Few would argue that operating a commercial truck such as a semi-truck or flatbed is a challenging job. Drivers drive long hours and must cope with adverse weather, poor road conditions, and other hazards. However, truck drivers have a legal duty and an ethical responsibly to drive safely and follow all local, state, and federal laws – including Hours of Service rules.

Hours of Service rules are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The rules limit when and for how long a commercial driver may drive without taking a rest break. Sleepiness behind the wheel has been proven to increase the risk of severe and deadly truck accidents, so getting the proper rest is essential.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a commercial truck crash caused by a fatigued driver, you may be able to seek compensation and justice through a truck crash injury claim.

One major misunderstanding about personal injury lawsuits is that the issue of fault is usually cut and dry. In reality, determining who is to blame for an injury-causing incident is often the hardest and most time-consuming part of an injury suit. Sometimes, the person at fault for an accident is obvious. However, many personal injury suits involve situations in which several parties share fault for the injury-causing accident. Fortunately, you can still receive compensation for your damages even if you were partially at fault for them. Doing so, however, requires an understanding of Illinois’ “comparative negligence” laws.

Modified Comparative Negligence Basics

Illinois courts rely on a doctrine known as “modified comparative negligence.” This means that you may be able to recover compensation for your losses even if you are partially to blame for the situation in which your losses occurred. As long as you were not more than half at fault for the accident or incident that caused your injuries, you can still receive compensation.

For example, if you were hit by a drunk driver, it may seem obvious that the driver of the other vehicle is to blame. However, what if you were speeding when the accident occurred? In situations like these, the courts will assign a percentage of blame to each party involved in the incident. The amount of compensation you can receive will be reduced according to your percentage of fault. However, if you are found to be 51 percent or more to blame for the accident, you cannot recover anything.

Millions of people are bitten by dogs every year in the United States. Most of these bites are accidents and require little or no medical treatment, while other bites are much more serious. Serious dog attacks are rare, but when the victim is a child, the consequences can be disastrous. It is essential to know what to do after a dog attacks your child, just as it is essential to retain the help of a knowledgeable Illinois dog bite injury lawyer. 

What to Do After a Dog Attack 

If your child has been attacked by a dog, the most important thing to do first is secure the medical care your child needs. Take careful photographs of your child’s injuries, both before and after treatment (as long as it is safe to do so - do not delay calling 911 to take photographs). Make sure you keep detailed records of your memories of the incident, and, if your child is prepared to talk about what happened, write down what they remember, too. Follow your doctor’s treatment guidelines for your child’s injuries carefully and keep all medical records. 

Once your child is safe, involve the police or animal control if you have not already done so. This is important, even if the dog is owned by a friend or family member. You will need a police report of the incident and, if the dog is roaming or wild, animal control will need to bring the dog into confinement. 

Many different things can cause car accidents, but one of the most common reasons cars and trucks crash is tire damage. Semi-trucks, especially, have heavy loads that bear down with great pressure on many tires, potentially exposing the vehicles around them to the risk of tires blowing, shredding, or otherwise breaking and causing serious accidents. 

Tire accidents can be especially difficult to prevent because the average person may not know when their tires are too worn to be used safely, leading them to inadvertently cause an accident through improper tire maintenance. Other times, serious injuries are caused when a tire manufacturer makes a defective tire, causing it to malfunction while in use. Still other crashes happen when truck drivers, inspectors, or cargo companies fail to appropriately inspect and maintain commercial trucks. If you were in a car accident because another driver’s tire blew out or shredded in the roadway, it is important to be able to prove this was the cause of the crash. 

Common Tire Defects and How to Prove They Caused a Crash

Although car crashes caused by tire issues can happen for many reasons, the most common include: 

Distracted driving, defined as any activity which diverts a driver’s attention from the road, is a major contributor to car crashes that cause severe injuries and death. In a national analysis on which states have the most serious problems with distracted driving fatalities, Illinois ranked number eight on the list - meaning it is one of the worst states for distracted driving deaths. 

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed by a distracted driver, taking action by filing an injury claim may be the last thing you feel like doing. But you do not have to suffer alone. An Illinois distracted driving car crash attorney can do the hard work of investigating the accident, collecting evidence, and pursuing compensation on your behalf through a negotiated settlement or lawsuit. 

What is Considered Distracted Driving? 

As the CDC notes, if you are driving at 55 miles an hour, taking your eyes off the road long enough to send a text is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.