Truck Accident Lawyer in O’Fallon, IL

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to a truck accident caused by a driver or trucking company who decided not to follow the rules of the road, there is no time to waste. Call Burger Law right away at (618) 500-HURT or fill out our online contact form.

Trucks can cause serious damage when they are involved in incidents near O’Fallon, IL. In fact, recent Illinois Department of Transportation data shows that truck accidents account for nearly 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 O’Fallon, IL truck accident lawyers have decades of experience fighting in the corner of clients and their families to get maximum compensation and help them along the road to recovery.

When you have been seriously injured due to a truck accident in O’Fallon, IL, you deserve a complete financial recovery for the damages you have experienced, but you have little chance of success without the skilled legal advocacy of a proven O’Fallon, IL truck accident lawyer. Find out how much your claim might be worth by using our free personal injury calculator. Give Burger Law a call as soon as possible at (618) 500-HURT or fill out our online contact form.

What Are the Common Types of Truck Accidents in O’Fallon, 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 experienced truck accident lawyers in O’Fallon and throughout Illinois. We are committed to helping truck accident victims like you navigate the intricacies of your claim and holding 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 O’Fallon, IL 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

Burger Law’s Illinois personal injury legal team has the knowledge and experience to help you receive the full compensation you deserve following any truck crash caused by another person leaves you injured. Learn more about some of our fields of expertise below.

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

What Can Cause a Truck Accident in O’Fallon, IL?

Distracted driving is a leading contributor to O’Fallon, IL trucking accidents, as 71 percent of truck collisions occurred when the truck driver was doing something aside from driving the truck. Other common contributors to O’Fallon, 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” routinely inspect, repair 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 O’Fallon, IL or anywhere in Illinois, it is imperative you reach out to the O’Fallon, IL truck accident attorneys at Burger Law immediately. 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

Fatigued driving is one of the most reckless 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 New Jersey and Arkansas are the only states to have regulations against drowsy driving, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has enacted strict hours-of-service regulations to ensure that truck drivers get enough rest when they have to drive long hours:

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 past 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 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 utilize 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. 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 someone you love in O’Fallon, IL was injured due to a trucking company forcing their drivers to drive longer than they should under law, Burger Law’s O’Fallon, 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. Because large trucks pose a greater risk to those on the O’Fallon, IL and Illinois roads, the United States Department of Transportation’s FMCA and its Code of Federal Regulations §392.82 puts even higher restrictions on truck drivers:

• 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

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 O’Fallon, 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 O’Fallon, IL use amphetamines and cocaine in order to keep themselves awake when driving extended hours.

Strict adherence to any FMCSA regulation is necessary to keep our O’Fallon, IL and Illinois roadways safe. If anyone who drives, manages or owns 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 O’Fallon, IL it is vital to let the attorneys at Burger Law investigate your claim, fortify a strong claim and successfully fight for full compensation. Call us now at (618) 500-HURT or reach out to us online.

What Are Common Injuries Sustained in a Truck Accident?

Commercial trucks can weigh anywhere from 30,000lbs to 80,000lbs. The average car weighs 4,100lbs. This incredible difference in weight is precisely why truck drivers must closely and carefully adhere to the rules of the road. When a commercial truck that is loaded with product smashes into a car, the injuries that result from that crash are especially devastating and life-threatening. Here are a few kinds of injuries that resulted from O’Fallon, IL truck accidents our lawyers have been involved with:

• Internal Bleeding – Internal bleeding is dangerous anywhere in the body and one of the most common 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 left untreated. The problem with internal bleeding is that it is sometimes difficult to detect, and you may not realize the severity of your condition following a O’Fallon, IL truck crash.
• Broken Bones – Trauma from truck crashes and other vehicular accidents is the most common cause of broken bones. Major breaks such as displaced fractures or comminuted fractures when the bone is shattered into several pieces can be particularly dangerous.
• 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. According to the World Health Organization, 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 frequently end in serious injuries throughout other regions of the body.

Sadly, truck crashes kill thousands of people in the US every year, and the problem is getting worse. Deaths from accidents involving large trucks increased by 49% from 2012 to 2022 according to the National Safety Council. If you have lost a family member due to a truck accident in O’Fallon, Burger Law will fight for your family’s justice and compensation through a wrongful death suit.

How Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Prove My Case in O’Fallon, IL?

To effectively prove and argue your case and, ultimately, get you just compensation for your injuries from a serious truck accident, your truck accident injury lawyer’s first step is to come up with a detailed understanding of the conditions of your accident. Your O’Fallon, IL-based truck accident injury lawyer from Burger Law will investigate your accident and diligently collect all evidence and documentation surrounding the accident and your resulting damages. We then use that evidence to deduce who is a fault and prove how their behavior have negatively affected your life and health.

Our dedicated O’Fallon, IL truck accident injury lawyers are virtuosos at building a truck accident injury case. We are even willing to go to trial if that is what it takes to get you maximum compensation. Whether we are able to settle the case quickly out of court or have to go through a confrontational trial process, your O’Fallon, IL-based truck accident injury lawyer might utilize the following valuable sources of evidence to show beyond doubt that the defendant is indeed responsible for hurting you.

• The truck’s black box: The black box holds important information about how the truck was being driven including speed, braking activity and other behavior.
• Truck cameras: A lot of 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 vital perspective on how the truck accident occurred. They can aid your claim by confirming 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 driver acted recklessly or broke a law, they may issue a formal citation or written violation.
• Surveillance footage: Your O’Fallon, IL truck accident injury lawyer can procure relevant surveillance footage if a traffic camera or a building’s outdoor camera recorded any footage pertinent to the events.
• The scene of the accident: Road conditions, visibility, skid marks and the position of vehicles and vehicle parts directly following the wreck can show us a lot about what took place, and how.
• Employer files: Commercial truck drivers, trucking companies and other involved parties must follow regulations when they operate. When a driver makes a mistake, the trucking company can be liable too if they neglected to appropriately train the driver, did not conduct drug tests as often as required, hired a driver with a history of traffic violations or have incomplete or missing records demonstrating the above.
• Maintenance records: Commercial trucks must be consistently inspected and maintained. As your truck accident injury lawyer, we will acquire maintenance records to confirm that they complied with regulations and that the truck was accepted for road use when the accident took place.

Call Our O’Fallon, IL Truck Accident Lawyers Now

When you hire our O’Fallon, IL truck accident lawyer, you can rest easy knowing 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 O’Fallon, IL.

Call Burger Law today at (618) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation and to get the recovery you deserve. Our O’Fallon, 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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