Trucking Accidents Lawyer Illinois

Trucking Accidents Lawyer Illinois. If a truck driver or trucking company broke the rules of the road and caused you or a loved one injuries, call a Burger Law Illinois trucking accidents lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

Trucking accidents can turn your life upside down. The physical, financial and emotional damage they can do is sudden and harsh. Because of that, in addition to adhering to the standard rules of the road, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict standards and regulations that truck drivers and trucking companies must follow in order to ensure the safety of everyone on the Illinois roads. When they fail in their obligation and you end up injured, the Illinois trucking accidents lawyer team will hold them accountable and get you the full financial recovery you are owed.

We have an amazing team of attorneys and paralegals that fight on your behalf to get you the best possible compensation. Our Illinois trucking accidents lawyer team knows the terrible impact an injury from a truck accident can have on your life. We also know how to investigate, negotiate, litigate and win truck accident injury cases. We insist on nothing but the best results for our clients. If you have been injured because someone else in Illinois broke the rules, call a Burger Law Illinois trucking accidents lawyer immediately at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form to start on your road to recovery.

How Common Are Truck Accidents in Chicago and Illinois? | Truck Accident Law Firms

Unfortunately, an Illinois trucking accidents lawyer is usually pretty busy. As of 2020, there were over 70,000 licensed truck drivers in Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it one of the top 15 trucking states in the nation. In 2020 there were 9,966 truck crashes that involved injury or death in the state, according to the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics report.

If you have been injured in a truck crash because of somebody else's careless actions, call a Chicago-based Illinois trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law today to discuss your legal options.

How Are Truck Accidents Different? | Illinois Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Truck accidents are far more dangerous than car accidents, especially for people in smaller, passenger vehicles. On average trucks are 20 to 30 times heavier and take 20 to 40 percent longer to stop than passenger cars. That means they exert a tremendous amount of force in collisions and that reaction time is considerably slower to events like traffic jams, accidents on the road ahead or weather conditions. Their size also means that they can be harder to avoid and are likely to hit more cars if the driver loses control of the truck. The Chicago and Illinois trucking accidents lawyer of Burger Law has seen firsthand how truck crashes can be incredibly destructive.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that in 2019 there were 164,731 crashes that involved large trucks, which resulted in 5,074 deaths and 81,272 injuries. Despite making up just 2.4 percent of total motor vehicle traffic crashes, truck accidents accounted for 15.3 percent of total fatalities and 4.2 percent of all injuries, according to crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Seventy-two percent of people killed in large truck crashes are occupants of other vehicles. The economic costs of being injured in a truck crash are often staggering, and that is why Burger Law's trucking accidents lawyer in Illinois has spent their life securing maximum compensation for their clients in Chicago and throughout Illinois.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes | Illinois Trucking Accidents Lawyer

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released its groundbreaking Large Crash Causation Study in 2009. The study examined the causes and contributing factors of 18-wheeler accidents. Out of over 1,000 possible factors, they found that the most common are:

• Eighty-seven percent of crashes involved "driver reasons," either by the truck driver or another driver. The most common of those reasons include:
  • Prescription drug use, over-the-counter drug use, and illegal drug use or drunk driving
  • Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
  • Fatigue or distracted driving
  • Illegal maneuvers, inadequate evasive action or aggressive driving
  • Unfamiliarity with the roadway or truck
• Almost a third of crashes involved issues with the truck, such as brake failure or faulty tires.
• Environmental factors, such as:
  • Weather-related accidents
  • Traffic congestion
  • Roadway hazards
• Other factors, such as:
  • Overloaded trucks or improperly loaded cargo
  • The driver being pressured to operate even though fatigued
  • Illness

Who Is Liable for My Truck Crash Injuries? | Illinois Trucking Accidents Lawyer

In most auto accident cases, you would file a claim against another Illinois driver and their insurance company. In trucking accidents, truck drivers were responsible for 44 percent of crashes caused by driver error, with drivers of other vehicles being liable for the rest. When your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer conducts an investigation into your crash, they will find which driver is at fault. However, one of the unique things about truck accidents is that there are usually multiple parties that can be found liable. That is why you need a dedicated, experienced and knowledgeable trucking accidents lawyer in your corner.

