Truck Accident Lawyer

A truck accident must be a shocking experience, leaving you unsure what to do next. Beyond the physical injuries, you often have to battle with emotional struggles, financial stress, or an uncertain future. 

Here we are to assist! Our truck accident lawyer in Illinois will thoroughly investigate your case, file your claim, and take all the legal action. We find solutions out of the box of accident injury law to secure all the rights you deserve!

How Our Truck Accident Lawyer Will Help? 

Chicago Injury Lawyer brings all possible solutions to place your case to success.  We aim to guide you through the process to get the justice you deserve. Here’s how we can help you:

Case Evaluation

Our lawyer will evaluate your case during a free consultation and identify the key factors that can lead to its success. We will conduct a thorough investigation. Our team will visit the crash site and speak with witnesses regarding the accident and the trucks involved. It ensures we gather important details to strengthen your case. 

Performs Legal Research

Our lawyers review laws, regulations, and all relevant legal precedents to help you understand your rights. We will also plan the best strategy for your case. If needed, we will update the plan and ensure your success as best as possible.

Communicate With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies often want to pay as little as possible. However, don’t worry! Our lawyers will handle negotiations on your behalf. With our extensive knowledge and years of experience, we know how to challenge law offers and fight for rights. You will secure the maximum compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

Case Litigation

We will go to court if a fair settlement cannot be reached. We will prepare every necessary document for you and make preparations to fight for your rights. Our mission is to secure the compensation you deserve, and we won’t stop until we achieve that.

Preparing Complaints

If your case requires legal action, our lawyer will carefully file all necessary complaints. We ensure your claim highlights the facts, damages, and legal grounds for compensation. It will strengthen your case position, whether in negotiations or court.

Common Causes Of Truck Accidents In Illinois

Truck accidents can have serious consequences. However, understanding the causes of truck accidents can assist in accident prevention in Illinois. 

Fatigue and drowsy driving 

Long hours driving on the road cause drowsiness and fatigue. This state of fatigue affects the driver’s ability to make sound decisions and react quickly. Your vehicle will be vulnerable to accidents. 

Driving under influence 

Alcohol and drugs impair cognitive and motor skills. It reduces the reaction time and ability to respond in emergencies. It has the same effect as intoxicated driving and increases the risk of an accident. 

Speeding up

Too fast truck driving increases the chances of a crash and the severity of the injuries. The tractor-trailer can take almost two football field lengths to stop in normal conditions. 

When the truck driver speeds up, their ability to effectively react at the right moment diminishes. 

Violating traffic codes 

Traffic regulations help to manage traffic and thus keep the road safe. Some motorists, however, fail to follow these rules. Traffic violations like lane switching or stopping the red lights result in severe accidents in  Illinois. 

Brake problems 

Brake failures increase the risk of truck accidents. It causes difficulties for the drivers to stop the truck in an emergency. Improper maintenance, inspection, and repair are the common causes of brake failures. 

Overloading or improperly loaded cargo 

Exceeding cargo weight limits affects the truck’s balance and handling. It raises the likelihood of accidents. That’s a fact for improper loading of the cargo. 

The federal bridge formula only allows 20,000 pounds on a single axle and 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle. When not followed, it can lead to accidents. 

Potential Injuries You Might Sustain In A Truck Accident

Due to the impact of size and force, truck accidents can cause many serious injuries. Below, we mention some potential injuries one may sustain in truck accidents. 

Traumatic Brain Injuries: 

Track accident often results in head and brain injuries. It includes traumatic brain injuries and concussions. Traumatic brain injuries are unfortunately common in truck accidents due to the truck’s sheer size and weight. 

Victims may have symptoms like: 

• Headache 
• Mood swings 
• Dizziness 
• Memory loss or 
• Confusion 

Lacerations And Soft Tissue Injuries: 

Track accident victims may sustain lacerations and soft tissue injuries caused by broken glass and metal debris. These injuries may cause severe pain or bleeding. The victims will need immediate medical attention to prevent infections and complications. 

Whiplash: 

Even minor truck injuries can cause the head and neck to whip forward and back. This whiplash can result in different neck and back injuries. Moreover, it can damage the ligaments, affect the brain, and pain for a long time. 

Broken Bones And Fracture: 

Heavy truck accidents make the victims vulnerable to fractures or broken bones- particularly the ribs, facial bones, and limbs. 

The consequences of the broken bones can be severe. The victim may need surgery, physical therapy, or lengthy rehabilitation. 

Internal Injuries: 

Truck accidents can also lead to internal injuries like internal bleeding, organ damage, or punctured lungs. It happens due to penetration injuries, blunt force trauma, or severe body twisting. 

