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Trucking Accident FAQ’s

February 15, 2021/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and other commercial trucks are frequent sights on America’s roadways. Injuries from a collision with a large truck can be serious, life-changing, and sometimes even deadly. The truck accident attorneys at Dinizulu Law Group know the physical and emotional impact a truck accident may have on victims. Below we have compiled FAQ for your review to understand what action you or a loved one should take after an accident.

What Should I Do if I’m Involved in an Accident with a Commercial Truck?

Upon making sure everyone at the scene of the accident is okay, you should immediately report the accident to the police and the insurance company and begin the process of hiring an Illinois truck accident lawyer.

The first thing you should do, if you’re able to, is report the accident to the police from the scene and obtain a police report. Given the size and weight of these trucks, it is more likely than not you have been injured.

If you are able to, make sure you document the scene of the accident. It’s important to take pictures of the scene and get contact information from all witnesses to the accident. If you’re unable to document the accident from the scene of an accident, try to contact an attorney from the scene to arrive at the scene and document the scene for you.

Next, you need to report the accident to your insurance company so they can start your claim. Your insurance will be informed of what happened in the case they are contacted by the truck driver’s insurance company. You will then need to think quickly about obtaining legal representation because any action you take in the aftermath of the accident may determine whether you are able to receive a settlement in your case.

Do I Need Legal Representation if I’m Injured in An Illinois Accident Involving a Large or Commercial Truck?

There is no legal requirement to hire an attorney; however, it’s not easy to represent yourself in a personal injury claim. Having an experienced truck accident attorney can help you present the strongest possible claim.

If you have been involved in an accident with a large or commercial truck, you should hire an Illinois trucking accident attorney. If you have been involved in this type of an accident, your injuries are likely to be severe which will present many different challenges and costs to you.

At the same time, you may be dealing with a company’s insurance which presents a challenge in and of itself. An insurance company will not likely write a large settlement check without making some effort to lower the amount of their obligation.

An Illinois truck accident attorney can not only deal with the insurance company, but can be a trusted advisor and counsellor as you deal with a difficult period. Attorney’s have experience addressing truck accidents and will have a better of idea what to expect.

Can I Sue the Company Where the Truck Driver is an Employee?

This depends on the truck driver’s employment status and what they were doing at the time of the accident.

The general rule is that an employer can be held liable for the acts of their employees if they are committed within the scope of employment. In other words, when an employee is on the job and they are negligent, anyone who is injured because of their negligence may sue the company for whom they work because everything the truck driver does is a representation of their company. While this may seem straightforward, if the case goes to trial it can become somewhat difficult because of the various factual questions that must be addressed.

An exception to this rule is that many companies try to designate their driver as independent contractors which means they are not employees of the company. As a result, there is no employer/employee relationship and this will usually get the company off the hook when it comes to liability. Although this may seem unfair, it has been a longstanding legal rule.

Employees must also have been engaged in job duties at the time of the accident. If they were taking the company truck on a personal errand or were driving to and from work, the employer may not be held liable since the accident wasn’t within the scope of their employment. There are many other factual questions that come into play and an Illinois truck accident attorney can help you establish and prove the facts of your case.

How is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident?

Investigating the accident scene, eyewitness testimony, and the police report are all tools that help determine fault in a truck accident. An experienced truck accident attorney will also investigate the driver and the company that employs them. Facts in assigning fault include:

How the truck driver was hired and trained;
How many hours they were working;
And the condition of the truck

How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth?

The details of each accident are unique, so there is no standard amount that can be quoted. There are many factors that go into determining how much a truck accident case is valued at, including medical expenses, lost wages, and possibly funeral expenses – in addition to pain and suffering. Compensation for a truck accident can provide recovery in these areas:

Payment of medical bills
Treatment for injuries not covered by insurance
Lost wages and loss of ability to generate income
Loss of consortium
Pain and suffering
Vehicle damage

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Attorney to Represent Me?

The Dinizulu Law Group works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront or out of pocket and our attorneys are only paid if you are. Instead, you sign a representation agreement that states payment in terms of the percentage of your recovery. If you do not receive a settlement or win the case that goes to trial, you do not need to pay the lawyer for their services. The representation agreement spells out whether you are responsible for certain other court costs in the even that you do not win your case.

