In 2021, it was reported by American Trucking Associations (ATA) that the trucking industry was roughly 80,000 drivers short of where it needed to be. That number was projected to pass 160,000 by 2030. The ATA estimated that one million new drivers will need to be recruited and hired over the next ten years to keep up with industry growth and replace drivers who will retire, resign, or be removed from duties for violating regulations.

If you’ve been to a grocery or retail store in recent months, chances are you have seen the effects of the truck driver shortage. As consumers, we experience the obvious effects of an employee shortage in an industry that is integral to over 70% of the nation’s economy – both price increases and lack of inventory.

The attorneys at Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP (SGKR) are thrilled to announce the addition of attorney Melinda Rowe-Sullivan to our experienced and award-winning legal team. Ms. Rowe-Sulllivan, who grew up in the same LaSalle-Peru community that our law office serves, brings a wealth of experience in handling Illinois worker injury cases to our firm. She is eager to help ensure you get the compensation and justice you deserve in yours.

Clients who previously worked with an early ideation of our law firm, Schweickert & Ganassin, may remember working with lawyer Melinda Rowe-Sullivan early on during her legal career. She went on to work as an Arbitrator with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission for six years before recently joining our rebranded law office of Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP.

Matthew Rundio, partner with the North Central Illinois firm of Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, will be presenting on adjudicating liens at an upcoming Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) Update & Review Seminar. This professional workshop will take place at the Westin Chicago River North on Oct. 10, 2022.

ITLA is a professional organization that brings together attorneys from across our law firm’s service areas of Peru, Ottawa, Morris, Chicago and elsewhere throughout Illinois who have committed their legal careers to representing residents of our state that have been hurt in a personal injury incident, whether they were injured at work, home, or while out and about anywhere else in our great state.

Liens often play a big role in larger personal injury cases involving catastrophic injuries. Attorneys must have the necessary knowledge to address these financial obligations on a client’s behalf.

How many times have you felt exhausted after a late night out at a party, concert, sporting event, or after pulling a double shift at work yet drove yourself home? You may have even found yourself in such a predicament because an emergency occurred, or you ventured out to render aid to a friend or family member in need of your help. Some people even stay out longer on the road than they probably should in hopes of reaching a certain landmark on schedule as they drive somewhere.

No matter your reason for being out on the road, most of us probably wouldn’t want to find ourselves out there beyond the point we’re feeling our best. Sadly, some people allow themselves to constantly run on empty and then get behind the wheel of their cars regularly, endangering their lives and everyone else who is in their car or in their path on the road.

Whether you drive a box truck, like those available for rent at U-Haul or Penske, or an 80,000 pound 18-wheeler, there will invariably come a time when you will find yourself driving in inclement weather. While you might want to keep your foot heavy on the gas pedal in such weather conditions to minimize the chances of reaching your destination late, doing so is ill-advised.

Multiple studies show precisely why that is the case, one of which comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to data compiled by the government agency, wet roads and careless driving contribute to some 70% of weather-related vehicle accidents. But the reality of what happens on American roadways in poor weather conditions does not end there.

Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP is pleased to announce partner Michael Krzak’s recent appointment to the Aviation Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. While this isn’t Attorney Krzak’s first time being named Chair of this committee, but instead his third, his plans for how to forward the committee’s objectives are even stronger now than ever after his previous appointments.

Attorney Krzak noted in his acceptance of the appointment that he aims to do his best to “continue carrying on the Aviation Law Committee’s long tradition of providing his fellow Chicago Bar Association members who are interested in aviation law with the contacts and other resources needed to ensure they can properly tackle the aviation law cases they undertake.”

The law firm of Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP was honored to serve as Gold Sponsor for the 2022 Illinois Valley Building Trades Charitable Trust Golf Outing on June 10^th. The event raised $22,000 for the non-profit organization the United Way of the Illinois Valley in Peru, IL.

The SGKR-sponsored hole was dubbed the “Beat the Lawyer” hole. We were proud to be able to raise over $600 for the United Way on our sponsored golf hole alone. Our law firm also donated raffle prizes that were awarded to one of the foursomes that successfully “Beat the Lawyer.” Prizes included a 36-inch Blackstone Grill and four Garmin Bushnell Wingman GPS Golf Speakers. In total, Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP donated roughly $1,900 to the event.

Big trucks are a necessary part of modern-day life. It can be a little scary to drive near large automobiles like 18-wheelers, though. These vehicles weigh significantly more than standard passenger cars and can cause a lot of damage in a truck accident.

For the time being, tractor-trailers are still a staple feature of most interstates, so just how many truck drivers are in Illinois alone?

One of our firm’s attorney founders and a preeminent aviation litigator, Michael Krzak, is slated to speak at the upcoming National Institute on Aviation Litigation on June 9. The conference, which was originally to take place in person in Chicago, will now be a virtual event. Anyone interested in attending the institute can register online. Registration is open until June 8 at 5 p.m. (Eastern).

Among the topics that will be discussed at this year’s institute include:

• Pilot shortages as it relates to the implementation of the 1500 hour rule
• The intersection of aviation incidents and the criminal justice system
• In-flight liability concerns, including intoxicated passengers, improperly stowed baggage, etc.
• The ins and outs of the Montreal Convention
• Future product liability lawsuit filings in light of the Sikkellee Saga
• An analysis of emergent litigiousness associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Pedestrian travel does not guarantee safe arrival.  There are dangers wherever we walk or get out for exercise.  Between navigating cracked sidewalks, searching for crosswalks, and dodging cars in areas with little to no pedestrian infrastructure, a leisurely stroll can lead to danger while you are on your way to your intended destination.

With advances in vehicle technology and heightened pedestrian safety awareness, you might think that anyone traveling on foot, in a wheelchair, or with the use of a mobility aid would at least face better conditions than in the past. Unfortunately, this is not the case. In a troubling trend, pedestrian fatalities are on the rise in Illinois and across the rest of the country.