Articles Posted in Legal Articles

Legal Articles | November 26, 2014

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there are no federal standards for the training of commercial drivers.

Every day on Chicago’s roads, drivers encounter tractor trailers. These big rigs bring in goods and materials that make life more comfortable but the sheer size of them poses a potential threat to the safety and lives of others around them. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is serious about improving truck safety and is currently looking at commercial driver training and its connection to a truck driver’s ability to operate these rigs in a safe manner.

Legal Articles | November 26, 2014

Although Illinois has strict cellphone laws, hands free devices are legal and have shown to cause a significant amount of cognitive distraction.

As smartphones become more technologically advanced, it isn’t uncommon to see people reading emails, updating their social media profiles, searching the internet, texting and even watching movies on their cellphones. When people begin to engage in these activities while driving, however, they may unintentionally cause devastating vehicular accidents. Illinois has strict laws banning the use of hand-held cellphones or texting while driving, according to distraction.gov. In order to comply with the law, many drivers use hands-free cellular devices, which may be incredibly dangerous as well. If you have been involved in an accident, contact our Chicago car accident lawyers today.

Legal Articles | November 25, 2014

On behalf of Steven Seidman

Federal bill could increase trucker hours from 70 to 82 hours per week

Legal Articles | November 18, 2014

On behalf of Steven Seidman

Passengers say windshield wipers were broken and bus was going too fast

Legal Articles | August 27, 2014

A recent truck accident near Chicago is an example of how fatal truck accidents are increasing.

When a truck accident happens, the possibility of a fatality resulting from the collision is much higher than a typical car accident, due to the superior size and weight of the truck. Recently, this fact was made painfully clear in a Chicago-area truck accident that occurred on Interstate 55.

Legal Articles | May 29, 2014

Many government agencies have been taking steps to address the issue of fatigued truck drivers on roadways throughout the country because of the dangers these drivers pose to other motorists. New hours-of-service regulations have been passed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which limit the amount of hours truck drivers can operate during a day or week. Companies and drivers that violate these rules could be facing severe penalties.

Despite having these strict rules in place, it is not easy to catch those truck drivers or companies that encourage their employees to exceed these limits. Often, they are not discovered until they cause a serious trucking accident. In early 2014, a crash in Illinois was caused by a truck driver who had allegedly been falsifying his log book. One man was killed and another seriously injured when the truck collided with several vehicles on the side of the road.

Legal Articles | March 10, 2014

Unsafe driving practices are not hard to identify. A drive of any length will likely reveal drivers using cell phones, tailgating, driving too fast and generally driving in an unsafe manner. Among commercial drivers, the pressure to engage in one particular form of dangerous driving can be substantial. Financial pressure can induce a truck driver to operate a semi while fatigued. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 13 percent of large truck crashes involved a driver who was fatigued at the time of the accident. The government recently passed new rules to help combat driver fatigue among truck drivers. A new study shows that the rules might be improving road safety more than previous attempts to tackle the problem.

The latest rules regarding when and for how long drivers may operate their vehicles are intended to reduce fatigue. They limit truck drivers to a maximum average work week of 70 hours. In addition, drivers who have reached the 70-hour limit must rest for 34 consecutive hours. That 34-hour period must include two nights from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Truck drivers are also required to take a half hour break sometime during the first 8 hours of a shift. Finally, drivers are not allowed to drive for more than 11 hours in a day or work for more than 14 hours.

Legal Articles | February 11, 2014

Rail crossings are common sites for train accidents. They can occur due to a failure of safety equipment such as crossing gates, warning lights and traffic control devices. The Illinois Commerce Commission is responsible for rail safety in Illinois. The ICC also tracks statistics on Illinois train accidents.

ICC Responsibilities

Legal Articles,Medical malpractice | February 11, 2014

Medical malpractice is an act or omission by a medical professional that results in medical care that fails to meet accepted standards. It can include a variety of errors such as failure to diagnose, medication errors and surgical errors. Medical malpractice claims are generally litigated in a manner similar to that of other negligence claims in Illinois, although some specific requirements are different. Illinois law also regulates caps for medical malpractice awards.

Victims Should Seek Compensation

Legal Articles | February 11, 2014

Not every motor vehicle accident comes with easy answers. Sometimes it is hard even for investigators and first responders to pinpoint the cause of a motorcycle accident. Survivors of fatal motorcycle crashes often face both physical and emotional recoveries, especially if the deceased was a loved one.

Oil Spill Suspected in Fatal Crash; Man’s Wife of 14 Years Killed