Truck Accident Lawyer in East St. Louis, IL

If you or someone you love were seriously injured in a truck accident because a truck driver, trucking company employee or another individual broke the laws we have in place to keep us safe, time is of the essence. Call Burger Law right away at (618) 500-HURT or fill out our online contact form.

At Burger Law, we steadfastly represent East St. Louis, IL residents who sustained injuries in truck accidents due to another person’s negligence. Collisions involving trucks and passenger vehicles, along with pedestrians and other people on the roadway, may lead to devastating injuries even at low speeds due to the sheer size and weight of trucks. Trucking companies and their drivers are obligated to follow federal and state trucking regulations, and any failure to abide by these regulations presents a risk of harm to others in East St. Louis, IL. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a truck accident near East St. Louis, our Illinois truck accident lawyers can help you seek maximum compensation from the responsible parties. Call us now at (618) 500-HURT or reach out to us online for a free, no-obligation case review.

Trucks cause serious damage when they are involved in accidents. Recent Illinois Department of Transportation data shows that truck accidents account for approximately 10 percent of all fatal traffic accidents within the state. From the same set of data, 18.6 percent of all Illinois truck accidents involved serious injuries. The Burger Law East St. Louis, IL truck accident lawyers have decades of experience fighting for clients and their families to get the best possible compensation and help them on the road to recovery.

If you or someone close to you has been harmed in a truck accident in East St. Louis, IL, you deserve a complete financial recovery for the losses you have suffered, but you have little chance of success without the skilled legal advocacy of a proven East St. Louis, IL truck accident lawyer. See how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator. Call Burger Law as soon as possible at (618) 500-HURT or fill out our online contact form.

What Are the Common Types of Truck Accidents in East St. Louis, IL?

We have seen truck accident cases resulting from many different negligent behaviors and leading to a wide variety of serious and life-threatening injuries as knowledgeable truck accident lawyers in East St. Louis, IL and throughout Illinois. We are devoted to helping crash victims like you hold the trucking company, the truck driver, insurance company and other negligent parties accountable for the harm they have caused and we have the experience to do just that. Some of the types of truck accident cases we have seen in the East St. Louis, IL area include:

• Hit-and-Run Truck Accidents
• Overloaded and Overweight Truck Accidents
• Rollover Truck Accidents
• Commercial Truck Accidents
• Big Rig Truck Accidents
• 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents
• Tractor Trailer Crash
• Night Time Truck Accidents
• Jackknife Truck Accidents

The East St. Louis, IL truck lawyers of Burger Law have the knowledge and experience to help you receive the full compensation you deserve after any truck crash or motor vehicle collision caused by another person leaves you injured. Learn more about our fields of expertise for East St. Louis cases below.

• Personal injury
• Car accident
• Truck accident
• Motorcycle accident

What Can Cause a Truck Accident in East St. Louis, IL?

Distracted driving is a leading contributor to East St. Louis, IL trucking accidents, as 71 percent of truck accidents occurred when the driver was doing something aside from driving the truck. Other common contributors to East St. Louis, IL truck accidents are:

1. Faulty Truck or Equipment

The Code of Federal Regulations §396 stipulates that every “motor carrier, its officers, drivers, agents, representatives and employees” consistently repair, inspect and maintain their trucks, as well as keep detailed records.

They must inspect:

• Time and frame assemblies
• Suspension systems
• Axles
• Wheels and rims
• Steering systems
• Brakes

If you were hit by a truck driver in East St. Louis, IL or anywhere in Illinois, it is imperative you reach out to the East St. Louis, IL truck accident attorneys at Burger Law right away. As part of our truck accident investigation, we will acquire any and all reports. Our truck accident lawyers will hold accountable any driver, mechanic, business owner or other individual who we find were negligent.

2. Fatigued Driving

Fatigued driving is one of the most dangerous things a truck driver can do. Having no sleep for 18 consecutive hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of .05 percent. While Arkansas and New Jersey are the only states to have laws against drowsy driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has enacted strict hours-of-service regulations to ensure that truck drivers get sufficient sleep when they have to log long hours:

Property-Carrying Drivers

• A max of 11 hours of driving following 10 consecutive off-duty hours
• A maximum of 14 hours on-duty, meaning that the trucker may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty after 10 consecutive off-duty hours
• Fewer than 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days
• Fewer than 70 hours on duty over eight consecutive days
• Any driver using a sleeper berth must take eight consecutive hours in it, plus a separate two hours in the sleeper berth or off duty, or any combination of the two.

