Truck Accident Lawyer | Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd

What To Do If You Were In A Truck Accident

May 19, 2017/in Blog, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Several parties can be held liable for a single truck accident. If you have been injured in a trucking accident, one of the first things you must do before bringing legal action against someone is ensure that you have identified all parties responsible for the accident. If you fail to sue the appropriate parties, then you may lose your right to bring an action against them forever. Although it may appear that the truck driver is ultimately responsible due to speeding or reckless driving, an experienced attorney will know to look at the truck and trailer’s owner, the company that the driver is working for and the manufacturer of the various truck parts, to name a few.

In addition, the accident could have been caused by someone improperly loading the cargo in the semi-truck. If a trailer is either overloaded or loaded in a way that throws the truck off balance, serious accidents are much more likely to occur and unfortunately, it is usually the other drivers on the road who see the most injuries.

Accidents in Illinois

Illinois is among a handful of states that account for more than half of all truck fatalities in the nation. There were nearly 600 fatalities involving large truck accidents in Illinois in the past five years alone.

In early August of last year, three people tragically lost their lives in a five-car pileup near Ottawa, Illinois. I-80 was closed for hours while crews worked to clear the scene. The wreck involved three tractor-trailers and two passenger vehicles. While one of the semi-truck drivers suffered fatal injuries, the other two people who died were riding in the smaller cars.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) collected data showing that from 1975 to 2014 over 200,000 people died in large truck accidents. Many more were injured.

Injuries from Truck Accidents

Injuries sustained in accidents involved with semi-trucks are often devastating. In this August accident, not only were victims subject to the crushing weight of the large trucks, but the trucks also caught fire. It is not uncommon to see individuals with burn injuries, spinal injuries, amputations and brain injuries when they have been involved in such accidents. For those of us fortunate enough not to have been affected by a serious truck accident injury, it is hard to grasp the true cost of these traumatic injuries.

Not only will you have immediate medical costs, but you will likely face costs associated with ongoing health needs and rehabilitation. Studies show that a mild head injury can cost a person $85,000 and a severe injury can cost a person $3 million over the course of their life. Additionally, if you are unable to work, you will lose your source of income.

Illinois Truck Accident Lawyers Are Key to a Successful Personal Injury Case

A skilled Chicago truck accident lawyer is vital to getting you every cent of compensation you deserve if you have been injured in a large truck accident. When you already have to deal with catastrophic injuries or worse, the insurance companies are more likely to lowball you in negotiations. At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., our personal injury attorneys will not let that happen to you. Our personal injury law firm in Chicago has represented well over thousands of clients. With more than 20 years of experience, our truck accident attorneys know exactly how to help you and put your best case forward.

19-Year-Old Dies Due To Trucker’s Negligence

April 28, 2017/in Blog, Car accident injury law, Trucking accident injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

Sometimes our loved ones suffer as a result of a truck driver’s carelessness. Sometimes the truck driver denies their fault, and when that happens, their negligence must be proven. The following example illustrates what must be done in these unfortunate situations. Watch the video to learn more.

I had a client who had lost a loved one to a truck driver’s carelessness. Jason was a 19-year-old who was traveling home when he was involved in a collision involving four other drivers. Minutes from his initial impact, Jason was hit by a semi-truck and died. The semi-truck driver denied any fault in the collision, and his employer backed him up.

We had to prove that the driving conditions were hazardous and that the driver’s statements were false.

To do this, we got statements from the other drivers involved. One of the statements said that upon entering the road his speed was the posted 70 mph, but he quickly dropped to 35 mph and even lower to 15 mph before the accident. Others corroborated that statement. The truck driver’s speed, according to the on-board recording system, was 63 mph right before the collision, and this was due in part to the use of cruise control.

We also received sworn statements from local law enforcement that stated the road conditions were deemed hazardous, and that there were many other accidents that night. There is a federal law that mandates speed, and it states that speeds must drop in hazardous conditions. The defendant’s safety policy stated that cruise control is not to be used during hazardous conditions.

The driver also falsified trip records. Public law states that drivers may only drive 70 hours in one week. The data recorded showed the driver completing trips that would need speeds of 86 to 128 mph. His vehicle’s top speed was 63 mph, which meant he was driving when he wasn’t supposed to be. Because the driver and his employers were at risk of future prosecution, they agreed to settle for 7 figures before even going to trial. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about truck driving accidents, please contact our personal injury lawyers by email or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based truck accident lawyers are here for you. You may also find more educational videos and media content about truck and auto accident injuries from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.

Determining the Recovery Value of Truck Accident Injuries

January 27, 2017/in Blog, Trucking accident injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

Have you been involved in a semi-truck accident? Were you significantly injured as a part of that accident? Are you wondering how to determine the monetary value of your injuries?

