Injuries with a large commercial truck, also known as a big rig, can result in substantial medical bills, pain and suffering, and the inability to return to work. If you suffered such injuries, and you feel overwhelmed with your physical and financial situation, contact a Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Orland Park big rig truck accident lawyer today at (800) 794-0444.
Big Rig Truck Accidents
Large commercial trucks can weigh more than 80,000 pounds, and when they strike another vehicle, they can cause catastrophic injuries and damages. Big rig truck accidents differ from other types of passenger vehicle accidents in that they require significantly more complex investigations.
Unless a manufacturing defect lies at the heart of your collision, you will likely file a claim against the truck driver and trucking company for their negligence. In most cases, the trucking company will already have retained a team of lawyers, and they began working on the case immediately after the crash. Their prompt action could help them conceal valuable information or remove critical evidence that proves the negligence of the big rig truck driver or the trucking company.
Contact an Orland Park big rig truck accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 to make the best use of time in building your case.
What to Do Following a Big Rig Truck Accident
If you suffered injuries after a big rig truck accident, you should immediately call the police to the scene of the accident. In the event of severe injuries, you should allow the emergency medical responders from the ambulance to examine you, and take you to a hospital, if necessary. If you can drive yourself, you may want to visit an emergency room as soon as possible to ensure that you did not suffer any internal injuries, whiplash, or traumatic brain injuries.
Some of your injuries may worsen over time. As such, if you did not seek immediate medical treatment, make sure to visit a physician within a day or two of the accident. By doing so, a doctor can evaluate you and diagnose any injuries of which you may not be aware of.
Make sure to keep all of your bills related to your accident, including hospital visits, prescription medication, therapy, diagnostic tests, transportation to your medical appointments, any medical supplies or supports, such as wheelchairs or handguards installed in your home, as well as any other costs associated with your accident injuries.
For a free legal consultation with a Big Rig Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Orland Park, call (800) 794-0444
Determining Negligence
In order to build a strong personal injury case following a big rig truck accident, you need to establish that the truck driver or the trucking company behaved in a negligent manner. The law provides several ways to establish negligence, however, many of these approaches require complicated legal analysis and application of regulations. Some typical arguments for negligence following a trucking accident include the following:
- The driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- The driver failed to operate the big rig in a safe way or failed to follow traffic rules or signs.
- The driver fell asleep at the wheel.
- The driver was texting and driving.
- The trucking company failed to train the driver properly.
- The cargo load was improperly placed in the truck.
- The trucking company failed to hire a driver with sufficient experience.
- The driver was speeding, ran a red light or stop sign, failed to check blind spots, or acted negligently in another way while driving.
A thorough and quick investigation of the accident must occur immediately after the collision in order to preserve evidence and help determine negligence.
When you hire Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we take on this investigation and uncover any and all parties responsible for the accident that caused your injuries.
Orland Park Big Rig Truck Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Proving Negligence
Determining negligence is only the first step in building a strong personal injury case in a trucking accident. If the investigation after the accident points to the truck driver or trucking company’s negligence, you must present additional evidence to bolster this claim. One of the ways to prove negligence in trucking accidents involves using the documents and evidence required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under the Code of Federal Regulations. The following documents and evidence will help build a strong case:
- The maintenance logbook of the truck, which details the total hours the driver drove the truck, and any maintenance done on the truck.
- The logbook of hours of service and rest breaks of the driver.
- Any evidence regarding the loading of truck cargo, including hazardous materials.
- Any use of drugs or alcohol by the truck driver.
- The number of hours the truck driver drove that week before the accident.
The police report, along with the documents from the trucking company, helps establish and prove negligence in trucking accidents. Your attorney will send a letter to the truck driver, the trucking company, and any other potentially liable party to preserve all evidence related to the trucking accident.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will investigate your accident to gather the evidence needed to support your claim. Call us today at (800) 794-0444.
Click to contact our Big Rig Truck Accidents Lawyers today
Types of Compensation
Just as in other personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, the types of compensation available to big rig truck accident victims fall into two different types of categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages related to trucking accidents may include, but are not limited to, any medical expenses related to emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital care, prescription medications, future medical expenses, assistive devices and any other medically necessary treatment resulting from the trucking accident. Additional economic damages available include lost wages due to the inability to work and the loss of earning capacity due to the injuries suffered from the trucking accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages related to trucking accidents may include—among other damages– pain and suffering; mental anguish (such as worry, grief, embarrassment, or fear); and the loss of consortium, which consists of compensation awarded to family members who lost the services, wages, assistance, and companionship of their loved one due to injuries they sustained in a big rig truck accident.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
Contact an Orland Park Big Rig Truck Accident Lawyer
If you suffered injuries due to a trucking accident, contact an Orland Park big rig truck accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation. We will explain your legal rights to compensation and give you the background information that will help you decide whether to move forward with your claim: (800) 794-0444.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form