Chicago Truck Accident Lawyers

Helping Truck Accident Victims in Chicago, Illinois

Large commercial trucks create an inherent safety risk on our highways. Simply due to their immense size, trucks tend to be involved in very serious accidents. Additionally, the occupants of a normal sized car typically bear the brunt of the damage. According to the most recent data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDoT), there were more than 2,000 serious injuries in truck crashes in the year 2014 alone. Tragically, there were also nearly 100 fatalities. Many of these accidents took place in the city of Chicago and within the surrounding communities. This area has several major thoroughfares, including Interstate-90 and Interstate-94, which are filled with tractor trailers. In the unfortunate event that you were injured in a truck accident, you deserve full and fair compensation for your damages. However, sadly, actually getting that compensation can prove to be extremely difficult. Semi-truck accident victims need to hire the right Chicago truck accident lawyer who can protect their legal rights and financial interests.

The First Four Things to Do After a Truck Crash

Far too many accident victims damage their own injury claims by making avoidable mistakes in the hours and days immediately after their crash. To help you avoid this, our team has put together a quick four-step post-accident checklist:

• Step 1: All accident victims need to see a doctor. Even if you believe that your injuries do not require ‘emergency’ treatment, please get medical attention as soon as possible.
• Step 2: Successful personal injury claims require supporting evidence. You need to obtain relevant evidence at the accident scene. This includes photographs, a copy of the police report and witness contact information.
• Step 3: You must avoid admitting fault for the accident. Never acknowledge fault to the other driver or to the responding police officer. Do not even accept partial fault. Additionally, do not accept fault while talking to an insurance adjuster.
• Step 4: You need to hire an experienced truck accident attorney immediately. The longer you wait to hire an attorney, the more you will imperil your own claim.

You Need to Act Quickly

Under Illinois’s legal code, victims, including truck accident victims, have two years to take action. To be clear, a claim does not need to be settled within two years; instead, it simply must be started. This is a very strict rule. In other words, if you fail to bring your claim within the mandated time frame, you will very likely lose out on your legal right to do so. The good news is that this problem can be easily avoided. You can protect your legal rights by speaking to a lawyer as soon as possible after your crash.

Truck Accidents Involve Complex Federal Regulations

While Illinois state law does often play a major role in establishing liability for a truck accident, it is also important to recognize the role that federal law plays. Trucking is regulated by the federal government. All trucks operating within Illinois must follow safety standards that are mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). While there are many different safety regulations, a few of the most important ones include:

• Minimum competency standards for truck drivers;
• Limits to how much time a driver can spend behind the wheel each day and week; and
• Pre-trip and post-trip inspection requirements for all trucks.

If it is found that a company has violated any of these safety rules, and your accident occurred as a result, that issue must be addressed in your personal injury claim. You need to work with an attorney who understand the complex intersection between Illinois state law and federal law.

Who is Responsible for a Truck Crash?

One of the reasons that commercial truck accident cases are so complex is because many different parties might potentially be to blame for your accident. For example, any of the following parties might be at-fault for you Chicago truck accident:

• The truck driver;
• The driver’s employer;
• The owner of the truck or the trailer;
• The company leasing the truck; or
• The manufacturer of any part on the truck or the trailer.

Compensation for Accident Victims

Chicago truck accident victims are entitled to seek compensation that accounts for the full extent of their damages. This includes monetary relief for any direct financial losses, as well as financial relief for any intangible losses. Depending on the details of your claim, we may be able to help you obtain compensation for:

• The damage to your car or truck;
• Emergency room fees, including ambulance costs;
• General hospital bills;
• Costs for needed medication and medical equipment;
• Expenses associated with physical rehabilitation;
• Long-term disability;
• Lost wages and lost future income;
• Pain and suffering;
• Disfigurement;
• Loss of limb; and
• Loss of life enjoyment.

How Our Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help

Illinois truck accident lawsuits come with many unique legal challenges. The sad fact is, the big trucking companies and their insurers will do whatever they can to avoid paying victims fair compensation. To recover the settlement offer that you rightfully deserve, you need to work with a qualified lawyer. You cannot go through this process alone or with amatuer representation. We can help. Our team will handle your case from the days immediately following your accident all of the way through until your claim is resolved. Specifically, we will:

• Gather all evidence related to your case;
• Work with your doctors to ensure that you receive quality medical treatment and that your injuries are properly documented;
• Take legal action to get additional records held by the trucking company;
• Put your claim together in a compelling form; and
• Handle negotiations with the insurance company.

Get Legal Help Now

If you were you recently injured in a serious commercial truck accident, act now. There is no more time to waste. To request a free review of your case, please contact our team today at (313) 438-4357. We take all truck accident injury claims on a contingency basis, which means that we do not collect a legal fee unless we help you recover compensation for your damages.