Were you or a loved one involved in a truck accident in Illinois? You may be entitled to compensation. Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers can help you file a claim and recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and more.
We’re a well-respected personal injury law firm in Illinois. Our Illinois truck accident lawyers have 30 years of combined experience and have won tens of millions in jury verdicts and settlements. We’ll put our skills and resources to work for you from the start, aiming to maximize your compensation.
Contact us today at (312) 929-2884 for more information about an attorney-client relationship. Our experienced Illinois truck accident attorneys offer a free consultation to review your case.
How Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Truck Accident in Illinois
Accidents involving semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and other large commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) almost always cause immense damage and injuries. The size and weight of these trucks are one major reason. You may be able to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the trucking company itself for a high-value recovery, but they won’t make the process easy for you.
Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers can fight for your rights and interests while you focus on your health and medical treatment. Our award-winning Illinois personal injury attorneys have received accolades from Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, and numerous other prestigious organizations.
When you choose us to help you after an Illinois truck accident, our Illinois truck accident lawyers can:
- Investigate the crash
- Determine who’s liable
- Add up your damages
- Collect supporting evidence
- Handle the communications
- Hire leading experts
- Negotiate a settlement
- File a lawsuit if needed
Our trial lawyers won’t hesitate to take your case to that stage if that’s the best course of action. Contact our law offices for a free case review, where you can get some initial legal advice about your case.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Illinois?
Detailed truck accident statistics are available from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
The data from 2022 is as follows:
- 11,922 total crashes
- 138 fatal crashes
- 1,859 injury crashes
- 9,925 property damage crashes
While there are around 30 truck accidents every single day in Illinois per these statistics, fortunately, few result in injuries relative to the total.
What Is My Illinois Truck Accident Claim Worth?
Truck accidents usually leave you with multiple options for recovering compensation.
The facts and circumstances of your case will ultimately dictate what your case is worth, but some of the factors that may play a role include:
- The type and severity of your injuries
- Whether you’ll fully recover from your injuries
- The sum of your financial expenses
- Who the at-fault parties are
- Whether you share blame for the wreck
- Your age when the collision took place
- Your ability to return to work going forward
- The strength of the available evidence
The quality of your Illinois truck accident attorney can also impact the amount of money you receive for your claim. For instance, not every lawyer is equally skilled in the settlement negotiation process.
We’ll Fight for Compensation Based on Each of Your Injuries
Truck accident victims in Illinois might never be the same again due to their injuries.
With decades of combined experience, our truck accident lawyers are equipped to help you after you suffer any of the following:
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Broken bones and fractures
- Severe/moderate traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Road rash
- Amputations
- Leg injuries
- Organ damage
- Knee injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Ankle injuries
- Lacerations
- Paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries
- Eye injuries
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you’re looking to put a premier personal injury lawyer in Illinois on your side, look no further than Attorneys of Chicago. We’ll cut no corners when it comes to placing as much money into your pocket as possible.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Accident in Illinois?
There are technically three kinds of damages that are at least potentially available following an Illinois truck accident. These are called economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. Economic and non-economic damages are considered “compensatory” and are available in almost every case, whereas punitive damages are rarely even an option.
Economic damages include:
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Current/future medical bills
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
Under Illinois law, punitive damages are only awarded if the at-fault party was acting with something like an “evil motive” or “reckless indifference.” These damages also require “clear and convincing evidence,” a tougher standard to meet than what applies to economic and non-economic damages.
Common Causes of Truck Crashes in Illinois
Driver negligence is generally why car accidents and other crashes take place – and truck accidents are no exception.
Some of the major reasons for these collisions in the Land of Lincoln include:
- Fatigued driving
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Violating the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hours of service regulations
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Improper training procedures
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Tailgating
- Drugged driving
- Failing to check blind spots
- Improper turns/lane changes
- Negligent hiring
- Poor weather
- Road defects
If you were hurt in a truck crash for any reason, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. Contact our truck accident attorneys in Illinois today for help understanding your legal options.
Who’s Liable for My Illinois Truck Accident?
In reality, just about anyone whose actions contributed to the cause of your truck accident can be held liable for your injuries and damages. They can possibly be held liable even if they didn’t act at all but instead failed to act how they should have in the situation.
Liability for a trucking accident could land with:
- Truck drivers
- Other motorists
- Insurance companies
- Businesses, such as the trucking company
- Government entities
You can also still file a claim whether they were negligent (careless), intentional, or reckless with their behavior. Illinois state law is relatively victim-friendly in this regard, so it is almost always worth it to reach out to an attorney for a free case review after a crash. That way, you can best understand what you should do going forward.
What if I’m Being Blamed for My Truck Accident in Illinois?
In Illinois, you can still receive compensation for your truck accident injuries as long as you aren’t mostly to blame. The state has a “modified comparative negligence” law with a 51% recovery bar.
You may be assessed some percentage of responsibility for your accident under this standard. However, you can still recover money damages if your percentage is 50% or less – but your damages can be reduced. For example, being 10% responsible would lower your damages by 10%.
It usually makes sense to hire a truck accident lawyer if you are being blamed. Without an attorney helping your case, you risk walking away with no money at all.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire an Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer?
Most Illinois truck accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. Instead of charging you upfront, by the hour, or for a flat fee, they will only receive payment from you in attorney’s fees if they win your case.
If your attorney wins a jury verdict or negotiates a settlement for you, you will generally give them about 33 to 40% of that compensation. Otherwise, your attorney’s fees are precisely zero dollars and zero cents.
This payment method can benefit you greatly, as you can hire any attorney you want for your case without worrying about finances. Your lawyer will aim to increase your claim’s value as much as they can.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in the State of Illinois?
The Illinois statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. By default, you have two years from the date of your truck accident to file a lawsuit in court. Your lawsuit cannot be filed after the time limit, as the court can then dismiss your case for no other reason.
Note that there are exceptions for some cases; the deadline in your circumstances might be different. To name just one example, cases involving minors can have adjusted timelines. Contact our truck accident lawyers as soon as possible for help.
Schedule a Free Case Review With Our Trusted Illinois Truck Accident Attorneys
Attorneys of Chicago stands ready to fight for you and your family if you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Illinois. Our Illinois truck accident attorneys have three full decades of combined experience and have secured tens of millions for our deserving clients.
Call us today to schedule your completely free initial consultation.
