Trucking Accidents Lawyer Farmer City, IL

Trucking Accidents Lawyer Farmer City, IL. If a truck driver or trucking company was negligent and caused you or a loved one injuries, call a Burger Law Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review.

Trucking accidents can turn your life upside down. The physical, economic and emotional damage they can do is sudden and cruel. Because of that, in addition to abiding by the basic rules of the road, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has stringent rules that truck drivers and trucking companies must follow in order to protect the safety of everyone on the Farmer City, IL roads. When they eschew their duty and you end up injured, the Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer team will hold them accountable and get you the best possible financial recovery you are owed.

We have a first-class team of attorneys and paralegals that fight for you to get you the best possible compensation. Our Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer team knows the awful 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 demand nothing but the best results for injured residents of Farmer City, IL. If you sustained and injury because another person broke the rules, get in touch with a Burger Law Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer right away at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form to start on your road to recovery.



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

Sadly, a trucking accidents lawyer in Farmer City, IL often has a a lot of work to do. As of 2020, there were more than 70,000 licensed truck drivers in Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, meaning Illinois is among the 15 busiest trucking states in the United States. In 2020 there were 9,966 truck crashes that resulted in injury or death in the state, according to data from the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics report.

If you have been injured in a truck accident as the result of someone else's dangerous actions, reach out to a Burger Law Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer right away to discuss your legal options.

How Are Truck Accidents Different? | Farmer City, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Truck accidents are much more dangerous than car accidents, particularly 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 expend a colossal amount of force in crashes and that response time is appreciably slower to road conditions like traffic jams, accidents that already happened or weather conditions. Because of their size, trucks can be tougher to maneuver around and are likely to crash into more vehicles if the driver loses control of the truck. Every Burger Law Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer has knows all too well how truck crashes can be tremendously destructive.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that in 2019 there were 164,731 wrecks that involved large trucks, which resulted in 5,074 deaths and 81,272 injuries. Although they make up just 2.4 percent of total motor vehicle traffic collisions, truck accidents were responsible for 15.3 percent of total deaths and 4.2 percent of all injuries, according to crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Seventy-two percent of drivers and passengers that died in large truck collisions are occupants of other vehicles. The economic costs of being injured in a truck crash are generally massive, which is why every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Farmer City, IL has spent their career delivering full compensation for their clients in Farmer City and throughout Illinois.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes | Farmer City, 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 contributing factors of 18-wheeler accidents. After examining over 1,000 possible factors, they reached 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, inadequate evasive action or aggressive driving
  • Not being familiar 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 accidents
  • Traffic conditions
  • Roadway hazards
• Other factors, such as:
  • Overloaded trucks or improperly loaded cargo
  • The driver being pressured to operate even though fatigued
  • The driver being sick

Regardless of the reasons behind your collision in Farmer City, IL, your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer has seen it before. We will get to the bottom of your crash and hold the liable parties accountable.

View More FAQs

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

In most auto accident cases, you would file a claim against another Farmer City, 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 performs their investigation into your crash, they will find which driver is to blame. However, one of the unique things about truck accidents is that there are often several parties that can be found liable. That is why you need a dedicated, accomplished and skilled trucking accidents lawyer in your corner.

Below are some examples of other parties in Farmer City, IL your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law may be able to hold accountable:

The Trucking Company

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

• Hire drivers that fulfill the strict conditions for Commercial Driver's Licenses in Illinois. Not doing so, or hiring a driver with numerous traffic violations, constitutes negligent hiring practices.
• Verify the safety of their fleet. Illinois and Federal Law obligates pre-trip and annual inspections carried out by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively. Not performing inspections or not repairing defective parts are instances of negligence. Brake failures were an associated factor in 27 percent of trucking accidents, which is true in just 2 percent in other auto crashes.
• Make sure their drivers get enough rest. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has an Hours of Service Guide for Truck Drivers that must be followed. Thirteen percent of trucking accidents involved driver fatigue as an associated factor, often because an employer was pressuring the driver to drive off little rest.

We will acquire maintenance and driver logs when we start working on your truck crash case. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Farmer City, IL knows how to get all the evidence necessary to prove your claim.

A Shipping Company

Cargo must be correctly loaded onto trucks in the interest of ensuring safety. Overloaded trucks or trucks with unequal weight distribution are prone to rollover accidents. Improperly loaded cargo can also leak onto Farmer City 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 conditions or dangers 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 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." Failure to do so amounts to product liability. Burger Law's trucking accidents lawyer team has seen every variety of personal injury case and knows how to secure you maximum financial recovery regardless of the circumstances of your truck accident injury.

