Truck Accident Lawyers in Granite City, IL

If you or a family member has been seriously injured due to a truck accident because a truck driver, trucking company employee or another individual broke the laws and rules we have in place to keep us safe, there is no time to waste. Call Burger Law right away at (618) 500-HURT or fill out our online contact form.

At Burger Law, we vigorously represent Granite City, 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 individuals 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 must follow federal and state trucking regulations, and any failure to abide by these regulations presents a risk of harm to others in Granite City, IL. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a truck accident, our Granite City, IL truck accident lawyers can assist you in seeking maximum compensation from the responsible parties. Give us a call immediately at (618) 500-HURT or reach out to us online for a no-cost, no-obligation case review.

Trucks cause serious damage when they are involved in crashes near Granite City, IL. In fact, recent Illinois Department of Transportation data states 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 Granite City, IL truck accident lawyers have decades of experience fighting in the corner of clients and their families to get the best possible compensation and help them along the path to recovery.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a truck accident in Granite City, IL, you deserve a complete financial recovery for the losses you have suffered, but you are unlikely to receive a fair recovery without legal representation from a proven Granite City, IL truck accident lawyer. See how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator. Give Burger Law a call as soon as possible at (314) 500-HURT or complete our online contact form.

What Are the Common Types of Truck Accidents in Granite City, IL?

As knowledgeable truck accident attorneys in Granite City, IL and throughout Illinois, we have seen truck accident cases resulting from many different negligent behaviors and leading to a wide variety of serious and life-threatening injuries. We are committed to assisting truck accident victims like you hold the trucking company, the truck driver, insurance company and other negligent parties accountable for the damages they have caused and we have the experience to do just that. Some of the kinds of truck accident cases we have seen in the Granite City, IL area are:

• 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 Granite City, IL truck attorneys at Burger Law have the experience and knowledge to help you receive the full recovery you deserve after any truck accident caused by another person leaves you injured. Learn more about our Illinois personal injury firm and fields of expertise below.

What Can Cause a Truck Accident in Granite City, IL?

Distracted driving is a leading contributor to Granite City, IL trucking accidents, as 71 percent of truck accidents occurred when the driver was doing something besides driving the truck. Other common contributors to Granite City, IL truck accidents include:

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
• Rims and wheels
• Steering systems
• Brakes

If you were injured by a truck driver in Granite City, IL or anywhere in Illinois, it is imperative you reach out to the Granite City, IL truck accident lawyers at Burger Law right away. As part of our truck accident investigation, we will acquire any and all reports. If we find the truck company or driver was negligent, you can be sure our truck accident injury lawyers will hold them accountable.

2. Fatigued Driving

One of the most dangerous things a driver can do behind the wheel is operate a truck while fatigued. Being awake 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 regulations against drowsy driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has enacted stringent hours-of-service regulations to make sure that truck drivers get sufficient rest when they have to log long hours on extended trips:

Property-Carrying Drivers

• A maximum of 11 hours of driving after 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 max of 10 hours driving after eight consecutive hours off duty
• A maximum of 15 hours on-duty, meaning that the commercial driver may not drive beyond the 15th consecutive hour after eight consecutive off-duty hours
• No more than 60 hours on duty over seven consecutive days
• No more than 70 hours on duty over eight consecutive days
• Drivers who use a sleeper berth must take at least eight hours in it with the choice of splitting the time into two periods, provided that neither is less than two hours

When truck drivers are feeling drowsy or fatigued, they should pull over. According to the groundbreaking Large Truck Crash Causation Study, pressure from employers to meet tight schedules was a leading cause of truck drivers driving fatigued. If you or someone you love in Granite City, IL was injured due to a trucking company forcing their drivers to drive longer than they should, Burger Law’s Illinois truck accident attorneys will show they were liable and make sure you get maximum compensation.

3. Alcohol Impairment

Operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher is a violation of federal law. 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 much higher risk to those on the Granite City, 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 allowed to drive for 24 hours

If a truck driver made the terrible decision to drive drunk or impaired by drugs and caused you injuries, Burger Law’s truck accident injury lawyers near Granite City, IL will hold them accountable. We seek punitive damages when we sue drunk drivers on your behalf, 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 often linked to poor working conditions. Many drivers traveling through Granite City, IL use amphetamines and cocaine in order to stay awake when driving extended hours.

