Trucking Accidents Lawyer Tazewell County, IL

Trucking Accidents Lawyer Tazewell County, 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 Tazewell County, 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, financial and emotional damage they can do is immediate and cruel. That is why, in addition to adhering to the standard rules of the road, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has stringent standards that truck drivers and trucking companies must abide by in order to help keep everybody on the Tazewell County, IL roads safe. When they eschew their obligation and harm you, the Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer team will hold them responsible and win you the full financial recovery you deserve.

We have an amazing team of attorneys and paralegals that fight by your side to get you the best possible financial recovery. Our Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer team knows the awful impact being hurt a truck accident can have on your life. We also know how to investigate, negotiate, litigate and win truck accident injury lawsuits. We settle for nothing but the best results for injured individuals and families in Tazewell County, IL. If you sustained and injury because somebody else was negligent, call a Burger Law Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer immediately at (314) 500-HURT or complete our online form to start on your road to recovery.



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

Regrettably, a trucking accidents lawyer in Tazewell County, 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 one of the top 15 trucking states nationwide. In 2020 there were 9,966 truck collisions that caused injury or death in the state, according to data from the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics report.

If you have been hurt in a truck collision as the result of someone else's dangerous actions, call a Burger Law Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer today to discuss your legal options.

How Are Truck Accidents Different? | Tazewell County, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Truck accidents are considerably more dangerous than car accidents, particularly for people in smaller, passenger vehicles. On average trucks are 20 to 30 times heavier and stopping takes 20 to 40 percent longer than passenger cars. That means they exert an incredible amount of force in wrecks and that reaction time is considerably slower to hazards like traffic jams, accidents that already happened or inclement weather. Because of their size, trucks can be more difficult to evade and are likely to run into more cars if the driver loses control of the truck. Every Burger Law Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer has seen firsthand how truck crashes can be exceedingly destructive.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that in 2019 there were 164,731 accidents that involved large trucks, which resulted in 5,074 fatalities and 81,272 injuries. In spite of the fact that they make up just 2.4 percent of total auto traffic crashes, truck accidents accounted for 15.3 percent of total fatalities 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 who passed away in large truck collisions are occupants of other vehicles. The financial costs of being harmed in a truck accident are generally staggering, and that is why every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Tazewell County, IL has spent their career recovering full compensation for the injured in Tazewell County and throughout Illinois.

Common Causes of Truck Crashes | Tazewell County, 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 crashes 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
  • Not being familiar with the roadway or truck
• Almost a third of all accidents involved problems with the truck, for example brake failure or faulty tires.
• Environmental factors, such as:
  • Weather-related collisions
  • 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 reasons behind your accident in Tazewell County, 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 accountable.

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

In most auto accident cases, you would make a claim against another Tazewell County, 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 car, not the truck driver. When your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer performs their investigation into your crash, they will ascertain which driver is to blame. However, one of the unique things about truck accidents is that there are usually multiple parties that can be found liable. That is why you need a dedicated, experienced and talented trucking accidents lawyer standing by your side.

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

The Trucking Company

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

• Hire drivers that fulfill the strict requirements for Commercial Driver's Licenses in Illinois. Failing to do so, or hiring a driver with many traffic violations, constitutes negligent hiring practices.
• Verify the safety of their trucks. Illinois and Federal Law obligates pre-trip and yearly inspections conducted by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively. Not performing inspections or not repairing faulty parts are instances of negligence. Brake issues were a contributing factor in 27 percent of trucking accidents, contrasted with only 2 percent in other motor-vehicle accidents.
• Not overwork their drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has an Hours of Service Guide for Truck Drivers that must be obeyed. 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 obtain maintenance and driver logs when we get to work on your truck collision claim. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Tazewell County, IL knows how to gather all the evidence required to prove your case.

A Shipping Company

Cargo must be correctly loaded onto trucks in order to ensure safety. Overloaded trucks or trucks with unbalanced weight distribution are prone to rollover accidents. Inadequately loaded cargo can also leak onto Tazewell County or Illinois streets and lead to multi-vehicle collision. Overweight trucks also have increased stopping times, 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 find it to be defective. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that a recall is mandatory when a vehicle or vehicle equipment "does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard." Not doing so amounts to product liability. Burger Law's trucking accidents lawyer team has experience with every sort of personal injury case and knows how to secure you the best possible financial recovery no matter the circumstances of your truck wreck injury.

