Truck accidents tend to be especially severe wrecks due to the size, weight, and speed of trucks. Victims often suffer catastrophic injuries that can be permanent. If you or a loved one has been in a truck accident, you have the right to seek compensation from the driver, trucking company, and others who may have been responsible. But you should expect significant pushback from the lawyers and insurance companies representing these parties.
Albers Injury Law stands up for truck accident victims by seeking the maximum damages available under the law. While you focus on your recovery, let us work for you.
Why Do I Need a Granite City Truck Accident Lawyer?
Trucks carry large amounts of insurance due to the high risk of significant injuries caused by accidents. With so much money on the line, it’s no surprise that the insurers and their attorneys prefer to avoid paying victims. Retaining a Granite City truck accident attorney is beneficial for several reasons:
Understanding the laws and court procedures: Of primary concern for any victim is having an attorney who knows the law. A skilled lawyer will also understand the various court procedures involved with litigating a case.
Investigating the accident: Your truck accident lawyer will investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, uncovering evidence and identifying all parties that may be held liable.
Conducting discovery: Discovery is the formal process by which parties to a truck accident lawsuit request and exchange information and documents with each other. We can handle all stages of discovery to strengthen your case.
Knowing rules of evidence: If your case goes to trial, the evidence you submit in court must follow certain rules to be admissible. Our firm understands the Illinois Rules of Evidence and how to use them in truck accident cases.
Mediating and negotiating: Most truck accident cases settle out of court in mediation with the at-fault parties and their lawyers and insurers. We represent victims during mediation by negotiating with insurers and attorneys to achieve the best possible settlement.
Taking the case to trial: If the insurance company’s settlement offer is unreasonably low, we can go to court. Our team understands how to litigate truck accident cases to secure the damages our clients deserve.
Common Truck Accident Cases
The underlying facts and causes of every truck crash are unique. Our firm has experience representing victims of various types of truck accidents, including:
- Large truck rollovers
- Lost and unstable loads
- Jackknife accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Tire blowouts
- Truck defects and malfunctions
- Wide right turns
- Blind spot accidents
- Rear-end and head-on collisions
- Underride crashes
In our commitment to making the best possible case, we often rely upon expert witnesses, such as accident reconstructionists, to explain how these and other truck accidents happened.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Granite City, IL
In any truck accident case, the victim bears the burden of proving that the at-fault party was negligent. That requires understanding a few of the most common reasons these wrecks occur, such as:
Distracted driving: Anything that takes the driver’s focus away from the road can be considered a distraction. Common examples include texting and other cell phone use.
Driver fatigue: Regulations require that truck drivers have a certain amount of rest to minimize the risk of accidents. Many drivers and trucking companies disregard these rules to maximize profits.
Traffic violations: Speeding and other traffic infractions are always dangerous, but they can be fatal when trucks are involved. Evidence that the driver violated traffic laws is a strong indicator of negligence.
Poor training: Truck drivers should be properly trained so they understand how to handle their vehicles, including understanding how to avoid over-correcting and making unsafe turns.
Driving under the influence: Drug or alcohol use puts others at risk of major injury or death. Truck drivers are required to avoid anything, even prescription medications, that impair their driving.
Bad weather: Everyone has a duty to adjust his or her driving in poor weather conditions, and this obligation extends to truck drivers.
Truck defects: Some truck accidents are caused by problems with the truck or its components (e.g. brakes). This points to potential liability on the part of the truck’s manufacturer or other parties.
What To Do After a Truck Accident in Granite City, IL
Protecting your safety and legal rights after a truck accident is of the utmost importance. Unless you need urgent medical assistance, stay at the scene and call 911. The law requires victims to report accidents, which should always occur to ensure an accident report is generated. Emergency services will respond and determine if you need an ambulance.
As soon as you can, see a doctor. You may not fully appreciate how badly you were hurt, as not all injuries are immediately detectable. Not seeing a doctor can aggravate your injuries and make it easier for the at-fault party’s lawyers to blame you for exacerbating them.
Gather evidence at the scene, including talking to witnesses, taking pictures, recording video, and making notes about what happened. Do not apologize for the accident or take the blame. The less you say, the better for your claim.
Lastly, retain an experienced truck accident lawyer in Granite City.
Liability in a Truck Accident in Granite City, IL
Aside from the driver, there are various parties who could be held liable for an accident, including the following:
- The truck’s owner
- The trucking company
- The company that loaded the truck
- The truck’s manufacturer
- The company that manufactured or installed a defective part
- Repair shops and mechanics
- Leasing companies
- Construction crews
- Governmental entities
Semi-Truck Crash Laws
As mentioned above, regulations govern the safe operation and maintenance of large trucks as well as the driver’s activities. For example, drivers must take a 30-minute break after they have driven for a period of eight total hours. If the driver violated this rule in causing the accident, negligence is an immediate consideration.
When we investigate truck accidents, we review safety records and any disciplinary actions previously taken against the driver and trucking company. We also look at other evidence, such as the truck’s black box, a device that records in detail what the truck did leading up to the wreck.
Compensation for Granite City, IL, Truck Wrecks
Every truck accident is different, so the nature and amount of potential damages will vary from one case to another. In general, accident victims can seek compensation to pay for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost income-earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and other similar losses
- Property damage
- Additional out-of-pocket costs related to the accident
- In some cases, punitive damages, which are designed to punish particularly egregious conduct
Speak With a Truck Accident Lawyer in Granite City, IL Now
Truck accidents are serious and demand experienced legal representation. If you’ve been injured, you owe it to yourself and your family to speak with a Granite City truck accident attorney at Albers Injury Law right away. We can answer any questions or concerns you have and get to work seeking a fair amount of damages for your losses. Call us today.
Truck Accident FAQs
How is the value of my case determined?
Various factors, such as the nature of the victim’s injuries, the number of parties that can be held liable, and the degree of negligence involved, affect the value of the case. We draw from our extensive litigation experience to assign a dollar amount to our clients’ cases.
Can I be compensated for future losses?
You may need medical services in the future, and you might not be able to work the same job you did before the accident. These are two major considerations of future damages for which you may be able to demand compensation. Our firm uses the testimony of expert witnesses, such as vocational and medical experts, who can help determine the value of these projected losses.
My loved one died in a truck accident. Can you help?
Sadly, many truck accident victims succumb to their injuries and leave their families behind to grieve and suffer the financial repercussions. Our firm helps eligible survivors by filing wrongful death lawsuits against the responsible parties.