Trucking Accidents Lawyer Plainfield, IL

Trucking Accidents Lawyer Plainfield, IL. 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 Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

Trucking accidents can turn your life upside down. The physical, economic and emotional damage they can do is sudden and jarring. That is why, in addition to following the standard rules of the road, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strict standards that truck drivers and trucking companies have to follow in order to ensure the safety of everyone on the Plainfield, IL roads. When they neglect their responsibility and hurt you, the Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer team will hold them accountable and get you the best possible compensation you are owed.

We have a great team of attorneys and paralegals that fight for you to get you the best possible compensation. Our Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer team knows the dreadful impact an injury from a truck accident can have on you and your loved ones. We also know how to investigate, negotiate, litigate and win truck accident injury claims. We settle for nothing but the best results for the injured in Plainfield, IL. If you have been hurt because another person broke the rules, reach out to a Burger Law Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer right away at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form to start on the road to being made whole again.



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

Regrettably, a trucking accidents lawyer in Plainfield, IL often has a a lot of cases. As of 2020, there were over 70,000 licensed truck drivers in Illinois according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it among the 15 busiest trucking states in the United States. In 2020 there were 9,966 truck wrecks that lead to injury or death in the state, according to data from the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics report.

If you have been harmed in a truck crash because of somebody else's reckless actions, reach out to a Burger Law Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer now to discuss your legal options.

How Are Truck Accidents Different? | Plainfield, 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 more massive and stopping takes 20 to 40 percent more time than passenger cars. That means they expend a tremendous amount of force in wrecks and that response time is significantly slower to hazards like traffic jams, accidents that already happened or weather conditions. Because of their size, trucks can be more difficult to maneuver around and are probably going to crash into more cars if the driver loses control of the truck. Every Burger Law Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer has knows all too well how truck collisions can be tremendously destructive.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that in 2019 there were 164,731 collisions that involved large trucks, which caused 5,074 fatalities 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 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 accidents are occupants of other vehicles. The financial costs of being harmed in a truck accident are often gargantuan, and that is why every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Plainfield, IL has spent their career recovering the best possible compensation for the injured in Plainfield and throughout Illinois.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes | Plainfield, 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 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 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 driving or aggressive driving
  • Not being familiar with the roadway or truck
• Almost a third of all accidents involved problems with the truck, including brake failure or faulty tires.
• Environmental factors, such as:
  • Weather-related collisions
  • Traffic congestion
  • 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 crash in Plainfield, 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.

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

In typical auto accident cases, you would file a claim against another Plainfield, 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 an investigation into your crash, they will find which driver is at fault. However, one of the things that makes truck accidents unique is that there are typically several parties at fault. That is why you need a dedicated, accomplished and adept trucking accidents lawyer to fight on your behalf.

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

The Trucking Company

Trucking companies have a duty to care about our safety. They must:

• 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 history of traffic violations, constitutes negligent hiring practices.
• Confirm the safety of their trucks. Illinois and Federal Law requires pre-trip and annual inspections performed by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively. Not carrying out inspections or not repairing faulty components are instances of negligence. Brake problems were an associated factor in 27 percent of trucking accidents, compared to just 2 percent in other motor-vehicle wrecks.
• 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, frequently because an employer was pressuring the driver to drive off little rest.

We will request maintenance and driver logs when we get to work on your truck wreck case. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Plainfield, IL knows how to get all the evidence required to prove your claim.

A Shipping Company

Cargo must be adequately loaded onto trucks in order to ensure safety. Overloaded trucks or trucks with unbalanced weight distribution are vulnerable to rollover accidents. Poorly loaded cargo can also spill onto Plainfield or Illinois streets and lead to multi-vehicle collision. Overweight trucks also take longer to stop, which hinders the driver's ability to respond to conditions or risks on the road.

Mechanics or Manufacturers

Manufacturers have an obligation to safely design and test their products and recall any parts when they discover it to be faulty. 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 constitutes product liability. Burger Law's trucking accidents lawyer team has seen every sort of personal injury claim and knows how to deliver you the best possible financial recovery whatever the circumstances of your truck crash injury.

A Government Entity

If your truck accident happened because of infrastructure that was improperly designed or insufficiently repaired, your truck accident injury lawyer may be able to assist you in making a claim against a public institution such as the Illinois Department of Transportation. If a guardrail suddenly swings in front of a or a large crack in the concrete causes a vehicle to turn over, causing a chain reaction until you get in a wreck, your truck accident attorneys will help you hold the local organization responsible for that property accountable.

