Category: truck accident

Unsafe Behaviors by Truckers Behind the Wheel Can Be Even More Dangerous When Combined

We recently talked about how alcohol and drug use by truckers can cause serious accidents, but it’s not always a clear-cut case of impairment. In many cases, the most dangerous driving impairment is engaging in a combination of unsafe behaviors and substances, such as:

• Drugs. Both medication prescribed by a doctor and illegal drugs can have an effect on driving, especially when a truck driver is already impaired. Some drugs can also react with other medications the driver is taking and cause an allergic reaction that factors into an accident.
• Alcohol. Alcohol can slow reaction times and increase the effects of many other prescription and non-prescription medications. Even if the driver normally takes the medication with no ill effects, the addition of even a small amount of alcohol can make the driver excessively drowsy.
• Fatigue. Tired, groggy drivers are more likely to make mistakes behind the wheel, and it can be a dangerous factor on top of drug or alcohol impairment. Fatigue and pressure to adhere to tight delivery schedules can also lead to drivers using medication to stay awake longer, which can wear off quickly and leave drivers more prone to nodding off behind the wheel.
• Distraction. Fiddling with the radio, texting, talking on the phone, or engaging in other distracted-driving behaviors is already known to be unsafe, and it can be an even bigger problem when a driver’s reaction time is slowed by drugs, alcohol, or fatigue.

For more tips, information, and help for victims of truck accidents, contact our law office at 312-332-1400 or connect with us on Facebook.

Truck Accident Victims Need to Collect Witness Information as Soon as Possible

Statements from witnesses to a truck accident can help victims establish what happened and why they were injured. Unfortunately, by the time most victims realize that it would be helpful to talk with witnesses, they’ve already disappeared and may be impossible to track down. While an attorney can help your family find witnesses to the truck accident that injured you and collect their statements, you can avoid a lot of complications by getting witness information at the scene, including:

• Full names
• Contact phone numbers
• Mailing addresses and emails
• When they arrived at the scene, where they were located, and what they were doing at the time
• A short statement about what they saw before, during, and after the wreck

 

Depending on what is easiest for you or the family member helping you, you can ask witnesses to write this information down or even ask to record their information using your smartphone’s video capabilities. If you’re unable to talk to witnesses before the scene of the accident has been cleared, don’t lose hope. It may be possible to enlist an attorney’s help in locating important evidence, including potential witnesses who saw what happened.

If you have been involved in a serious truck accident, there’s only so much you can do to protect yourself and make sure you’re able to pursue the compensation your family deserves. Don’t wait any longer to talk with an experienced attorney who can help you understand your rights and take action against reckless truckers and negligent trucking companies.

Semi-Truck Accidents Can Be Caused by Defective or Malfunctioning Braking Systems

Huge tractor-trailers and heavy trucks can be hard to stop, and that’s why it’s so important that drivers and companies pay attention to the braking systems in the trucks they operate. While federal regulations exist to prevent safety issues with regards to truck braking systems, maintaining commercial trucks to these specifications can be a complicated, costly, and time-consuming process—and sometimes mistakes are made that cause tragic accidents when a truck is unable to stop.

Why Do Brakes Fail in Commercial Trucks?

Brakes in a heavy truck can fail for a number of reasons, including:

• Manufacturing defects
• Poor maintenance
• Delayed repair
• Driver error

 

However, because these issues are investigated only after an accident has happened, it can be difficult to trace the facts back to the core causes of the brake failure.

What Happens to the Victims in Accidents Where a Truck’s Brakes Fail or Malfunction?

Brake failure is a common cause of serious accidents, but many of these issues could have been prevented if a manufacturer, trucking company, or employee had followed the rules. If someone gets hurt because of a malfunctioning or defective braking system in a semi, the attorney working with the victims will look at the vehicle’s maintenance and repair history, the driver’s logbook, company policies, and other records that identify where, why, and how the brakes failed.

If it is determined that the driver or trucking company failed to perform regular, thorough inspections of the truck’s brake system and schedule appropriate repairs, the victims of the accident may be able to pursue financial compensation from the negligent parties for their injuries. Similarly, if a defect or manufacturing issue is identified, victims may be able to hold the brake maker responsible.

Unfortunately, victims often have trouble holding trucking companies or brake manufacturers responsible for mistakes, and it becomes necessary to work with an injury attorney to make sure their voices are heard. For more information about protecting your rights or pursuing fair compensation after a semi-truck accident, don’t hesitate to contact our Chicago legal team by phone or live chat today.

How Outside Experts Help Victims Build Strong Evidence in Truck Accident Claims

Victims who go up against large trucking companies after an accident are tasked with proving the extent of their injuries and the emotional, physical, and financial changes the accident has caused. As part of that process, it sometimes becomes necessary to bring in experts and professionals who can help victims prove their claims. This might include the services of:

• Medical experts
• Attorneys
• Trucking-industry and safety experts
• Economic experts
• Accident reconstructionists

 

These outside experts play an important role in truck accident cases, and the testimony they provide can make a big difference for victims with serious injuries or unusual circumstances.

