If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries in an accident with a tractor-trailer truck, you could recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact an Orland Park tractor-trailer truck accident lawyer for help. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now at (800) 223-5115 to learn more about your options to receive compensation for your injuries.
Our goal in injury cases is to make sure you do not suffer further damage by an injury that was no fault of your own. The negligent party should pay for your treatment and other damages, not you. Also, we work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you pay us nothing unless we recover awards for you.
Determining Liability for Your Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident
Tractor-trailer drivers must share the road and maintain control of their trucks at all times. Heavy and shifting loads—along with a driver’s behavior and the practices of the trucking companies for which they work—could place other motorists at risk for serious injury.
If you were injured in an accident with a tractor-trailer truck, determining liability is crucial to pursuing any awards for your losses. An Orland Park tractor-trailer truck accident lawyer can help you determine if you have a case.
Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Behavior and Actions that May Lead to Accidents
While most tractor-trailer truck drivers abide by the rules of the road, it only takes one reckless driver to change your life forever. Tractor-trailer truck drivers spend long hours away from home and often face pressure to deliver products on time.
The following behaviors may contribute to a tractor-trailer truck accident:
- Distracted driving: data collected by two federal agencies, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, found that an estimated 11,000 truck crashes throughout the nation involved driver distraction.
- Drunk driving: the driver reaches or exceeds a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .04 percent, the legal limit for a commercial driver’s license (CDL). This is also referred to as driving under the influence (DUI)).
- Drowsy driving: the driver is unable to rest during mandatory breaks or has an undiagnosed sleep disorder.
- Aggressive driving: the driver speeds or engages in acts of road rage to reach their destination on time.
These are just a few examples of the types of dangerous behaviors some tractor-trailer truck drivers engage in. Their reckless actions can result in serious rear-end collisions or side underride crashes that may leave you with devastating injuries and financial losses.
While you may think the driver of the tractor-trailer truck that caused the accident is liable for the accident, the trucking company for which that driver works may also share in the responsibility. In this case, an Orland Park tractor-trailer truck accident lawyer may be able to help you build a claim or suit.
For a free legal consultation with a Tractor-Trailer Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Orland Park, call (800) 223-5115
The Trucking Company’s Liability for the Accident
A trucking company has a responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees, their trucks, and the safety of other drivers. When a trucking company neglects to follow safety guidelines, they place innocent people at risk for serious harm.
Examples of negligence by trucking companies include:
- Poorly maintained trucks with inadequate brake systems and worn tires.
- Failure to conduct background checks on drivers for prior traffic convictions.
- Failure to adequately train drivers in order to get them on the road faster.
- Pressuring drivers to complete routes on a schedule that violates the federal hours-of-service regulations.
The impact of a tractor-trailer truck crashing into your car can leave you with life-changing injuries. In some cases, a person may suffer fatal injuries as a result of such an accident.
Orland Park Tractor-Trailer Truck Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 223-5115
Filing a Wrongful Death Case After a Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident
If you lost someone you loved due to a tractor-trailer truck accident, you could receive awards depending on your relationship with the deceased.
A wrongful death claim may allow you to seek awards, including final medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and more. This particular type of civil action is often quite complex; however, securing legal representation can protect your interests.
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Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident
Insurance companies may contact you soon after the accident. They may try to assign the fault for the accident to you, or get you to sign documents accepting a settlement.
While you could accept an offer from the insurance company, accepting an initial settlement may prevent you from pursuing civil litigation later should your condition worsen.
The time immediately following your accident is one of the most difficult periods of your life. You should not have to worry about dealing with insurance companies and trying to represent yourself.
Time is of the essence when it comes to filing your claim. Illinois’s statute of limitations under Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) §13-202 sets a strict deadline of two years for personal injury claims. Reviewing police reports, interviewing witnesses, and collecting valuable evidence takes time. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help by gathering information and preparing your claim so you can focus on getting better.
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Contact an Orland Park Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident Lawyer
While each case is different, you could receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering through the help of an Orland Park tractor-trailer truck accident lawyer. If we are unable to settle the case out-of-court, we may decide to take your case to trial.
We do not shy away from tough cases, and we work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you pay us nothing unless we recover awards for you.
Protect your interests by contacting the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now at (800) 223-5115. The sooner we evaluate your case, the sooner we can get to work for you.
Call or text (800) 223-5115 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
