An accident involving a moving van truck and a passenger vehicle can cause major damage and life-changing injuries. Since a moving truck is so large and may be packed with furniture and other belongings weighing thousands of pounds, even a low-speed collision can cause serious damage and injuries.
If you were hurt in an accident involving a moving van truck, you may have suffered head trauma, whiplash, broken bones, severe cuts, and other injuries. You may be unable to work and take care of yourself and your children. You may be facing a growing stack of medical bills and worrying about how you will be able to pay your rent or mortgage and put food on the table.
An Elgin moving van truck accident lawyer may be able to help. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has represented thousands of clients across the United States who suffered personal injuries in motor vehicle accidents that were not their fault. We can work to figure out who was responsible for the collision and seek financial compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Call our office at (800) 794-0444 to discuss your case and legal options with a member of our team.
What We Can Do to Figure Out Who Was Liable for the Accident
An Elgin moving van truck accident lawyer can review available evidence that may shed light on what caused the collision. We can examine the police report and speak to any passengers who were in the vehicle with you, as well as any eyewitnesses who were in the area at the time of the crash.
Our team may go through the moving company’s personnel records, vehicle maintenance and repair records, and other documents that may be relevant to the case. We may also review footage from traffic cameras and surveillance cameras at nearby businesses, as well as any cell phone video that may have inadvertently captured the accident.
Factors That May Affect Liability
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has established regulations to protect employees and the public. The Code of Federal Regulations §391.11 sets minimum qualifications for drivers, and §396.3 requires companies to regularly inspect, maintain, and repair their vehicles. Drivers are also required to adhere to state laws.
If the moving company failed to meet its obligations and its actions or negligence led to the accident, or if an employee was driving recklessly in violation of 625 ILCS § 5/11-503 or was under the influence of alcohol or drugs in violation of 625 ILCS § 5/11-501, we may seek a settlement through the moving company’s insurer.
If an employee was driving the truck at the time of the accident, that would not necessarily mean that the moving company was liable. In our investigation, we may discover that the truck had a manufacturer’s defect, that a repair was performed incorrectly, or that a part used to repair the van or truck was defective. Liability would then fall on either the vehicle’s manufacturer, the mechanic, or the company that produced the defective part.
Often, a company leases moving vans and trucks that customers can load and drive themselves. If a customer was behind the wheel at the time of the crash, that person may be responsible for the collision and for your injuries. We may learn that the individual was speeding, or was texting or talking on a cell phone.
Many people who rent a moving van or truck have never driven such a large vehicle and underestimate how difficult it can be to turn a corner or how much time they will need to bring the vehicle to a stop. In addition, a moving van or truck needs to be loaded so that items cannot move around while it is in motion. If weight shifts while the vehicle is moving, it can become difficult to control, especially for an inexperienced driver.
If a customer was driving at the time of the collision, that person is not automatically liable. The moving company may be held responsible if it failed to properly care for the vehicle or if it rented a moving van or truck to someone who should not have been given permission to drive it, such as an individual who did not have a valid driver’s license or who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs when picking up the vehicle.
For a free legal consultation with a Moving Van Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Elgin, call (800) 794-0444
Getting Help From an Elgin Moving Van Truck Accident Lawyer
For more than three decades, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has been helping people who experienced personal injuries seek financial compensation. If you were hurt in an accident involving a moving van or truck, our team may be able to obtain an award to cover your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Depending on the circumstances that led to the accident and who was liable, we may try to reach a settlement with the moving company’s insurer or with the customer’s insurance company, or with the vehicle manufacturer or another party. Sometimes negotiations do not lead to agreement on a settlement. In those cases, we may go to court to pursue an award that we consider fair for our client.
People who have been hurt in accidents and who are unable to work often think that they could not afford to hire an Elgin moving van truck accident lawyer. You should not let concerns about the cost stop you from seeking justice. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm works on contingency. That means that if you hire us to represent you, you will not have to pay us anything up front. Our firm will only receive a fee if we obtain a settlement on your behalf.
735 ILCS 5/13-202 sets Illinois’ statute of limitations for personal injuries at two years. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we will be able to start investigating, gathering evidence, and planning a legal strategy to seek justice for you. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 to talk to a member of our staff.
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