accident case was settled without filing a lawsuit against the the at fault truck driver.

Continue reading "Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys Reach Truck Crash Settlement" »

Early Monday morning around 4 a.m. a truck driver headed from Chicago to Morris, Illinois on Interstate 80 fell asleep and hit a median, according to Newsweek.com and several other news sources. The truck trailer, which was loaded with 14 tons of double stuffed Oreos, overturned and spilled onto the highway.

The truck accident occurred about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. The Illinois State Police are investigating. Both lanes of traffic had to be closed to remove the cookies and this caused big traffic delays. No charges have been filed against the driver, and there were reportedly no injuries.

It has not yet been reported how many innocent double stuffed Oreos were lost in the accident.

Click here to read the entire story.

Click here to see accident photo.

The parents of a teen killed when a semi truck slammed into a CTA train station in Chicago have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Cook County against the truck driver and trucking company, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit alleges that the 64 year old truck driver was driving too fast for conditions, ran a red light, and failed to use his horn to warn of impact.

The driver, who is from Metamora, Michigan, received a traffic ticket for the April 25 accident, but no criminal charges have been filed.

The accident happened when the driver crashed his semi truck into the CTA Red Line train station at Cermak Road on the South Side during the evening rush hour. One other woman was killed and twenty one others were injured, according to the Chicago Tribune and various other news sources.

The truck had just come off the Dan Ryan Expressway near Chinatown when it crashed into the train station and traveled several steps up an escalator. Some witnesses believed the truck was going 40 - 50 mph when it hit the station. Chicago Police Department officials have stated that the two women killed were pedestrians walking near the CTA station.

The cause of the truck crash is still unknown. The truck driver was taken to Stroger Hospital where he tested negative for alcohol, but then he refused a urine test and asked to be discharged from the hospital, stating that he had no insurance to cover treatment. He was then released into the custody of the Chicago Police Department.

A Chicago Fire Department official stated that twenty one injured were taken to area hospitals, and eleven of those were in critical condition. Four people had to be cut out of the escalators at the station by rescue workers.

On the North Side of Chicago, Illinois three people were hurt on Friday morning in a three vehicle accident involving two small trucks and a van, according to the Chicago Tribune. Two involved were seriously injured. The van was operated by MV Transportation out of Niles, a private company contracted by Pace to transport passengers.

The accident occurred at 1600 N. Clark Street and was reportedly caused when one of the trucks involved in the accident ran a red light and struck the van. No Pace passengers were in the van at the time. The van driver was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital along with one of the truck occupants. Another person was taken to Lincoln Park Hospital. Two people involved in the crash did not immediately go to the hospital.

The crash was investigated by the Chicago Police Department and it has not been reported if any tickets were issued.

Abogados de choque de camion en Chicago, Illinois de David Abels & Associate, P.C. han alcanzado un arreglo corporal con USA Truck, Inc. viniendo de un accidente de coche vs. camion que ocurrio en Julio de 2007. Nuestro clienteestaba en el Interestatal 294 en el Condado de Cook cuando ella fue golpeada por un medio camión que cambió de carril y golpeó a nuestro cliente.

El demandante fue llevada a Hinsdale Hospital con heridas de espalda. Ella también tuvo tratamiento con medico en Oak Lawn, Illinois. El caso fue asentado sin tener un pleito.

Continue reading "Abogados de Herida en Chicago Alcanzan un arreglo para un Accidente de Trafico de Camion vs. Coche" »

In Chicago, Illinois a semi truck crashed into a CTA Red Line train station at Cermak Road on the South Side during Friday's evening rush hour. Two women were killed and twenty one others were injured.

The truck had reportedly just come off the Dan Ryan Expressway exit ramp near Chinatown when it crashed into the train station and traveled several steps up an escalator used to take people to the train platform. Some witnesses on the scene stated the truck was moving at 40 - 50 mph when it plowed into the station. Chicago Police Department officials state that the two women killed may have been pedestrians walking near the CTA station.

The cause of the truck crash is still unknown. The truck driver was taken to Stroger Hospital where he tested negative for alcohol, but then refused a urine test and asked to be discharged from the hospital, giving the reason that he had no insurance to cover his treatment. He was released into the custody of the Chicago Police Department.

A Chicago Fire Department official stated that twenty one injured people have been taken to area hospitals, and eleven of those were in critical condition. Four people had to be cut out of the escalators at the station by rescue workers. Family members searching for loved ones who may have been injured can call the Red Cross at 312-729-6200 to find out what hospitals they may have been taken to.

Chicago, Illinois truck crash attorneys from David Abels & Associates, P.C. have reached a bodily injury settlement with USA Truck, Inc. stemming from a car vs. truck accident that occurred in July of 2007. Our client was Northbound on Interstate 294 in Cook County when she was hit by a semi truck that changed lanes and struck our client.

The plaintiff was taken to Hinsdale Hospital with low back injuries. She also had follow up treatment with a medical doctor in Oak Lawn, Illinois. The case was settled without having to file a lawsuit.

