Trucking Accidents Lawyer Decatur, IL

Trucking Accidents Lawyer Decatur, IL. If a truck driver or trucking company disregarded your safety and caused you or a loved one injuries, call a Burger Law Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer straight away at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

Trucking accidents can turn your life upside down. The physical, economic and emotional damage they can do is immediate and ruthless. That is why, in addition to obeying the conventional rules of the road, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has stringent stipulations that truck drivers and trucking companies have to abide by in order to help keep everybody on the Decatur, IL roads from danger. When they eschew their obligation and harm you, the Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer team will hold them accountable and win you the great compensation you deserve.

We have an amazing team of attorneys and paralegals that fight by your side to get you the best possible compensation. Our Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer team knows the awful impact being hurt a truck accident can have on you and your loved ones. We also know how to investigate, negotiate, litigate and win truck accident injury cases. We insist on only the best results for injured residents of Decatur, IL. If you sustained and injury because someone else was negligent, reach out to a Burger Law Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer immediately at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form to start on the road to being made whole again.

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

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

If you have been harmed in a truck collision as the result of another person’s thoughtless behavior, get in touch with a Burger Law Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer right away to discuss your legal options.

How Are Truck Accidents Different? | Decatur, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Truck accidents are much more dangerous than car accidents, specifically for occupants of smaller, passenger vehicles. On average trucks have 20 to 30 times more mass and take 20 to 40 percent longer to come to a stop than passenger cars. So, they deploy an immense amount of force in wrecks and that reaction time is substantially slower to hazards like traffic jams, accidents on the road ahead or weather conditions. Their size also means that trucks can be harder to maneuver around and are likely to collide with more cars if the driver loses control of the truck. Every Burger Law Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer has seen firsthand how truck wrecks can be incredibly destructive.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that in 2019 there were 164,731 crashes that involved large trucks, which resulted in 5,074 deaths and 81,272 injuries. Although they make up just 2.4 percent of total auto traffic collisions, truck accidents were responsible for 15.3 percent of total deaths 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 wrecks are occupants of other vehicles. The financial costs of being hurt in a truck collision are generally enormous, and that is why every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Decatur, IL has spent their career securing full compensation for their clients in Decatur and throughout Illinois.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes | Decatur, 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 studying over 1,000 possible factors, they came to the following conclusions:

• Eighty-seven percent of collisions involved “driver reasons,” either by the truck driver or another driver. The most common of those reasons include:
  • Use of prescriptions, over-the-counter and illegal drugs and drunk driving
  • Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
  • Fatigue or distracted driving
  • Illegal maneuvers, improper evasive action or aggressive driving
  • Unfamiliarity with the roadway or truck
• About 30 percent of all wrecks involved issues with the truck, for instance brake failure or faulty tires.
• Environmental factors, such as:
  • Weather-related crashes
  • Traffic congestion
  • Roadway hazards
• Other factors, such as:
  • Overloaded trucks or incorrectly loaded cargo
  • The driver being pressured to driver even though fatigued
  • The driver being sick

Whatever the reasons behind your crash in Decatur, IL, your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer has investigated and won a case like yours before. We will get to the bottom of your crash and hold the at-fault parties accountable.

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

In the majority of auto accident cases, you would make a claim against another Decatur, IL 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 their investigation into your crash, they will find which driver is to blame. However, one of the things that makes truck accidents different is that there are usually several parties at fault. That is why you need a committed, seasoned and skilled trucking accidents lawyer standing by your side.

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

The Trucking Company

Trucking companies have a responsibility to respect our safety. They are required to:

• Contact drivers that satisfy the strict conditions for Commercial Driver’s Licenses in Illinois. Hiring drivers that do not, or hiring a driver with a lot of traffic violations, amounts to negligent hiring practices.
• Verify the safety of their vehicles. Illinois and Federal Law demands pre-trip and annual inspections performed by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively. Not performing inspections or not repairing defective components are examples of negligence. Brake failures were a contributing factor in 27 percent of trucking accidents, compared to just 2 percent in other auto wrecks.
• Not overwork their drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has an Hours of Service Guide for Truck Drivers that must be adhered to. Thirteen percent of trucking accidents involved driver fatigue as a contributing factor, often because an employer was pressuring the driver to drive with little rest.

We will acquire maintenance and driver logs when we begin working on your truck accident claim. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Decatur, IL knows how to acquire all the evidence we need to prove your claim.

A Shipping Company

Cargo must be properly loaded onto trucks in order to ensure safety. Overloaded trucks or trucks with unequal weight distribution are susceptible to rollover accidents. Incorrectly loaded cargo can also leak onto Decatur or Illinois streets and result in multi-vehicle collision. Overweight trucks also take longer to stop, which hinders the driver’s ability to respond to situations or risks on the road.