Let’s start with a very important point: Semi-truck accidents are handled completely differently than passenger vehicle accidents. You may have commercial policies that apply to your case. Semi-truck policies are mandated and regulated by the federal government. The federal government requires that semi-truck policies carry an amount in the millions because they need larger minimum policies.

How do we come up with a total value for your case? We have several factors that we look at. We will look at total medical bills, lost wages, injury severity, loss of companionship, and pain and suffering. These can give us a clue as to what your total value may be, but you have to note that it is impossible to give you an exact amount until your case has been fully investigated.

A last note, don’t go for the quick settlement that the insurance company will try to offer you. They want to pay you off quickly because they don’t lose as much money that way. If you wait, others factors may come to light that can benefit you and get you the bigger settlement you deserve. You’ll want to have an experienced legal team on your side when facing a case like this. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about semi-truck accident injures, please fill out our contact form or call us at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. Our experienced Chicago-based truck accident lawyers are here for you. You may also find more videos and media content from the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. on our media page.

Personal Injury Paralysis From a Truck Accident

January 13, 2017/in Blog, Car accident injury law, Personal injury claim, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

Every single time you drive, you risk being seriously injured or even paralyzed. And yes, this could happen to even the most careful driver. In Illinois, paralysis is among the most common personal injury when a car collides with a truck. As a result of these accidents, more serious injuries are often found on the occupants of cars rather than on truck drivers. In Chicago and throughout Illinois, injured victims face significant medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Additionally, their family members suffer economic loss, mental anguish and the loss of companionship.

Building a Truck Accident Lawsuit

If you have suffered a life-altering injury, such as paralysis, the various provisions that must be made for your care can be much more expansive than you thought. You may not be able to handle this on your own. A life care planner and an experienced truck accident lawyer is needed to present your personal injury lawsuit to the courts.

At the Dinizulu Law Group, when we consult a life care planner, we ensure that all your anticipated needs will be taken into account. Our personal injury attorneys will confirm that the current and future medical needs are analyzed and supported across all providers. We help ensure the life care planner gets admissible evidence from medical doctors, psychologists and the entire team of experts to ensure that a judge will allow the jury to hear all parts of the Life Care Plan. The plan must include future medication, adaptive furniture, assisted living professionals, rehabilitation, transportation needs, recreational opportunities and construction modifications to the home to accommodate new realities like the need for wheel chair access, an elevator lift, and specialized bathing areas for the seriously injured.

We know if you or a loved one experiences a serious injury that you want the best personal injury lawyer on your case. We at Dinzulu Law Group, Ltd are Chicago accident lawyers with extensive experience in truck accident lawsuits and presenting complicated and individualized life plans to the courts. If you have been injured, contact us today so that we can help you navigate the complex legal processes.

Spinal Cord Injury Association of Illinois

You should also visit The Spinal Cord Injury Association of Illinois if you suffer from paralysis and live in Illinois. This is a non-profit information and support resource for individuals paralyzed by spinal cord injury and their families. You can also learn about the health care and related professionals that serve the paralysis community. Though this resource is located in LaGrange, IL, a suburb of Chicago, it serves the entire state of Illinois. Furthermore, for many additional resources, such as support groups, centers for independent living, state disability resources, and more, please visit the United Spinal Association website.

Rules For Ensuring Trucking Companies Properly Secure Their Cargo

January 6, 2017/in Blog, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law, Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

Many different parties are responsible for securing cargo on a semi truck, and 7% of all serious semi truck accidents are caused by loose cargo. If you happen to be the person driving behind the semi who is hit with flying debris, you’re going to want to know who is responsible for the damage and injuries you incurred as a result of lack of adequate securement.

The initial shipping company is responsible for ensuring that all cargo is properly loaded into the semi truck following OSHA safety standards. They can’t take any shortcuts, or else they risk violating OSHA standards, which can have serious consequences for them. The trucking companies must also make sure that their drivers are properly trained in how to secure loads. The seller or manufacturer of the securement devices also holds responsibility for properly secured loads. If their device is faulty, then there is a chance that a load won’t be properly secured. The manufacturer of the cargo itself also holds responsibility. They need to make sure that all of the cargo is properly bundled before shipping.

In short, there are multiple companies that are responsible for secure loads in semi trucks. You need to know which party’s negligence led to the load not remaining secured. That’s where the help of a truck accident attorney comes in. Watch the video to learn more.

If you have questions about trucking accidents and determining the responsibility for securing a load, we want you to contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. Our phone number is 1-312-384-1920 and 1-800-693-1LAW. We are a Chicago personal injury law firm with experienced truck accident lawyers who are here for you.

You may also find more videos about truck accident injuries and our law our firm on our media page.