An Illinois truck injury lawyer is usually paid about one third of your settlement amount as compensation for their services. Lawyers must tell you about their fees at the time you hire them to represent you and you will agree to their fees in writing. No oral fee agreements are allowed. In the event your case goes to trial, the lawyer may receive a slightly higher percentage of the jury award because trials require attorneys to expend their time and effort, and they take risk that they will lose the case. The lawyer’s fee comes straight from the settlement amount and they are paid from it.

Usually, attorney’s do not accept every case that is brought to them because they are paid on contingency. If they are not successful in helping you recover your injuries, they will not be paid; therefore, they want to minimize the risk that they are working uncompensated time because it hurts their ability to earn a living. While you may hesitate to hire a lawyer since they receive part of your settlement, not having legal representation can make the settlement process more difficult for you.

Should I Try to Settle my Truck Accident Case with the Insurance Company?

You should try to reach a settlement agreement with the insurance company, but must be prepared to take your case to trial if necessary. Most times, both parties want to avoid a trial if they can. Trials are expensive, extremely time consuming, and introduce an uncertainty for everyone.

Settlements are not reached overnight. They may be lengthy and protracted negotiations. The insurance company may not make you their best offer, and often, they will not make you a good offer at all. Oftentimes a lawsuit is needed to be filed because without it, the insurance company may never make you a fair offer. Sometimes, they don’t try to settle until the eve of the trial.

An overwhelming majority of truck accident cases result in settlement and very few cases go to trial. Unless your claim is totally without merit or you are very clearly at fault, the insurance company will likely make you a settlement offer; however, it’s often difficult for the average person to know the value of their claim. The insurance company does know what your claim is worth because of their statisticians, specialists, and lawyers. Properly valuing your claim is one reason why you would need an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney.

What Needs to be Proved in a Truck Accident Lawsuit Involving Personal Injury

In order to prevail in a lawsuit, you need to prove the driver of the truck was negligent by which means that:

You were owed a duty of care
The duty of care was breached
You were injured
The other driver caused your injury

You must prove a four-part test to show the defendant should be held liable for your injuries; however, each element may be disputed if your case goes to trial.

The first element of the test is that the other drive owed you the “duty of care.” This is the duty the driver owes to every other driver on the roadway, meaning the driver must follow some standard of behavior when driving to act as a reasonable driver would. Second, you must prove the driver breached this duty of care and acted unreasonably. What’s considered to be unreasonable must be proven at trial; however, other things such as speeding and otherwise driving dangerously would be considered to be unreasonable.

After you prove the truck driver has acted unreasonably, you must show you have suffered an injury. If you have proven your injury, you must demonstrate that it was the truck driver who was the proximate cause of your injury. You must prove all four of these elements, and if you fail at any one of them, there will be no finding of negligence and the case will not be ruled in your favor.

What Parties can be Responsible in a Trucking Accident Involving Injuries or a Fatality?

After a simple car accident, it can be quite easy to determine responsibility; however, trucking accidents trigger different legal and business issues. Some profiles of common parties held responsible in Illinois truck accidents include:

The truck driver
The truck driver’s employer
The entity that owns the trailer
Any vendor or party that worked on or for the truck or trailer including repair shops
The maker or seller of the truck or trailer

Every new defendant opens up a new spring for recovery including insurance parties. If the truck accident caused a serious injury or death, your attorney will need to determine all possible defendants and categories of recovery before it is too late.

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Lawsuit?

It may take a few months to years to settle a truck accident case filed in Cook County Circuit Court. The process can be lengthy because of identifying the facts of the accident and party at fault can be quite cumbersome. Understanding the laws of Illinois that give right to recovery and what that recovery may be can test even the smartest lawyers.

Convincing the defendant of your ability to win at trial and by how much will prove tricky. If the matter goes to trial, it can last another year or two; therefore, truck accident victims in Illinois should move swiftly and consider contacting an attorney as soon as possible.

How Long Do I Have to File My Lawsuit in Illinois?

Plaintiff’s have two years to file a lawsuit after a truck accident in Illinois suing for negligence related to personal injury or wrongful death (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Most plaintiff’s sue for negligence which means the defendant acted unreasonably and caused the crash as well as the plaintiff’s damages. Plaintiff’s have two years as well to make a products liability claim following a truck crash (735 ILCS 5/13-213). Claimant’s must show that a defective product let to a crash and injury after being used reasonably and foreseeably.

