Illinois – September 14, 2022
Randall Road and Algonquin Road was the scene of an accident that caused a semi-truck driver had to be extricated and flown to the hospital after being pinned in his cab when concrete slabs impaled his truck cab. The Lake in the Hills Police Department and Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded and found the flatbed semi-tractor-trailer, a blue 2014 KW tractor, carrying a load of concrete slabs with the load shifted forward from the back of the truck when the driver stopped pinning the driver inside the cab. Firefighters extricated the male driver, performed lifesaving measures and the medical flight crew from LifeStar transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. If an accident is caused by poorly or overloaded cargo, other parties besides the driver may be held responsible for damages from the accident. Truck accident victims may ask themselves “Where can I find a truck accident attorney near me?” when they need assistance after a serious truck accident in Chicago.
Cargo load.
Cargo is an important safety consideration for trucking companies and is often dependent solely on the people who load and/or drive these large trucks that already have limited maneuverability in certain traffic patterns. Overloading cargo is when a truck is carrying more than the specific maximum weight designed for the truck. A trucking company may do this to avoid making more than one trip that would cost more road time and fuel. An overloaded truck can cause an accident because:
- the added weight requires longer stopping distances,
- tires may not be able to support the extra weight and cause blowout situations,
- mechanical components may not be able to bear the weight increasing downhill speeds and decreasing uphill speed of a truck, and most importantly a shift in cargo weight could cause an overturn or jackknife situation.
Insurance responsibility.
Illinois is an“at-fault” state for vehicle accidents and bases damage awards on comparative negligence, allowing the injured party to have some degree of fault in their accident and still recover reduced damages. The modified comparative negligence system, as used in Illinois, also looks at the degree of fault as a percentage. When a suing party is found more than 51% responsible for the accident, the lawsuit will be settled in favor of the defense. Insurance and legal settlements will be based on information obtained by the victims, witnesses and professionals who arrive at the scene. An Illinois accident attorney can identify multiple factors that will assist in the determination of fault.
Damage compensation.
An accident victim may receive both compensatory damages, which are those damages that caused economic loss (loss of wages, medical bills, legal fees, and property damage) and non-economic loss to victim (pain and suffering); and punitive damages can be awarded to punish the persons being sued, in the event of gross negligence causing extensive damage or death, or caused by criminal acts while driving, such as DUI or speeding.
Hire a lawyer.
Experienced truck accident lawyers who are familiar with the importance of the sequence of events after a person is injured in a truck accident may work with insurance companies toward a comprehensive insurance settlement or initiate a legal action against parties whose negligence may have contributed to injuries and damages. Call the Dinizulu Law Group for a consultation, and to explore legal options.
Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd.
Address: 221 North LaSalle Suite 1100 Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 384-1920
Toll Free: 1-800-693-1LAW(1529)
Email: info@dinizululawgroup.com
