Trucking Accidents Lawyer Arlington Heights, IL

Trucking Accidents Lawyer Arlington Heights, IL. If a truck driver or trucking company did not value your safety and caused you or a loved one injuries, call a Burger Law Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer straight away at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review.

Trucking accidents can turn your life upside down. The physical, financial and emotional damage they can do is sudden and ruthless. Because of that, in addition to adhering to the conventional rules of the road, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict rules that truck drivers and trucking companies are required to obey in order to help keep everybody on the Arlington Heights, IL roads out of harm’s way. When they fail in their duty and hurt you, the Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer team will hold them accountable and win you the great compensation you are owed.

We have a great team of attorneys and paralegals that fight by your side to get you the best possible compensation. Our Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer team knows the dreadful impact being injured a truck accident can have on your life. We also know how to investigate, negotiate, litigate and win truck accident injury cases. We settle for nothing but the best results for the injured in Arlington Heights, IL. If you have been hurt because somebody else did not value your safety, call a Burger Law Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form to start on your road to recovery.

How Common Are Truck Accidents in Illinois? | Arlington Heights, IL Truck Accident Law Firms

Unfortunately, a trucking accidents lawyer in Arlington Heights, IL is usually pretty busy. As of 2020, there were more than 70,000 licensed truck drivers in Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it among the top 15 trucking states in the nation. In 2020 there were 9,966 truck accidents that involved injury or death in the state, according to statistics from the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics report.

If you have been hurt in a truck collision because of somebody else’s dangerous actions, contact a Burger Law Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer immediately to discuss your legal options.

How Are Truck Accidents Different? | Arlington Heights, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Truck accidents are considerably more dangerous than car accidents, specifically for people in smaller, passenger vehicles. On average trucks are 20 to 30 times heavier and stopping takes 20 to 40 percent more time than passenger cars. That means they exert a monumental amount of force in accidents and that response time is appreciably slower to hazards like congested traffic, accidents on the road ahead or weather conditions. Because of their size, trucks can be tougher to avoid and are likely to crash into more cars if the driver loses control of the truck. Every Burger Law Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer has seen firsthand how truck wrecks can be incredibly destructive.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that in 2019 there were 164,731 collisions that involved large trucks, which caused 5,074 deaths and 81,272 injuries. Despite making up only 2.4 percent of total auto traffic collisions, truck accidents accounted for 15.3 percent of total fatalities and 4.2 percent of all injuries, according to crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Seventy-two percent of drivers and passengers who passed away in large truck collisions are occupants of other vehicles. The financial costs of being hurt in a truck accident are generally enormous, which is why every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Arlington Heights, IL has spent their life collecting great compensation for their clients in Arlington Heights and throughout Illinois.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes | Arlington Heights, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released its groundbreaking Large Crash Causation Study in 2009. The study looked at the causes and associated factors of 18-wheeler accidents. After evaluating over 1,000 possible factors, they came to the following conclusions:

• Eighty-seven percent of accidents involved “driver reasons,” either by the truck driver or the driver of a passenger vehicle. 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, improper evasive driving or aggressive driving
  • Unfamiliarity with the roadway or truck
• Almost a third of all crashes involved problems with the truck, for instance brake failure or defective tires.
• Environmental factors, such as:
  • Weather-related wrecks
  • Traffic conditions
  • Roadway hazards
• Other factors, such as:
  • Overloaded trucks or improperly loaded cargo
  • The driver being pressured to driver even though fatigued
  • Illness

Whatever the reasons behind your accident in Arlington Heights, IL, your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer has seen it before. We will get to the bottom of your crash and hold the negligent parties responsible.

Who Is Liable for My Truck Crash Injuries? | Arlington Heights, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

In the majority of auto accident cases, you would make a claim against another Arlington Heights, IL driver and their insurance company. In trucking accidents caused by human error, 56 percent of the time the negligent driver was the driver of a passenger car, not the truck driver. When your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer carries out their investigation into your crash, they will find which driver is responsible for your injuries. However, one of the unique things about truck accidents is that there are frequently multiple parties at fault. That is why you need a dedicated, seasoned and skilled trucking accidents lawyer in your corner.

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

The Trucking Company

Trucking companies have a duty to prioritize our safety. They are required to:

• Contact drivers that fulfill the strict conditions for Commercial Driver’s Licenses in Illinois. Hiring drivers that do not, or hiring a driver with many traffic violations, constitutes negligent hiring practices.
• Ensure the safety of their trucks. Illinois and Federal Law obligates pre-trip and yearly inspections performed by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively. Not conducting inspections or not fixing defective components are instances of negligence. Brake issues were a contributing factor in 27 percent of trucking accidents, compared to only 2 percent in other auto wrecks.
• Ensure their drivers get enough rest. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has an Hours of Service Guide for Truck Drivers that must be heeded. Thirteen percent of trucking accidents involved driver fatigue as a contributing factor, frequently because an employer was pressuring the driver to drive off little rest.

We will acquire maintenance and driver logs when we get to work on your truck collision claim. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Arlington Heights, IL knows how to obtain all the evidence required to prove your claim.

A Shipping Company

Cargo must be adequately loaded onto trucks in the interest of ensuring safety. Overloaded trucks or trucks with lopsided weight distribution are more likely to rollover. Inadequately loaded cargo can also leak onto Arlington Heights or Illinois streets and cause a multi-vehicle collision. Overweight trucks also take longer to stop, which hampers the driver’s ability to react to conditions or risks on the road.

