Oak Park 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer Information
If you have an Oak Park, Illinois 18 wheeler accident claim, Oak Park 18 wheeler accident lawyers are here to advocate for you. Call one of the Oak Park 18 wheeler accident lawyers listed on this site for a free initial consultation.
Semi truck, tractor trailer and 18-wheeler accidents are common occurrences on Oak Park roads and highways. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people die as a result of 18-wheeler accidents and big rig collisions in the United States each year with a substantial number of 18-wheeler truck accidents occurring in Oak Park, Illinois, every day. Oak Park is conveniently located within half an hour away from almost anywhere - downtown Chicago, O'Hare or Midway Airports, over 25 sports facilities, countless suburbs, thousands of restaurants, theatres, hospitals, medical centers, schools, and universities. Oak Park is also within reasonable commuting distance of 1.6 million jobs. Due to the high population and highly congested traffic throughout Oak Park,18-wheeler accidents and semi truck crashes on Oak Park highways are inevitable.
Oak Park’s freeway system is made up of miles of freeways and expressways in a suburban area. Interstate I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway, runs directly through Oak Park, linking you with major highways into Chicago, the suburbs and beyond. Major roads and highways in Oak Park include: I-290, SH-43, SH-64, SH-171, and SH-50. Like any suburbs, automobile is still the most common form of transportation and majority of Oak Park's residents drive to work alone each day.
If you have an Oak Park 18 wheeler accident claim, call one of the Oak Park 18 wheeler accident lawyers listed on this site for a free initial consultation.
Oak Park 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
Due to the sheer weight difference of a car versus the weight of an 18-wheeler or tractor trailer, accidents that involve commercial vehicles often times result in severe injuries or even death. Compared to the average weight of an automobile, which is only 5,000 pounds, one can easily see how much more dangerous commercial vehicles like an 18 wheeler can be. That is why if you are injured by a semi truck or commercial vehicle in Oak Park, it is important that you choose an experienced Oak Park 18-wheeler accident attorney who knows the truck regulations and laws both nationally and for the State of Illinois.
Commercial vehicles go by different names such as:
- Lowboy
- Commercial Vehicle
- Semi Tractor Trailer
- Dump Truck
- Box Truck
Oak Park truck accidents caused by an 18-wheeler, big rig, semi truck, tractor trailer, bus or commercial vehicle are common on Oak Park streets, avenues and highways. Many of the semi truck crashes that occur in the city of Oak Park happen along the major Oak Park highways, which include the I-290, SH-43, SH-64, SH-171, and SH-50.
Types of Trucks
The following trucks do specific things and carry certain types of cargo:
- Bob-Tail Trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Refrigerated trucks
- Flat bed trucks
- Logging trucks
Buses are also considered commercial vehicles as well, but as a rule do not haul cargo. Instead a bus is a transportation vehicle that carries children or adults such as a school bus or commercial bus like Greyhound. School bus accidents or commercial bus accidents are common on Oak Park roads and freeways. The causes may vary, but often times the accident is a result of hazardous road conditions or driver negligence.
It is essential to hire a Oak Park bus accident lawyer if you have been involved in the following type of accident:
- Oak Park city buses;
- transportation buses such as Greyhound;
- shuttle bus accidents when driving to and from the airport, such as Chicago Midway International Airport, or Chicago O'Hare Intl; and/or,
- casino bus accidents that occur running back and forth from Chicago.
The ways Oak Park truck accidents happen occur are too numerous to list. Blind spots, rear-ends, sideswipes, head-ons, load overturns, jack-knifes are all possible and can result in fatal wrongful death truck accidents.
If you live in Oak Park and have a claims for an accident that involved a big rig or an 18 wheeler, your case might be filed in one of these courts:
Cook County Circuit Court - Law Division
50 West Washington Street Room 801, Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-6930
Cook County Circuit Court - Fifth Municipal District
10220 South 76th Avenue Room 121, Bridgeview, IL 60455
(708) 974-6500
18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve Oak Park and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Northeastern Illinois, including Aurora, Bartlett, Batavia, Berwyn, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Burbank, Calumet City, Carol Steam, Carpentersville, Channahon, Chicago, Cicero, Crystal Lake, De Kalb, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, East Chicago, Elgin, Evanston, Glenview, Hammond, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lancing, Lockport, Lombard, McHenry, Mt. Prospect, Mundelein, Naperville, New Lenox, North Chicago, Northbrook, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park, Oswego, Rockford, Romeoville, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills, Wilmette, Woodstock, areas in the vicinity of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and other communities in Cook County.