5 Tips for Sharing the Road with Semi-Trucks

November 26, 2019/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – An auto accident involving a semi-truck and any vehicle can cause victims to suffer from serious injuries, and even fatal. For this reason, it’s important to know how to drive safely around a semi-truck or any large commercial vehicle, especially those that are carrying cargo.

The Dinizulu Law Group has come up with several strategies for you to use to help reduce your risk of becoming involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, including:

Stay Focused

You should be focused at all times on the roadway while driving. This includes avoiding any distractions such as your cell phone, GPS devices, adjusting vehicle features, or any other distractions while operating a motor vehicle.

By remaining focused on the roadway, you’re more attentive to the cars surrounding you, such as a semi-truck. By engaging in distractions while driving, you put yourself and others at risk, and significantly reduce your ability to react to unexpected hazards such as a semi-truck losing control from a blown tire.

Keep A Safe Following Distance

Maintain a safe driving distance between your vehicle and a semi-truck at all times. It takes much longer for a semi-truck to stop than what it takes for a passenger car. Large trucks need more space than a passenger vehicle to safety maneuver the roadway.

By maintaining a safe distance, it allows you to have more time to respond to dangerous situations. For example, trucks require a much longer distance to come to a complete stop. By following too closely, you may increase the cause of a serious accident. A proper following distance is at least a four-second space between your vehicle and a semi-truck.

Pass the Truck Safely

When passing around a semi-truck, you should always do so in a cautious and safe manner. Do not recklessly or carelessly overtake the larger vehicle’s position on the roadway, or especially a highway.

Always make sure you can see the driver of the semi-truck in their mirror – if you can’t see them, they can’t see you. Use your turn signal to alert the driver and others on the roadway that you intend to change lanes.

When passing a truck, attempt to quickly pass them to minimize the amount of time you spend in the truck drivers blind spot. Make sure the semi-truck is visible in your rear-view mirror before pulling in front of it.

Watch for Blind Spots

Semi-trucks and large commercial vehicles have blind spots that make it difficult for the driver to see vehicles that are approaching. To avoid spots where truck drivers may have trouble seeing you, watch out for the following areas:

Up to 20 feet directly in front of the truck
Up to 30 feet directly behind the vehicle
In the left lane between the front and half of the trailer’s length
In two right lanes of the vehicle, between the front and half of the semi-trucks length

Anticipate Wide Turns

Avoid driving near a semi-truck while it is making a wide turn. Many semi-trucks have a wide-turning radius which reduces the amount of time you have to stop if the truck is taking up a majority of the roadway.

If you’re driving near a semi-truck attempting to turn, do not try to pass on the same side that the truck is turning. Please allow plenty of space between your vehicle and a truck while the truck is making a turn and avoid being in its path.

Contact an Attorney After an Accident

By taking these precautions while driving around semi-trucks, you may be able to significantly reduce your risk of becoming involved in a truck accident. If you are injured in a collision caused by a semi-truck, don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer to discuss filing a personal injury claim.

Dinizulu Law Group’s trusted personal injury lawyers in Chicago have helped many accident victims obtain justice and the compensation they deserve after suffering an injury, and even fatalities, due to another’s negligence. They will carefully review the circumstances of your accident and help determine if you may be owed compensation from the truck company or truck driver.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only have to pay us if we recover compensation for your claim. Please call our office at (312) 382-1920 for a free, no obligation consultation to find out if you have a case.

Reasons Why Trucking Accidents Occur

November 5, 2019/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – There are many factors that contribute to car and trucking accidents, such as weather, equipment failure, poor vehicle maintenance, among other factors. Many car accidents that involve semi’s or tractor trailers occur for the following reasons:

