Truck Accident Law Firm in Illinois

Truck Accident Law Firm in Illinois

After your truck accident, call Burger Law and rest easy. Our Chicago truck accident law firm immediately begins the fight for justice for you, reporting to the scene of the accident right away to collect evidence and build an undeniable case for your recovery. Discuss your case with our firm’s experienced truck accident lawyers in Chicago for free when you call (314) 500-HURT or fill out this form right now. We demand full compensation.

Truck accidents are dangerous, leaving behind them a wake of physical destruction and emotional devastation for everyone involved. If you or someone in your family has been seriously injured in a truck accident in the Chicago area, you need someone you trust to handle your claim and ensure you get the best possible recovery. You need a truck accident law firm in Chicago with the experience, knowledge and resources necessary to stand up to the trucking company’s powerful insurance companies and make them pay.

Burger Law’s truck accident lawyers have been fighting big insurance companies and trucking companies as a Chicago law firm for close to 30 years. We have helped our clients recover more than $200 million in compensation when they have been harmed. We have the case results to support our legal skill and cunning and the client testimonials to illustrate our bold and unwavering commitment to restoring the lives of those who have been wronged. Speak to our leading Chicago truck accident lawyers now at (314) 500-HURT or online.

If you were injured through no fault of your own in the state of Illinois, see how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

Can a Truck Accident Law Firm in Chicago Help Me with My Case?

Do I need to hire a truck accident firm after being injured in a truck accident in Illinois? For almost crashes involving a large truck, the answer is yes. If you were injured in a truck accident that was not your fault, you need a law firm of skilled truck accident lawyers and paralegals on your side to make sure justice is restored and you are made whole through compensation.

It is a good idea to hire an accident law firm after any accident that injures you. Truck accidents nearly always require competent legal representation not only because they are generally dangerous and harmful, but also because of the characteristics of truck accidents that make them unique and difficult as injury claims. It is highly unlikely that the insurance company of the at-fault driver will voluntarily offer you an adequate settlement, so you will need a truck accident lawyer with a firm grasp on Illinois personal injury litigation and trucking regulations to demand the compensation you deserve.

If you are still unsure whether a truck accident lawyer in Illinois is necessary in your situation, remember that it is much better to be safe than sorry. Do your own due diligence and learn about your legal situation and options through resources like our free books including one on winning your truck crash case, answers to frequently asked questions, and other Illinois resources. Then, speak with the knowledgeable lawyers of our Chicago area truck accident law firm. We provide free, no-obligation case reviews and answer your truck accident questions for free. And we will never take a case unless we know we can add value, meaning you will get a higher settlement with us than you would without representation. Contact us online or call (314) 500-HURT now.

You only have one opportunity to recover compensation to make you whole following your injuries and other damages from your Chicago truck accident. You have to make sure you use that chance to collect a financial recovery that covers the extent of your damages. Hire a truck accident law firm you trust to fight on your behalf and advise you on the best path toward your full recovery.

What Makes a Truck Accident Different from a Typical Car Crash?

There are multiple parties involved.

There are multiple parties involved in the operation of commercial vehicles like big rigs and other trucks. When a truck accident happens in Chicago, more than one party may bear responsibility for your damages. You may be able to hold any of the responsible parties accountable for your losses, including the:

• Trucking company that hired the driver
• Truck driver
• Owner of the truck
• A company that manufactured any freight being hauled
• Loading company that packed cargo into the truck
• The truck manufacturer that built the truck
• Auto parts manufacturers that built the parts installed in the truck
• Mechanics who were responsible for truck maintenance

Understanding liability in a truck accident with several parties involved is difficult and communicating and negotiating with one or more defendants and their insurance companies, even more so. It is stressful and confusing. The trucking company has an entire team at its disposal. Do not attempt to go against them on your own. Our truck accident lawyers in Chicago know how to put large insurance companies and trucking corporations in their place and make them pay for the harm they have done.

They will put up a fight.

Unfortunately, our truck accident law firm has worked on enough truck accident claims to know that the insurance companies will not go quietly when we demand your full compensation. Do not expect a quick and fair settlement, and make sure you speak to a truck accident lawyer in Chicago before accepting any kind of deal from the insurance adjuster. All of these parties and their insurance carriers have an interest in denying responsibility to minimize the financial fallout following a truck accident. You can expect the trucking companies to quickly deploy representatives from their insurance companies and aggressive attorneys to the scene of the accident and to mount various defenses as to why they should not have to pay you what is fair.