If you wish to make a claim against a government entity in Plainfield, 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 brought no later than two years of when you sustained your injury. If you or someone you care about has been injured because of a public truck driver or entity's negligence, you cannot wait. Call a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Plainfield, IL now so we can get working on your case right away.

Bringing a claim against a public entity in Plainfield, IL is tricky, but your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law knows how to apply the law to your case and collect full compensation in even the toughest cases. Call our trucking accidents lawyer team straight away at (314) 500-HURT.

How to Choose Trucking Accidents Lawyer in Plainfield, IL

You require a trucking accidents lawyer you can believe in; an attorney who is devoted to your case and takes your recovery personally. You only have one chance to get the best possible financial recovery, so hiring the best trucking accidents lawyer in Plainfield, IL is of the utmost importance. Below are some of the things you should examine when searching for attorneys:

• Look for Referrals and Recommendations. Most trucking accidents lawyer teams will say that they are knowledgeable, that they fight back against insurance companies and that their Plainfield, IL clients are important to them. No one knows an attorney better than the individuals and families 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 results we have delivered our clients in their video testimonials.
• Make a List of What Matters to You. It is wise to have a checklist for your possible Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer. Some things you may want to consider are:
  • Their experience with your specific variety of injury claim
  • If they have a proven history of getting great compensation
  • Their qualifications, awards and accolades
  • If they will consistently communicate with you throughout your case
  • If they are willing to fight by your side and take your case to trial if they have to
• Consider the Size of the Firm. A trucking accidents lawyer team at a large firm may seem like the preferable option because they have the resources and ability to scare Plainfield, IL insurance companies. That is not consistently true, and your case may be forgotten about at a larger firm. We are unique among Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer teams because we give you the individualized attention of a small firm, but still have the resources and network required to deliver you great results. Insurance companies fear us because they know that we demand the best possible compensation for our clients.
• Look at their Experience. While you want a Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer that is devoted and passionate, you will also want one that has experience taking on complicated cases, pushing back against bullies like resistant insurance companies and getting full compensation for their clients. Burger Law has over 70 years of combined experience — a lot more than many truck accident law firms — holding careless truck drivers and trucking companies accountable.
• Meet With Them. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer operates using a contingency fee basis. Instead of an hourly rate, we are paid by receiving a percentage of your final payout. That means that our first case review and investigation are at no-cost, and we accept no upfront attorneys fees. There is no reason not to call us to go through your case with a Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer.

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

What Compensation Can I Receive For My Injuries? | Plainfield, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

The financial recovery you collect will come down to the seriousness of your injuries, how they have impacted your life, and the tenacity of your Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer. There are commonly two categories of compensation available to people who are injured owing to 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 expenses you'll have and the more you will be awarded in noneconomic damages. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer knows how to get a Plainfield, IL 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 the best possible financial recovery.

How Much Time 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 claims, 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 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" when your injury occured, you have two years from the time the injury was "removed."

Delaying could bring complexities to your case. Your trucking accidents lawyer must completely investigate your claim in order to hold reckless parties accountable. Additionally, you need a financial recovery as soon as possible in order to fully recover and be made whole again. There is no reason to delay. Call a Burger Law Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law right now at (314) 500-HURT.

Can I Still Recover Compensation in Illinois if I Was Partially At Fault? | Plainfield, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Yes. Your trucking accident lawyer might still be able to secure you compensation, but the total will not be as much. Illinois is a modified contributory fault state, meaning you will be compensated for the part of the wreck that you are not at fault for.

So, if a jury determines you should receive $100,000 in compensation, 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 more than 50 percent to blame for the accident, you will not be able to collect any compensation in Plainfield, IL. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer will know how to demonstrated that you are not culpable for the damage another person caused.

You do not have to bear the weight of emotional anguish, physical limitations, lost wages and accumulating medical expenses just because somebody else broke the rules. At Burger Law, our Plainfield, IL-based trucking accidents lawyer team works relentlessly for the injured and vulnerable throughout Illinois. We have pledged our lives to making sure people in bad situations are not taken advantage of by greedy corporations and lying insurance companies. When you hire a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer, we start working on your case right away and do not let up until you are awarded every penny 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 Plainfield, IL trucking accidents lawyer right away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review.