Semi Truck Accidents in Chicago

A semi truck or semi-trailer truck is an articulated commercial vehicle having a separate tractor with a cab for the driver which pulls a trailer attached to the tractor. The semi trailer has no front axle, due to the fact that the front part of the trailer is the part that is coupled to the tractor.

Unlike a small truck, a semi truck is a large, heavy and complex piece of equipment and requires special attention and maintenance. Improper semi truck maintenance can be the cause of an accident on the roads and highways in Chicago such as US 14, I-94, I-190, I- 290 US 41, and I-57.

Chicago Semi Truck Maintenance

Trucking companies operating in Chicago, Illinois are required by law to properly maintain their semi truck fleet. A Chicago trucking company or any company that uses vehicles to transport passengers or property along major Chicago highways, such as US 14, I-94, I-190, I- 290 US 41, or I-57, should have a maintenance program in place. Improper maintenance is often a major cause of accidents in Chicago and Cook County and both the driver and trucking company have a duty to ensure the safety of their vehicles.

Why You Need To Hire a Chicago Semi Truck Accident Lawyer

In many cases, Chicago 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways a Chicago tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious box truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need a Chicago truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Chicago truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Chicago tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.

Chicago Owner-Operator Semi Truck Maintenance

Not all semi trucks are operated by trucking companies. Chicago semi truck owner-operators are also required by law to properly maintain their semi trucks and keep them in good working condition. Travelers who become involved in an auto accident driving in a passenger vehicle on a Chicago interstate such as the US 14, I-94, I-190, I- 290 US 41, or I-57 can easily become a multiple vehicle car accident or pileup due to the sheer volume of traffic in the Greater Chicago area. Unfortunately, this can often occur due to improperly maintained semi trucks owned by small businesses. For example, improper maintenance is often found in Chicago owner-operator situations where one driver owns his or her own semi truck. An owner-operator may let the condition of their semi truck slip and still able to get the job done because the owner-operator is running a small business and may not have the time or money to properly maintenance and inspect their commercial vehicle. Regardless of the size of the company, this is an unacceptable situation. Despite the fact that a semi truck is owned and operated by the trucker, if poor maintenance is found to be the cause of an accident, the vehicle owner will be liable for failing to properly maintain it. The following is a list of semi truck maintenance repair shops in Chicago:

Longer Vehicle Combinations (LVCs)

A semi truck can pull more than a single trailer. A Longer Vehicle Combination (LVC) is a semi trailer configuration where a truck tractor would haul up to 3 trailers. The sheer size and weight of an LVC makes it even more likely that an accident can occur. An LVC requires more diligence on the part of the trucker and the trucking company to maintain the truck, avoid bad loads and drive safely.

Additionally, there are nine interstate highways that run through Chicago and its suburbs. The Chicago metropolitan area had 54,600 miles of streets and roads, including 2,500 miles of expressways, 17,300 miles of highways and arterial streets, and 34,800 miles of local streets, and LVC drivers have to be extra careful when driving on these major roads and highways.

Following are some LVC combinations that although are capable of hauling greater loads, nevertheless present challenges for driving in downtown Chicago:

• Doubles - Two trailers being pulled by a truck tractor with the use of a draw bar to support the second trailer.
• Triples - Three trailers being pulled by a truck tractor with the use of two draw bars to support the second and third trailers.

In LVC combinations, the first cargo unit being pulled by the truck tractor is a “semi-trailer” (having no front axle) and the second or third cargo unit is a “trailer” or “pup” (having a front and a rear axle).

The maximum legal gross vehicle weight of a longer vehicle combination to operate on a U.S. interstate highway is 80,000 pounds.

Semi Truck Accident Attorneys Serve Chicago and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Northeastern Illinois, including Antioch, Aurora, Bartlett, Batavia, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Burbank, Calumet City, Carol Steam, Carpentersville, Channahon, Chicago, Cicero, Crystal Lake, De Kalb, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, East Chicago, Elgin, Evanston, Glenview, Gurnee, Hammond, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lancing, Lockport, Lombard, McHenry, Mt. Prospect, Mundelein, Naperville, New Lenox, North Chicago, Northbrook, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park, Oswego, Rockford, Romeoville, Round Lake Beach, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills, Wilmette, Woodstock, Zion, areas in the vicinity of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and other communities in Cook County and Dupage County.

Chicago Semi Truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Chicago 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.