They are more destructive.

It should come as no surprise that truck accidents have the potential to be incredibly destructive in comparison to other motor vehicle accidents. Why is this obvious? Big rigs, tractor-trailers, busses and other commercial vehicles are enormous. And the majority of Illinois and US truck accidents happen on highways and freeways where the speed limit is often more than 60 miles per hour. Newton’s second law of motion tells us that force equals mass times acceleration. The huge size and weight of trucks and the high speeds they often travel are a recipe for high-force collisions. Even when traveling at lower speeds, when compared to typical passenger vehicle car accidents, truck accidents cause catastrophic harm.

If you need further convincing of the sheer devastation caused by large trucks, consider that:

• Every year, around 130,000 people are injured in truck accidents.
• Trucks weigh 20 to 30 times the average passenger vehicle.
• In fatal crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 97% of those killed are occupants of the passenger vehicle, not the truck.
• Large trucks make up 4% of all registered vehicles in the United States but account for 9% of all vehicles in fatal accidents.
• Nearly 70% of injury victims in truck accidents are occupants of the other vehicle, not the truck.

Due to the severity of most truck crashes, the magnitude of damages can often be much higher in truck accidents than in regular passenger car accidents. These are complicated cases with high stakes and it is vital that you find a truck accident lawyer properly equipped to deal with your claim and adequately represent you in your case. Burger Law’s truck accident law firm in Chicago knows how to approach cases like yours and are not intimidated by the high damage values that depend on our ability to negotiate your settlement. We will ensure you are fully compensated, no matter how severe your Chicago truck accident was. Contact us now at (314) 500-HURT.

There are complex laws and regulations at play.

As commercial operations, there are a number of Illinois state and federal rules and regulations that apply to operating commercial trucks. When truck drivers, trucking companies, truck owners and other parties violate these clear rules, compromising your safety and severely injuring you, you need a lawyer who is familiar with Illinois truck driving laws and the responsibilities of each party involved in a trucking operation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for establishing the rules that apply to interstate drivers. These regulations are extensive and include topics such as:

• Driver qualifications
• Truck operations
• Vehicle maintenance requirements
• Insurance coverage requirements
• Inspections
• Accident investigations
• Vehicle repairs
• Weight distribution
• Drug and alcohol prohibition

There are frequently a number of factors involved in causing a truck accident. The driver and other responsible parties could have made multiple errors leading to your ultimate injuries and suffering. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of your accident and demand all available evidence to build your case. When truck drivers and other people break the rules, Burger Law’s truck accident lawyers in Chicago make them pay.

Illinois Truck Accident Law Firm Videos

• What is my Truck Accident Claim Worth?
• Force Is What Separates Truck Crashes From Car Crashes
• How Do You Know if You Have a Truck Accident Case?
• What To Do if You Are Injured by a Tractor Trailer
• Truck Accident Investigations
• What Are Common Truck Accident Claims?
• How Do You Win a Truck Accident Case?
• When Is a Truck Driver Driving Too Fast?

Proving a Truck Accident Injury Claim in Illinois

The first step toward making a recovery for your truck accident is to determine whether you do indeed have a legitimate claim under Illinois law. The law requires that your situation satisfy the elements of negligence in order to be eligible for compensation by the responsible party. Essentially, we must be able to show that:

1. the responsible party had a duty to keep you safe;
2. they breached that duty;
3. their breach of duty was the cause of your harm; and
4. you suffered damages as a result.

To win your Chicago truck accident claim and collect a great settlement, it is not enough to prove negligence and liability. Your Chicago truck accident lawyers will work hard to build an irrefutable argument and demand nothing less than full payment for all of your damages. We do this by collecting vital evidence to present your case.

• Inspection and maintenance records
• Employee personnel information
• Complaints or records of violations
• Black box data from the truck
• Trucker’s logbook
• Police accident reports
• Internal accident reports
• Results of drug and alcohol testing
• Photos of the scene
• Dash cam recordings of the driver
• Traffic camera video

The lawyers with our Chicago truck accident law firm have the knowledge and experience to discern the evidence available to build your case and have the connections and resources to properly track down and obtain any evidence than could potentially help prove your claim.

Our team of experienced truck accident lawyers work tirelessly on your behalf to help you win your Chicago truck accident claim. Contact our Chicago truck accident law firm now to hire our firm so we can begin working toward getting you compensation to make you whole.