Continue reading "Chicago Injury Lawyers Reach Truck vs. Car Accident Settlement" »

A Chicago truck driver who caused a rear end collision on a tollway in 2003 that resulted in the death of eight women was sentenced to four years in prison this past Thursday for reckless homiside, according to the Northwest Herald and several other news sources. The truck crash occurred in October, 2003, near the Marengo-Hampshire toll plaza on Interstate 90 in McHenry County, Illinois. The truck, driven by a 54 year old driver, struck a 25-seat bus in which the eight women were passengers from behind as the bus slowed for traffic.

At trial in November, 2007 McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather found the driver guilty of eight counts of reckless homicide and also failing to maintain his truck’s brakes. Crash scene investigators testified that the truck was at least going 60 mph when it collided with the bus. The accident also occurred in a 45-mph construction zone.

The eight women killed were from the Chicago area and were returning from a day-trip at a Rockford garden. The driver was taken into custody after sentencing, as he had been out of custody on a $40,000 bond. He will only have to serve 18 months of his 4 year sentence if he receives crdeit for good behavior.

On Wednesday last week a car that was stopped in traffic on Northbound Illinois 53 in the area of Rolling Meadows, Illinois was rear-ended by a semi-trailer truck and then pushed into another truck, according to the Chicago Tribune. As a result of the truck accident, the driver of the car, Janet Cummings, 41, of Lake in the Hills, died Saturday at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

The driver of the truck was ticketed with driving too fast for conditions and for driving without insurance. The Illinois State Police investigated the accident.

As shown by this Illinois motor vehicle collision, injuries resulting from truck accidents can be very deadly. The difference in size between a semi truck and a car can result in grave injuries to people inside average size cars. The United States Department of Transportation reported that in 2003 alone there were 4,986 fatalities and 122,000 injuries in large truck accidents throughout the United States.

Continue reading "Chicago Area Truck vs. Car Crash Results In Death Of Lake In The Hills Resident" »

In Chicago, Illinois an accident involving two trucks and a car has resulted in serious injuries to four people, according to ABC 7 News. The auto accident took place Monday on the Dan Ryan Expressway ramp connecting the inbound Dan Ryan to outbound Interstate 290. The crash took place around 6:30 p.m. A spokeman for the Chicago Fire Department reported that a semi truck rear-ended a small car and then hit another semi truck. The specific injuries and what hospitals people were taken to has not been reported.

The occupants of the car should have a good negligence claim against the driver and the trucking company that caused the accident. Under Illinois law, a driver has a duty to not drive too fast for traffic conditions, and to keep a proper and sufficient look out for other vehicles on the road.

Injuries resulting from truck accidents can be very serious. The difference in weight between a semi truck and an average car can cause sever injuries to the occupants of the smaller vehicle. The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported that in 2003 there were 4,986 motorist fatalities and 122,000 injuries in large truck accidents throughout the U.S.A.

In Chicago, Illinois a truck crash on the eastbound side of the Kennedy Expressway shut down all lanes for nearly an hour on Tuesday early in the afternoon, according to the Chicago Tribune. The collision involved two semi trucks and three other vehicles at Interstate 90/94 near Ogden Avenue.

One truck jackknifed into another truck, puncturing a fuel tank and spilling fuel over the roadway. The Chicago Fire Department's hazardous materials response team was called out to clean up about fifty gallons of fuel. The highway lanes were re-opened once the spill was contained about an hour later.

One person was injured in the truck accident and taken to the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago. The Illinois State Police are investigating the collision and the cause of the crash has not yet been reported.

Cook County and Chicago Area, Illinois car and truck accident attorneys could be busy over the next weeks after heavy snow falls. Traffic times are terrible and vehicles are sliding all over the roads. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has issued multiple warnings to be very careful on the roads and to leave yourself additional time to get where you are going.

It took me close to 2 hours to travel from downtown to the North suburbs in yesterday's commute and it took me 90 minutes to get downtown today (and I left for work at 5:45 am).

If involved in an auto accident, click here to visit our website for suggestions on what to do after a collision.

The Illinois State Police is reporting that yesterday there was a 7 car pile up on Interstate 90 just west of Plaines that was caused when a Chicago resident pulled over in the far left land to wipe snow from his windshield. A Palatine resident was injured and taken to Alexian Brothers Hospital. No other injuries were reported.

I am guessing that there will be multiple reports of accidents in Northern Illinois as snow continues to fall.

Continue reading "Chicago, Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers May Be Very Busy With Auto Accidents As Heavy Snow Arrives" »

A Chicago, Illinois resident who rear-ended a semi-truck, killing her passenger, has been sentenced to prison by a judge in Van Buren County, Michigan, according to mlive.com. The car / truck crash happened by the Interstate 94 westbound entrance ramp in Mattawan, MI. on February 23, 2007.

The car accident occurred when the driver, a Chicago, Illinois resident, drove around a police roadblock and then struck the back of a truck that was stopped in traffic. Her passenger, Karl L. Shaw, 27, also from Chicago, was killed in the auto collision. Traffic was backed up because of a truck fire.

Beyond the fact that the defendant was driving while intoxicated, a speed-sensing device in her 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt showed she was moving at 103 mph just before the impact.