A Government Entity

If your truck accident happened because of infrastructure that was improperly constructed or insufficiently 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 leads a vehicle to go airborne, 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 make a claim against a government entity in Tazewell County, 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 first, the lawsuit has to be filed no later than 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, you cannot wait. Call a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer in Tazewell County, IL immediately so we can get started on your case without delay.

Making a claim against a public entity in Tazewell County, IL is complex, but your trucking accidents lawyer at Burger Law knows how to apply the law to your case and get great results in even the most difficult cases. Call our trucking accidents lawyer team today at (314) 500-HURT.

How to Choose Trucking Accidents Lawyer in Tazewell County, IL

You need a trucking accidents lawyer you can believe in; one that is dedicated to your case and takes it personally. You only have one chance to get maximum compensation, so hiring the best trucking accidents lawyer in Tazewell County, IL is essential. Below are several of the aspects you should examine when looking at attorneys:

• Look for Referrals and Recommendations. The majority of trucking accidents lawyer teams will say that they are experienced, that they fight back against insurance companies and that their Tazewell County, IL clients are important to them. No one knows a lawyer better than the individuals and families they have stood up 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 recommended to have a checklist for any potential Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer. Some things you may want to examine are:
  • Their experience with your specific variety of injury claim
  • If they have a proven history of delivering great compensation
  • Their qualifications, awards and accolades
  • If they will consistently let you know the progress of 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 best option because of their resources and ability to scare Tazewell County, IL insurance companies. That is not always true, and your case might get lost in the shuffle at a larger firm. We are distinct among Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer teams because we give 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 insist on a great financial recovery for our clients.
• Look at their Experience. While you want a Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer that is dedicated and tenacious, you will also want one that has experience taking on complex cases, fighting back against bullies like resistant insurance companies and collecting full compensation for their clients. Burger Law has over 70 years of combined experience — a lot more than many truck accident law firms — holding liable 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 an hourly rate, we are paid by collecting a percentage of your final payout. Consequently, our first case evaluation and investigation are at no-cost, and we charge no upfront attorneys fees. There is no reason not to call us to talk over your case with a Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer.

When you first meet with us, we know you will see why we think so highly of our Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer team. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT so we can begin working on your case right away.

What Compensation Can I Recover For My Injuries? | Tazewell County, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

The financial recovery you are awarded will be based on the severity of your injuries, the consequences they have had on your life, and the tenacity of your Tazewell County, 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 get in noneconomic damages. Every Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer knows how to get a Tazewell County, 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 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 claims, according to 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim no later than two years after you sustained your injuries. However, there are two notable exceptions:

1. If you were under the age of 18 when you sustained your injury, you have two years to file a claim after your 18th birthday.
2. If you had a "legal disability" when you sustained your 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 the circumstances surrounding your accident in order to hold negligent parties accountable. Moreover, you need a financial recovery as soon as possible in order to completely recover and be made whole again. You cannot afford to delay. Call a Burger Law Tazewell County, 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? | Tazewell County, IL Trucking Accidents Lawyer

Yes. Your trucking accident lawyer may still be able to help you collect a financial recovery, but the sum will not be as much. 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 decides you should recover $100,000 in compensation, but determines 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 over 50 percent to blame for the accident, you cannot recover any compensation in Tazewell County, IL. Your Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer will know how to prove that you are not at fault for the harm another person is responsible for.

You do not 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 Tazewell County, IL-based trucking accidents lawyer team fights hard for the injured and vulnerable throughout Illinois. We have dedicated our careers to ensuring people in bad situations are not taken advantage of by greedy corporations and two-faced insurance companies. When you hire a Burger Law trucking accidents lawyer, we get working on your case at once and do not rest until you receive every dollar that you are owed. You do not need to wait any longer to start on your road to recovery and being made whole again. Call a Burger Law Tazewell County, IL trucking accidents lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.