Trucking accident injury law | Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd

Semi-Truck Crashes Hauling 40,000 Pounds of Bees

June 18, 2019/in Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – A semi-truck was traveling from California to North Dakota when it crashed in a rural intersection in Bozeman, Montana, carrying 40,000 pounds of bees. No humans were hurt during the crash.

When the Hyalite fire department arrived on the scene, the driver and the passenger were already out of the truck. When inspecting the truck, they noticed only an oil leak.

Fortunately, most of the semi-truck’s load was kept in-tact; in fact, only a quarter of the 40,000 pound of bees actually escaped. The trucks load of 40,000 pounds of bees is equal to roughly 133 million bees. Hyalite fire department said there was no immediate threat to the public.

Tractor-trailers and semi-trucks weigh several tons and travel at very high speeds. Please remember to keep your distance when passing a semi-truck and you are passing on the left side of the truck – truck drivers cannot see you from the right side of their vehicle. If you or someone you know has recently been a victim of a trucking or car accident, please call Dinizulu Law Group at (312) 384-1920 or visit our website at www.dinizululawgroup.com. Due to the statue of limitations, we must start on your case right away.

Rules For Ensuring Trucking Companies Properly Secure Their Cargo

January 6, 2017/in Blog, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Many different parties are responsible for securing cargo on a semi truck, and 7% of all serious semi truck accidents are caused by loose cargo. If you happen to be the person driving behind the semi who is hit with flying debris, you’re going to want to know who is responsible for the damage and injuries you incurred as a result of lack of adequate securement.

The initial shipping company is responsible for ensuring that all cargo is properly loaded into the semi truck following OSHA safety standards. They can’t take any shortcuts, or else they risk violating OSHA standards, which can have serious consequences for them. The trucking companies must also make sure that their drivers are properly trained in how to secure loads. The seller or manufacturer of the securement devices also holds responsibility for properly secured loads. If their device is faulty, then there is a chance that a load won’t be properly secured. The manufacturer of the cargo itself also holds responsibility. They need to make sure that all of the cargo is properly bundled before shipping.

In short, there are multiple companies that are responsible for secure loads in semi trucks. You need to know which party’s negligence led to the load not remaining secured. That’s where the help of a truck accident attorney comes in. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about trucking accidents and determining the responsibility for securing a load, we want you to contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. Our phone number is 1-312-384-1920 and 1-800-693-1LAW. We are a Chicago personal injury law firm with experienced truck accident lawyers who are here for you.

You may also find more videos about truck accident injuries and our law our firm on our media page.

Electronic Logging Devices Hold Truck Drivers Accountable for Negligence, Recklessness, and Breaking the Law

December 30, 2016/in Blog, Car accident injury law, Personal injury claim, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

It’s winter weather and holiday driving can be hazardous on icy roads and skid-prone conditions. Add trucks and semitrailers to the mix and an accident is much more severe when a large vehicle loses control on the road.

When a truck collides which a smaller passenger vehicle, a disastrous injury occurs more often to the occupants of the other smaller vehicle. To protect all drivers, in 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed and adopted a rule requiring Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to be utilized in large trucks. ELDs are akin to those black boxes you hear about in planes, which help investigators understand how and why an accident happened. Similarly, ELDs in commercial trucks electronically record data from a vehicle’s sensors which can be subsequently downloaded.

Currently, much of a truck driver’s accountability stems from his or her own written records, but the ELDs will ensure that the truck driver can not cheat the system or inadvertently make a mistake. ELDs record speed, when the truck is in motion and other significant pieces of data.

The Trucking Industry Must Utilize ELDs by December 16, 2019

Although the ELD rule was adopted in 2014, the FMCSA understands that changes do not happen overnight. Accordingly, the trucking industry was given a grace period to incorporate the rule into practice and during that period, records could be kept through paper logs, logging software, automatic onboard recording devices or appropriately registered ELDs. The grace period ends December 16, 2019 and on that date, all drivers subject to the rule must use certified and registered ELDs.

While there are exceptions to the rule, in general if the truck driver was originally required to provide logs showing their hours of service then they are subject to the ELD requirement. While some drivers have met this new requirement with skepticism, the FMCSA maintains that ELDs will reduce risk of accidents and will also allow for a more streamlined collection of data.

ELDs can Help Answer Questions About Liability in a Trucking Accident

The ELDs will play an important role in the legal arena, as well. If you or a loved one is injured in a trucking accident, then you will have to prove that the truck driver acted wrongfully in some way. Maybe they were driving too fast, or perhaps they were drowsy. Truck drivers, their employers and their insurance companies oftentimes have a team of lawyers helping them avoid liability and so it is imperative that you also obtain a personal injury attorney right away.

