Hundreds of different size and types of trucks travel on the roads near and in Chicago every day. From small trucks used for local hauls to large semi-trucks with one or more trailers traveling across the country, these vehicles are no rarity along Illinois roads. Despite their prevalence, most motorists know little about trucking law or how a truck can affect their personal safety. Studies show that large, commercial trucks are involved in fewer collisions per mile driven than are passenger cars but when a truck accident does occur, the results often are much more devastating. Both those inside the truck and those in any other vehicle involved in a crash, like a passenger car, are at risk for sustaining injuries or even for losing their lives as the forces involved in truck accidents tend to be significant and tend to cause mayhem.
Victims who are hurt in a trucking accident in Chicago are protected by numerous state and local laws, some of which entitle those victims to seek financial compensation for their injuries. From medical expenses to rehabilitative care to lost wages, these damages can compound quickly and can leave a victim unable to obtain the help he or she needs unless that victim seeks legal relief. While local police or the State of Illinois may seek to bring charges against an at-fault driver in a truck crash, those charges are not the same as the relief a victim may seek personally and any judgments obtained by the State of Illinois are unlikely to benefit a victim directly. Rather, victims must bring their own claims and speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and options if you have been hurt in a crash.
State police have reported a truck accident that occurred on Friday afternoon and that claimed the life of a middle-aged man. Reports indicate that a 51-year-old male was driving a car on I-55 in DuPage County near County Line Road before 4:00 p.m. when he came upon a stopped semi-truck on the right shoulder. Officials believe that the driver of the car lost control of his vehicle and struck the rear of the truck, trapping the car underneath the rear portion of the truck’s trailer. It is not clear whether the semi-truck was completely off the road or whether a portion of the vehicle was still within a lane of through traffic.
The driver of the car was unable to escape following the impact and his vehicle caught fire, leading to the man’s death. The truck driver was not believed to have been injured and it is not clear why that individual, a 41-year-old, stopped the vehicle on the side of I-55 or whether the trucker saw the car before the impact happened. Police are still reviewing all relevant facts at this time.
If you have been involved in a trucking accident that left you injured or that claimed the life of your loved one, make sure you understand your rights and options as they apply to Chicago-area victims. If you have questions, considering calling the personal injury lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. today for a case consultation.
We have a lawyer standing by at all hours of the day and night to take your call toll free and to provide you with a case consultation without charge and without obligation to you. We will discuss your accident and your options for legal recourse when you call us and everything discussed will be kept confidential. We can be reached toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we are waiting for your call now.
If you have suffered due to the actions of another, do not wait or let your rights slip away. Call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us fight for you.
Prior Blog Entry:
Multiple Car Accidents across Chicago Area Blamed on Winter Weather, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published March 27, 2015.
Resource:
Motorist dies after becoming trapped in burning car on I-55, by Rosemary Regina Sobol, Chicago Tribune, published April 3, 2015.