What Damages Can I Recover in My Illinois Truck Accident Case?

Large truck accidents are devastating. It is very likely that if you were in an accident with a large commercial vehicle like a big rig or an 18-wheeler while in a smaller passenger vehicle, you have been seriously injured. Your severe injuries not only require emergency medical care but likely require ongoing treatment. You could be looking at months, years or even a lifetime of surgeries, medications, therapies or other treatments.

In an accident like your commercial truck accident, physical injuries and medical care are only the tip of the iceberg. Because of your injuries, you are suddenly facing a mountain of expenses and losses now and in the future. Your Burger Law St. Louis truck accident law firm’s job is to help you obtain compensation for the full extent of your damages. This means that we must thoroughly investigate your claim, collect evidence, present your case to the defendant’s insurance company and demand full payment.

There are various forms of damages for which you may be able to receive compensation. Examples of damages in an Illinois truck accident case include:

• Medical expenses – You could be reimbursed for the cost of your past and current medical expenses such as the ambulance ride, emergency room visit, hospital bills, doctors’ bills, and medications.
• Future medical expenses – If your accident has left you suffering from injuries that require long-term care or therapy, you should receive compensation to cover your recovery treatment. That could include physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, and even assistive devices, for example, like a wheelchair or brace.
• Loss of income – For many people involved in serious accidents, they need to take time away from work to recover. We will help you receive reimbursement for your lost wages.
• Loss of future earning capacity – If you have suffered injuries from the accident that make it impossible to continue working to your full capacity or prevent you from returning to your previous career, we will demand compensation for a loss of future income.
• Pain and suffering – Your Burger Law attorney will also help you recover compensation for your physical pain and suffering following a serious accident.
• Mental anguish – Being in a serious wreck like a truck accident is emotionally scarring. We demand compensation for the mental and emotional trauma you have experienced from the crash, such as anxiety, fear, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and distress.
• Physical impairment or disfigurement – When your truck accident injuries result in permanent scarring, disfigurement or loss of use of a body part, you are entitled to additional compensation.
• Loss of consortium, comfort or companionship – When someone is seriously injured or killed in a truck accident, the victim’s spouse may suffer intangible damages from being deprived of comfort, affection, companionship, assistance, society or sexual relations.
• Wrongful Death – If, unfortunately, you have lost a loved one due to a truck accident, our truck accident law firm will secure a wrongful death settlement, including compensation for their final expenses, medical costs and loss of your support. It is heartbreaking to lose a loved one, and we can’t make that pain go away, but we can help make sure that you are left with some financial stability.

Our Illinois truck accident lawyers are not intimidated by the trucking companies’ large insurance corporations. We fight until the insurance company in your claim agrees to pay you in full for the losses you have sustained. We will not stop until you win a great settlement.

Common Types of Illinois Truck Accidents

A truck accident can happen at any moment. There is a lot of inherent risk in operating semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles. When a truck driver operates their vehicle while drowsy or under the influence, encounters poor road conditions, has improperly loaded cargo, experiences mechanical failures or simply is not paying attention, one wrong move can cause unimaginable devastation. Any kind of truck accident can cause serious injuries and massive property damage, and it is up to your Chicago truck accident law firm to ensure you are fully compensated for your truck accident damages.

Our seasoned truck accident lawyers see truck accidents due to all sorts of causes. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Chicago are:

• Jackknife – Jackknife accidents are problematic for commercial trucks like big rigs and 18-wheelers where a cab tows a trailer behind it. When the back of the trailer swings forward toward the front of the cab, this is known as jackknifing. Jackknife truck accidents happen when a truck driver loses control of the vehicle control due to improperly loaded cargo, braking suddenly, maneuvering the vehicle incorrectly or driving recklessly during slick road conditions.
• Rollover – Semi trucks are large, top-heavy vehicles. Given their composition, rollover accidents can happen. When the truck driver loses control of their truck, whether it is due to reacting to an obstacle last second, improperly loaded cargo, unusually high wind conditions or reckless driving, there is a chance that the truck could roll over. In the process of rolling over, the truck can crush, scrape or collide into other vehicles.
• Blindspot Accidents – Because of their large size, semi trucks and other large commercial trucks have major blind spots. The four blind zones for truck drivers fall 20 feet directly in front of the cab, 30 feet directly behind the back of the truck, to the side of the truck one lane to the left, and a deeper area to the side and back two lanes to the right. It is our responsibility when driving near a semi-truck to give them plenty of space, and it is the truck driver’s responsibility to know their blind spots and check for cars around them before changing lanes, turning, or speeding up to prevent an accident.
• Head-On Collisions – Head-on accidents can be some of the most destructive. An 80,000-pound truck that collides with a passenger vehicle can have devastating consequences. When an enormous truck approaches your passenger car head-to-head, there is not a lot standing between you to protect you from the impact.
• Tire Blowouts – Tire blowouts can happen due to manufacturer errors as well as errors related to weight and size limits when loading cargo. Exceeding weight limits can put too much pressure on the tires, which may cause them to explode.
• Rear-End Crashes – Rearend collisions are the most common of all traffic accidents, accounting for 29% of all crashes. Drivers who drive too close to vehicles immediately in front of them, a behavior known as tailgating, are at risk of causing a collision. Due to their size and volume, commercial trucks require more distance — about two thirds longer — to come to a complete stop, and if the truck driver is driving too closely behind another vehicle, it will be nearly impossible for them to avoid a collision if they need to come to an abrupt stop.
• T-Bone crashes – Side impact collisions occur when one driver collides into the side of another vehicle. They typically occur at intersections when a negligent driver does not yield the right of way, runs a red light or ignores stop signs or other traffic rules. When a truck driver neglects to stop or slow down and enters an intersection when another vehicle is traveling through, the consequences can be severe or even deadly.
• Lost Load or Improperly Secured Cargo Accidents – There are federal rules and regulations when it comes to loading and securing cargo onto the trucks designed by the FMCSA to keep road travelers safe when driving near commercial trucks carrying cargo. When those responsible for loading a truck ignore rules on cargo placement, use of restraint and tie-downs and load weight, cargo spills, rollover accidents and other truck accidents can ensue.
• Under/Override Accidents – Underride accidents occur when a small car crashes into the back or side of a large truck and ends up underneath. Override accidents result from a truck driver who can’t stop in time and runs over the vehicle ahead.

Learn more about some of the types of truck crashes we work with below.

• Truck Driver Blind Spot Accidents
• Driver Fatigue Accidents
• Commercial Trucking Accidents
• Fatal Accidents
• Hit-and-Run Truck Accidents
• Overloaded / Overweight Trucks
• Catastrophic Injuries
• Jackknife Accidents
• Night Time Truck Accidents
• Rollover Accidents
• Liable Parties in a Truck Accident
• Public Transportation Accidents
• Bus Accidents
• RV Accidents

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for my Truck Accident Injuries in Illinois?

The answer to the question is: not much time. Each state’s civil claims such as truck accident injury cases are limited by laws known as statutes of limitations. In Illinois, the statute of limitations is two years pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202. This means that, unless special exceptions apply, you only have two years from the date of the crash to file a legal claim to recover payment for your truck accident damages.

Two years is relatively short compared to other states. Only three states have a statute shorter than Illinois’. If you do not get your Illinois truck accident claim in within the two-year deadline, it will be easy for the insurance company to dismiss and it is unlikely that your claim will hold up in court. Even two years may seem like a long time at first, but do not put off your recovery. Once you make your claim, it can take months of negotiating and litigating before you receive compensation for your medical bills and other expenses and losses. You need a truck accident law firm on your case with a legal team that knows Illinois tort law backward and forward. That firm is Burger Law.

With a two-year time limit and the clock most likely already ticking, you have absolutely no time to waste. Take immediate action by hiring a Chicago truck accident law firm as soon as possible. Speak to a seasoned Illinois truck accident lawyer in Chicago about your case now, free of charge, at (314) 500-HURT.

Talk to a lawyer at Burger Law today.

A Truck Accident Law Firm in Chicago that Gets Results

At Burger Law, we have the experience, knowledge, trial and negotiation skills and passion to represent you and win your case. Our law firm has some of the best truck accident lawyers in Greater Chicago. We have dedicated our lives to protecting the vulnerable and getting our clients the best possible compensation when they have been injured in a truck accident. If you were seriously injured in a truck accident because someone else broke the rules of the road, do not waste any time. Contact Burger Law now.

Hire our experienced truck accident lawyers today to start on the road to being made whole again. Call (314) 500-HURT to speak to a lawyer about your case for free or to hire us today.

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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