A Government Entity

If your truck accident happened because of infrastructure that was poorly constructed or inadequately maintained, your truck accident injury lawyer may help you make a claim against a public institution such as the Illinois Department of Transportation. If a guardrail suddenly swings into the road or a substantial crack in the concrete leads 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 that runs that property accountable.

To file a claim against a government entity in Farmer City, IL, you must file a written notice or a lawsuit with the Attorney General and the Clerk of the Court of Claims within one year after you sustained your injury. If you file a notice first, the lawsuit needs to be filed within two years of when you sustained your injury. If you or someone you love has been injured because of a public truck driver or entity's recklessness, there is no time to wait. Call a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Farmer City, IL immediately so we can get working on your claim straight away.

Making a claim against a public entity in Farmer City, IL is an intricate process, but your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law knows how to apply the law to your case and get great results in even the hardest cases. Call our trucking accidents lawyer team today at (314) 500-HURT.

How to Choose Trucking Accidents Lawyer in Farmer City, IL

You require a trucking accidents lawyer you can trust; one that is dedicated to your claim and takes it personally. You only have one opportunity to get a full financial recovery, so hiring the right trucking accidents lawyer in Farmer City, IL is of the utmost importance. Below are some of the aspects you should examine when searching for attorneys:

• Look for Referrals and Recommendations. All trucking accidents lawyer teams will say that they are experienced, tough on insurance companies and that they care about their Farmer City, IL clients. No one knows an attorney better than the individuals and families they have represented in the past. Burger Law is the most- and highest-reviewed trucking accidents lawyer team in Missouri and Illinois. You can look at some of the great recoveries we have won for our clients in their video testimonials.
• Make a List of What Matters to You. It is best to have a checklist for any potential Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer. Some things you may want to consider are:
  • Their experience with your specific kind of injury claim
  • If they have a proven history of securing great recoveries
  • Their qualifications, awards and accolades
  • If they will consistently communicate with you throughout your case
  • If they are willing to fight on your behalf and take your case to trial if they cannot secure a fair settlement in negotiations
• Consider the Size of the Firm. A trucking accidents lawyer team at a large firm may seem like the preferable option because of their resources and ability to intimidate Farmer City, IL insurance companies. That is not necessarily true, and your claim might get lost in the shuffle at a larger firm. We are unique among Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer teams because we offer you the personalized attention of a small firm, but still have the resources and network required to get you great results. Insurance companies are afraid of us because they know that we demand full compensation for our clients.
• Look at their Experience. While you want a Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer that is dedicated and compassionate, you will also want one that has experience taking on complex 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 many truck accident law firms — holding careless 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 first case review and investigation are at no-cost, and there are no upfront attorneys fees. There is no risk in calling us to go through your claim with a Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer.

When you first meet with us, you will see why we have such a high opinion of our Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer team. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT so we can get started on your case at once.

What Damages Can I Receive For My Injuries? | Farmer City, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

The compensation you are awarded will come down to the severity of your injuries, how they have impacted your life, and the skill of your Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer. There are generally two kinds of damages if you were harmed as a result of another person'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 expenses you'll have and the more you will get in noneconomic damages. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer knows how to get a Farmer City, 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 (314) 500-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 quite short at two years for the majority of personal injury cases, according to 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim no later than two years after the truck accident transpired. However, there are two important 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 had a "legal disability" when your injury occured, you have two years from the time the injury was "removed."

Delaying could bring hurdles to your case. Your trucking accidents lawyer will need to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury in order to hold irresponsible parties accountable. Moreover, you need compensation as soon as possible in order to truly recover and be made whole again. You cannot afford to delay. Call a Burger Law Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law straight away at (314) 500-HURT.

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

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

Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in compensation, but finds that you are 30 percent at fault for your injury, you will recover $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 accident, you cannot recover any compensation in Farmer City, IL. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer will know how to show that you are not responsible for the damage somebody else is responsible for.

You do not have to carry the weight of emotional anguish, physical hardships, lost wages and rising medical bills all because somebody else broke the rules. At Burger Law, our Farmer City, IL-based trucking accidents lawyer team fights hard for the injured and vulnerable throughout Illinois. We have devoted our lives to ensuring people in bad situations are not preyed on by greedy corporations and lying insurance companies. When you hire a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer, we get working on your case straight away and do not let up until you are awarded every nickel that you are owed. You do not have to wait any longer to start on your road to healing and being made whole again. Call a Burger Law Farmer City, IL trucking accidents lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.