Rollovers are the most common type of trucking accident. Rollers occur when a driver loses control of his truck and begins to slide sideways, in which any obstruction can cause a rollover such as a curb, guardrail, uneven ground, or another car. Trucks that make too sharp of turns also run the risk of rolling over. The severity of truck rollovers are high, and have high fatality rates.
Malfunctioning brakes or an error in a trucks braking system can result in catastrophic or fatal crashes. Most trucks have air brakes which are designed to stop a truck in roughly 100 feet when traveling at a speed of 34-40 mph. When a malfunction or error in the brake system occurs, it can become a very dangerous scenario for all drivers on the road. Even when pumping the breaks, it’s important to remember these 80,000 pound vehicles can be deadly.
Tire blowouts are also a common cause of trucking accidents, as the wear and tear on these vehicles is extremely high from the long distances traveled. The truck’s load and the distance traveled will have an effect on the tires.
Overloaded cargo is a result of a truck that has been loaded with over-capacity weight. Truck drivers are expected to meet very tight deadlines, and may push this by over-loading their truck with material meant for multiple drives. When trucks overload cargo, the weight begins to be too heavy to manage, which can result in an accident.
Falling debris occurs when trucks are loaded improperly, which can cause cargo to be lost during transit, which can cause an accident. Trucks are responsible for loading and securing cargo properly so that nothing falls on the highway.
Blind spots can cause accidents, as truck drivers have many. If you’re unable to see the truck driver in the side mirror, they cannot see you – whether you’re on the right or left side of the truck. Do not follow too close to a truck, as this is also a blind spot.
Swinging turns is when a truck causes a collision while turning. Swinging turn accidents can happen when a truck swings left to make a right turn, when a truck makes too wide of a turn, or squeezing cars beside the truck by not turning wide enough.

If you’re involved in a truck accident in Illinois:

For drivers who are involved in a collision with a truck, or caused by a truck, you should first determine if anyone at the scene needs to seek medical attention. Truck accidents are normally very serious, and the appropriate medical attention should be provided to all necessary parties.

Avoid talking to a truck company without the presence of an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney. More than likely, the truck company will try to negotiate a settlement; however, without a knowledgeable attorney, you could be cheated out of the full cost for your injuries, damage, and compensation for lost wages.

At Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., we understand how trucking companies and their insurance providers operate, and we refuse to settle for any offer that is unjust. Our attorney’s have represented and fought for the rights of our clients that have been affected by a trucking accident, who will use their experience to win your case.

Contact a Chicago- based truck accident attorney today for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920.

Address:
221 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60601

Truck Accidents: Common Causes, Statistics, & What to Know if You’ve Been in A Truck Accident

September 6, 2019/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – Commercial truck accidents are less common than car accidents; however, truck collisions have proven to be more catastrophic, and even deadly. There can be several factors leading up to a commercial-vehicle car accident, such as negligence on the manufacturer part, or perhaps the driver, and so forth.

According to GTG Technology Group, a transportation management system, there are five specific causes that may cause a trucking accident to occur:

Five Common Causes of Truck Accidents:

Driver Error
Truck drivers are required to work long hours, with regulations allowing them to work 60 hours over seven consecutive days. Some companies have tight deadlines and overcompensate by allowing drivers to work more hours than what they are allowed, resulting in drowsiness, or under the influence driving.A passenger vehicle weighs an average of 4,000 pounds, whereas a commercial truck typically weights 80,000 pounds. On average, 81 percent of trucking accidents caused by a driver error is due to a passenger vehicle. Many people are not aware of the dangers of truck accidents, which calls for a need to improve trucking defense driving techniques.

Equipment Failure
Equipment manufacturers may be at fault for neglecting production of a part, which can lead to a defective or dangerous component. A driver may not be the only one at fault; in addition, the parts manufacturer, a truck manufacturer, the company that sold the truck, and the mechanic who made repairs may be held liable.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
The average truck driver is expected to drive between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per week which results in very poor vehicle maintenance. Truck companies, drivers, and maintenance crews must regularly maintain the fleet to keep up with these trucks; moreover, the truck driver must check their rig and submit a maintenance report before the start of every shift.
Weather
Poor weather conditions can test any drivers defense skills, especially truck drivers. Poor weather conditions lead to poor road conditions, making driving much more difficult. Rain, sleet, snow, and ice can be very difficult to drive on, causing a much longer stopping distance. The weight and length of the truck may skid, hydroplane, or jackknife.
Improper Cargo Loading
There are industry-specific rules and regulations when it comes to truck loading cargo into a commercial vehicle. There are certain state and federal regulations required of all drivers of any commercial motor vehicle such as size, weight, and length.

Drivers must ensure all cargo was properly loaded and in place for the duration of direction traveled. A minor mistake, like not properly securing cargo, or negligence, can lead to catastrophic accident on any roadway – regardless of weather.

Any type of accident can be scary, and colliding with a commercial truck can be fatal, but it is important to be proactive by educating yourself on how dangerous a truck collision can really be.

