I-74 Truck Accident Lawyer in Chicago
Driving down Interstate 74 surrounded by colossal semi-trucks can be an anxiety-inducing experience. While you can control your own actions, you can’t control the actions of those around you. Truck drivers work under tight deadlines and drive long hours. It only takes one distraction or a second of microsleep to cause a serious wreck.
When you’re seriously injured in an I-74 crash caused by a truck driver or motor carrier, it can leave you with a painful recovery, as well as financial difficulty if your injuries leave you unable to work. If you were injured in an accident on I-74 or anywhere else in Illinois, you can turn to the team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. We have already recovered more than $2.5 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our experienced I-74 truck accident lawyers are here to help.
Get in touch with our office today for your free case evaluation to learn about your options for pursuing the financial recovery you’re due.
I-74 Overview
Construction on Interstate 74 began in 1957. The road joins the Upper Midwest portion of the country with the Southern Great Lakes and the Ohio River Valley. The first section of the road to open to the public was the 3,114-foot long Murray Baker Bridge, which opened in December of 1958. At the time, this stretch of I-74 cost $5.5 million to build.
Over the years, Interstate 74 has been rebuilt to accommodate modern traffic patterns and loads. Sections of the roadway are now six to eight lanes wide, and the Murry Baker Bridge has also had a facelift. The entire length of I-74 is approximately 491 miles.
Where Does I-74 Start and End?
Interstate 74 starts in Iowa. Its entrance is near the interchange with I-80 in the Quad Cities area. It then extends south into Davenport before crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois. Eventually, it meets with I-80 near Colona and extends further south into Galesburg. The Murray Baker Bridge takes the road over the Illinois River and into Bloomington before branching southeast to Champaign and eventually the Indiana border.
I-74 continues its path south through Indianapolis and into Cincinnati, Ohio. I-74 ends near the U.S. 27, U.S. 52, U.S. 127, and I-75 near South Cumminsville. Sections of I-74 are located in North Carolina, although these areas do not connect directly to the I-74 corridor through the Midwest and Ohio River Valley.
Illinois makes up a large stretch of the I-74 corridor. Major cities on the I-74 route include:
- Davenport, Iowa
- Bettendorf, Iowa
- Moline, Illinois
- Galesburg, Illinois
- Peoria, Illinois
- Bloomington, Illinois
- Champaign, Illinois
- Urbana, Illinois
- Danville, Illinois
- Crawfordsville, Indiana
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Shelbyville, Indiana
- Greensburg, Indiana
- Cincinnati, Ohio
What Is the Highway Mainly Used For?
With I-74 being a main road through the Upper Midwest, it is often used for travel and commercial purposes. There is frequent semi-truck activity on the roadway because it connects many vital cities like Peoria, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. Commuters from the suburbs also frequently travel on I-74 to get into the larger cities for work, school, and shopping.
Since this road connects so many crucial thoroughfares, travelers also utilize the road for recreational purposes. It is an easy way for visitors to the area to access some of the best sights and cities of the Upper Midwest and Southern Great Lakes region.
Major Intersections on I-74
Many interstate junctions branch off I-74. Some of the most prominent are:
Iowa
- I-80
Illinois
- I-280
- I-80
- I-474
- I-155
- I-55
- I-57
Indiana
- I-465
- I-70
- I-65
Ohio
- I-275
- I-75
Common Causes of Truck Crashes on I-74
Driving a large, commercial truck is physically and mentally demanding. The long hours and tight deadlines can force drivers to feel compelled to push themselves, even when it is dangerous to continue driving. The cause of most significant truck crashes is driver error, whether due to distraction or fatigue. Some of the most common causes of truck collisions on I-74 include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Mechanical defects
Determining Fault in a Truck Crash Case
You must be able to prove that the truck driver’s or another party’s carelessness caused the crash and your injuries. Talking to an experienced I-74 truck accident attorney is the best way to learn more about your legal rights and if you have a viable claim for compensation.
In addition to helping determine who is at fault for the collision, an attorney can begin the complicated process of securing evidence to establish negligence. The process is much more challenging than most victims realize. Truck crashes are not like car crashes. Truck drivers are often protected by trucking companies that have teams of insurers and lawyers on their side.
It may be necessary for an attorney to issue a spoliation letter to the trucking company. This document is a legal notification that the company may not destroy evidence such as video recording, GPS information, and black box data. This information can be crucial to help identify whether the driver is at fault.
I-74 Crash Reports
Unfortunately, it is not hard to find a list of large truck collisions on I-74. Some of the most significant I-74 truck accidents that have occurred recently include:
- I-74 shut down after a crash involving jackknifed semi-trucks
- One man dead in 1-74 crash involving two semi-trucks
- Shelbyville man dies in collision with overturned semi-truck
- Livestock killed in semi-truck fire on I-74
- Indianapolis man killed in a semi-truck collision
- Accident involving a school bus and semi-truck leaves two dead
There is no shortage of news articles chronicling the devastating impact commercial truck crashes can have on just one stretch of interstate.
Contact Our Lawyers Today if you have been involved in an I-74 Truck Accident
In the blink of an eye, a negligent semi-truck driver can forever change the life of a commuter and their family. Victims deserve the opportunity to hold negligent drivers accountable and recover the compensation they need to move forward.
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we have decades of experience helping Illinois truck accident victims recover the money they deserve. If you are hurt in a serious I-74 crash, you need the knowledge and experience that our team can bring to the table.
Contact our I-74 truck accident lawyer today to receive a free, no-obligation consultation.