Oak Park 18-wheeler accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Oak Park 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.
Types of Trucks
Hiring a Oak Park 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in an 18 wheeler truck accident in Oak Park, Illinois, it is recommended that you hire a qualified Oak Park 18-wheeler accident lawyer who is knowledgeable in federal laws and Illinois state laws regarding trucking regulations. Oak Park, located in Cook County, is the twenty-fifth largest municipality city in Illinois with extensive roadways and congested freeways due to its high population. Therefore, it is not uncommon for truck collisions, wrecks, crashes and injuries to occur due to the high amount of traffic. If you or a loved one have been injured in a Northeast Illinois truck accident, contact a qualified Oak Park semi truck accident attorney today for a free initial consultation.
Oak Park & Illinois Professional Associations
In addition to selecting a qualified Oak Park accident & injury lawyer that regularly handles Oak Park big rig truck accident cases, you should also check out the attorney’s credentials. For example, is the attorney a member of the Cook County Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, or the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association? All lawyers that practice Oak Park truck accident litigation must be active members of the State Bar of Illinois. They may also join other professional organizations, such as:
- Cook County Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association of Justice
The Chicago Bar Association is one of the oldest and most active metropolitan bar associations in the United States. The Association's voluntary membership of 22,000 consists largely of lawyers and judges from Cook County and the State of Illinois.
The Illinois Bar Association has more than 30,000 members and is the largest voluntary statewide organization of lawyers in Illinois.
Big Rig Accidents Can Be Devastating
When a negligent truck driver makes the decision to get behind the wheel of their semi tractor-trailer, any driver traveling near them is at risk for serious injury or death. The consequences of an 18-wheeler truck a crash along a Oak Park intersection, avenue, or freeway can be devastating, often resulting in very serious injuries that can even lead to death. The sheer force of a speeding 18-wheeler truck is a dangerous weapon that can forever change your life. Under the law if you are involved in such a wreck or an accident, you are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one have been injured in a commercial truck accident in Oak Park, IL or Cook County, it is in your best interest to contact a Oak Park big rig truck accident lawyer immediately.
Oak Park 18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys File in Cook County, IL
When a truck accident occurs and a lawsuit is subsequently filed, the decision of where to file it is called “choice of venue.” The venue chosen can have legal consequences that affect the outcome of your case. Generally, venue in a truck accident case is proper in any of the following locations:
- the county wherein the accident occurred;
- the county wherein the defendant company’s principal place of business is located; or,
- the county wherein the defendant truck driver resides.
Even though your accident may have occurred in Oak Park, the truck company and truck driver will often be from a different state. This is because trucking companies frequently operate in states other than where they are registered. In these cases, the venue where the lawsuit may be filed could be the state where the truck accident occurred, the state where the trucking company is located, or even the state where the trucking company regularly does business, if different. For example, the accident may have occurred in Oak Park, Illinois, therefore making venue proper in Cook County, but the claim may be filed against a trucking company from another state. You need a qualified and experienced Oak Park tractor trailer lawyer to decide what the best venue would be in a case like this that crosses state lines.
Some of the courts in the Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, areas include:
Cook County Circuit Court - Fourth Municipal District
1500 Maybrook Ave Room 236, Maywood, IL 60153
(708) 865-6040
Cook County Circuit Court - Second Municipal District
5600 Old Orchard Road Room 136, Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 470-7250
18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve Oak Park and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Northeastern Illinois, including Aurora, Bartlett, Batavia, Berwyn, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Burbank, Calumet City, Carol Steam, Carpentersville, Channahon, Chicago, Cicero, Crystal Lake, De Kalb, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, East Chicago, Elgin, Evanston, Glenview, Hammond, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lancing, Lockport, Lombard, McHenry, Mt. Prospect, Mundelein, Naperville, New Lenox, North Chicago, Northbrook, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park, Oswego, Rockford, Romeoville, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills, Wilmette, Woodstock, areas in the vicinity of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and other communities in Cook County.