Passenger-Carrying Drivers

• A maximum of 10 hours driving after eight consecutive hours off duty
• A max of 15 hours on-duty, meaning that the commercial driver may not drive beyond the 15th consecutive hour after eight consecutive off-duty hours
• Fewer than 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days
• No more than 70 hours on duty over eight consecutive days
• Drivers who utilize a sleeper berth must take at least eight hours in it with the option of splitting the time into two periods, provided that neither is less than two hours

Truck drivers should pull over when they are feeling fatigued or drowsy. Pressure from employers to meet tight schedules was a leading reason that truck drivers drove fatigued, according to the groundbreaking Large Truck Crash Causation Study. If you or a loved one in East St. Louis, IL was injured due to a trucking company forcing their drivers to drive longer than they should, Burger Law’s East St. Louis, IL truck accident attorneys will show they were liable and make sure you receive maximum compensation.

3. Alcohol Impairment

It is federal law that no one can operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. The United States Department of Transportation’s FMCA and its Code of Federal Regulations §392.82 places even higher restrictions on truck drivers due to the fact that large trucks pose a greater risk to those on the East St. Louis, IL and Illinois roads:

• No truck driver may drive with a blood alcohol content of .04 percent or higher
• Having a blood alcohol content over .02 may make a truck driver subject to disciplinary action, and they will not be permitted to operate a truck for 24 hours

Burger Law’s truck accident injury lawyers near East St. Louis, IL will hold any truck driver making the terrible decision to drive drunk or impaired by drugs accountable. When we sue drunk drivers on your behalf, we seek punitive damages so they know never to get behind the wheel intoxicated again.

4. Drug Impairment

The Code of Federal Regulations §392.82 also requires commercial truck drivers to be tested for the following controlled substances:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opiates, including opium itself and derivative drugs such as heroin
• Amphetamines and methamphetamine
• Phencyclidine (a.k.a. PCP)

Unfortunately, drug use among truck drivers is high and frequently linked to dismal working conditions. Many drivers traveling through East St. Louis, IL use amphetamines and cocaine in order to remain awake when driving extended hours.

A necessity in keeping our East St. Louis and Illinois roads safe is strict adherence to FMCSA regulations. If anyone who owns, manages or drives a truck is negligent in satisfying any state or federal regulations and injures you or your loved one, you need to be compensated for your damages and they need to pay.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident in East St. Louis, IL, it is critical that you consult a trusted attorney in Illinois as soon as possible. Our East St. Louis truck accident team will investigate the incident, build a strong and successfully fight for maximum compensation. Give us a call now at (618) 500-HURT or reach out to us online to discuss your truck accident with an experienced Illinois attorney for free.

In the meantime, review some of our free resources like this page of various Illinois personal injury resources and information or Gary Burger’s book, Win Your Truck Crash Case and Avoid the Surprises that can Wreck It, available for free online.

What Are Common Injuries Sustained in a Truck Accident in East St. Louis, IL?

Commercial trucks can weigh anywhere from 30,000lbs to 80,000lbs. The average car weighs 4,100lbs. This definitive variation in weight is precisely why truck drivers must closely and carefully adhere to the rules of the road. When a commercial truck that is laden with product collides with a car, the injuries that result from that accident are often traumatic and life-threatening. Here are several kinds of injuries that resulted from East St. Louis, IL truck accidents our lawyers have been involved with:

