If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, it is important to act swiftly. The Chicago truck accident lawyers at Duncan Law Group has proven results in seeking fair compensation for accident victims. Whether your personal injury or wrongful death claim involves legal action against the truck driver, the trucking company, or even the manufacturer of defective equipment, you can come to our personal injury law firm for dedicated legal support and aggressive representation at every stage of your case.
Traffic accidents involving large, commercial trucks like tankers, big rigs, and tractor-trailers, can cause major devastation. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles, when coupled with significant speeds, can crush smaller vehicles in the event of a collision. Unfortunately, the occupants of smaller cars and SUVs have a much higher risk of injury or death than commercial drivers. In fact, it is not uncommon for truck accident victims to suffer injuries that are catastrophic, or permanent, in nature.
Get started with your truck accident claim in Chicago today! Call us at (312) 202-3283 for a free initial consultation.
Illinois law allows victims of truck accidents to collect compensation for the losses they sustained in the truck crash, as long as they can prove the truck driver is responsible. These damages can be economic, or related to the financial impact of the collision. You can also collect compensation for physical and emotional pain and suffering, known as non-economic damages.
Economic damages will likely make up the bulk of your settlement. You can claim compensation for your past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, hospitalizations, prescriptions, and any physical therapy you require after the truck crash. Economic damages also cover lost wages, property damage, and loss of future earnings, if applicable. You can prove your need for economic damages through documents like receipts, invoices, and medical bills.
Non-economic losses are more difficult to quantify. Different insurance companies use different formulas to calculate pain and suffering damages, which may include the following.
Some insurance companies use a per diem formula where they assign a dollar value to every day you cannot work due to your serious injuries. Other companies may use the multiplier method, where you will receive a number based on the severity of your injuries. The company will then multiply this number by the amount of economic damages you claim to receive your pain and suffering total. Others may use another method altogether.
Your Chicago truck collision attorney from Duncan Law Group can help you calculate the estimated value of your settlement so you do not accept a lower offer than you deserve. We will also negotiate with insurance companies for a higher payout if they offer an insufficient settlement.
Truck crashes often involve more complex questions of liability than motor vehicle collisions. In a car crash, the at-fault driver is usually the person who is responsible for paying for the damages of the truck accident victims.
In truck accidents, you usually do not file a lawsuit against the driver directly. In most accident cases, his or her employer is liable for any harm the driver causes while on the job. You may also hold a government agency or third-party driver liable, or even the manufacturer of a defective part that caused the crash.
These accident cases require significant investigation to determine the cause of the accident, since truck drivers must follow strict state and federal regulations. If he or she did not follow these regulations, or his or her employer did not uphold them, you could hold the driver’s employer responsible.
All civil lawsuits in Illinois are subject to the statute of limitations, which is a deadline that you must file your case by, or the court will dismiss it. In Illinois, you have two years from the date of your accident to file.
Filing your claim as soon as possible is important for a number of reasons. First, it ensures that you meet the statute of limitations and protect your right to compensation. Second, the statute of limitations helps you file before evidence suffers any damage or becomes lost, and witnesses are still available to give testimony.
Finally, the sooner you file your claim, the more credibility you have. Speak to a Chicago personal injury attorney at Duncan Law Group to discuss your case and begin your initial steps toward compensation.
Truck accidents can be caused by several different factors, from mechanical failure to driver error to improper cargo loading to faulty road conditions; therefore, multiple parties may be responsible for causing or contributing to the accident. Having a Chicago truck accident lawyer who is familiar with all of these factors is important so that all sources of compensation are identified.
We may be able to help you establish that the truck driver:
Commercial truck accidents can result in catastrophic injuries, often requiring weeks or months of recovery time and expensive treatments. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles combined with the vulnerability of a regular car can lead to permanent consequences and a significant financial toll.
Some of the most common truck accident injuries include the following:
After a truck accident, you can feel scared, disoriented, and confused. Since trucks are large vehicles, they have the likelihood of causing serious damage to the average motor vehicle. If you are suffering from serious injuries or your vehicle sustained heavy damage, you should always call 911 immediately after the accident. Seek medical attention immediately and do not put yourself in further danger at the scene of the crash.
If you can move around safely and without further injury, you may want to take steps to preserve evidence after the collision. Collecting this information can help your Chicago accident lawyer investigate your claim and support your credibility.
Gathering and preserving vital evidence must be done as soon as possible before it is lost. Commercial vehicles frequently contain data recording devices – commonly known as black boxes – which record crucial data related to the RPMs of the wheels, braking, and speed immediately prior to a collision. This information can be crucial in proving a case against a commercial carrier and its driver. In addition, witness information needs to be obtained as soon as possible while the information is still fresh.
Acting quickly can mean the difference between being able to establish negligence against the trucking company or not.
Trucking companies are subject to both state and federal regulations, and violations of these regulations often contribute to serious trucking accidents. Accident reconstruction experts may be needed to review and reconstruct what occurred, which is something that the team at Duncan Law Group can assist you with during the legal process.
Not only do our trucking accident lawyers have the resources to skillfully manage your personal injury claim, but we are backed by more than a decade of experience. We have also recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of past clients, so you can rest assured that your future will be in good hands.
Learn more about your truck accident case with a truck accident lawyer in Chicago from our law firm by setting up a free case evaluation. Call us at (312) 202-3283 or fill out our convenient online form.