Don’t be the victim of a semi driver’s negligence. Hiring a qualified Oak Park 18-wheeler accident lawyer is essential if you or a loved one have been injured in a truck collision. Contact a big rig accident lawyer today to ensure you receive expert representation from an attorney who knows how to handle your case.
Types of Trucks on Oak Park Highways
There are many types of commercial trucks found in and around Oak Park, Illinois. Trucking companies in Oak Park offer a wide variety of vehicle choices. Some Oak Park trucking companies deal with courier and small package delivery as well. Some companies offer bicycle couriers for downtown suburban areas and will also use an assortment of vehicles ranging from cars, vans and pick-up trucks to large tractor-trailers and bobtail trucks.
Types of Trucks Used By Oak Park Trucking Companies:
- 18 Wheeler
- Semi Truck
- Tractor Trailer
- Big Rig
- Semi Trailer
- Box Truck
- Straight Truck
- Flatbed Truck
- Stake Truck
- Bobtail Truck
Be sure to insist on the highest levels of safety by selecting a reputable Oak Park trucking company that uses late model vehicles which are inspected on a regular basis.
When to Hire a Oak Park Box Truck Accident Lawyer
In many cases, Oak Park 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways a Oak Park tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious box truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need a Oak Park truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Oak Park truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Oak Park tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.
Oak Park Trucking Companies
Following is a list of trucking companies based in Oak Park, Illinois. Services offered include container drayage, loose freight drayage, overweight loads, bonded moves, same day delivery.
Intermodal Container Logistics
Strategic Logistics Group, Inc.
West Wind Express
Jay Medicar Transportation |
Senior Services Transportation
Chariot Cartage Inc.
Economy Warehouse and Distribution
Chicago Land Trucking Inc. |
Some companies deal with the transport of import and export containers through the Port of Chicago, which is located nearby. |
Truck Accident Attorneys Serve Oak Park and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Northeastern Illinois, including Aurora, Bartlett, Batavia, Berwyn, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Burbank, Calumet City, Carol Steam, Carpentersville, Channahon, Chicago, Cicero, Crystal Lake, De Kalb, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, East Chicago, Elgin, Evanston, Glenview, Hammond, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lancing, Lockport, Lombard, McHenry, Mt. Prospect, Mundelein, Naperville, New Lenox, North Chicago, Northbrook, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park, Oswego, Rockford, Romeoville, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills, Wilmette, Woodstock, areas in the vicinity of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and other communities in Cook County.
Oak Park truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Oak Park truck accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.
Oak Park Bobtail Truck Accident Lawyers Represent Injured Truck Drivers
Truck drivers who operate an 18-wheeler truck or big rig on the busy roads and highways of Oak Park such as I-290, SH-43, SH-64, SH-171, or SH-50, can become injured when a major commercial vehicle collision occurs. Truckers often say, “Ride with me for just one day and you will see what it is like ‘out there’…it’s not always the trucker’s fault…”
It is not uncommon to see a big rig wreck, semi crash or major accident involving semi truck drivers in Oak Park, IL. Oak Park’s freeway system is made up of miles of freeways and expressways in a suburban area. Interstate I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway, runs directly through Oak Park, linking you with major highways into Chicago, the suburbs and beyond. The danger of an 18-wheeler truck accident is not just confined to injured people in automobiles, but can end up injuring the truck driver affecting their livelihood and family’s livelihood as well as the automobile driver. So, when a Oak Park 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer is contacted, be it by an automobile driver who has been injured or a truck driver that has been injured at the dangerous hands of another, you will need an expert Oak Park truck injury lawyer to fight for your rights.