On January 2, 2008, the driver pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, causing death. She was sentenced to a term of 22 months - 15 years in prison by Circuit Judge William Buhl, and she will receive credit for time already served.

Two siblings from Elgin, Illinois were killed in an auto accident on Thursday when their car was hit by a semi-truck in Huntley, Illinois, according to the Chicago Tribune. Sergio Espinosa, 52, was driving with his sister, Rosalinda Rodriguez, 57, westbound on Oak Creek Parkway at Illinois 47 just after 2:30 p.m. when a truck heading north on Illinois 47 struck the driver's side of their car. The vehicles came to rest around 200 feet from the intersection which is controlled by a traffic light. The police are trying to determine who had the green light and if speed played a role in the accident.

If there are no independent witnesses to the accident, and determining who had the green light could be difficult to do.

Last Thursday, January 3, 2008 in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago three people were injured when a semi truck lost control and rolled over shortly after it entered the Southbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) at LaGrange Road. The Cook County truck crash took place just after noon and blocked all South lanes of the highway. By 2:00 pm all but one lane had been re-opened. The three people injured in the motor vehicle accident were taken to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

David Abels & Associates, P.C. has been retained by one of the injured to pursue a negligence claim against the truck driver and truck owner. She sustained back and neck injuries and is seeing a Chicago doctor. She was driving in the far left lane and her vehicle was struck by a Ford Taurus that had been forced into her lane by the semi truck. The truck driver reportedly was not sure was caused him to lose control of the vehicle and thought that he may have hit a patch of black ice.

A hit and run accident near Morton, Illinois caused a tractor-trailer roll over crash on Interstate 74 last Sunday, according to the Pekin Daily Times. A pick-up truck struck the larger truck, caused the driver of the truck to hit a guard rail and then flip over on it's side. The accident occurred during the ice storm that hit central Illinois this week.

Illinois State Police say the tractor-trailer was driven by Gregory Houston, 50, of Quincy. He was east-bound when a gray pick-up struck his vehicle. He also fell out of the truck when it rolled. The pick-up driver fled the scene after the collision.

The accident is still under investigation. The Morton Police Department and Morton Fire Department were also on the scene.

If injured, the driver of the truck can retain a personal injury lawyer and make two types of claims. He has a workers' compensation case because he was injured during the course of his employment. Under work comp the trucker would receive medical benefits, temporary total disability pay if he is off work because of the accident, and he will also be entitled to a bodily injury settlement. The claim would be filed with the Illinois Industrial Commission.

Continue reading "Illinois Roll Over Truck Accident Near Peoria" »

In Chicago, Illinois a truck crash has forced the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to close the Bishop Ford Expressway in both directions at 115th Street, according to nwi.com. Vehicles are being forced to exit the highway at 115th and re-enter at a different location.

Apparently a large dump truck hit the 115th Street bridge, and inspectors are now evaluating the damage to the structure. How the accident happened and whether people were injured has not been reported.

IDOT is recommending drivers take alternate routes such as the Chicago Skyway, Interstate 57 and Halsted Street.

A Chicago area resident has died in a bus accident in Arkansas. He was traveling to visit his mother when a bus he was a passenger on collided with a pickup truck and an 18 wheeler, according to Chicago SunTimes.com. Raul Lopez, 58, was on a Tornado Bus Co. bus that was traveling from Chicago, Illinois to Dallas, Texas. He was 1 of 47 people on the bus.

The motor vehicle collision happened in the rain on Interstate 40 in northern Arkansas around 10 pm on Sunday night when the bus crossed a median, hit the pickup, and then hit the larger truck. Lopez, another passenger, and the driver of the pickup truck died in the crash. Arkansas State Police are still investigating the crash, which seriously injured several more people.

Lopez was a father of 4, grandfather of 5, and worked in manufacturing. His mother lives in Mexico, and he usually drove there, but no one was available to make the trip with him. Lopez thought his vision was not good enough to drive at night, so he took the bus.

Another Chicago area man, Marcos Valencia, of south suburban Crete, Illinois was also seriously injured in the bus crash. He was taken to a Memphis hospital for surgery was was still in critical condition as of Monday.

Click here to read entire story.

A Kane County, Illinois multi-vehicle crash has severely hurt two teens after their vehicle was struck by a semi-truck on November 9, 2007. The Chicago Area teens were traveling in a Toyota Corolla northbound on Meredith Road at it's intersection with Route 38 in unincorporated Virgil Township, Illinois when they were struck and injured by an eastbound Mitsubishi Gallant.

The intersection is controlled by stop signs for north and south traffic on Meredith, and vehicles on east and west Route 38 have no stop sign. After the initial impact, a semi-truck was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision with the Toyota.

The Kane County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating the crash. No citations have yet been issued, and it does not appear that drugs or alcohol are an issue. The Toyota Corolla was driven by an 18-year-old female driver and the passenger was a 19-year-old male.

Under Illinois law, it is the duty of a driver leaving a stop sign to yield to oncoming traffic and make sure he or she can cross the intersection safely. While no tickets have been issued, and the investigation in ongoing, it is likely that the teenage Toyota driver was at fault for failing to yield to oncoming traffic. She had the stop sign.