Obtaining evidence from an opposing party can be difficult and is often subject to strict court rules. During a time when you are already reeling from a terrible accident, it is advised that you seek professional legal help. You will need an accident attorney who not only understands the litigation process, but also acts as your advocate during a time when you need it most.

Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. always provides a free initial case evaluation and will help you pursue the necessary legal action if you have been involved in a truck wreck accident. Our experienced Illinois truck accident attorneys understand the importance of monetary justice when a victim is facing current and future medical bills in addition to being unable to work. A personal injury accident happens in an instant, but the effects can last a lifetime. Please contact us today to find out how we can help you.

Truck Driver Fatigue & Increased Personal Injury Risk for Car Drivers

December 5, 2016/in Blog, Car accident injury law, Personal injury claim, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law, Wrongful death action/by Yao Dinizulu

In 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted a study to analyze various factors that contribute to crash risk. It comes as little surprise that driver fatigue contributes to many tractor-trailer accidents every year. Between 1975 and 2014, about 185,000 crashes involving large trucks or buses resulted in fatalities and of the nearly 215,500 individuals who lost their lives, most were occupants of smaller vehicles, such as cars.

This data clearly shows that when trucks and smaller vehicles collide, the truck drivers are much less likely to be injured or killed. Unfortunately, truck drivers often fail to adhere to safety mandates required by law and as a result, other citizens on the road face a higher risk.

Costs Associated with Trucking Accident Injuries Can Last a Lifetime

Injuries sustained in accidents caused by large trucks are often severe and can include loss of limb, brain injury, burns, spinal injury, and immobility. Costs associated with these massive injuries are not limited to the hospital bills incurred right after the accident. Many victims require years of rehabilitation and may never be able to work again. The economic impact can be crippling and that does not even take emotional trauma into consideration. Truck accidents are also often fatal. Many times a loved one lost in an accident is a family’s breadwinner.

If you or someone you know has been injured or worse in a trucking accident, you should seek legal counsel right away. The accident injury lawyers at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. have almost 60 years of total experience representing victims of truck accidents. We will help you get the compensation you deserve.

While insurance companies are experts at pointing the finger and talking victims into very low settlement amounts, our experienced trucking accident attorneys request log books and backup data to build strong, credible cases that will withstand the utmost scrutiny in the courts.

We understand that trucking accidents are often catastrophic and life changing. Contact us today so we can help you get the justice you deserve.

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit – Where Do I Start?

November 28, 2016/in Blog, Car accident injury law, nursing home neglect, Personal injury claim, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law, Wrongful death action/by Yao Dinizulu

While no amount of money can bring back a loved one, wrongful death lawsuits are designed to compensate family members of those killed by negligence. Under the law you are entitled to both economic and non-economic damages . Economic damages are a dollar amount that’s decided based on the deceased’s income, funeral expenses, medical expenses etc. Non-economic damages address the pain and loss of companionship that family members will face as a result of the death.A professional and experienced wrongful death attorney understands that it’s important that you be compensated for both damages. Insurance companies and other responsible parties fight aggressively to refuse or limit your fair payment. To get the compensation you deserve, it’s important that a skillful wrongful death attorney is representing you.

Proving a Wrongful Death Claim

In building your claim, an experienced wrongful death lawyer will understand that there may be many more complexities regarding your case. People you might not have even thought about could be liable. For example, in a single car accident caused by a road in poor condition, the city who owns the road, the contractors responsible for maintaining it, or a number of other groups may be liable depending on the facts of the case.

Time Limits on Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Additionally, it’s very important to file a wrongful death case fairly quickly. Otherwise, your case may get barred by the statute of limitations. In Illinois, generally a wrongful death claim against a private entity or corporation must be filed within two years from the date of the accident, but there are exceptions to this time limit. Certain cases only have a one year limit for filing and some others have longer than two years. Please contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd to learn which time limits apply in your case. Waiting too long can prevent you from filing the lawsuit at all.

Waiting any longer than necessary creates other problems too. The scene of an accident changes quickly after the road is opened to traffic again. The vehicles that may have been involved in the wreck will be repaired by the owners or possibly destroyed. Witnesses will become harder to locate, and records will be misplaced.

Time may not be on your side but the compassionate and experienced wrongful death attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd will work with you to determine the best way to handle your wrongful death claim. Contact us to set up a free consultation with one of our experienced wrongful death lawyers today.