Mechanics or Manufacturers

Manufacturers have a duty to safely design and test their products and recall any parts when they discover it to be hazardous. 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.” Not doing so is an example of product liability. Burger Law’s trucking accidents lawyer team has seen every kind of personal injury case and knows how to secure you the best possible compensation regardless of the circumstances surrounding your truck wreck injury.

A Government Entity

If your truck accident happened because of infrastructure that was poorly designed or inadequately repaired, 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 domino-effect until you get in a crash, your truck accident attorneys will help you hold the local entity that oversees that property accountable.

If you want to make a claim against a government entity in Decatur, 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 you sustained your injury. If you file a notice before the lawsuit, the lawsuit has to be brought no later than two years of when you sustained your injury. If you or a loved one has been hurt because of a public truck driver or entity’s recklessness, you cannot wait. Call a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Decatur, IL now so we can get started on your claim without delay.

Filing a claim against a public entity in Decatur, IL is complex, but your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law knows how to apply the law to your case and win even the most difficult cases. Call our trucking accidents lawyer team straight away at (779) 800-HURT.

How to Choose Trucking Accidents Lawyer in Decatur, IL

You need a trucking accidents lawyer you can believe in; an attorney who is dedicated to your claim and takes your recovery personally. You only have one opportunity to get the best possible financial recovery, so finding the right trucking accidents lawyer in Decatur, IL is of the utmost importance. Below are some of the things you should consider when searching for attorneys:

• Look for Referrals and Recommendations. All trucking accidents lawyer teams will say that they are knowledgeable, tough on insurance companies and that their Decatur, IL clients matter to them. No one knows an attorney’s abilities better than the individuals and families they have advocated for previously. Burger Law is the most- and highest-reviewed trucking accidents lawyer team in the region. You can look at some of the great recoveries we have delivered our clients in their video testimonials.
• Make a List of What Matters to You. It is preferable to have a checklist for your prospective Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer. Some things you may want to contemplate are:
  • Their experience with your specific variety of injury claim
  • If they have a proven history of getting great recoveries
  • 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 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 they have the resources and ability to frighten Decatur, IL insurance companies. That is not necessarily true, and your case might get lost in the shuffle at a larger firm. We are distinct among Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer teams because we provide you with 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 the maximum financial recovery for our clients.
• Look at their Experience. While you want a Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer that is dedicated and tenacious, you will also want one that has experience taking on complicated cases, fighting back against bullies like resistant insurance companies and receiving full compensation for their clients. Burger Law has over 70 years of combined experience — much more than a lot of truck accident law firms — holding reckless truck drivers and trucking companies responsible.
• Meet With Them. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer works under a contingency fee basis. As a substitute for charging by the hour, we are paid by collecting a percentage of your final payout. Meaning, our preliminary consultation and investigation are free, and there are no upfront attorneys fees. There is no risk in calling us to go through your claim with a Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer.

When you first meet with us, we know you will see why we think so highly of our Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer team. Call us immediately at (779) 800-HURT so we can start working on your case at once.

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

The money you are awarded will depend on the severity of your injuries, the consequences they have had on your life, and the tenacity of your Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer. There are generally two categories of damages available to people who are injured owing to 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 worse 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 a Decatur, IL insurance adjuster, judge or jury to understand your injuries from your perspective and see the full repercussions your injuries have had on your life. Call Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT to get a maximum financial recovery.

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

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is fairly short at two years for most personal injury cases, according to 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim no later than two years after the truck wreck happened. However, there are two significant exceptions:

1. If you were under 18 when your injury occured, you have two years to file a claim after your 18th birthday.
2. If you were under a “legal disability” when you sustained your injury, you have two years from the time the injury was “removed.”

Delaying could bring hurdles to your claim. Your trucking accidents lawyer has to completely investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury in order to hold careless parties accountable. Additionally, you need a financial recovery as soon as possible in order to fully heal and be made whole again. There is no reason to delay. Call a Burger Law Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law immediately at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Yes. Your trucking accident lawyer might still be able to help you receive a financial recovery, but the sum will be less. Illinois is a modified contributory fault state, which means that you will be compensated for the part of the accident that is not your fault.

So, if a fact-finder decides you should receive $100,000 in compensation, but finds that you are 30 percent at fault 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 50 percent at fault for the crash, you will not be able to received any compensation in Decatur, IL. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer will know how to prove that you are not at fault for the harm somebody else caused.

No one should have to take on the burden of mental distress, physical limitations, lost wages and medical bills that are piling up just because somebody else broke the rules. At Burger Law, our Decatur, IL-based trucking accidents lawyer team fights hard for the injured and vulnerable throughout Illinois. We have pledged our lives to making sure people in bad situations are not exploited by greedy corporations and two-faced insurance companies. When you hire a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer, we get working on your case immediately and do not stop until you recover every nickel that you deserve. You do not need to wait any more time to start on your road to recovery and being made whole again. Call a Burger Law Decatur, IL trucking accidents lawyer right away at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.