If you’ve spent any time at all behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, you’ve probably encountered your fair share of tractor-trailers that are traveling much too fast on the interstate. There are many reasons that truck drivers choose to speed, including pressure from employers, tight deadlines, and even a sense of boredom or fatigue and wanting to push themselves to the next stop.

Speeding is never safe, though. Truck drivers, in particular, must be especially aware of their speed, as large trucks take much longer to come to a full and complete stop after a driver first applies the brakes. Large commercial trucks are much more susceptible to speed-related crashes than smaller passenger vehicles.

One of Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys’s founding attorney partners, Michael Krzak, was recently appointed as Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Aviation Law Committee. This is Attorney Krzak’s third appointment to this leadership role. It also marks perhaps the first time in the organization’s history that a lawyer has been appointed this many times during their legal career.

The Aviation Law Committee is one of 130 different legal-specific committees run by the Chicago Bar Association. These committees provide law student and attorney participants with networking opportunities, insight into continuing education opportunities, and an environment to discuss nuances within their specialized area of interest within the law.

An Illinois family that was on board the Amtrak train that derailed in Missouri on June 27, 2022 is among those who will be filing lawsuits against the train operator, the railroad company, and the company operating the dump truck that was blocking the tracks as well as other potentially responsible parties.

The family of four, who was transported to a hospital for their injuries, contacted Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys to get answers regarding the multiple failures that led to the derailment. The derailment caused them to sustain serious injuries that have changed their lives both physically and emotionally while on their trip home from a family wedding in Oklahoma.

Many of us have gotten behind the wheel of a car when we were probably too tired to do so. It often happens because someone picks up an extra shift at work, stays up late studying for a test or working on a project, or when an emergency arises.

If you’ve ever driven while tired, you might have initially felt a sense of adrenaline when you first got behind the wheel. You may have assumed that you could keep up the momentum.

Not seeing any other cars on a poorly lit stretch of a 2-lane highway or sparsely trafficked interstate may quickly zap any remaining energy out of you, making it nearly impossible to hold even one eye open.

In an earlier article here on our blog, we addressed tips first-timers should follow in navigating Chicago’s roadways. In that article, we highlighted details about:

• Chicago’s grid system
• Illinois’ prohibition on the use of hand-held devices, such as navigation systems and cell phones
• The abundance of one-way streets in Chicago
• How important it is that you stay vigilant for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Why you must account for rush hour, construction zones, concerts, festivals, and sporting events when planning your commute

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) National Institute on Aviation Litigation 2022, which was previously scheduled to be an in-person-only continuing education opportunity here in Chicago on June 9, will be held virtually. Our firm is pleased to announce that this ABA litigation section’s Co-Chair, Michael Krzak, will be presenting at this year’s one-day institute.

The institute was created to provide personal injury and other attorneys with an opportunity to:

• Expand their knowledge of this unique practice area through training from seasoned industry experts
• Network with fellow aviation litigators from across the nation regarding regulatory nuances in this space

When the weather warms up, Lake Michigan becomes a big hot spot for recreational boaters. Many people love this iconic waterway’s soothing waves and great fishing opportunities. However, danger lurks in the water. If boaters don’t use good judgment, someone can go from having a fun day to becoming a statistic. Here are a few of the most important safety tips for boating on Lake Michigan.

Whether you’re replacing furniture or stocking up your pantry, you can have virtually anything delivered directly to your doorstep. Amazon is by far the most popular online retailer, and most people can easily identify the signature bluish-gray color of an Amazon delivery vehicle. In addition to Amazon, the pandemic has resulted in an explosion of other delivery services.  It can be extremely convenient (and even exciting) to click the “order” button and await the arrival of that familiar delivery vehicle. Unfortunately, in certain situations, it can also be dangerous.

Trucking routes that weave back and forth across our nation make up the very fabric of American culture. The service truck drivers and companies provide is indispensable to the way we live our lives every day. But the roads truckers use to do their job are the same ones the rest of society uses to go to work, drop their kids off at school, run errands, and visit friends and family. This means that 40-ton tractor-trailers regularly travel alongside, in between, and around vehicles up to 30 times smaller in weight—not to mention motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

What happens when a driver doesn’t clear snow off their car in Illinois? State laws tell us that a motorist may be fined if they fail to uphold their duty to keep their vehicle windows, mirrors, and lights clear. And when it comes to filing car accident claims, a driver whose negligence in winter vehicle maintenance leads to another person’s injuries may be liable for damages.

Let’s take a look at the state laws regulating vehicle snow removal and why these laws are so important for safe road travel in Illinois.