Below are some examples of other parties in Illinois your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law may be able to find liable:

The Trucking Company

Trucking companies also have an obligation to look out for our safety. They must:

• Hire drivers that meet the strict requirements for Commercial Driver's Licenses in Illinois. Not doing so, or hiring a driver with a history of traffic violations, amounts to negligent hiring practices.
• Ensure the safety of their vehicles. Illinois and Federal Law requires pre-trip and yearly inspections carried out by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively. Not carrying out inspections or not repairing defective components are examples of negligence. Brake problems were an associated factor in 27 percent of trucks in trucking accidents, contrasted with just 2 percent in cars.
• Not overwork their drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a Hours of Service Guide for Truck Drivers that must be adhered to. Thirteen percent of trucking accidents involved driver fatigue as an associated factor, often because an employer was pressuring the driver to drive of little rest.

We will request maintenance and driver logs when we get to work on your truck accident case. You Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Illinois knows how to get all the evidence we need to prove your case.

A Shipping Company

Cargo must be properly loaded onto trucks in order to ensure safety. Overloaded trucks or trucks with unequal weight distribution are prone to rollover accidents. Improperly loaded cargo can also spill onto St. Louis or Illinois streets and cause a multi-vehicle collision. Overweight trucks also have increased stopping times which limits the driver's ability to respond to conditions or hazards on the road.

Mechanics or Manufacturers

Manufacturers have an obligation to safely design and test their products and recall any components when they find it to be dangerous or defective. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that a recall is necessary when a vehicle or vehicle equipment "does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard." Failure to do so is product liability. Burger Law's trucking accidents lawyer team has seen every type of personal injury case and knows how to win you maximum compensation regardless of the circumstances of your truck crash injury.

A Public Entity

If your truck accident happened because of infrastructure that was poorly designed or poorly maintained, your truck accident injury lawyer may help you make a claim against a public entity such as the Illinois Department of Transportation. If a guardrail suddenly swings into the road or a substantial crack in the concrete causes a vehicle to go airborne, causing a chain reaction until you get in a crash, your truck accident attorneys will help you hold the local organization responsible for that property accountable.

To make a claim against a government entity in Illinois, you must file a written notice or a lawsuit with the Attorney General and the Clerk of the Court of Claims no later than one year after the date of the injury. If you file a notice first, the lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a public bus driver or entity's negligence, there is no time to wait. Call the a Chicago-based Illinois trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law immediately so we can start working on your case without delay.

Bringing a claim against the Illinois government is complicated, but your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law knows how to apply the law to your case and win even the toughest cases. Call our trucking accidents lawyer team today at (314) 500-HURT.

View More FAQs

How to Choose An Illinois Trucking Accidents Lawyer

You need a trucking accidents lawyer you can trust; one that is dedicated to your case and takes your recovery personally. You only have one chance to get full compensation, so hiring the right trucking accidents lawyer in Illinois is imperative. Below are some of the things you should consider when looking at attorneys:

