Truck Accident Injury Lawyer in Chicago, IL

When your livelihood takes a turn for the worst because of injuries sustained at the hands of a negligent truck driver
in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois, call Burger Law immediately at (779)
800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation. Our Chicago truck accident injury lawyer will start working on your case
right away and fight on your behalf until you receive a full financial recovery.

If you have been injured in Chicago or Illinois due to someone else’s carelessness and recklessness behind the wheel,
use our free personal injury calculator to see how much
your truck accident claim might be worth. Call us today at (779) 800-HURT or fill out
our online form to start on your road to recovery. We do not collect any
fees until our Chicago truck accident injury lawyer wins your case.

How Common Are Trucking Accidents in Chicago?

As of 2020, there were over 70,000 licensed truck drivers in Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it one of the top 15
trucking states in the nation. In 2020 there were 9,966 truck crashes that involved injury or death in the state,
according to the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics report.

If you were injured because a Chicago or Illinois truck driver or trucking company broke the rules and disregarded your
safety, call a Chicago trucking accident injury lawyer at Burger Law today. We
fight the hard cases and secure maximum compensation for the injured residents of Chicago and throughout Illinois.

Truck accidents are far more dangerous than typical passenger car accidents. A truck accident can cause catastrophic
injuries that can have long-term or even lifelong effects on your ability to function independently or enjoy life. Every
Chicago-based Illinois truck accident injury
lawyer at Burger Law understands what you are going through. You deserve justice, to see the liable parties held
accountable and to recover the best possible compensation. Burger Law will make that happen.

What Are the Common Types of Chicago Truck Accidents?

Some of the most common types of truck accidents our Chicago truck accident injury lawyer sees are:

• Overloaded and Overweight Trucks
• Night-Time Truck Accidents
• Jackknife Accidents
• Head-On Accidents

Truck accidents in Chicago and throughout Illinois occur for a variety of reasons, and the circumstances surrounding
each crash are unique. The Burger Law Chicago truck accident injury
lawyer has seen every type of truck accident imaginable on the Illinois roads. We conduct a full investigation,
finding whatever caused your crash and the conditions surrounding your accident, and fight hard to get you the
compensation you deserve.

What Are the Federal Regulations Regarding Chicago Truck Drivers and Truck Companies?

The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration is the governing body that regulates the safety of commercial motor vehicles and works to prevent
commercial motor vehicle-related injuries and fatalities. Truck accidents are incredibly
destructive and Chicago truck drivers and companies need to follow regulations that go beyond what regular
passenger drivers are required to do.

If anyone who owns, manages or operates a truck does not follow the regulations and they cause you injuries, they are liable for your damages. Trust in the
Chicago-based Illinois truck accident injury
lawyer team at Burger Law to hold them accountable and get you the maximum compensation you deserve. The legal
process is complicated and uncertain for the average person. The Burger Law Chicago truck accident injury lawyer is
an expert in Chicago law and in dealing with insurance companies and large corporations that use tricks to try
to deceive you and devalue your claim. If you or a loved one in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois were injured by
a reckless truck driver or trucking company, call the truck accident injury lawyer at Burger Law
today at (779) 800-HURT.

How Can Violating Federal Safety Regulations Lead to Chicago Truck Accidents?

Below are some of the federal safety regulations, and how violating them can lead to accidents.

Texting and Driving | Chicago Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

The Code of Federal Regulations §392.80 prohibits texting and driving for truck
drivers any time the motor is running, with the exception of emergency situations or if the vehicle is off the road. One
study found that texting drivers look at their phones for an average of 4.6 seconds during a 6-second period. At 55 miles per hour,
that is the equivalent of driving an entire football field – including the end zones – without looking at the road once.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that 80 percent of
all motor vehicle accidents involved driver inattention in the moments leading up to the crash.

Drug Use and Drug Testing | Chicago Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

§382 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires commercial truck drivers to
be tested for the following controlled substances:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opiates, including opium itself and derivative drugs such as heroin
• Amphetamines and methamphetamine
• Phencyclidine (a.k.a. PCP)

Unfortunately, drug use among truck drivers is high and often linked to poor working
conditions. Many drivers traveling through Chicago and Illinois use amphetamines and cocaine in order to stay awake when driving long hours.

