Chicago Truck Accident Attorney

Injury Lawyer Scott DeSalvo Here.
Have you been involved in a truck accident?
We are going to talk about Truck Accidents and what you should know.

Whether you were injured while driving an 18-wheeler or you were hit by a tractor- trailer, there are a few things you should know if you were injured in a truck accident.

There are a few wrinkles in truck accidents cases that you should be aware of because knowing this stuff will help you to understand what is going on in your case.

It can be the difference between a good result and a bad result in your case.

So the first thing you need to know is about the black box.

There is no question that we live in the age of computer. Commercial trucks are usually equipped with what is called a black box.

The black box records the speed and other data about the crash in the seconds leading up to the crash.

If there is a question about whose fault the crash was or how did the crash happen, information from the black box may be necessary.  Obviously it is always important to have witnesses who can say exactly what happened.

Having a truck accident lawyer who knows about the black box and knows how to get the data out of the black box can make it more likely that you will get a good result in your case.

Second, Drivers are required to keep log books.

Over the road truck drivers are required to keep log books which log how much time they spend behind the wheel.

Fatigue is one of the main causes of crashes on expressways and highways.

Federal laws dictate how long truckers are allowed to drive in a 24-hour period but also weekly and monthly.

Can you see how a judge or jury would want to see how a driver who struck you was in violation of these laws.

If the driver has been driving for more hours than he is allowed to, he probably was driving fatigued and that is very important for you to know.

Even local truck drivers are restricted in the number of hours they can spend behind the wheel and how much overtime they can work behind the wheel of a truck.

That is because even State Governments understand how dangerous fatigued driver is if he is hauling 30,000, 40,000, or 50,000 pounds of freight.

Third, trucks drive very differently than cars. 

Most drivers don’t have any idea how hauling those extremely heavy loads affect acceleration, breaking, and maneuverability.

The very heavy weight the driver’s haul make maneuvering in our commercial trucks is very difficult.  They require a lot more stopping room and they are no where near as maneuverable as even the largest passenger vehicles.

Sometimes trucks accidents are the result of a car, motorcycle or other passenger vehicle, not giving a semi truck or commercial truck the respect it deserves on the road.  People will cut in front of a truck and hit their break and the big heavy truck can’t stop in time.

But many times it is the truck driver’s fatigue or poor vehicle maintenance that can cause the crash.

Either way, you want somebody who has handled truck cases before and knows what to ask and what evidence to look for.

Fourth, truck accidents can result in serious injuries.

Due to size and weight of trucks, I have seen photos of trucks that show really mangled cars. The same force that results from heavyweight and high speeds means that a truck crash can cause very serious permanent injuries.

A truck accident can easily result in a wrongful death, it can paralyze a person, break bones, and sometimes can cause less serious injuries.  But again, the speed, size and weightinvolved in truck accidents usually means that we are dealing with more serious injuries.

The more serious and permanent the injury, the more important it is that you don’t go at it alone.  Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations.  That means you can get your questions answered for free and with no obligation.

If your health and you ability to earn a living is on the line, the best advice I can give you is to talk to an attorney who you feel comfortable with.

I offer a free consultation and you can call me at 888-HURT-318

If you aren’t ready for that, I’d be happy to send you a copy of my injury DVD video which answers the most common questions injured people have. It can be delivered electronically to you at your e-mail address or if you would like a hard copy/physical copy, I will mail that to you for free.

Providing good information to injured people is the mission of my law office.  If I can be of further assistance, please don’t hesitate to call.