These types of injuries are not visible immediately. However, they can be life-threatening and will require urgent medical assistance. 

Types of Truck Accidents In Illinois

Truck accidents in Illinois can occur in different forms. Below, we’ve listed the common truck accident types and how they happen, helping the drivers stay safe. 

1. Truck rollovers

A collision occurs when the truck flips and rolls over. The most common causes include sharp turns, speeding, improper maintenance, and sudden lane changes. 

2. Rear-end crashes

In this type of truck accident, the truck hits the back of another vehicle driving. It generally occurs due to faulty breaks, distracted driving, speeding, or fatigue from driving long distances or time.

3. Head-on crashes

It occurs when a truck directly hits another vehicle from the front while moving in the opposite direction. The trucks collide head-first with one another due to fatigue driving or operating the vehicle under the influence. 

4. Jackknife accidents

It refers to collisions in which two parts of a truck (the trailer and cab) bend toward each other until they connect. These accidents occur while driving at high speeds and steep turns.

5. T-bone accidents

They occur when the front of the truck crashes the side of another vehicle. It often occurs at the intersection when the drivers ignore the stop signs or violate the right-of-way rules.

6. Sideswipe accidents 

The accident happens when a small vehicle collides with the side of the truck while traveling next to it. The driver fails to check their blind spot before changing lanes or merging into the traffic, resulting in a collision.

7. Wide turn accidents

When trucks don’t make turns properly, nearby vehicles collide with the truck or get stuck underneath it as it turns. It generally occurs when the drivers fail to judge the clearance. 

8. Underride accidents

It occurs when a vehicle collides with the truck from the side or rear and slides underneath it. Sudden stops or inconsistent speeds often cause collisions.

9. Blown tire accidents

When the truck tires fail, they can’t hold the weight, and a blowout accident happens. These accidents often occur because of underinflated tires, poorly maintained tires, or an overloaded trailer. 

10. Blind spot accidents

When a driver fails to see other vehicles while changing lanes, it puts the vehicles at risk of being hit. It happens due to the drivers not checking the mirrors or other drivers ignoring the signs and driving in the truck’s blind spot. 

Illinois Truck Crash Statistics

In 2022, thousands of crashes occurred, leading to many fatalities and injuries. Illinois crash facts and statistics reveal 298,347 crashes with 83,783 injuries. A large number of these accidents involved trucks, causing severe consequences.

Trucks Involved in the Crashes: 

Among these crashes:

• Pickup trucks have caused 101 death and 648 A-injury 
• Truck tractors with Semi-Trailer have caused 16 deaths and 76 A-injury 
• Other Single Unit Truck have caused 13 death and 47 A-injury 

Large Trucks Involved in Work Zone Crashes:

Source: Illinois crash facts & statistics 

Who Is Liable For Truck Accidents in Illinois? 

Under the Illinois Joint and Several Liability Law, 735 ILCS 5/2-1117, if a defendant is determined to be 25% or more at fault, they’ll be liable for the plaintiff’s all medical expenses. If it’s otherwise, they’ll be only liable for the damage. 

Now, we’ll discuss who can be liable for truck accidents in Illinois. 

Truck drivers 

If the truck driver is negligent, he can be held liable for the truck accident damages. The negligence can be due to driving while distracted or under the influence, fatigue, speeding, or failure to see the vehicle in blind spots. 

The trucking company 

Truck companies are liable for accidents in Illinois if they fail to ensure their drivers follow the rules. They may have pressured the drivers to use tracks that are not safe to drive or to violate FMCSA hours-of-service regulations. 

Cargo loaders and shippers 

If the accident occurs due to overloading or improper cargo loading on a truck, the cargo loader and shippers will face liability for safety precaution violence. 

Truck part supplier and manufacturer 

The truck part supplier or manufacturer may sell faulty products that fail when the truck is in transit. If that’s the cause behind the accident, they will share responsibility for the crash under product liability law. 

Maintenance companies 

Maintenance companies may face lawsuits if they improperly maintain the vehicle, resulting in a collision. For example, they failed to inspect and replace the truck’s worn-out brakes and tires.

What Should I Do After Being In A Truck Accident?

A truck accident experience must be confusing and stressful. However, you can safeguard your safety or legal rights with the steps we’ve guided below.

Ensure the safety first: 

Safety always comes first. So, first, ensure that all involved in the accident are safe. Never leave the scene, as Illinois law prohibits that. Instead, move to another secure place, like on the side of the road or a nearby parking lot. 