Mechanics or Manufacturers

Manufacturers have an obligation to safely design and test their products and recall any components when they discover it to be dangerous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that a recall is obligatory when a vehicle or vehicle equipment “does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.” Neglecting to do so constitutes product liability. Burger Law’s trucking accidents lawyer team has seen every variety of personal injury claim and knows how to secure you the best possible financial recovery no matter the circumstances surrounding your truck crash injury.

A Government Entity

If your truck accident occurred because of infrastructure that was improperly constructed or poorly repaired, your truck accident injury lawyer may be able to assist you in making a claim against a public entity such as the Illinois Department of Transportation. If a guardrail suddenly swings in front of a or a sizeable crack in the concrete causes a vehicle to turn over, causing a domino-effect until you get in an accident, your truck accident attorneys will help you hold the local organization that runs that property accountable.

To file a claim against a public entity in Arlington Heights, IL, 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 before the lawsuit, the lawsuit must be brought no later than two years of when you sustained your injury. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a public truck driver or entity’s negligence, you cannot wait. Call a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Arlington Heights, IL now so we can get working on your case without delay.

Filing a claim against a public entity in Arlington Heights, IL is complicated, but your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law knows how to apply the law to your case and get great results in even the toughest cases. Call our trucking accidents lawyer team right away at (779) 800-HURT.

How to Choose Trucking Accidents Lawyer in Arlington Heights, IL

You require a trucking accidents lawyer you can believe in; an attorney who is dedicated to your case and takes your recovery personally. You only have one opportunity to get great compensation, so finding the right trucking accidents lawyer in Arlington Heights, IL is essential. Below are several of the aspects you should consider when searching for attorneys:

• Look for Referrals and Recommendations. The majority of trucking accidents lawyer teams will say that they are talented, that they know how to beat insurance companies and that they care about their Arlington Heights, IL clients. No one knows an attorney’s abilities better than the people they have represented 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 delivered our clients in their video testimonials.
• Make a List of What Matters to You. It is recommended to have a checklist for any potential Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer. Some things you may want to contemplate are:
  • Their experience with your particular category of injury claim
  • If they have a proven track record of delivering great results
  • Their qualifications, awards and accolades
  • If they will consistently let you know the progress of your case
  • If they are willing to fight for you and take your case in front of a judge and jury if they have to
• Consider the Size of the Firm. A trucking accidents lawyer team at a large firm may seem like the superior option because they have the resources and ability to scare Arlington Heights, IL insurance companies. That is not necessarily the case, and your claim may not get the attention you deserve at a larger firm. We are distinct among Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer teams because we offer you the personal touch of a small firm, but still have the resources and network needed to deliver you great results. Insurance companies are afraid of us because they know that we demand a full financial recovery for our clients.
• Look at their Experience. While you want a Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer that is dedicated and tenacious, you will also want an attorney that has experience taking on tough cases, fighting back against bullies like resistant insurance companies and getting full financial recoveries for their clients. Burger Law has over 70 years of combined experience — much more than a lot of truck accident law firms — holding liable truck drivers and trucking companies responsible.
• Meet With Them. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer operates using a contingency fee basis. As a substitute for an hourly fee, we are paid by collecting a percentage of your final compensation. That means that our initial case evaluation and investigation are free, and we accept no upfront attorneys fees. There is no harm in calling us to talk over your claim with a Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer.

When you first meet with us, we have no doubt that you will see why we have such a high opinion of our Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer team. Call us immediately at (779) 800-HURT so we can get started on your case at once.

What Compensation Can I Collect For My Injuries? | Arlington Heights, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

The money you collect will come down to the significance of your injuries, the consequences they have had on your life, and the talent of your Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer. There are generally two kinds of compensation if you were harmed because of somebody 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 will go without wages, the more medical bills you’ll have and the more you will collect in noneconomic damages. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer knows how to get a Arlington Heights, IL insurance adjuster, judge or jury to step inside your shoes and see the full repercussions your injuries have had on your life. Call Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT to get the best possible financial recovery.

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

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is rather short at two years for most personal injury cases, according to 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim within two years of when you sustained your injuries. However, there are two significant exceptions:

1. If you were under the age of 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” at the time of injury, you have two years from the time the injury was “removed.”

Delaying could bring hitches to your claim. Your trucking accidents lawyer must completely investigate your claim in order to hold negligent parties accountable. Furthermore, you need a financial recovery as soon as possible in order to completely recover and be made whole again. There is no reason to delay. Call a Burger Law Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT.

Can I Still Recover Compensation in Illinois if I Was Partially to Blame? | Arlington Heights, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Yes. Your trucking accident lawyer might still be able to help you receive compensation, but the amount will be smaller. Illinois is a modified contributory fault state, meaning you will be compensated for the part of the accident that you are not at fault for.

Meaning, if a fact-finder determines you should collect $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the blame for your injury, you will collect $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 more than half at fault for the collision, you cannot collect any compensation in Arlington Heights, IL. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer will know how to show that you are not culpable for the harm another person is liable for.

You do not have to carry the weight of emotional anguish, physical limitations, lost wages and medical expenses that are piling up all because somebody else broke the rules. At Burger Law, our Arlington Heights, IL-based trucking accidents lawyer team works tirelessly for the injured and vulnerable throughout Illinois. We have devoted our careers to making certain that people in bad situations are not taken advantage of by unethical corporations and two-faced insurance companies. When you hire a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer, we start working on your case at once and do not let up until you recover every nickel that you are owed. You do not need to wait any more time to start on your road to healing and being made whole again. Call a Burger Law Arlington Heights, IL trucking accidents lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review.

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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