Truck traffic through Oak Park can create serious risks on roads shared by commuters, cyclists, pedestrians, buses, and families.
If a commercial truck crash caused your injuries, call an Oak Park personal injury attorney from Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC at (312) 701-0090 or send us a message online for a free consultation.
Why Clients Choose Our Oak Park Truck Accident Attorney
- We have the resources to handle serious injury claims while still giving clients personal attention from a focused injury practice.
- Clients receive honest answers about the strengths, challenges, and possible next steps in their truck accident claim.
- There are no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered through a settlement or verdict.
Why Hiring a Lawyer Is in Your Best Interests
Truck accident cases often move quickly behind the scenes. The trucking company may control the vehicle, driver records, maintenance documents, electronic data, and internal reports. Without prompt action, key evidence can become harder to obtain. A truck accident lawyer will work hard to preserve records, review the crash facts, identify every responsible party, and handle all communication with insurers.
Who Is Liable for an Oak Park Truck Accident?
Liability may extend beyond the truck driver. Potentially responsible parties may include:
- The truck driver, if fatigue, distraction, speeding, impairment, or unsafe driving caused the crash.
- The trucking company, if poor hiring, weak training, unsafe schedules, or ignored safety problems contributed to the collision.
- A cargo loading company, if overloaded or unsecured cargo made the truck unstable.
- A maintenance company, if missed inspections or faulty repairs led to brake, tire, steering, or equipment failure.
- A manufacturer, if a defective truck part contributed to the crash.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck accident claims often involve preventable safety problems. Common causes include:
- Driver fatigue from working long hours or unrealistic delivery schedules.
- Distracted driving, including phone use, dispatch communication, or navigation devices.
- Speeding or following too closely in traffic.
- Unsafe turns, wide turns, and lane changes.
- Overloaded or unsecured cargo.
- Poor truck maintenance.
- Brake, tire, steering, or lighting failures.
Illinois and Federal Laws That Apply to Truck Accident Claims
Illinois Statute of Limitations
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, personal injury lawsuits generally must be filed “within 2 years next after the cause of action accrued.” This deadline can affect your right to recover compensation if you wait too long to pursue it after truck crash.
Comparative Negligence
Illinois follows modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. The law bars recovery if the injured person’s fault is “more than 50%” of the cause of the injury. If fault is 50% or less, compensation gets reduced by that percentage.
Federal Hours-of-Service Rules
Violations of federal trucking rules can serve as critical evidence. These violations may involve excessive driving hours, falsified logs, skipped inspections, poor maintenance, unsafe cargo loading, unqualified drivers, or improper drug and alcohol testing.
Get Help After an Oak Park Truck Crash
Reach out to Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC online or at (312) 701-0090 to schedule a free consultation.