If you experience a steel truck accident resulting in injuries, you probably have a lot of questions. You may worry about how you will pay your medical bills, what to say to the insurance adjusters, proving fault, and how to respond to the forms you receive about the accident.
Steel truck accident claims can prove complicated, and a lack of experience in establishing the actual value of your case could mean you losing out on a fair settlement for your injuries. A Joliet steel truck accident lawyer may help to guide you on the right course of action and take the worry out of the claims process while you focus on your recovery.
If you want to talk to a law firm about your case, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 for a free case review.
Steel Truck Accident Claims
Due to the typical size and weight of a steel truck, accidents involving steel trucks may cause much more serious injuries than those involving smaller vehicles. Due to the extent of these trucks’ impact, injuries sustained may prove much more severe or, sadly, in some cases, fatal. Out of the 13,071 truck accidents in 2018, 122 were fatal and over 2,000 resulted in injuries, according to Illinois’ 2018 Crash Facts.
Additionally, increased legal complexity may occur in such cases, beginning with proving the liable party or parties, which may include more parties than the driver of the truck. Potentially liable parties may include:
- The employer who places unreasonable delivery schedules on the driver
- The person responsible for loading the truck making mistakes
- Third-party contractors who failed to maintain the vehicles properly
- The manufacturer of a defective truck that caused the accident
All and any of the above may contribute to a serious accident. Pintas & Mullins Law Firm understands how filing a lawsuit may seem daunting, but it may provide an option for you to recover fair compensation under the circumstances. The serious impact your injuries may have on your everyday life, financial status, and long-term ability to work could mean a long road to recovery.
It seems unfair that you should worry about meeting financial obligations on top of having to manage injuries caused by another’s negligence. We want to ease at least some of that burden.
A Joliet steel truck accident lawyer may simplify the claims process for you while helping you recover a fair settlement for the harm you endured following a steel truck accident.
Factors That Affect the Value of Your Case
Many factors can affect the settlement outcome of a steel truck accident claim. Understanding them by working alongside a lawyer may help you to strategize and obtain a fair settlement. Some of the challenges found in such cases include:
Negotiating With Insurance Adjusters
During the claims process, you may need to negotiate with an insurance adjuster, who has the right to ask questions and dispute facts in the accident.
Proceeding without legal representation may cause you stress and take your focus away from healing your injuries as well.
Proving Liability
In claim compensation, you will need to prove responsibility for your accident. In steel truck accidents, determining fault for your injury may involve multiple parties.
A lawyer may help you identify those responsible by gathering essential evidence to support your case and representing your interests, should you go to trial.
Gathering and Preserving Crucial Evidence
Whatever factors contributed to your accident, you will need to gather the evidence in order to build a solid case. If it is safe to do so, you can exchange driver information and record evidence at the scene. However, some instances require a thorough investigation into what went wrong to prove liability. This could involve using evidence-gathering methods such as:
- Specialist reconstruction of the accident
- Formal requests for black box data
- Witness discovery and obtaining official police accident reports
A lawyer may acquire several types of evidence for you that otherwise may prove difficult to secure or from sources that you may not consider on your own.
Illinois Time Restrictions on Personal Injury Lawsuits
Steel truck accidents may involve parties that span different states, since the driver may come from one state, while the employer may base their business somewhere else entirely. This adds legal complexity to the case, as each state has different laws.
Another consideration you must bear in mind involves the deadline by which you must file a personal injury lawsuit if you choose. You have a limited time to bring a claim forward as upheld in 735 ILCS 5. If you fail to act in time, you will lose the right to pursue any compensation or to bring those responsible to justice.
If you are seeking legal representation or have any concerns or questions about a steel truck accident, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may help you find answers about what went wrong.
For a free legal consultation with a Steel Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Joliet, call (800) 794-0444
See How a Joliet Steel Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You
If you have injuries from a steel truck accident that occurred through no fault of your own, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm wants to see how we may help you seek fair compensation. We may take on the strain in managing the legal challenges and obstacles present in such cases so that you can focus on getting better with more peace of mind. Begin today with a free case evaluation by calling (800) 794-0444.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form