Elk Grove Village Truck Accident Lawyer

From box trucks and delivery vans to construction vehicles and tractor-trailers, these massive vehicles are a hazard on Elk Grove Village’s roads under the best of circumstances. Unfortunately, the operators of these vehicles often disregard federal regulations concerning weight and drive times. Additionally, they may choose to ignore the rules of the road that exist for the protection of all travelers.

People who suffer personal injuries because of the negligence of truckers deserve to be made whole again. An Elk Grove Village truck accident lawyer could lead the way in investigating these incidents. Our committed team of personal injury attorneys at The Kryder Law Group could identify all negligent parties and collect evidence necessary to demand proper compensation following an accident.

Obligations of Truckers to Follow the Rules of the Road

Every motorist on Elk Grove Village’s roads has the same obligation to operate their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner. It does not matter if the operator is riding a bicycle, driving a personal car, or behind the wheel of a massive tractor-trailer. The laws regarding speeding, responsibilities to yield, and proper lane changes apply equally across the spectrum of vehicles. In fact, police officers who issue tickets to negligent truckers after a collision do injured individuals a favor.

A concept of law called negligence per se allows civil courts to assume the liability of defendants in many accidents. If a traffic court convicts a trucker for speeding, failing to yield, or any other moving violation connected to a wreck, a separate civil court can use the fact of that conviction as proof of defendant negligence.

Especially in Elk Grove Village, where courts must apply the restrictive concept of modified comparative negligence to assign blame under 735 ILCS 2/1116, a conviction in traffic court can be essential to a person’s claim for damages. A knowledgeable Elk Grove Village semi-truck crash attorney could explain the traffic laws that apply to truckers and why a violation could be vital to a claim for damages.

Special Laws that Affect Safe Truck Travel

In addition to the obligation to follow the basic rules of the road, federal regulations also control many aspects of the trucking industry. Two key examples are maximum drive times and allowable vehicle weights. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, trucks with one axle cannot exceed a total weight of 20,000 pounds. This maximum limit increases to 34,000 pounds for tandem axle groups. In no case can a truck weigh more than 80,000 pounds.

Other laws mandate how long a trucker can be behind the wheel. It is no secret that driver fatigue is a leading cause of 18-wheeler crashes in Elk Grove Village, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates that a trucker cannot drive for more than 11 hours in a day in most cases. Additionally, a trucker cannot be behind the wheel for more than 60 hours in seven consecutive days.

A seasoned truck accident lawyer in Elk Grove Village could investigate whether a trucker or their employer violated these important regulations. If so, proof of these violations can be determinative of defendant fault in a semi-truck crash case.

Contact an Elk Grove Village Truck Accident Attorney to Learn More

Every driver in the state of Illinois has the duty to keep other people on the road safe. This especially applies to truckers whose massive vehicles are capable of inflicting life-altering injuries to people who are involved in a collision. A failure to meet this duty means that a trucker and their employer are liable to pay for any resulting medical costs, lost wages, and emotional trauma.

An Elk Grove Village truck accident lawyer could help you pursue a claim for full compensation. They could investigate the cause of the wreck and determine if a trucker’s actions violated any rules of the road. These include the basic rules that apply to all travelers as well as the federal laws that control maximum weights and drive times specifically for truckers. Contact The Kryder Law Group today to schedule an appointment.