Truck Accidents

There are over 9,000 crashes involving tractor/trailers in Illinois each year. Overall, tractor/trailer crashes account for 3.2% of all crashes on Illinois roads and highways. Among the reported accidents, there were 1,603 tractor/trailer crashes that resulted in injuries, and 62 that resulted in fatalities. Truck accidents are among the most serious of all accidents in Illinois. Most often, the injured or killed are occupants in other vehicles. www.state.il.us/travelstats2009cf.pdf.

Attorney John J. Malm represents individuals and families in all types of trucking accidents, including intersection collisions, rear-end collisions, jackknife accidents, sudden merge or lane-change accidents, and other highway accidents.

In reviewing a trucking case, Mr. Malm and his firm will look carefully at:

Wrongful death, trucking case settled following mandatory arbitration. Berrien County, Michigan. A settlement in the amount of $735,755 was reached by attorney John J. Malm on behalf of the family and survivors of a semi-truck driver who was killed in St. Joseph, Michigan after his 18-wheeler rolled over on southbound I-94. A lawsuit alleged that two municipal vehicles suddenly entered the expressway from the shoulder, causing the truck to suddenly make an evasive maneuver and roll over. The suit alleged that the municipal vehicles had entered onto the highway unexpectedly after driving over an off-ramp, and then merging suddenly into traffic. The driver of the semi had been returning home to Chicago.

  • Driver Negligence. Drivers have a responsibility to follow traffic laws (i.e., reduce speed or stop at a red light or stop sign, maintain speed at or below the speed limit or that permitted by weather conditions, avoid distraction caused by a cell phone or radio, yield to oncoming traffic and obey traffic laws regarding right-of-way);
  • Trucking Company Negligence. Motor carriers and their drivers must make routine inspections of trucks and follow all federal trucking regulations. They must maintain 18 wheelers in a safe condition to prevent accidents on the road. Trucking companies must also hire and train qualified, safe drivers; and
  • Manufacturer Negligence. In some instances, the manufacturer of a truck may be liable for dangerous product defects.

Get advice from an experienced attorney.

It is important to speak with a knowledgeable attorney right away. An experienced attorney will be able to issue required notices, obtain witness statements if needed or ensure that evidence is collected and preserved. If a settlement is reached, an attorney can provide valuable assistance in seeking an adjudication or reduction of costly medical or insurance liens. Don’t battle with or even speak to the other driver’s insurance company without first consulting with an attorney.

Will County, Illinois. Truck accident, uninsured motorist, hit and run. A settlement for $100,000 (policy limits) was reached by attorney John J. Malm in an uninsured motorist claim (UM) on behalf of a man who was suffered serious shoulder injuries when a semi-tractor trailer struck his vehicle and fled the scene. A lawsuit was initially filed against a trucking company based on the man's description that identified the truck; however, the lawsuit was later voluntarily dismissed because GPS data obtained by law enforcement could not confirm the location of the truck at the time of the accident. An uninsured motorist claim was brought against the man's automobile insurance, and a policy limits settlement was reached before arbitration.