• Internal Bleeding – Internal bleeding can be hazardous anywhere in the body and one of the typical causes of internal bleeding is trauma from truck and car collisions, including pentrating and impact injuries as well as deceleration injuries, when the sudden stop of a vehicle causes internal vessels or organs to break or rupture. Internal bleeding can lead to fatal organ failure when untreated. The issue with internal bleeding is that it is sometimes hard to spot, and you may not recognize the seriousness of your condition following a East St. Louis, IL truck accident.
• Broken Bones – Trauma from truck accidents and other vehicular accidents is the most common cause of broken bones. Extreme breaks such as comminuted fractures or displaced fractures when the bone is splintered into several pieces can be particularly dangerous.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal injuries are serious injuries that can affect your mobility and the motor function of your limbs. The spinal cord is the main avenue that your brain uses to send commands throughout your body. Research from the World Health Organization states that 90 percent of spinal cord injury cases are caused by trauma, and motor vehicle accidents are the leading source. Any damage to your spine can often end in serious injuries throughout other areas of the body.
• Death – In the most tragic incidents, truck accidents can be fatal. Victims involved in semi-truck crashes may be killed on impact or die later on due to the injuries they sustained. Sadly but understandably, the vast majority of lives lost in crashes involving trucks are those of the individuals outside the truck. 70% of people killed in truck accidents are occupants of another vehicle, and another 11% are pedestrians or cyclists, according to the National Safety Council. If your loved one was killed in a truck crash, our Illinois legal team may be able to help you and your family recover a wrongful death settlement and, in some cases, a survival action claim.

How Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Prove My Case in East St. Louis, IL?

To successfully prove and present your case and, ultimately, get you just compensation for your injuries from a serious truck wreck, your truck accident injury lawyer’s first job is to develop a detailed understanding of the conditions of your accident. Your East St. Louis-based attorney with Burger Law will investigate your case and carefully collect all evidence and documentation surrounding the accident and your ensuing damages. We then use that evidence to determine who is a fault and show how their behavior have negatively affected your life and health.

Our accomplished East St. Louis, IL truck accident injury lawyers are experts at building a strong case. We are even willing to go to trial if that is what it takes to get you fairly compensated. Whether we are able to settle the case quickly out of court or have to go through a contentious trial process, your East St. Louis, IL-based truck accident injury lawyer may use the following valuable sources of evidence to prove that the defendant is in fact responsible for harming you.

• The truck’s black box: The black box holds valuable information about the operation of the truck ,such as speed, braking activity and other behavior.
• Truck cameras: Some commercial trucks have cameras recording the inside of the cab, the road ahead or both. Cameras may have captured the traffic events or the driver’s actions leading up to the accident.
• Witness statements: Witnesses may have important perspective on how the truck accident unfolded. They can help your case by confirming facts or offering a new observation about the wreck.
• Police reports and citations: Police file their report after arriving at an accident site and gathering information. If they find that a driver did something wrong or broke a law, they may issue a formal citation or written violation.
• Surveillance footage: Your East St. Louis, IL truck accident injury lawyer can obtain relevant surveillance footage if a traffic camera or a building’s outdoor camera recorded any images pertinent to the accident.
• The scene of the accident: Road conditions, visibility, skid marks and the position of vehicles and vehicle parts immediately following the accident can show us a lot about what took place, and why.
• Employer files: Commercial truck drivers, trucking companies and other involved parties must comply with regulations when they operate. When a driver makes an error, the trucking company can be liable also if they neglected to adequately train the driver, did not issue drug tests as often as called for, hired a driver with a history of traffic citations or have incomplete or missing records to such effect.
• Maintenance records: Commercial trucks must be frequently inspected and maintained. As your truck accident injury lawyer, we will acquire maintenance records to verify that they complied with regulations and that the truck was accepted for road use when the accident happened.

Call Our East St. Louis, IL Truck Accident Lawyers Now

When you work with our East St. Louis, IL truck accident attorney, you can rest easy knowing that you are working with a knowledgeable and skilled professional who is familiar with your case, is familiar with the ins and outs of the law and has your best interests in mind. Burger Law has recovered millions of dollars in settlements for our clients by successfully handling truck accident cases in East St. Louis, IL.

To get the recovery you deserve, call Burger Law today at (618) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. Our East St. Louis, IL truck accident lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we do not collect any fees until we win your case.

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!

Shaunda S.

7 months ago

I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.

Emelia M.

3 months ago

Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.

Helen L.

a year ago

We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!

Judy M.

a year ago

They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!

Chelsea C.

5 months ago

Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.

David D.

2 months ago

Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.

Lisa B.

11 months ago

Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!

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