Tractor-trailer trucks can cause serious and severe injuries or even death when they collide with another vehicle because of their size, weight, and inability to stop safely in an emergency situation. If you suffered injuries related resulting from a tractor-trailer, semi-truck or commercial truck accident, contact the Cicero tractor-trailer truck accident lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm: (800) 794-0444. We can help you with your next steps.
Tractor-Trailers
The terms used to refer to large commercial trucks can confuse many people. Tractor-trailers consist of the combination of the tractor (the cab portion where the driver sits), as well as the trailer (the back section with cargo). Weighing tens of thousands of pounds, these large vehicles present a substantially greater danger to other motorists on the roadways than standard motor vehicles. With vehicles weighing over 80,000 pounds and drivers trying to maintain demanding schedules, the accidents that happen with tractor-trailers can prove catastrophic.
Causes of Tractor-Trailer Truck Accidents
While accidents on the roadways can happen for many different reasons, other factors frequently lead to tractor-trailer truck accidents. Some of these risk factors include:
- Improper loading.
- Overloading.
- Unreasonable and demanding schedules for drivers.
- Fatigue of drivers.
- Poor maintenance of tractor-trailers.
- Jackknife accidents.
- Manufacturing defects of parts, components, or truck equipment.
- Unsafe turning.
- Operating a tractor-trailer under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Driver inexperience.
- Negligence, recklessness, or distracted driving.
- Speeding.
- Roadway hazards.
- Weather conditions.
For a free legal consultation with a Tractor-Trailer Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Cicero, call (800) 794-0444
Types of Injuries
Tractor-trailer accidents typically result in catastrophic injuries to the driver and other motorists. Victims often suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), whiplash, back and spinal cord injuries, broken and fractured bones, soft-tissue injuries, internal organ injuries, severe burns, emotional and psychological trauma, paralysis, or even death.
These injuries can cause massive medical expenses, and you should not be left to face the financial burden. The Cicero tractor-trailer truck accident lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can represent you in your quest for compensation and ensure that you pursue the recoverable damages you deserve.
Cicero Tractor-Trailer Truck Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Types of Compensation You May Receive
If injuries from an accident involving a tractor-trailer result from a manufacturing defect or someone else’s negligence, you might be able to recover compensation for medical costs, loss of wages due to your inability to work, loss of potential earning capacity, emotional and mental anguish, physical limitations, possible paralysis or disfigurement, and pain and suffering.
Your medical bills alone could include ambulance bills, hospital and surgical bills, doctor visits, copays, prescriptions, diagnostic imaging, physical or occupational rehabilitation, mental health rehabilitation and therapy, and transportation costs. Possibly, you have needed special accommodations due to your injuries, such as stairlifts, shower rails, or wheelchair ramps. A court may award some or all of these types of expenses in a personal injury case.
Compensation in Wrongful Death Cases
If your loved one died due to injuries suffered from a tractor-trailer accident, you may have the right to receive compensation under a wrongful death action. Some of the types of compensation you may be awarded in a wrongful death claim include funeral expenses, the loss of wages your family member would have contributed to the family over time, the loss of consortium for either you or your children, emotional suffering, and any medical bills related to the accident prior to your loved one’s death.
While this money will not bring back your loved one, the court often grants compensation to relieve the financial burden of paying for these unexpected expenses due to someone else’s negligence.
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Types of Lawsuits for Tractor-Trailer Accidents
You may want to pursue different types of lawsuits depending upon the nature of the accident and injuries (or death) you suffered as the result of your tractor-trailer accident.
Negligence
If the driver of the tractor-trailer operated the vehicle negligently, then you would file a lawsuit against the driver and possibly the trucking company that employed the driver. Some examples of negligent behavior include driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not obeying traffic laws, driving while fatigued, driving an improperly loaded truck, or speeding. Additionally, you could possibly pursue a claim against a mechanic if the service or maintenance of the truck showed negligence.
Wrongful Death
If your loved one died in a tractor-trailer truck accident, you could possibly pursue a wrongful death action on your loved one’s behalf.
Product Liability
If an investigation into the tractor-trailer accident determines that any trucking component or part was defective or malfunctioned in any way, the courts could hold the manufacturer of that part or component liable for your injuries. In these cases, you may file a product liability lawsuit to request damages from the manufacturer for any injuries.
Lawsuits Against the Government
Sometimes, a tractor-trailer accident occurs as a result of the failure of the state or local government to keep a roadway safe by failing to clean up after a construction project on a highway or failing to fix a pothole or other roadway hazard. If your accident resulted from this type of negligence, you could possibly file a lawsuit against the government. The deadlines and legal guidelines for filing a lawsuit against the government differ vastly different from personal injury or wrongful death claims.
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Contact a Cicero Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident Lawyer
If you experienced an accident involving a tractor-trailer truck, contact a Cicero tractor-trailer truck accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 for a free consultation. We will inform you of your rights and give you the information you need to decide whether to move forward with your claim.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form