Trucking Accidents Lawyer La Grange, IL

Trucking Accidents Lawyer La Grange, IL. If a truck driver or trucking company was negligent and caused you or a loved one harm, call a Burger Law La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer straight away 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 unanticipated and ruthless. That is why, in addition to following the typical rules of the road, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict stipulations that truck drivers and trucking companies have to follow in order to safeguard the safety of everyone on the La Grange, IL roads. When they neglect their responsibility and injure you, the La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer team will hold them accountable and deliver you the great financial recovery you are owed.

We have a first-class team of attorneys and paralegals that fight the good fight to get you the best possible compensation. Our La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer team knows the horrible 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 lawsuits. We settle for nothing but the best results for our clients. If you experienced and injury because someone else was negligent, get in touch with a Burger Law La Grange, IL 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 Illinois? | La Grange, IL Truck Accident Law Firms

Unfortunately, a trucking accidents lawyer in La Grange, IL frequently has a a lot of cases. As of 2020, there were over 70,000 licensed truck drivers in Illinois according to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, meaning Illinois is among the top 15 trucking states in the United States. In 2020 there were 9,966 truck collisions 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 accident as the result of somebody else's dangerous behavior, get in touch with a Burger Law La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer now to talk over your legal options.

How Are Truck Accidents Different? | La Grange, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Truck accidents are a lot more dangerous than car accidents, specifically for occupants of smaller, passenger vehicles. On average trucks have 20 to 30 times more mass and stopping takes 20 to 40 percent longer than passenger cars. So, they deploy a colossal amount of force in crashes and that response time is significantly slower to road conditions like traffic jams, accidents on the road ahead or inclement weather. Because of their size, trucks can be harder to avoid and are likely to hit more vehicles if the driver loses control of the truck. Every Burger Law La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer has seen firsthand how truck crashes can be tremendously destructive.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that in 2019 there were 164,731 collisions that involved large trucks, which led to 5,074 deaths and 81,272 injuries. Despite making up merely 2.4 percent of total motor vehicle traffic wrecks, truck accidents were responsible 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 killed in large truck wrecks are occupants of other vehicles. The financial costs of being injured in a truck collision are usually gargantuan, and that is why every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in La Grange, IL has spent their life delivering maximum compensation for their clients in La Grange and throughout Illinois.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes | La Grange, 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 analyzing over 1,000 possible factors, they came to the following conclusions:

• Eighty-seven percent of wrecks involved "driver reasons," either by the truck driver or another driver. The most common of those reasons are:
  • Prescription drug use, over-the-counter drug use, and illegal drug use or drunk driving
  • Speeding or driving faster than appropriate for road conditions
  • Fatigue or distracted driving
  • Illegal maneuvers, improper evasive action or aggressive driving
  • Not being familiar with the roadway or truck
• About 30 percent of all crashes involved issues with the truck, for instance brake failure or defective tires.
• Environmental factors, such as:
  • Weather-related crashes
  • Traffic conditions
  • Roadway hazards
• Other factors, such as:
  • Overloaded trucks or improperly loaded cargo
  • The driver being pressured to driver even though fatigued
  • Illness

Regardless of the cause behind your accident in La Grange, IL, your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer has investigated and won a case like yours before. We will discover the causes of your crash and hold the at-fault parties responsible.

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

In the majority of auto accident cases, you would file a claim against another La Grange, IL driver and their insurance company. In trucking accidents caused by human error, 56 percent of the time the liable driver was the driver of a passenger vehicle, not the truck driver. When your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer carries out an investigation into your crash, they will ascertain which driver is to blame. However, one of the things that makes truck accidents unique is that there are often multiple parties at fault. That is why you need a devoted, accomplished and knowledgeable trucking accidents lawyer standing by your side.

Below are some examples of other parties in La Grange, IL your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law may be able to hold responsible:

The Trucking Company

Trucking companies have a responsibility to look out for our safety. They are required to:

• Hire drivers that satisfy the strict conditions for Commercial Driver's Licenses in Illinois. Not doing so, or hiring a driver with a history of traffic violations, constitutes negligent hiring practices.
• Ensure the safety of their fleet. Illinois and Federal Law mandates pre-trip and annual inspections conducted by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively. Not carrying out inspections or not fixing faulty parts are examples of negligence. Brake failures were an associated factor in 27 percent of trucking accidents, which is true in only 2 percent in other auto crashes.
• Not overwork their drivers. 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, often because an employer was pressuring the driver to drive with little rest.

We will request maintenance and driver logs when we start working on your truck crash suit. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in La Grange, IL knows how to gather all the evidence necessary to prove your claim.

A Shipping Company

Cargo must be properly loaded onto trucks in the interest of ensuring safety. Overloaded trucks or trucks with lopsided weight distribution are susceptible to rollover accidents. Improperly loaded cargo can also spill onto La Grange or Illinois streets and lead to multi-vehicle collision. Overweight trucks also have longer stopping times, which limits the driver's ability to react to situations or hazards on the road.