Blood-Alcohol Limits for Truck Drivers | Chicago Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

It is federal law that no one can operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. Because large
trucks pose a much higher risk to those on the Chicago and Illinois roads, federal law and §382 of the Code of Federal
Regulations places even higher restrictions on truck drivers:

• No truck driver may drive with a blood alcohol content of .04 percent or higher.
• Having a blood alcohol content over .02 may make a truck driver subject to disciplinary action, and they will
  not be allowed to drive for 24 hours.

If a truck driver made the terrible decision to drive drunk or impaired by drugs and caused you injuries, Burger Law’s
Illinois truck accident injury lawyer in Chicago will hold them accountable. When we sue drunk drivers on your behalf, we seek punitive
damages so they know never to get behind the wheel intoxicated again.

Truck Inspections, Repair and Maintenance | Chicago Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

The Code of Federal Regulations §396 stipulates that every “motor carrier, its
officers, drivers, agents, representatives and employees” consistently inspects, repairs and maintains their trucks, as
well as keep detailed records.

They must inspect:

• Time and frame assemblies
• Suspension systems
• Axles
• Wheels and rims
• Steering systems
• Brakes

If you were hit by a truck driver in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois, it is imperative that you contact a truck accident
injury lawyer right away. As part of our truck accident
investigation, we will acquire any and all reports related to your accident and the operation of the truck. If
we find the driver or truck company was negligent, you can be sure our truck accident injury lawyer will hold them
accountable.

Hours-of-Service for Truck Drivers | Chicago Truck Accident Injury Lawyer

Along with drunk driving and distracted driving, fatigued driving is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do.
Being awake for 18 consecutive hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of .05 percent. The Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration has enacted strict hours-of-service regulations to ensure that truck drivers get enough rest
when they have to drive long hours:

Property-Carrying Drivers

• A max of 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive off-duty hours
• A max of 14 hours on-duty, meaning that the trucker may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming
  on duty after 10 consecutive off-duty hours
• No more than 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days
• No more than 70 hours on duty over eight consecutive days
• Any driver using a sleeper berth must take eight consecutive hours in it, plus a separate two hours in the
  sleeper berth or off duty, or any combination of the two.

Passenger-Carrying Drivers

• A max of 10 hours driving after eight consecutive hours off duty
• A max of 15 hours on-duty, meaning that the commercial driver may not drive beyond the 15th consecutive hour
  after eight consecutive off-duty hours
• No more than 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days
• No more than 70 hours on duty over eight consecutive days
• Drivers who use a sleeper berth must take at least eight hours in it with the option of splitting the time into
  two periods, provided that neither is less than two hours

Truck drivers should pull over when they are feeling drowsy or fatigued. According to the groundbreaking Large Truck Crash Causation Study, pressure from employers to meet tight
schedules was a leading reason that truck drivers drove fatigued. If you or a loved one in Chicago or elsewhere in
Illinois was injured because a trucking company obligated their drivers to drive longer than they should, Burger
Law’s Chicago truck accident injury
lawyer will prove that they were liable and make sure you receive maximum compensation.

Strict adherence to any Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulation is necessary to keep our Chicago and
Illinois roads safe. If anyone who owns, manages or drives a truck is negligent in satisfying any state or federal
regulations and injures you or your loved one, they need to pay and you need to be compensated for your damages.

Your Chicago Truck Accident Injury Lawyer | Burger Law

Burger Law’s Illinois truck accident injury lawyer team in Chicago has over 70 years of combined experience
investigating, litigating and trying cases. We will find every party that is liable for your injuries and hold them
accountable. We have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of the injured and vulnerable in Chicago and throughout
Illinois. Our clients are why we do our jobs. We are committed to
keeping you abreast of every aspect of your case, providing an abundance of free resources and step-by-step updates.

Call your Chicago truck accident injury lawyer at Burger Law immediately at (779)
800-HURT or contact us to start a free consultation. You deserve to
have skilled and experienced attorneys on your side, fighting for your recovery and for you and your family’s future.