Bringing in an Expert Can Help You Prove an Injury Claim After a Truck Accident

The legal process that victims must go through to claim compensation for their injuries is often difficult. Victims can collect evidence from the scene, keep their receipts from medical care, and save their medical records, but presenting and making sense of the information is a huge part of winning a claim. Expert witnesses can help prove a victim’s claims by:

• Interpreting existing evidence. Doctors, engineers, trucking professionals, and other experts understand industry-specific language, procedures, and common practices, and they can offer insight into what documentation and facts really mean in practice.
• Providing expert opinions. Expert witnesses can also provide opinions and important calculations when it comes to questions of how an accident took place or what your financial and medical future might look like as you recover from the accident.

 

Getting access to the expert witnesses you need isn’t easy on your own, but an attorney who is experienced with truck accident claims will have the resources, connections, and knowledge to arrange for everything needed to prove your claim and get a fair outcome after you have been hurt by a driver’s recklessness or a trucking company’s negligence.

Need more information about your rights after a truck accident? Request your free copy of our book, The 8 Steps to Follow After Your Illinois Car Accident, or contact our Chicago personal injury team directly to start taking control of your case today.

An Experienced Truck Accident Attorney Knows What to Look for After a Crash

After a serious wreck involving an 18-wheeler or large truck, victims may need to turn to an experienced personal injury attorney for help preserving evidence and avoiding insurance-industry tricks. Although it may be possible to settle a serious injury claim against a trucker or trucking company without legal help, it can be extremely difficult to secure the maximum recovery for your family without a trained eye on your side. This is why it is so important to get an attorney involved with your truck-accident case as soon as possible after you’ve been hurt.

Experienced Attorneys Know What to Look for While Victims Focus on Recovery After a Truck Accident

While it may be obvious that you need to take photographs of the damage to your car and get copies of your medical records, there is usually more evidence involved in successfully resolving a claim against a commercial driver or trucking company. While victims may overlook this information, or even be unaware that it exists, an attorney knows what to look for when it comes to less obvious information and evidence, such as:

• Important evidence from the scene of the accident. Although you may have been transported to the hospital immediately, the witnesses and evidence at the scene of the truck wreck can be key to proving your case later on. If you or a family member reaches out for help, an attorney can be present at the scene to collect evidence on your behalf.
• Driver logbooks and documentation from the trucking company. Some documentation kept by the trucking company, such as logbooks and loading records, can help pinpoint factors that contributed to the wreck and establish fault or negligence by the truck driver or company.
• Accident reconstruction and expert opinions. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to bring in experts to offer opinions on your medical recovery, what caused the accident, trucking-industry standards, economic losses, and other specialized topics. An experienced injury attorney will have the resources and knowledge to work effectively with these experts to prove a victim’s claim.
• Other potentially responsible parties. While it’s easy to put the blame on the truck driver, many truck accidents are the fault of manufacturers, loaders, maintenance workers, and others. An experienced attorney can quickly review your case and identify the parties who may be held responsible for what happened.

 

For more information about protecting your rights after a truck accident in Illinois, don’t hesitate to reach out to our compassionate Chicago legal team by phone today. We have helped victims across the state hold negligent trucking companies and reckless drivers responsible for life-altering injuries and fatal accidents, and we hope that we can help your family get the answers you need and understand how to take action.

You Need Real Evidence to Win Your Truck Accident Case

When someone gets hurt in an accident with a large commercial truck, he or she generally has the right to pursue an injury claim to get financial help with medical bills and other expenses. However, the path to fair resolution of an injury claim isn’t easy, and victims will usually need a great deal of evidence to successfully recover the true costs of an injury.

Why Does Evidence Matter After a Truck Accident?

Truck accident victims are put in the position of “proving” their injuries—and the financial value of their damages—when they file injury claims. To do this, they will need to collect and present relevant evidence. Unfortunately, victims often have trouble obtaining or sorting through potential evidence because:

• Evidence disappears quickly after a truck accident
• Victims may not know what information they need
• Trucking companies and their insurance companies aren’t always playing fair

What Types of Evidence Are Needed for a Victim to “Prove” Injury in a Truck Accident Case?

The evidence you need to win a truck accident case is usually composed of a number of documents, assessments, and opinions, including:

• Medical records pertaining to your accident-related injuries
• Photos, witness accounts, and the police report from the scene of the accident
• Documentation from the trucking company, including the driver’s logbook, loading records, and other information
• Evidence of your financial losses, including bills, receipts, records of time away from work, and more

 

Oftentimes, even if the victim is aware that he or she needs the documentation, much of this evidence can be difficult or seemingly impossible to obtain. This is one of the big reasons that an attorney becomes necessary for the victims of a truck accident—an attorney has the knowledge, skills, and experience to identify and obtain strong evidence that helps prove victims’ injury claims against huge insurance and trucking companies.

Our Chicago Personal Injury Team Offers Fast, Free Help for Truck Accident Victims

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the legal details of an injury claim? It isn’t easy to get the support you need after you’ve been hurt, but there is an easy way to get real, no-obligation help with your questions. Our experienced personal injury law team serves clients in the Chicago area and throughout the state of Illinois, and we offer a completely free case review that will help you get the answers you need about protecting your rights after a truck accident. You can reach a member of our team today by calling our office directly at 312-332-1400, using the Live Chat button, or filling out the contact form on this page.