Estate planning is what a person engages in while they are making out a last will and testament. They determine what will happen to all of the assets they own and who will benefit from such assets. Therefore, estate planning is extremely important, if you want to leave specific individuals your assets, like your home, your vehicle(s) or any form of money, you will need to write a legal will and indicate your selected beneficiaries. There are several steps you will need to take in order to cover all the bases.

Next, you will need to speak to a lawyer that handles wills and estates about writing up your will. A lawyer can assist you with all the legalities and can advise you of what you can and cannot do in terms of planning the distribution of your assets. You can find a lawyer easily enough using your telephone directory or you can find one on the Internet.

Illinois estate planning attorney, Christopher D. Dwyer, operates one of the premier estate law firms in Chicago area as an asset protection attorney with a concentration on business counseling, wills, trusts and probate. Chris now owns and runs his own law firm and is dedicated to providing personal service with the same degree of expertise that he employed at the large Chicago estate law firms. He is personally invested in his clients’ success and provides a hands-on approach to each client’s legal needs. He understands both the legal and personal aspects of your business affairs. His clients come from all walks of life, throughout the state of Illinois, across the nation and around the world.

After you have located a lawyer, you will sit down with the attorney and go through any documentation pertaining to your assets. At this time, you may also want to consider the possibility of creating a Power of Attorney, a statement giving control of your assets to your pre-selected individual if something should happen to you while you are still living and you, for whatever reason, cannot speak for yourself. Also, you may want to consider creating a Health Care Proxy, letting whoever is in charge when you can’t be, decide the type of hospital treatment you would prefer.

Finally, during the process of creating a will, you may want to establish one or more trust funds, referred to as “discretionary trusts” to those individuals that may be too young to manage any assets you give them in the event of your death.

Because of the massive size and weight of trucks, truck accidents can be catastrophic, resulting in serious injuries and death. The size and structure of trucks and how they are driven is very different from passenger vehicles; for this reason, drivers of passenger vehicles may be able to help avoid collisions by better understanding how many trucking accidents occur.

Equipment failure

Equipment failure regarding brakes, turn signals, steering components, and tires are just some of the parts of trucks that can fail and cause devastating accidents. Trucking laws require regular inspection, but laws and regulations are not always complied with. Truck drivers do not always properly maintain their trucks, and that can lead to serious accidents. Even in properly maintained vehicles, equipment may fail due to shoddy work by manufacturers or repair shops.

Jackknifing

Jackknifing occurs when a truck folds as the trailer tries to pass the cab. Jackknifing means the accidental folding of an articulated vehicle (one towing a trailer) such that it resembles the angle of a folding pocket knife (hence the name). Jackknifing usually happens to an empty vehicle and does not really happen that often. Sudden braking or turning, brake malfunction, wet or otherwise slippery roads, and uneven road surfaces can all cause a truck to jackknife. Jackknifing can be the cause of a serious truck accident or it can happen after something has collided with the truck. Most experienced truck drivers know how to correct a skid before it becomes a jackknife.

Turning accidents

Turning accidents often occur because trucks are so long, and they often have to make very wide turns. Sometimes these turns require the trucks to take up more than one lane of traffic. Always be aware of trucks around you and allow them enough room to make those wide turns. A truck will often swing to the left before making a right hand turn; this opens up space to the truck’s immediate right. If a car pulls into that space, the car can be hit or even crushed without ever being seen by the truck driver.

Stopping Distance

The stopping distance that is required for trucks is much greater than the stopping distance required for passenger vehicles, and trucks that follow vehicles too closely are an accident waiting to happen. Following too closely obviously does not allow a driver enough time to stop in the event the vehicle in front of you brakes suddenly. Not having enough stopping distance between the truck and the vehicle in front of the truck can trigger a jackknife and cause a serious accident. Be sure to allow ample distance between your vehicle and the front of the truck you are passing. Many truck drivers will flash their headlights to let you know that it is safe to return back to your lane after passing.

Blind spots

Blind spots in trucks are much larger than in passenger vehicles. We have all probably seen those signs on trucks that say, “If you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you” Trucks have large blind spots that prevent them from seeing nearby vehicles. A truck that is changing lanes can easily collide with a vehicle in its blind spot. Experienced truck drivers know how to avoid these collisions, but not all truckers on the road are experienced.

Being aware of the dangers truck drivers face every day they go to work and being aware of how to share the road with trucks will certainly help you avoid the catastrophic type of accident that often occurs when trucks and passenger vehicles collide.

At The Healy Law Firm in Chicago, Illinois, each truck accident attorney in their practice understands the complex nature of truck accidents and is familiar with the federal and state regulations that govern the operation of large trucks. Serving both Illinois and out of state residents, every truck accident lawyer at their firm is an experienced litigator committed to the advocacy of victims’ rights. If you have been injured in a truck accident, their dedicated attorneys will aggressively represent your interests and help you recover the maximum fair compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident, the law limits the time you have to pursue legal action against the negligent party. Moreover, obtaining quick access to evidence and witnesses is often crucial in establishing a successful case. Often trucking companies and their insurers dispatch investigators to the scene within hours. It is crucial you retain competent legal counsel as soon as possible. Throughout Illinois and the nation, the truck accident attorneys at The Healy Law Firm have earned a reputation as capable litigators who consistently secure impressive, fair financial compensation for their clients. For superior legal representation, Illinois residents should contact their experienced trucking accident lawyers today.