Truck Accident Statistics

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated in 2015 that over 433,000 large trucks were involved in a collision. In Illinois, there were more than 19,000 crashes involving large trucks in 2014. These crashes contributed to nearly 13 percent of all traffic fatalities that year. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of the crashes occurred in daylight and clear weather conditions.

How Many Trucks Are Really on the Road?

According to the American Trucking Association (ATA), trucks move more than 71 percent of the nation’s weight in freight. To put this in perspective, the trucking industry represented more than 79 percent of the nation’s freight bill in 2017 – that’s more than $700.1 billion in revenue.

In June 2017, the U.S. Department of Transportation totaled carriers on file with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration totaled 777,240. Private carriers contributed 700,591 trucks while interstate motors totaled 80,247.

After an Accident:

Your safety is of the upmost importance – assess the situation and make sure you’re okay. Check to see if others involved in the accident are injured and proceed to call 911; if someone was injured, request an ambulance.

It’s important the police are notified of the accident so an official police report can be issued. Your insurance company will most likely ask for a copy later. Even if there is little to no damage, the police should be notified of the incident so an accident report can be filed.

Notify your insurance company that you’ve been in a truck collision. Others that were involved in the accident will have their insurance companies contact you. State the facts, but remember it’s important to say as less, as possible. It’s best to keep the conversation to a minimum whenever you are involved in an accident.

Contact one of our experienced truck accident attorney’s of Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., for the help you need and seeking out the maximum recovery for our clients. There are many challenging factors in a truck accident case, and due to the statue of limitations, we will need to work on your case right away. Please call our office at (312) 384-1920 or visit our website for assistance.

Semi-Truck Crashes Hauling 40,000 Pounds of Bees

June 18, 2019/in Uncategorized/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL – A semi-truck was traveling from California to North Dakota when it crashed in a rural intersection in Bozeman, Montana, carrying 40,000 pounds of bees. No humans were hurt during the crash.

When the Hyalite fire department arrived on the scene, the driver and the passenger were already out of the truck. When inspecting the truck, they noticed only an oil leak.

Fortunately, most of the semi-truck’s load was kept in-tact; in fact, only a quarter of the 40,000 pound of bees actually escaped. The trucks load of 40,000 pounds of bees is equal to roughly 133 million bees. Hyalite fire department said there was no immediate threat to the public.

Tractor-trailers and semi-trucks weigh several tons and travel at very high speeds. Please remember to keep your distance when passing a semi-truck and you are passing on the left side of the truck – truck drivers cannot see you from the right side of their vehicle. If you or someone you know has recently been a victim of a trucking or car accident, please call Dinizulu Law Group at (312) 384-1920 or visit our website at www.dinizululawgroup.com. Due to the statue of limitations, we must start on your case right away.

The Dangers of Truck Accidents in Illinois

May 23, 2019/in Blog, Trucking accident injury law/by Yao Dinizulu

CHICAGO, IL (May 23, 2019)– As more licensed drivers and motor vehicles enter the roadway, it’s no surprise the number of traffic fatalities and injuries will steadily increase over time. The Illinois Department of Transportation reported that tractor-trailers contribute to roughly 11,000 accidents, including 106 accidents being fatalities (2016). Large trucks contribute to a staggering 13 percent of car accidents that occur within Illinois.

Commercial trucks include tractor-trailers hauling freight, construction vehicles, delivery trucks, emergency service vehicles and so forth. As the demand and use of trucks increases, it is important to note that smaller passenger vehicles are simply outweighed by heavy-weighted trucks. Nearly 80 percent of crashes involving trucks take place during the day in clear weather.

Trucks pose an inherent danger to other drivers on the road; in fact, there are specific laws and regulations in place at the federal and state level to ensure truck drivers are properly trained and meet certain standards that qualify them to drive a tractor trailer. Some basic standards all drivers must meet include being tested for drug and alcohol use, how often drivers are driving per day, passing a DOT physical that tests your eyes, ears, overall well-being. Other basic standards include obtaining a valid Commercial Driver License (CDL), all drivers must pass an endorsement test depending on the type of CMV that will be driven, and the truck must pass an air brakes test (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 2019).

Due to the pressures to meet company deadlines, trucking companies and drivers violate the safety rules and regulations put in place to protect us all from harm. A study conducted by the FMCSA found that over 66 percent of crashes involving trucks involved regulatory, brake, or marking violations. A trucking company could also be held accountable for “negligently hiring” an unfit driver who was not properly trained or a had bad driving history and caused a crash.

