Trucking Accidents
The Chicago trucking injury lawyers at Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. represent Illinois clients who have suffered personal injuries as the result of large truck or semi-tractor trailer related accident. Trucking accidents involving tractor-trailers, also called 18-wheelers, or big-rigs, are a major concern in Illinois and throughout the nation. Other types of large trucks include emergency vehicles, dump trucks and RVs. Persons injured in trucking accidents include truck drivers, operators of other motor vehicles, pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and even innocent bystanders. Our Illinois trucking accident injury attorneys are adept in all forms of trucking accidents, as well as the associated injuries and potential sources of financial compensation.
According to Illinois Roadway Crash Data, more than 150,000 crashes involving one or more large trucks occurred in Illinois between 2006 and 2012, resulting in nearly 1000 fatalities, and more than 30,000 non-fatal injuries. Additionally, for all large truck crashes occurring in this seven year span, more than 80% took place on roads or highways that were classified as "urban" use. Further, on average roughly a third of these accidents occurred in Chicago, and about a quarter in suburban Cook County. Our Chicago trucking injury lawyers serve people in the greater Chicago area and other cities in Illinois. We serve people living in Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, and McHenry County, Will County and all other counties in the state.
Recent changes to Illinois law concerning trucking regulations have provided an increase in the maximum permissible weight. With such increase, the potential for more severe accidents involving trucks presents concern. Given the immense size of trucks like tractor trailers, which under revised Illinois regulations can now weigh up to 80,000 pounds, as compared with an average vehicle’s weight of 4,000 pounds, the potential for severe injury is significant. Our team of personal injury attorneys will evaluate your matter, and discuss your legal rights and available options.
Actions involving claims for injuries extending from trucking accidents are unique, in that they require proficiency in both state and federal law. For example, Illinois law will typically apply to trucks operating within the state, while Federal law will typically apply to trucks traveling from one state to another. Having litigated numerous truck related cases, we are familiar with the trucking regulations, safety procedures, standards and work related rules for truck drivers and companies, at both federal and state levels.
Some say that the trucking industry is to blame for the high incidence rate of trucking accidents in our nation. For example employers who pay their drivers by the mile, present situations where drivers may speed in order to obtain a higher hourly pay rate. Other issues include failure to inspect trucks, placing out-of-service vehicles on the roadways, or employing under qualified drivers. However, there are many other causes that can result in trucking accidents.
Examples of common trucking accidents include those involving:
- Drunk or intoxicated drivers
- Driver fatigue
- Hit and run accidents
- Vehicle condition issues (i.e. tire blow-outs, brake failure)
- Underinsured and uninsured drivers
- Bad weather or unsafe road conditions
- Roadway maintenance issues
- Trailers that come unhitched/ Runaway trailers
- Improperly secured cargo
- Falling debris
- Cargo and freight issues (i.e. overweight trucks)
- Semi-tractor trailer or truck rollovers, jack-knifing, or collisions
- Failure to comply with trucking industry regulations
- Improper vehicle maintenance
- Truck carrying hazardous material
- Employer liability (trucking company negligent hiring / retention)
The Chicago injury lawyers at Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. also represent those injured in truck related crashes or collisions that are the result of faulty product design or manufacturing, such as defective gas tanks, tires, or seat belts. Our Illinois trucking accident and injury attorneys have obtained compensation on behalf of numerous clients who sustained injury due vehicle-component-related faults or defects, as well as incidents involving consumer products.
Our dedicated team of injury lawyers understand the profound effect a trucking accident can have on the injured or family members of the deceased. You or a loved one may have immediate or delayed physical trauma resulting from burns or neck strain due to whiplash, have spinal cord or nerve damage that can result in permanent or temporary paralysis, dislocated joints or broken bones, or even have lost the use of or had to have a limb amputated. At Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., we understand that your chief concern is recovering from the trauma associated with the accident, and that you want to get medical expenses, out of pocket costs, as well as potential lost wages reimbursed, so that you do not have to endure any undo financial hardship related to the accident.
Our lawyers will also fight for you to see that you get medically necessary long term costs covered, such as physical therapy sessions or surgical intervention. Our experienced lawyers will evaluate the factual circumstances and legal issues related to your case, and discuss possible legal remedies, as well as work with other parties, including insurance companies involved, to make sure all of your medical needs and financial compensation are dealt with in an appropriate manner. Protect the legal rights of you or your loved one by obtaining a full and comprehensive assessment of your matter by a personal injury team skilled in the specific area of trucking accidents, such as the attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C.
If you have an injury or lost a loved one to a trucking accident, contact us on the internet or call us at 773-516-4100 for a FREE personal injury consultation appointment to discuss your legal options.