No one expects to be in an accident involving an 18-wheeler. Their sheer size alone can be an extremely frightening situation, especially on the busy highways of Chicago.
Semi-trucks weigh, on average, about 16 times more than your standard passenger vehicle. Their massive size causes them to take longer to slow down in the event of a sudden change in traffic or an obstacle on the road. It’s no surprise, then, that the injuries resulting from a semi-truck accident tend to be more severe than those from your everyday car wreck.
Whether you’re seeking compensation for your own injuries or representing a loved one who lost their life in a major truck accident, let me start by saying I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through. As a Chicago area personal injury attorney, my mission is not only to help you seek financial compensation for the injuries claimed, but also hold those responsible accountable for their actions. By doing so, we can better ensure they won’t repeat the mistake and cause harm to anyone else on the road again.
SHOULD I SUE THE TRUCK DRIVER OR THE COMPANY ITSELF?
In Illinois, the goal of the accident claim process is to identify who is truly responsible for causing a wreck and then holding that person accountable. When it comes to trucking accidents, identifying the responsible party isn’t always straightforward. For instance, the wreck could have been caused by the truck driver being fatigued or rushing to meet a company deadline, reckless driving, distracted driving, a mechanical malfunction, or a number of other factors.
Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help you investigate the source of the wreck and determine whether you need to sue the truck driver, the trucking company, the vehicle manufacturer, or another party that contributed to the accident.
TRUCKING COMPANIES HAVE LAWYERS ON THEIR SIDE
WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL COMPENSATION CAN I RECEIVE?
18-wheeler accidents vary from one case to another, which makes it impossible to put a number on your case’s value without first analyzing it thoroughly. Generally speaking, the amount of compensation you are entitled to should reflect the amount of financial, physical and suffering you or your loved one have experienced.
If you yourself were injured, you could be compensated for:
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Pain and suffering, past and future
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Damage to your car
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Lost wages (if your injuries kept you off from work)
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Medical bills
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Surgical costs
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Physical therapy
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Other expenses that can be directly linked to the accident
If you are representing a loved one in a wrongful death case, you could be compensated for:
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All of the above-listed items
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Funeral costs
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Burial costs
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Loss of companionship
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Loss of future wages
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Related financial and emotional considerations
While collecting a large settlement for your accident may not undo the damage or make everything right, I encourage you to think of it this way: by taking a stance against the trucking company that caused you this pain and suffering, you may be saving other Chicago area families from the same fate. After all, when commercial trucking companies are held financially accountable they are forced to reevaluate their standards and set stricter safety policies.
YOUR CHICAGO AREA SEMI-TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
As an attorney who’s been practicing personal injury law since 1984, I have seen about every type of injury case you can imagine — including those that involve 18-wheelers and other large trucks. If you were injured in a trucking accident, or if your spouse or a family member lost their life in a serious car wreck, please don’t hesitate to call and schedule a free consultation.
