An accident involving a concrete truck can cause serious and debilitating injuries to drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Since concrete trucks weigh several tons, even a low-speed collision can have devastating consequences. Head trauma, back and neck injuries, broken bones, serious cuts, lost limbs, and paralysis are all possible.
If you were involved in a collision with a concrete truck, you might be struggling to cope with severe and debilitating injuries and staggering medical bills. You may be unable to work, and your family may be finding it difficult to cover regular living expenses. You may be expecting to undergo one or more surgeries in the future, as well as months of physical therapy, and doctors may have warned you that you may never make a full recovery.
A Berwyn concrete truck accident lawyer may be able to help you pursue compensation for your past and future medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can figure out who was liable for the collision and file a personal injury lawsuit to seek a fair settlement. Call our office at (800) 794-0444 to speak to a member of our staff.
Why Concrete Trucks Are So Hazardous
In some ways, concrete trucks are more dangerous than 18-wheelers. The size of a concrete truck can make it difficult for the driver to see vehicles, people, and other obstacles, especially when backing up.
A concrete truck has a large container that turns to prevent wet concrete from hardening. Since the container is positioned above the truck, the vehicle has a high center of mass. That makes rollover accidents more common with concrete trucks than they are with other types of large vehicles, even at low speeds.
Concrete can cause life-threatening injuries to people in other vehicles. If a collision causes concrete to spill on another vehicle, its occupants may be trapped inside and may suffocate if they cannot be freed quickly.
If concrete spills on the road, it can disable other vehicles. On a busy road or highway, other drivers may not be able to stop, and an accident that initially involved only a concrete truck may turn into a multi-vehicle pileup.
Assigning Liability in a Truck Accident
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations require trucking companies to hire only qualified workers, to provide appropriate training, to enforce safety procedures, and to regularly inspect, maintain, and repair their vehicles. If a company failed to meet its obligations, it might be found liable for the crash.
An employer may be held liable for an accident if its employee’s actions caused the collision. For example, if the driver was speeding, driving recklessly, operating the truck while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or using a cellphone, the company that employed the driver may be found liable for the employee’s negligence.
In many cases, construction companies hire truck drivers as independent contractors to avoid liability in the event of an accident, as well as other potential costs. If there is evidence that an employer-employee relationship existed and that the driver was acting within the scope of employment at the time of the crash, however, the company that hired the driver may be held liable.
The collision may have happened because of mechanical failure. In that type of situation, the company that owned the truck may or may not be at fault. It may be held liable if the truck was not properly maintained or if needed repairs were not made.
If, however, an outside mechanic performed a repair incorrectly and that led to the accident, the mechanic may be found liable. If the crash occurred because a part used in a repair had a design or manufacturing defect, the company that made the part may be held liable. If a design or manufacturing flaw in the truck itself was the source of the accident, the vehicle’s manufacturer might bear responsibility for the collision.
If the concrete mixer malfunctioned and that caused the accident, the company that produced the mixer may be liable for a design or manufacturing defect. That business may be found not liable, however, if the collision occurred because the driver acted negligently, because a repair was performed incorrectly, or because a replacement part was defective.
A Berwyn concrete truck accident lawyer can examine all the relevant facts and figure out who was liable for the accident. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to discuss your case with a member of our staff.
For a free legal consultation with a Concrete Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Berwyn, call (800) 794-0444
How a Personal Injury Attorney May Be Able to Help You Seek Justice
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can investigate to find out what caused the collision. We can speak to you, passengers who were in the vehicle with you at the time of the accident, and any witnesses who saw what happened. If a nearby surveillance camera recorded the crash, we could review that footage.
A Berwyn concrete truck accident lawyer can also review personnel records to find out whether the driver was qualified and received appropriate training and whether he or she had been disciplined in the past for unsafe driving. Our team can look at maintenance and repair records to find out if the company that owned the truck had properly cared for the vehicle.
If we find that the driver was speeding, driving recklessly, using a cellphone, or behaving in any other manner that was negligent, the company that employed the driver may be found liable for the accident and for your injuries. If we find that mechanical failure led to the collision, we can investigate to learn whether it was due to lack of maintenance, failure to make repairs, repairs that were performed incorrectly, or a defect in a part or in the truck itself.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has represented thousands of personal injury victims all over the United States. Since we work on contingency, you will not have to pay us any money unless we recover a financial award for you.
The law limits the amount of time you have to seek justice. According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois is two years. Contact us today at (800) 794-0444 so we can get started as soon as possible.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form