If you suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one in an accident with an 18-wheeler truck, you could receive compensation to cover your losses and injuries, such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The negligent party should pay for your treatment and other damages you suffered, not you. A personal injury case can ensure you do not suffer any more for the careless actions of others.
Call the Palatine 18-wheeler truck accident lawyers with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now at (800) 794-0444 to learn more about how you can receive compensation for your injuries. We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay us nothing unless we recover awards for you.
Determining Liability for Your Truck Accident Injuries
18-wheeler trucks transport goods and products along our nation’s highways every day. Handling such a large truck requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a responsible driver behind the wheel. It also requires the trucking company to properly maintain its vehicles and train their drivers.
To pursue awards after an accident, it is necessary to determine who is liable for the accident. In many cases, the 18-wheeler truck driver, the trucking company, or both, may share responsibility for the injuries someone suffers in an accident.
Truck Driver Negligence
By law, a commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds fully loaded. Managing such a heavy vehicle requires concentration and focus. When a truck driver engages in one or more of the following behaviors, it places everyone around them in harm’s way.
- Distracted driving.
- Drunk driving.
- Drowsy driving.
- Driving too fast for road and weather conditions.
These are not the only examples of negligence that may have contributed to an accident, and the truck driver may not be the only liable party for the accident.
Trucking Company Negligence
It is the duty of every responsible trucking company to ensure their drivers receive proper training and drive trucks that are safe and well maintained. When a trucking company takes one or more of the following risks, they place other drivers at risk for serious injuries:
- Poor truck maintenance, including brakes and tires.
- Improper loading that may cause the contents of the truck to shift.
- Failure to properly train drivers.
- Failure to conduct background checks of their driving records.
If you or a loved one experienced a serious injury due to the reckless actions of a truck driver or a trucking company’s negligence, a Palatine 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help. Call (800) 794-0444 for a free case evaluation.
An accident with an 18-wheeler truck is sometimes so severe that a person does not survive their injuries. If you lost a loved one due to an 18-wheeler truck accident, you may also receive compensation for your losses.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim After an 18-Wheeler Truck Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 4,761 people died as a result of truck accidents in 2017, and 72 percent of the victims were occupants of other cars. In other words, the majority of people in these fatal accidents were either the driver or passengers in another vehicle.
If you lost a loved one due to a truck accident, you could file a wrongful death claim. This civil action allows you to seek awards for your loved one’s final medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, your loss of companionship, and more.
The Illinois Wrongful Death Act under §740 ILCS 180 is very specific as to who may file a claim on behalf of the decedent’s estate. To find out more about filing a wrongful death claim, call a Palatine 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444.
For a free legal consultation with a 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents Lawyer serving Palatine, call (800) 794-0444
Let Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Protect Your Interests
Insurance companies like to settle cases quickly. Their initial offer to settle your claim may seem like a large sum to you and your family, but it is possible that the settlement offer is not enough to cover all your costs, including any future medical needs you might have.
Accepting and signing a settlement offer from an insurance company may also prohibit you from pursuing a civil action later should your condition worsen.
When you suffer serious injuries because of a truck driver’s carelessness or trucking company’s negligence, demand justice. The legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can provide representation for 18-wheeler truck accident victims against insurance or trucking companies. If we cannot reach a settlement with the insurance companies, we may take your case to trial.
Palatine 18-Wheeler Truck Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
As soon as you feel well enough, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444. Illinois’ statute of limitations, §13-202, limits your time to pursue a personal injury claim to two years. The clock starts ticking the moment you suffer injuries.
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm treats our clients with the respect they deserve during this difficult time. We do not shy away from tough cases, and we work on a contingency-fee-basis, so there is no fee unless we collect awards for you. The sooner we review your case, the sooner we can determine the best course of action for you.
Contact our office to learn more about your options for a personal injury or a wrongful death claim. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now at (800) 794-0444.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form