Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer
The Illinois Department of Transportation data indicates that semi-truck accidents make up nearly ten percent of all Illinois traffic accidents. Because of the sheer size and force impact of commercial trucks on other vehicles, an accident victim sustains serious truck accident injuries like traumatic brain injury, multiple bone fractures, whiplash, scratches, internal organ damage, burns, or worse, death.
If you have suffered injuries or lost a loved one in an Illinois truck accident, seek the legal services of the Injury Lawyer Team. Our experienced personal injury lawyers will ensure you have a successful claim against the insurance company and hold negligent parties liable.
Schedule a free case evaluation with our injury lawyer today and begin your journey to justice. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront fees until the truck accident attorney wins your case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.
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Contact our Illinois truck accident lawyers to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information shared with your Illinois truck accident lawyer remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
How Common are Truck Accidents in the State of Illinois?
Despite stringent requirements for obtaining and maintaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Illinois, truck accidents remain a prevalent concern. Truck accidents are continuously rising due to driver fatigue, inadequate maintenance, unsecured cargo, violation of traffic laws, and adverse weather conditions.
The following statistics on truck accident cases in Illinois represent the frequency and severity of crashes involving trucks on state roads:
According to the 2021 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics, there were 11,178 crashes involving tractors-trailers in Illinois. Out of these, nearly 1,817 truck accidents resulted in injuries.
Research by Forbes Advisor shows that Illinois experienced 155 fatal truck accidents in 2020.
Based on research by Truck Info Net, in 2022, the state of Illinois recorded 7,544 truck accidents overall. In which 2,501 accidents resulted in injuries and 193 of them were fatal accidents.
Semi-truck accidents were around 4,773 in the same year, out of these, 1,531 crashes resulted in injuries and 129 fatal accidents.
California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Illinois are the top five states in the United States recording the most number of truck accidents.
Semi-trucks accounted for 53% of all fatal collisions involving large trucks according to statistics data by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Out of 494,000 police-reported nationwide crashes involving large trucks in 2021, 5,149 collisions were fatal (1%), and of them, 110,000 resulted in injuries (22%).
Single-vehicle crashes made up 21 percent of all US fatal truck crashes while the majority (62 percent) of fatal large truck crashes involved two vehicles.
Nearly 54 percent of all fatal truck accidents involving large trucks happened in rural areas whereas 26 percent took place on Interstate highways.
The largest-ever truck accident claim settlement was reported at $150 million.
How are Semi-Truck Accidents Different from Car Accidents?
Essentially, semi-truck accidents differ from regular car accidents based on their scale, impact, and regulations. Below are the fundamental differences between the two types of crashes:
- Semi-trucks are significantly larger and heavier than passenger cars, resulting in severe damage and injuries in a truck collision.
- Truck braking systems and handling characteristics are different from those of passenger cars, posing unique challenges.
- Additionally, semi-truck drivers must adhere to specific regulations regarding driving hours, maintenance, and load securement, which can impact accident causation and liability.
- In regular car accidents, vehicles are similar in size, allowing your car to provide some protection, which it can’t offer against large trucks.
- A trucking company maintains logs of the state of their vehicles and their use for only a few weeks. Hence, prompt investigation is needed to secure evidence and prove liability,
These factors make semi-truck accidents more complex and potentially more catastrophic than typical car accidents. If you got injured in a Chicago or Rockford truck crash, schedule a free consultation with our qualified truck accident attorney.
Reasons Why Fatal Truck Accidents Happen in Illinois?
Truck drivers often operate their vehicles for long hours, which results in fatigue and inattention. That’s why most fatal truck accidents in Illinois happen because of driver error and negligence. And, of course, other motor vehicle drivers contribute to trucking accidents leading to various personal injuries.
Here are the common causes of Illinois truck accidents:
- Distracted driving practices, for example, texting, navigating GPS, or rubbernecking
- Speeding or traveling too fast for road conditions
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Improperly loaded cargo
- Driving in a truck’s blind spot
- Unsafe lane changes or turns
- Intoxicated driving (DUI)
- Driver inexperience
- Violating FMCSA hours of service regulations
- Reckless driving
- Overloaded trailers
- Failure to follow traffic signals and signs
- Irregular or lack of truck maintenance
Some truck collisions result from road hazards or defective truck components like brake failure or tire defects. The FMCSA found that 14 percent of truck accidents are caused by vehicle braking problems. Skilled truck accident lawyers will determine the exact cause of the incident and identify the negligent at-fault party.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Semi-Truck Accidents in Illinois?
