Andreano Law is dedicated to pursuing justice for the victims of truck and semi-trailer accidents in Joliet and Will County, Illinois.

We understand the anguish and anxiety suffered by a family involved in a truck accident. Therefore, it has become our quest and our passion to help those injured in such collisions to receive the full measure of compensation they so rightfully deserve.

Since 1990 our team of lawyers has developed a unique understanding of truck accident law, leading us to write the Illinois Truck Litigation Manual (2016), considered to be “the book” on the subject.

We wrote the Illinois Truck Litigation Manual because it is critical for attorneys and victims to understand that Commercial Motor Carrying is a highly regulated industry. As within any other industry there are regulatory and industry safety standards which must be followed.  

Our job and passion as Joliet and Will County semi-truck accident attorneys is to handle the details of dealing with insurance companies, adjusters, personal injury and property damage claims, litigation, and obtaining the legal compensation you rightfully deserve.

You can contact our lawyers at any time for an initial consultation; without any pressure and without charge. Our legal fees are 100% contingent upon you winning financial compensation in your lawsuit. Simply put, we get paid only if, and when, you get paid.

Meet Joliet and Will County, Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer Frank Andreano – 30 seconds

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Joliet and Will County, Illinois semi truck accidents on the rise

Our Firm handles trucking cases in all parts of Illinois, but Joliet is our Firm’s home base and the hub of truck traffic in Illinois. Known as the Crossroads of America, Joliet sits at the intersection of I-80 and I-55, two of the major transcontinental highways in the United States. Many firms say they know trucking, but we live it every day.

In 2003, the former Joliet Arsenal was converted into an intermodal facility, bringing together rail, barge and trail-trailer facilities. This has resulted in Joliet becoming the largest inland port in the United States. The result has been an explosion of truck traffic in, and around, Joliet.1 This increase in truck traffic has greatly increased truck collisions, which have resulted in death and injury in our community.

Truck traffic has exploded all around the State of Illinois, and too often we have been called on to help families whose loved ones have been killed or injured in truck crashes. And like any other industry, unscrupulous motor carriers, brokers, shippers and drivers avoid safety regulations, with catastrophic results. Understanding industry rules and regulations is critical. There are certain common causes of truck collisions, and like any industrial failure, knowing what to look for is crucial.

Intrastate Commercial Motor Carrying is governed by the Illinois Commerce Commission, while Interstate trucking is governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. In addition to understanding regulatory compliance, trucking cases involve technology, business practices, insurance coverage, and discovery of documents and electronic records unfamiliar to the vast majority of lawyers.
 
If you are an attorney looking for assistance with a trucking case in the city of Joliet or Will County, we’d be happy to help. We have handled cases throughout Illinois in both State and Federal Courts, and partner with local firms who understand that having experienced co-counsel on their team gives them a distinct advantage.

 

Interstate 80 (I-80) is a transcontinental highway which passes through Will County in an east-west direction.  Major I-80 interchanges in the study area include I-55, IL 7, US 6, IL 53 and US 30. It is a major truck route and part of the reason truck traffic in the Joliet and Will County areas has exploded.

Interstate 55 (I-55) is a transcontinental highway which connects St. Louis to northeastern Illinois and travels through Will County from southwest to northeast. I-55 is located along Joliet and Will County area, where it provides north-south access. Major I-55 interchanges include IL 59, I-80, US 6, Arsenal Road, and IL 129. It is a major truck route and part of the reason truck traffic in the Joliet and Will County areas has exploded.

Interstate 355 (I-355) also known as the Veterans Memorial Tollway, is located in the western and southwest suburbs of Chicago. I-355 runs from Interstate 80 in New Lenox north to Interstate 290 in Itasca. The southern leg of the highway from I-55 to I-80 opened in November 2007, and is in the far northeast corner of Will County. It is a major truck route and part of the reason truck traffic in the Joliet and Will County areas has exploded.

Interstate 57 (I-57) goes from Miner, Missouri, at Interstate 55 to Chicago, Illinois, at Interstate 94. Interstate 57 serves as a de-facto bypass route for travelers from the south on Interstate 55 who are headed on their way to Chicago instead of going through St. Louis. It is frequently used by trucks travelling in the Joliet and Will County areas, especially for grain transportation.

Why is important to act quickly.

Evidence is a perishable commodity. There is a tremendous amount of evidence that may be lost forever if the victim doesn't have a knowledgeable, forceful attorney who can quickly act to preserve it. Larger trucking companies generally use on-board computers and satellite communication systems that generate an enormous amount of data that may be invaluable to the victim's case. The companies that provide those services to truck fleets have record retention policies providing that data on truck operations is transmitted, then purged from the provider's computer system within 14 to 30 days. The data transmitted to the trucking companies is subject to "modification" and it is extraordinarily difficult and expensive to prove that data was altered.

Sending a preservation letter as soon as possible is critical.
 
In addition, trucking companies typically have record retention policies to purge such records in no more than the six months that the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations require for preservation of driver logs, or other retention periods for other records.

There is also "black box" data generated by engine control modules (ECM's) on all modern road tractor engines. Such data is extremely important in proving the performance of the truck and its drive. It must be downloaded according to manufacturers' protocols, and if not promptly downloaded may be lost forever.

Without immediately retaining an Illinois lawyer who is prepared to immediately demand that the companies preserve a long list of paper records and electronic data after a wreck, the company may well destroy that information according to internal records management policies that are permissible under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. If necessary, one may need to file a suit just to require preservation of evidence prior to filing a personal injury or wrongful death case.

While a highly competent and ethical Illinois attorney who practices in another specialty may have the resources to quickly identify a trucking lawyer, most lawyers really don't know the ins and outs of Joliet or Will County, Illinois trucking cases well enough to take timely and appropriate action. Most of our cases come by referral from lawyers with whom we share responsibility and fees.