Mechanics or Manufacturers

Manufacturers have a duty to safely manufacture their products and recall any products when they discover it to be faulty. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that a recall is necessary 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 experience with every category of personal injury case and knows how to get you the best possible compensation regardless of the circumstances of your truck collision injury.

A Government Entity

If your truck accident occurred because of infrastructure that was improperly 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 in front of a motorist or a large crack in the concrete leads a vehicle to turn over, causing a domino-effect until you get in a crash, your truck accident attorneys will help you hold the local entity that runs that property accountable.

If you wish to make a claim against a public entity in La Grange, 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 before the lawsuit, the lawsuit needs to be brought within two years of when you sustained your injury. If you or a family member has been hurt because of a public truck driver or entity's carelessness, you cannot wait. Call a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in La Grange, IL immediately so we can get working on your case straight away.

Bringing a claim against a public entity in La Grange, IL is tricky, 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 now at (314) 500-HURT.

How to Choose Trucking Accidents Lawyer in La Grange, IL

You require a trucking accidents lawyer you can believe in; one that is committed to your claim and takes it personally. You only have one opportunity to get great compensation, so hiring the right trucking accidents lawyer in La Grange, IL is of the utmost importance. Below are a few of the things you should consider when searching for attorneys:

• Look for Referrals and Recommendations. The majority of trucking accidents lawyer teams will say that they are experienced, that they know how to beat insurance companies and that they care about their La Grange, IL clients. No one knows a lawyer better than the people they have stood up for in the past. Burger Law is the most- and highest-reviewed trucking accidents lawyer team in Missouri and Illinois. You can check out some of the great compensation we have won for our clients in their video testimonials.
• Make a List of What Matters to You. It is recommended to have a checklist for any possible La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer. Some things you may want to examine are:
  • Their experience with your specific kind of injury claim
  • If they have a proven history of securing great compensation
  • Their qualifications, awards and accolades
  • If they will consistently keep you informed throughout your case
  • If they are willing to fight by your side 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 frighten La Grange, IL insurance companies. That is not necessarily the case, and your claim may be forgotten about at a larger firm. We stand out among La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer teams because we offer you the personal touch of a small firm, but still have the resources and network necessary to get you great results. Insurance companies are afraid of us because they know that we demand the best possible financial recovery for our clients.
• Look at their Experience. While you want a La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer that is devoted and tenacious, you will also want an attorney that has experience taking on difficult cases, standing up to 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 many truck accident law firms — holding reckless truck drivers and trucking companies responsible.
• Meet With Them. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer works on a contingency fee basis. As a substitute for charging by the hour, we are paid by collecting a percentage of your final compensation. What that means is our preliminary case evaluation and investigation are free, and we accept no upfront attorneys fees. There is no harm in calling us to go through your claim with a La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer.

When you first meet with us, we know you will see why we have such a high opinion of our La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer team. Call us immediately at (314) 500-HURT so we can get working on your case straight away.

What Compensation Can I Recover For My Injuries? | La Grange, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

The money you are awarded will be based on the severity of your injuries, how they have affected your life, and the knowledge of your La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer. There are normally two types of compensation available to people who are injured because of somebody else's negligent behavior.

• 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 La Grange, IL insurance adjuster, judge or jury to see your injuries from your perspective and see the full repercussions your injuries have had on your life. Call Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT to get a maximum 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 no later than two years after the truck crash 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" at the time of injury, you have two years from the date the injury was "removed."

Delaying could bring complexities to your claim. Your trucking accidents lawyer must completely investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident in order to hold the at-fault parties accountable. Additionally, you need compensation as soon as possible in order to completely heal and be made whole again. There is no reason to wait. Call a Burger Law La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT.

Can I Still Collect Compensation in Illinois if I Was Partially At Fault? | La Grange, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Yes. Your trucking accident lawyer might still be able to help you receive a financial recovery, although the total will not be as high. Illinois is a modified contributory fault state, which means that you will be compensated for the part of the collisions that you are not to blame for.

Meaning, if a jury gives you $100,000 in compensation, but determines 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 half at fault for the collision, you will not be able to received any compensation in La Grange, IL. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer will know how to show that you are not responsible for the harm another person is liable for.

No one should have to carry the burden of mental anguish, physical hardships, lost wages and medical bills that are piling up all because somebody else broke the rules. At Burger Law, our La Grange, IL-based trucking accidents lawyer team works tirelessly for the injured and vulnerable throughout Illinois. We have pledged our careers to ensuring people in bad situations are not preyed on by unethical corporations and dishonest insurance companies. When you hire a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer, we get started on your case at once and do not stop until you recover every penny that you deserve. 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 La Grange, IL trucking accidents lawyer immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.