A necessity in keeping our Granite City, IL 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, they need to pay and you need to be compensated for your damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Granite City, IL it is critical to allow the lawyers at Burger Law to investigate your case, build a strong claim and successfully fight for maximum compensation. Give us a call today at (618) 500-HURT or contact us online.

What Are Common Injuries Sustained in a Truck Accident in Granite City, IL?

Commercial trucks can weigh in the range between 30,000 and 80,000 pounds. The average car weighs 4,100lbs. This incredible variation in weight is exactly why truck drivers must carefully and closely adhere to the rules of the road. When a 18-wheeler that is loaded with product smashes into a car, the injuries that result from that crash are often devastating and life-threatening. Here are several kinds of injuries that resulted from Granite City, IL truck accidents our lawyers have been involved with:

• Internal Bleeding – Internal bleeding is hazardous anywhere in the body and one of the typical causes of internal bleeding is trauma from truck and car accidents, 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 bring about fatal organ failure when untreated. The issue with internal bleeding is that it is sometimes hard to spot, and you may not realize the seriousness of your condition after a Granite City, IL truck crash.
• 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 shattered into several pieces can be particularly hazardous.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – The spinal cord is the main avenue that your brain uses to send commands throughout your body. Spinal injuries are serious injuries that can affect your mobility and the motor function of your limbs. Research from the World Health Organization shows that 90 percent of spinal cord injury cases are brought on by trauma, and motor vehicle crashes are the leading source. Any harm to your spine can often end in serious injuries throughout other parts of the body.

In addition to truck crashes, we represent ijury victims in all kinds of civil cases in Illinois. Learn about some of the cases we take in Granite City, IL below.

• Personal injury
• Car accident
• Truck accident
• Motorcycle accident
• Wrongful death

How Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Prove My Case in Granite City, IL?

To successfully prove and present your case and, ultimately, get you just compensation after being injured in a serious truck wreck, your truck accident injury lawyer’s first step is to develop a detailed understanding of the situation in question. Your Granite City, IL-based truck accident injury lawyer from Burger Law will investigate your claim and diligently collect all evidence and documentation surrounding the crash and your resulting damages. We then use that evidence to ascertain who is liable and demonstrate how their actions have negatively impacted your life and well-being.

Our experienced Granite City, IL truck accident injury lawyers are experts at building a case. We are even prepared 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 fierce trial process, your Granite City, IL-based truck accident lawyer may utilize the following valuable sources of evidence to demonstrate that the defendant is without question responsible for injuring 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: Many commercial trucks have cameras recording the inside of the cab, the road ahead or both. Traffic conditions and the driver’s actions were likely recorded if this is the case.
• Witness statements: Witnesses may have valuable perspective on how the truck accident took place. They can aid your case by verifying facts or offering a new insight about the circumstances.
• Police reports and citations: Police file their report after arriving at an accident site and gathering information. If they find that a motorist behaved recklessly or broke a law, they may issue a formal citation or written violation.
• Surveillance footage: Your Granite City, IL truck accident injury lawyer can procure pertinent surveillance footage if a traffic camera or a building’s outdoor camera recorded any images relevant to the accident.
• The scene of the accident: Road conditions, visibility, skid marks and the position of vehicles and vehicle parts right after the wreck can tell us a lot about what happened, and how.
• Employer files: Commercial truck drivers, trucking companies and other involved parties must follow regulations when they operate. When a driver makes an error, the trucking company can be responsible too if they neglected to appropriately train the driver, did not issue drug tests as often as required, hired the driver despite a history of traffic violations or have incomplete or missing records demonstrating the above.
• Maintenance records: Commercial trucks must be regularly inspected and maintained. As your lawyer in Granite City, we will obtain maintenance records to confirm that they followed the rules and that the truck was approved for road use when the accident took place.

Call Our Granite City, IL Truck Accident Lawyers Now

When you hire our Granite City, IL truck accident lawyer, you can be certain that you are working with a knowledgeable and skilled professional who absolutely knows 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 Granite City, 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 Granite City, IL truck accident attorneys 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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