In the event that a loved one is killed in a trucking accident, family members may pursue a wrongful death claim. The Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/0.01) states whenever the death of a person shall be caused as a wrongful act, neglect or default of others, a person can pursue the negligent party at fault to recover any loss or damages due to their loved one’s death. Personal injury lawsuits following a truck collision intend to compensate the victim or their loved ones for harm resulting from the negligent acts of the trucking company providing damage of death, disfigurement, paralysis, burns, loss wages, medical costs and pain and suffering.

The statute of limitations limit how long you have to file a lawsuit. As such, it is important that you inquire with an experienced attorney immediately to preserve your legal rights. Our, experienced truck accident attorneys at Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. will identify the help you need. With more than 50 years of combined experience, our legal team has protected and brought justice to victims and their families throughout Chicago and Illinois. Due to limitations and regulations, trucking accidents differ from car accidents and our attorneys will need to begin working on the case right away. Reach out to us online or by calling 312-384-1920 to further discuss your legal options.

What is the Number One Cause of Truck Accidents?

December 22, 2017/in Blog, Car accident injury law, Personal injury claim, Personal injury law, Trucking accident injury law, Video/by Yao Dinizulu

Driver fatigue is an extremely common problem in the trucking industry. A study done by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found fatigued drivers are the #1 cause of truck collisions.

When these tired and overworked truck drivers cause accidents, as you may know, these are not minor accidents. Car drivers and passengers who are in a collision with a truck are very likely to suffer serious life-long injuries or even death.

There are rules in place to prevent these deadly accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours truck drivers can spend on the road per day and per week. Watch the video to learn more.

The law is that truck drivers can work:

A maximum of 70 hrs. in 8 days if their employer operates every single day of the week. If the employer is closed any day of the week, then truck drivers can work up to 60 hrs. in 7 days.
Within these 60 or 70 hrs in about a week, truck drivers must only work a maximum of 14 hrs. per day. Only 11 of these 14 hrs. can be behind the wheel. After a truck driver has driven the maximum of 11 hrs., they must rest for 10 hrs. straight before starting work again.
After working for 8 days or 7 days as per the limit of days that applies to them, truck drivers can only restart work after resting for 34 hrs.

These safety rules were created based on many studies that examined the needs of truck drivers so that they can be alert on the road. They are safety rules that every trucking company should live by to protect us all from danger and mayhem. But many companies force their drivers to skirt these safety rules. Truck companies oftentimes push their drivers to work past the set driving limits in an effort to take shortcuts. This undermines the safety of us all. It creates an environment of fatigued and stressed drivers who are high risks on the road. These exhausted drivers end up injuring not just themselves, but our community members who will suffer more severe and oftentimes irreversible injuries or death.

Truck driver fatigue continues to harm individuals and their families. If you are watching this video because you have your own questions or have a loved one injured due to a fatigued truck driver, you shouldn’t feel alone. Contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW. We are here to answer all your questions and help you navigate through this difficult time.

Client’s Powerful Testimonial: I Was Hit By A Improperly Loaded Truck on the Highway

September 15, 2017/in Blog/by Yao Dinizulu

Fletcher McQueen was injured when a driver of a improperly loaded trailer truck carrying a Bobcat skid steer, lost control and crashed into Fletcher’s SUV. Fletcher was hurt, unable to work, and didn’t know who to turn to. Another attorney who Fletcher had known highly recommended Yao Dinizulu and the DLG law firm.

There were days when Fletcher went to bed in severe pain, not knowing what would happen and if he would ever be able to work again and support his family. The Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. was able to take Fletcher’s case to trial. The jury ruled in favor of Fletcher with a verdict resulting in over one hundred thousand dollars for his pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills. The next day, the jury reached an additional verdict of $1 million dollars for punitive damages.

Fletcher testifies how the attorneys and staff of the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. kept him and his family informed about the latest developments in his case. Fletcher always felt there was clear communication coming from the attorneys, paralegals, and the firm’s legal assistants. Fletcher felt prepared and knew what was expected at trial and during his sworn statement.

The trial verdict helped Fletcher and his family move forward after what was a very difficult chapter in their lives. Fletcher felt like he was finally able to get his life back.

No one who is injured and suffering due to the fault of others should feel like they are alone. Contact the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. at 1-312-384-1920 or 1-800-693-1LAW, or by email. We are truck accident attorneys in Chicago that are here to help.