Many car owners opt for larger vehicles. It makes sense for a family car, and it also provides an added measure of safety. The prevailing wisdom is that the bigger the car, the more it can withstand the force of an impact.

While that is generally true, the size of that car won’t matter when it crashes into a semi-truck that can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds when fully loaded.

A recent double crash involving two separate collisions with a semi-truck on a single day in Woodstock, Illinois, is a perfect example. As reported by CBS News, the two crashes left a pickup truck and an SUV crushed. Fortunately, there were no fatalities; only injuries occurred. This is the exact type of truck accident that automatically triggers an investigation by local, state, and federal authorities.

If the victims of the crash intend to blame the truck driver, then the truck’s maintenance records will play a pivotal role in the investigation.

“Two killed in three-vehicle crash outside of Pittsfield on Tuesday night on Illinois Route 106”

“Fatal Semi-Truck Collision Shuts Down Illinois 159 Near North Deer Park Drive”

“Two dead in I-57 crash in Jefferson County, truck driver cited”

Those were a sampling of headlines for a Google search of “Illinois truck accident.” Sadly, there were dozens more recent headlines detailing all types of truck accidents with tragic outcomes. There are many reasons why these accidents happen, but when it is firmly established that the truck driver is at fault, they need to compensate the victims of the trucking accident. That is where things can get complicated.

If you’re the victim of a truck accident, you’ll want to speak to an experienced truck accident attorney who can navigate through the complexities of these kinds of claims. The attorneys at Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP have helped many clients who have suffered as the result of collisions with semi-trucks. If the evidence establishes acts of gross negligence on the part of the truck driver and the company that hired them, you could be entitled to punitive damages, which can significantly increase your final settlement.

Truck accidents often result in serious injuries, costly medical bills, and significant emotional distress.

When a big rig accident happens because of someone else’s negligence, the injured party or parties have the legal right to seek compensation. Often in the form of a settlement agreement.

However, determining what’s a fair amount for a truck accident settlement isn’t always so simple.

Several factors influence settlement amounts, including medical expenses, lost wages, and the severity of injuries. Accident victims must be able to assess whether a settlement offer is reasonable or if further negotiation is necessary.

That’s where the experienced professionals at Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, can help.

When a truck accident happens, determining what caused the crash can be difficult. Luckily (unlike passenger vehicles), commercial trucks are often equipped with electronic logging devices (ELDs) and event data recorders (EDRs), which are commonly referred to as “black boxes.”

These devices capture critical information about a truck’s operations before and during an accident.

Black box data can play a vital role in truck accident claims, providing objective evidence that helps establish fault, support injury claims, and strengthen legal cases.

If you’re a truck driver in Illinois or planning to become one, you might wonder whether you need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

The requirements for a CDL can be a bit complicated, but the good news is that not every truck driver is required to have one. Which truck drivers are exempt from cdl requirements in Illinois?

Illinois has several exceptions that could apply to you depending on your vehicle type, what it’s used for, and where you’re driving.

Let’s take a closer look at the main exemptions that might apply to truck drivers in Illinois.

Trucks Under 26,001 Pounds

One of the most common exemptions is for vehicles under 26,001 pounds in Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). If a truck doesn’t weigh that much, the driver is not required to hold a CDL.

For example, if your truck weighs 25,000 pounds, you don’t need a CDL to drive it. However, remember that just because you don’t need a CDL doesn’t mean you don’t need a valid driver’s license! Even with this exemption, you still need to ensure your vehicle is legally compliant with state and local traffic laws. Otherwise, if you cause a truck accident, you could face some serious legal issues.

Large trucks transport goods across Illinois’ roads, highways, and interstates. When you drive, you will need to share the road with these massive vehicles. However, you need to exercise a heightened level of caution and awareness around these trucks.

You may have heard of “no-zones” around trucks, but what are they? These areas are hazardous spots around large vehicles, like commercial trucks. If you happen to drive in these posts, you need to proceed with caution.

At Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, we have handled many truck accident cases, many of which happen within these spaces.

So, what are truck no-zones, and how can you avoid them? Here are a few pointers that you will want to know to stay safe on the road.

Spikes on tractor-trailer tires, often referred to as “lug nut covers” or “wheel spikes,” have sparked both curiosity and concern among U.S. drivers.

These accessories, which are intimidating to some, can be seen on the wheels of many large trucks, adding an aggressive aesthetic to the vehicles.

But…are the spikes on tractor-trailer tires dangerous?

Let’s look at some of the reasons truckers use these wheel spikes, what (if any) safety implications surround them, the ongoing debate regarding their use, and whether they contribute to damages in an Ottawa, IL trucking accident.

In a collision between a semi-truck and a car, the truck will dominate. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a semi-truck can outweigh a car by 30 times. Even a slight “tap” from a truck can result in a devasting accident that results in a car being totaled and the driver being severely injured. Under what conditions is spine fusion surgery required after a truck crash?

Illinois has 2,185 miles of interstate and multiple ports that receive and send international goods, making our state a major hub of commerce in the United States. While this is excellent for our local economy, it also forces drivers to share the road with a significant number of tractor-trailers from all around the country.

Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows that there were 11,741 semi-truck crashes in 2019. Of those, 100 were fatal and another 1,814 left victims with mild to moderate injuries. Another 311 caused incapacitating injuries, including broken limbs, chest and back injuries, head injuries, abdominal injuries, and more. If an injury prevents a victim from driving, walking, working, or otherwise engaging in activities they were capable of prior to the accident, it is considered an incapacitating injury.

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.