Truck Accidents

Truck Accident Lawyers in Chicago

There are nearly 12.5 million commercial large trucks and buses registered to operate on our roads and highways.  When an 80,000 pound tractor trailer collides with a passenger car, catastrophic results occur.  Statistically, over 4,000 people die each year in large truck crashes.  The amount of people that suffer life altering injuries in these crashes are far higher.  Due to their sheer size and momentum, strict rules and regulations are imposed on the trucking industry in order to keep the roads and highways safe for everyone.  Unfortunately, many truck drivers and trucking companies fail to do the right thing.  Due to the severity of these crashes and the unique regulations and safety rules that apply to truck drivers, hiring an experienced trucking injury lawyer immediately after a crash is extremely important. 

At Pullano & Siporin, we have attorneys with decades of combined experience in truck accident cases.  Immediately upon being hired by truck crash victims, our attorneys work with truck safety experts and accident reconstructionists to determine why a truck crash occurred, whether all rules and regulations applicable to the trucking industry were complied with and whether failures to comply with safety regulations caused or contributed to the crash.   By tenaciously investigating these issues very early on,  we have been able to obtain record-breaking results for victims of truck accidents.

Time is of the essence in these cases.  Significant evidence can be lost forever if not properly preserved by an experienced truck accident lawyer.  As a result, we work expeditiously to preserve and obtain all evidence needed to prove that the defendant truck driver was negligent and to hold everyone responsible accountable.   This includes preserving the tractor and trailer or other commercial motor vehicle so that the appropriate consultant, such as a reconstructionist and trucking safety expert, can have an opportunity to personally view the physical evidence and download all of the electronic information from the crash module and onboard computer system.

We handle truck accident cases involving issues such as:

  • Fatigued or distracted driving
  • Reckless driving and excessive speed
  • Poor driver training programs
  • Improperly maintained parts and equipment
  • Unreasonable deadlines leading to unsafe operation of the truck
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Obtain trusted legal counsel for your truck accident case

FAQs.

Truck accident cases may have a number of different defendants depending on the circumstances of the accident and the business structure. A truck driver may be an independent contractor or an employee of a trucking company, and their employment structure will influence who will be the defendant in any potential lawsuit.

There are also a variety of industry regulations that could impact an accident case and the processes used by the legal team. Industry knowledge and experience is necessary to navigate these issues and reach a successful conclusion.

Many trucks are now equipped with a specialized computer system that videographically record the crash, track movement, speed, and location of trucks at all time.  This evidence can be lost if not preserved in the proper manner within a relatively short period of time.  Our attorneys will immediately preserve this type of evidence if available and gather evidence including driving logs and vehicle inspection reports in addition to all of the normal evidence gathered in motor vehicle accident cases. Trucking companies are also required under Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations to maintain these logs and perform regular inspections of vehicles, but these reports only need to be maintained for a certain amount of time, so it’s important to act quickly as well.

State and federal regulations govern practically all aspects of the trucking industry.  The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules limit the size and weight of certain trucks, require specific driver qualification and training standards, and mandate inspections of equipment in specific periods of time.  Our lawyers know the standards and will determine if any violation in these regulations contributed to your crash.