Truck Accident

NTSB Pushes Cell Phone Ban to Reduce Truck and Bus Accidents in Illinois

September 21, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.
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New Resident Run Over by Dump Truck in Illinois Bicycle Accident

August 19, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.
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Cause of deadly collision between Chicago to California Amtrak train and semi truck still unknown

June 30, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.
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Chicago Trucking Accidents a Summer Danger – Young Drivers at Highest Risk

June 10, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.”
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Deadly Illinois truck crash – 2 girls killed, 6 others hurt

June 4, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.

One person killed in Will County, Illinois truck accident

May 22, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.

Woman killed, 2 children injured in deadly Illinois truck accident

May 11, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.

Chicago truck accident lawyer reaches $825,000 settlement

May 5, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.

Chicago injury attorney to represent injured truck driver

April 15, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.

Southern Illinois truck crash – 1 dead

March 23, 2011 | By Dave Abels

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.