• Look for Referrals and Recommendations. Most trucking accidents lawyer teams will say that they are experienced, tough on insurance companies and that they care about their Illinois clients. No one knows an attorney better than the people they have advocated for in the past. Burger Law is the most- and highest-reviewed trucking accidents lawyer team in the Midwest. You can see some of the great results we have gotten for our clients in their video testimonials.
• Make a List of What Is Important to You. It is a good idea to have a checklist for your potential Illinois trucking accidents lawyer. Some things you may want to consider are:
  • Their experience with your specific type of injury claim
  • If they have a proven track record of getting great results
  • Their qualifications, awards and accolades
  • If they will communicate with you and keep you informed throughout your case
  • If they are willing to fight for you and take your case to trial if necessary
• Consider the Size of the Firm. A trucking accidents lawyer team at a large firm may seem like a better option because of their resources and ability to intimidate Illinois insurance companies. That is not always the case, and your claim may get lost in the shuffle at a larger firm. We stand out among Illinois trucking accidents lawyer teams because we provide you with the personalized attention of a small firm, but still have the resources and network necessary to get you great results. Insurance companies fear us because they know that we demand maximum compensation for our clients.
• Look at their Experience. While you want a Chicago trucking accidents lawyer that is dedicated and passionate, you will also want one that has experience taking on tough cases, standing up to bullies like resistant insurance companies and securing full financial recoveries for their clients. Burger Law has over 70 years of combined experience -- far more than a lot of truck accident law firms -- holding negligent truck drivers and trucking companies accountable.
• Meet With Them. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer works on a contingency fee basis. Instead of an hourly rate, we are paid by collecting a percentage of your final compensation. That means that our initial case review and investigation are free, and there are no upfront attorneys fees. There is no risk in calling us to talk over your case with an attorney.

When you first meet with us, you will see why we have such a high opinion of our Illinois trucking accidents lawyer team. Call us immediately at (314) 500-HURT so we can get to work on your case right away.

What Compensation Can I Receive For My Injuries? | Illinois Trucking Accidents Lawyer

The compensation you receive will depend on the severity of their injuries, how they have impacted your life, and the skill of your Illinois trucking accidents lawyer. There are typically two types of compensation available to people who are injured because of someone else's negligence.

• Economic damages, such as:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost or reduced earning potential
  • Medical expenses, such as:
    • Emergency room visits
    • Surgeries
    • Doctors appointments
    • Physical therapy
    • Medication
    • In-home care
    • Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or household modifications
  • Property damage, such as damage to your car
  • Transportation fees
• Noneconomic damages, which 735 ILCS 5/2-1115.2 defines as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disability
  • Disfigurement
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of society

The more severe your injuries, the more time you'll lose from work, the more medical bills you'll have and the more you will be awarded in noneconomic damages. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer knows how to get an Illinois insurance adjuster, judge or jury to step inside your shoes and see the full impact your injuries have had on your life. Call Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT to get a full financial recovery.

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

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is relatively short at two years for most personal injury claims, according to 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim within two years of when the truck accident occurred. However, there are two notable exceptions:

1. If you were under 18 at the time of injury, you have two years to file a claim after your 18th birthday.
2. If you were under a "legal disability" when the injury occurred, you have two years from the date the injury was "removed."

Delaying in filing a claim could bring complications to your case. Your trucking accidents lawyer will need to fully investigate your claim in order to hold negligent parties accountable. Furthermore, you need compensation as soon as possible in order to truly recover and be made whole again. Do not delay. Call an Illinois trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT.

Can I Still Receive Compensation in Illinois if I Was Partially to Blame? | Chicago Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Yes. Your trucking accident lawyer may still be able to help you get compensation, although the amount will be less. Illinois is a modified contributory fault state, which means that you will be compensated for the percentage of the accident that is not your fault.

Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the blame for your injury, you will receive $70,000. It is important to note that 735 ILCS 5/ §2-1116 states that:

The plaintiff shall be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is more than 50 percent of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought.

That means that if you are over 50 percent to blame for the accident, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Chicago or Illinois. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer will know how to prove that you are not responsible for the harm someone else caused.

No one should have to bear the burden of mental anguish, physical pain, lost wages and accumulating medical bills all because somebody else broke the rules. At Burger Law, our Chicago-based trucking accidents lawyer team fights hard for the injured and vulnerable throughout Illinois. We have dedicated our lives to making sure people in bad situations are not taken advantage of by greedy corporations and deceitful insurance companies. When you hire a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer, we get started on your case right away and do not let up until you receive every penny that you are owed. You do not have to wait any longer to start on your road to recovery and being made whole again. Call a Burger Law Illinois trucking accidents lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.