The Semi Truck Driver is Not Always at Fault
When an 18-wheeler is moving down a Oak Park road or highway, such as I-290, SH-43, SH-64, SH-171, or SH-50 at high speeds, it is nearly unstoppable and can easily turn a motorist’s everyday commute into a lethal situation. Although a passenger car is lightweight, in comparison, and can easily maneuver in and out of lanes on Oak Park highways, it is no match for a big rig truck. If the two vehicles are unable to avoid a collision, wreck or crash, the driver of the passenger car will be lucky to escape with their life.
A driver of a passenger vehicle could easily be killed as a result of veering out of his lane and then smashing into a tractor trailer truck let’s say on the The Eisenhower Expressway (Interstate-290)--formerly the Congress Expressway—is the primary highway between Chicago and Oak Park. If the trucker tried to avoid hitting the passenger car but was unable to avoid the wreck or crash, then this would be a case where the accident was caused by the driver of the passenger vehicle and therefore the trucker would not be at fault.
Truck Driver Facts
- Two of your fellow truck drivers die each day in accidents
- 33,000 people driving large trucks are injured each year
- 6.3% of U.S. truck drivers are injured each year.
Injured Truckers Need Legal Representation
A qualified Oak Park 18-wheeler accident attorney should offer a free case review. If they decide to take on your legal matter, they should not require an up-front fee. Truckers with a trucking injury claim are generally taken on a contingency fee basis. In other words, your Oak Park truck accident attorney is only paid if you receive compensation for your injuries.
Injured Truckers Need to Know Their Rights
As a trucker, you have rights you need to be aware of. It is not uncommon for aggressive insurance companies to contact you shortly after the accident in an effort to try to get you to settle quickly and convince you that you want the matter to go away. In many cases, injuries are not so quick to heal. Many times the injuries can be permanent, long-lasting, and career-threatening. That is why you need a competent Oak Park truck accident lawyer that is not only prepared to mediate a resolution, but also prepared to take your case to court.
When Negligence Changes a Trucker’s Life
Qualified Oak Park truck accident lawyers know exactly how to provide nationwide representation for truckers injured in trucking accidents caused by a variety of negligent acts and mechanical malfunctions, including:
- Rear-end, Head-On Crashes and Jackknives
- Poor Maintenance, including Tires and Brakes
- Driver Fatigue
- Unsecured Loads
- Aggressive Driving
- DWI/Drug Use
- Lack of Reflectors and Poor Visibility
Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, litigation can be very complex. Hiring a semi truck accident attorney who specializes in the numerous trucking laws throughout the United States is essential for a successful verdict outcome. For more information about trucking laws or to schedule an appointment with an experienced commercial truck injury lawyer, contact a truck injury attorney today.
When an 18 Wheeler accident occurs, your Oak Park truck accident lawyer will check the truck driver’s credentials to see if he/she attended an accredited Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) school. In Oak Park, Illinois, one truck driving school is Howard's Driving School, although there are many others throughout the country. See the Nationwide List of Accredited CDL Schools for a more comprehensive list.
Resources for Truck Drivers |
Trucking Schools (earn your CDL):
Alamo Truck Driving School
Mega Driving School
CDL Truck Driving School |
Occupational Health Care Facilities
Mac Neal Health Care Center
Oak Park Healthcare Center
Resurrection Health Care |
Companies that provide towing services for big rigs: |
Illinois Towing Service Inc.
Semi Towing
Lake County Truck Towing |
Fox Recovery & Towing
Lake Towing |
Contact a Oak Park 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer for a free initial consultation. |
Truck Accident Attorneys for Injured Truckers Serve Oak Park and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Northeastern Illinois, including Aurora, Bartlett, Batavia, Berwyn, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Burbank, Calumet City, Carol Steam, Carpentersville, Channahon, Chicago, Cicero, Crystal Lake, De Kalb, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, East Chicago, Elgin, Evanston, Glenview, Hammond, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lancing, Lockport, Lombard, McHenry, Mt. Prospect, Mundelein, Naperville, New Lenox, North Chicago, Northbrook, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park, Oswego, Rockford, Romeoville, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills, Wilmette, Woodstock, areas in the vicinity of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and other communities in Cook County.
Oak Park truck accident attorneys for injured truckers are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Oak Park 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.