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.
