Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer
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Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer
Trucks, semi-trucks, and 18-wheelers fill the Illinois expressways. These enormous vehicles often carry heavy or hazardous loads. It takes just one overworked truck driver or improperly loaded vehicle to cause a disaster. A collision with a truck can result in extensive physical and emotional damage for drivers, passengers, and others on the road.
Victims of truck accidents may be compensated for their injuries. However, there are many nuances in trucking law. A truck accident victim needs a knowledgeable and aggressive Illinois truck accident lawyer to help them pursue justice.
Truck Accident Attorneys at Flint Cooper
The personal injury attorneys at Flint Cooper can help victims of Illinois truck accidents. With over 20 years of experience representing victims of catastrophic accidents, the attorneys at Flint Cooper deliver a high level of compassionate service to clients. Many firms push clients to settle their cases quickly so they can move on to the next case. With Flint Cooper, however, a truck accident victim can trust that their attorney will fight for the compensation they deserve, even if that means going to trial. Flint Cooper is dedicated to finding justice for victims of accidents.
Truck Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), large truck accidents caused 4,965 fatalities in the United States in 2020, with 71% of the victims being occupants of other vehicles. The NHTSA also estimated that there were about 146,930 people injured in truck accidents. Additionally, the NHTSA reported that large trucks were involved in 10.2% of fatal crashes in Illinois in 2020.
Several factors contribute to truck accidents, including driver fatigue, distracted driving, improper loading, and equipment failure. Trucking companies and drivers must be aware of these risks and take appropriate steps to address them, such as complying with federal trucking regulations.
Trucking Regulations
The trucking industry is subject to various regulations designed to promote road safety. These regulations include rules governing driver qualifications, hours of service, and vehicle maintenance.
For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has hours of service regulations, which limit the number of hours a truck driver can work in a given day and week. The FMCSA also requires drivers to take breaks and rest time from driving. These regulations are designed to reduce driver fatigue and improve road safety.
Other truck-related regulations cover vehicle inspections, load securement, and driver training. By complying with these regulations, trucking companies and drivers can help minimize the risk of accidents and ensure that they operate safely and responsibly.
Practice Areas
Asbestos
Government Takings
Personal Injury
Products Liability
Truck Accident Injury
Due to their size and the potentially catastrophic nature of a collision, truck accidents can result in many different types of injuries. Common injuries from a truck accident may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Death
Survivors of truck accidents can also suffer emotional and psychological trauma, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The severity of injuries sustained in a truck accident can vary widely, but they often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. This can result in significant medical expenses and loss of income, making it challenging for victims and their families to cope with the accident’s aftermath.
Liability in a Truck Accident
Victims of truck accidents must prove liability to recover compensation in a truck accident case. Liability refers to who is responsible for the accident and who must compensate the victim for their damages. Generally, depending on the cause of the accident, an injured party must prove either negligence or strict liability to recover compensation.
Negligence
To prove negligence, a victim must show that the responsible party failed in their duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances and the victim suffered injury as a result. For example, if a trucking company fails to ensure its drivers and trucks meet the highest levels of safety, and this causes an accident, a court could find that the trucking company was negligent.
Other examples of trucking company negligence may include:
- Failing to inspect or maintain their trucks
- Failing to train their drivers properly
- Failing to ensure drivers are licensed
Strict Liability
According to Illinois’s strict liability laws, designers, manufacturers, and any company involved in a product’s distribution chain can be liable if a defective product causes a truck accident.
Faulty equipment, like brakes, tires, engine parts, or cargo straps, could support a potential strict liability claim.
Truck accident victims do not have to prove negligence in a strict liability claim. However, these are complicated cases to pursue and require significant investigation. Injured parties should discuss their concerns with an Illinois truck accident lawyer for help with liability issues.
Average Semi-Truck Accident Settlement
Truck accident victims are entitled to compensation for their injuries once they prove another party was at fault. Compensation may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
Cases often settle before trial. Settlement amounts can cover some or all of the victim’s requested compensation.
It’s difficult to state an average semi-truck accident settlement. Settlement amounts vary widely, depending on several factors, including the severity of the injuries, property damage, and insurance policies.
The most significant factor that can affect the settlement amount is liability. If a victim can prove that the truck driver or the trucking company caused the accident, they will be responsible for compensating the victim. However, if there is evidence that the victim also contributed to the accident, the settlement amount will be reduced. If the victim is more at fault than another party, the victim will not be able to recover any compensation.
Practice Areas
Asbestos
Government Takings
Personal Injury
Products Liability
Success Stories
Flint Cooper applies its knowledge and experience to win trials, not just collect settlements, further strengthening its reputation of providing clients around the world with exceptional counsel and unparalleled advocacy.
