Truck Accidents
Aggressive, Caring Shoulders to Lean On
At a time when victims or their families are overwhelmed with the impact of a tragic collision, Malkinson & Halpern, P.C. will swiftly provide the compassionate, experienced shoulders needed to help preserve evidence, protect your rights and pursue all means of recovery.
Trucking incidents or collisions are often the result of driver fatigue, faulty equipment, inattention, or other negligent driving. Cost-cutting measures by trucking companies can also cause collisions. Brakes and other equipment are not always properly serviced or maintained. Many truck drivers are compensated on a per trip or per mile basis. Such arrangements can motivate drivers to complete their route faster by improperly skipping rest breaks, short-cutting vehicle inspections, or traveling at excessive speeds.
Why Illinois Families Choose Us: The Client is Our FIRST Priority
With over 60 years of combined experience, our truck accident attorneys will aggressively investigate your accident, hire necessary trucking industry consultants, collision reconstruction or other expert witnesses, and pursue court litigation, if necessary, to protect your rights.
Do not rely on car accident attorneys for trucking collision claims! Investigation and successful handling of trucking claims requires immediate efforts to secure evidence and an understanding of the federal trucking regulations that govern the activities of every commercial truck driver and trucking company. Violation of federal regulations on trucking equipment inspections, limitations on driver hours, mandated driver rest, and other safety-related factors can lead to truck accidents and cause serious or fatal injuries. Trucking companies MUST document equipment inspections, service and driver hours/rest. However, many of these critical records can be permissibly destroyed by a trucker or trucking company shortly after a collision. Prompt action by an attorney is needed to secure all vital records and materials before they disappear. The attorneys at Malkinson & Halpern will promptly engage truck collision engineers and consultants and work quickly to obtain and preserve needed evidence to prove your case.
Our lawyers know exactly what to do right away to protect your rights. At Malkinson & Halpern the client is our first priority. If you or a loved one has been injured by a semi tractor-trailer or other commercial motor carrier, please contact us for a free consultation about how we can help you.
Facts About Semi Collisions
Every year, commercial trucks are involved in hundreds of accidents that kill or cause catastrophic injury. A passenger vehicle or pedestrian is no match for a fully loaded tractor-trailer — also known as a “big rig” or "semi" — that can weigh 80,000 pounds and creates a high risk of wrongful death or catastrophic injury in any collision.
In Illinois — and particularly in the Chicago area — unfortunately major and fatal highway accidents are all too common, especially on major trucking routes like I-80, I-90 and I-94 as well as I-57 and I-88. But it's not just highway accidents. Lake Shore Drive sees its share of crashes as commuters, trucks and Chicago visitors try to share the road.
Common causes of truck accidents occur when truckers and trucking companies fail to comply with trucking regulations:
Asleep At the Wheel
Truck drivers trying to meet deadlines are known to skip rest breaks which can result in dangerous fatigue and the potential for falling asleep at the wheel.
Bad Weather Driving
The federal regulations require drivers to adjust their operation of a commercial motor vehicle when weather, smoke or other factors hinder visibility or traction.
Hazardous Materials
Violation of special HAZMAT regulations that prohibit driving certain vehicles on many roadways, require frequent breaks and inspections of the tractor and trailer, and call for special training of drivers. In addition, HAZMAT carriers are required to have higher minimum insurance than ordinary common carriers.
Out-of-Service Vehicles
Trucking companies often fail to place a truck or semi “out of service” for problems observed in required pre-trip inspection of certain safety equipment, such as brake adjustments and tire tread, until the problems are corrected. An out-of-service vehicle is not to be operated on the roadways.
Deadlines
Many motor carriers require their drivers to meet short delivery deadlines and satisfy “on time” obligations with customers. Such policies can encourage abbreviated safety inspections and unsafe driving.
Lighting and Markings
Failure to comply with minimum, reasonable requirements for illuminating and warning of the presence of a stopped or disabled truck on the roadway or shoulder.
Free Consultation with Our Attorneys
Contact the attorneys at Malkinson & Halpern for a free consultation if you or a loved one needs legal help after a serious truck accident. It is vitally important to act quickly to find a good attorney with specific experience in truck accident cases. We are committed to putting our experience to work for you to maximize your recovery under the law.
Learn more: The Most Important Things to Do If You Are In a Motor Vehicle Collision