Seek medical assistance: 

Check if anyone is injured in a truck accident. You can call 911 right away to report the accident and ask for medical assistance. 

Document the scene: 

If possible, take sufficient photos and videos of the vehicle, road conditions, visible injuries, and damages. 

File and report the accident to the police: 

This official document is essential for insurance claims and legal proceedings. Provide an accurate account of the accident but never admit fault or make speculative statements.

Gather information: 

Secure the information regarding 

• Contact and insurance details from the driver 
• Trucking company’s name 
• The truck’s license plate number.
• Name and badge number of the responding police officer 

Collect the witness statements: 

Talk to the bystander and ask what they saw. If they are witnesses, ask for their names and contact information. 

Inform your insurance company: 

Notify your insurance company about the facts of the accident. However, always avoid admitting your fault. 

Consult with a truck accident attorney: 

A truck accident lawyer will help you to understand your legal options regarding the accidents. Consult them as soon as possible to protect your legal rights. 

What Kind of Compensation Can I Get After a Truck Accident in Illinois?

Our team ensures that you award economic and non-economic damage compensations in truck accident cases in Illinois. 

Economic damages are those you can put a price tag on, like medical bills or lost wages. As for the other one, it refers to the damages impossible to quantify (pain, suffering, etc). 

Medical bills: If you sustain injuries from a truck accident, you can get compensation for medical-related expenses, such as medications, physical therapy, or surgeries. 

Lose wages: If you’re unable to work due to injuries or are required to take time off for your medical treatment, it adds up to the lost income. Illinois laws allow you to recover compensation for present and future lost wages. 

Property damage: If your vehicle sustains damage in a truck accident, you can claim compensation for repair or replacement.  

Pain and suffering: Even for the pain and suffering after the truck accident (like trauma, distress, loss of enjoyment, and so on), Illinois laws allow you to claim compensation. 

Disfigurement or disability: Unfortunately, if the truck accident results in disfigurement or long-term disability, the compensation covers all medical expenses and the impact on the victim’s daily life.

Death: In such scenarios, the victim’s family can claim compensation for loss of companionship, lost wages, funeral expenses, and more. 

How Truck Accident Lawyers Calculate The Damages? 

Our team carefully considers your economic and non-economic losses to calculate the damages. We ensure your deserved compensation for the suffering you’ve experienced in the accident. 

We guarantee complete compensation for your economic losses, including current and future recovery costs and property damage.

However, it’s a more complex approach to calculate the intangible losses. In such cases, we prefer multitier methods. It’s what the calculation looks like. 

Multiplier method:

Total damage= Economic damages × Multiplier 

Where: 

Economic damage= Medical bills + lost wages + property loss + future costs 

Multiplier = A number, typically between 1.5 and 5, based on how severe your pain and suffering are after a truck accident.

How Long Do I Have To File A Lawsuit Or Insurance Claim?

According to the Illinois Compiled Statutes, 735 ILCS 5/13-114, you must file the lawsuit or insurance claims within two years after the truck accident. 

If you fail to meet this deadline, although that’s more than enough time, you’ll forfeit your right to get any money from the insurance company or at-fault party. 

In some cases, the insurance companies may try to delay or deny your claims, taking advantage of two-year statutes. They understand you won’t receive compensation if you do not file the lawsuit on time. File the lawsuit as soon as possible and contact us for legal support. 

How Long Will My Case Take To Settle?

The truck accident case in Illinois may take between 6 months to 16 months to settle down from the accident. Each truck accident case, however, is different. That’s because some accident cases may include multiple parties, commercial litigation, and other considerations. 

The time duration from the incident to the date you receive the check depends on some factors. Such as- 

• Length of the medical treatment 
• Medical bills, records, and other evidence collection 
• Litigation and negotiation of the insurance company
• The time it takes to negotiate the medical bills and liens

Should I Accept the Trucking Company’s Settlement Offer?

If you sustain injuries, we discourage accepting any settlement offer from the trucking company without consulting a truck accident attorney.

The trucking company wants the case sought out with the first settlement offers. You’ll be grateful for the offer when you’re out of work and your medical bills pile up. 

However, the decision can haunt you for the rest of your life if you settle down without knowing the actual costs of your injuries. 

Once you accept the offer, you lose the right to ask for more money if your losses are higher than expected. So, get legal support right away and protect your rights. 

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Book Your Consultation With Our Expert Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Our truck accident lawyers provide individualized attention for your specific case, ensuring you feel supported every step of the way! With us, you’ll partner with a dedicated team committed to your case. Book your consultation today, and let us fight together for your rights!