Unlike standard vehicle accidents involving drivers or pedestrians, truck accidents often involve trucking companies, cargo loaders, truck service providers, and vehicle manufacturers that may bear some degree of responsibility for the accident.
Establishing liability can be difficult in truck accidents and semi-truck accident cases. However, the truck accident attorneys at the Injury Lawyer Team can gather evidence, such as the accident photos and videos, the truck’s electronic data recorder, police reports, and witness statements to prove the truck driver’s negligence, which caused the accident.
Truck Drivers
The first person who can be held responsible for the Illinois truck accident is the driver itself. When the semi-truck driver’s negligent actions like speeding, impaired driving, or disregarding traffic rules cause a truck crash, they can be held liable legally.
Trucking Company
The trucking company may also be held liable for the accident if they have records of errors, follow unsafe practices, neglect vehicle maintenance, or hire untrained or unlicensed truck drivers. A truck accident attorney will review the trucking company’s maintenance logs and training practices to gather evidence of its fault.
Truck Manufacturer
Mechanical failures such as malfunction of brakes, steering wheel, or tire bursting can lead to fatal Illinois truck accidents. Your experienced truck accident lawyer can file a product liability claim against both truck manufacturers and truck component manufacturers.
Shipping Company
Many truck accidents happen when poorly loaded cargo falls into the road, and vehicles collide. Since shipping companies handle the loading process before the truck departs the warehouse, they can be held responsible for any truck collisions.
Truck Service Provider
When a truck owner contracts a third party for maintenance and repairs on their trucks, that service provider could be held liable for accidents resulting from the vehicle’s malfunction or failure.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Illinois?
Under Illinois State law, personal injury claims, including truck accident claims must be filed within two years from the date of the accident or injury. Failing to file a truck accident lawsuit against the negligent truck driver or trucking company within two years can deprive the victim of recovering the compensation. Hence, truck accident victims in Illinois should file their claim against the at-fault negligent party as soon as possible.
Many insurance companies involved in truck accident cases have their reporting deadlines in place. If the injured party fails to promptly report a truck crash to the insurance company, they could delay or even deny your injury claim. Contact a specialized truck accident attorney immediately, as evidence in a motor vehicle crash tends to vanish if not collected on time.
I’m Partially At Fault for the Illinois Truck Accident, Can I Still Recover My Damages?
Yes, truck accident victims could recover compensation even if they are partially at fault for the truck crash. Illinois accepts a “modified comparative negligence” law. Under this system, if you are 50% or more responsible for causing your injuries, you will be deemed ineligible for claiming the compensation.
If you are determined to have less than 50% share of negligence, you will be allowed to seek compensation, but the total amount will be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
For example, a truck accident victim sustains 80,000 worth of damages, which includes medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle damage, mental suffering, and more. However, since the jury determined the victim was 30% liable for the incident, they would receive 30% less compensation amount, i.e. 56,000.
How Our Illinois Truck Accident Lawyers Will Help You Seek Compensation
At the Injury Lawyer Team, we prioritize your physical and mental recovery after a truck crash. Let us navigate the legal complexities while you focus on your peace of mind.
Our experienced truck accident attorneys will collaborate closely with hospitals or doctors, documenting your injuries to secure fair compensation.
We will thoroughly investigate the fault of the responsible parties in your truck accident case. That includes gathering evidence like accident scene photos, truck driver information, vehicle maintenance records, a police report, statements from accident reconstruction experts, and witness testimonies.
Leveraging our decades of experience in dealing with insurance companies, we promise to secure a fair financial settlement for your truck accident claim. If necessary, our Chicago truck accident lawyers will pursue your case in court using their extensive trial strategies.
Schedule a Free Consultation with An Experienced Truck Accident Attorney
Were you involved in a semi-truck accident with another truck driver or passenger car? Our truck accident lawyers at the Injury Lawyer Team, sponsored by Rosenfeld Law Offices, can help resolve your injury claim for maximum compensation.
We help victims file Chicago truck accident claims or lawsuits against negligent parties and help them recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, emotional trauma, and other damages.
Contact our Illinois truck accident lawyers at (888) 424-5757 today for a free case evaluation. All shared confidential or sensitive information will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.