Semi-trucks often get a bad reputation when it comes to driving in the Chicago area. They are present on all of the major expressways including the Eisenhower, the Stevenson, the Kennedy, and the Bishop Ford Freeway. While drivers may view these trucks negatively because they tend to drive slower, on average, semi-truck accidents are less common per mile traveled than collisions involving personal vehicles like cars. However, when trucks are involved in crashes, the results tend to be more severe than car accidents because trucks are large, heavy, and capable of causing devastation.
In addition to collisions that may result by driver error, though, truck accidents can be caused by problems with the vehicle itself. Mechanical failures, blown tires, or an improper design of the truck may lead to a situation that cannot be handled by a driver in a manner that prevents a collision. These accidents can threaten the safety of numerous people in the area including the truck driver, others in the truck, or people in nearby cars.
The laws in Chicago are designed to protect those who get hurt in traffic accidents by allowing them to recover financially for their losses. In the event that a faulty condition leads to a collision, relief may be possible against the manufacturer or a truck, a company that performed maintenance on the vehicle, or anyone who service individual components on the truck itself. Further, drivers may have an additional claim under workers’ compensation laws that may be brought against an employer. With so many possibilities, victims cannot be fully informed of their options and rights without consulting with a knowledgeable expert like a personal injury attorney if they have been hurt.
Shortly after 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, a semi-truck traveling on I-80 near Mokena was forced to stop after an incident occurred and the truck’s brakes caught fire. The driver of the vehicle was able to exit the cab shortly before the fire spread from the brakes to the main vehicle, leaving the truck engulfed in flames.
Emergency crews and police were alerted to the incident and they responded at the scene. Crews were able to extinguish the fire and others cleared the wreckage of the crash but several lanes of eastbound I-80 had to be closed during the clean-up. Fortunately, no one was injured in this instance and I-80 was fully functional before morning rush hour began.
There are hundreds of ways in which a truck accident can occur in Chicago and hundreds of results that may occur. If you have been involved in a collision with a commercial truck or if your loved one was injured in such a crash, make sure you understand your options and whether you have a valid claim.
The personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. want to help you understand your accident if you have been involved in a crash and to make that happen, we offer a free case consultation without obligation to those victims who call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we keep an attorney standing by at all hours of the day and night to take your call.
We understand that the facts of an accident can be distressing so we work with you to help you on your schedule and to help you move forward after a crash. If we can help you, call us now and let us make sure your rights are protected.
Prior Blog Entry:
Bears Cornerback Tim Jennings Arrested for DUI, Reckless Driving, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published January 7, 2015.
Resource:
Semi-truck catches fire on I-80 near southwest suburbs, by Alexandra Chachkevitch, Chicago Tribune, published January 8, 2015.