A Cook County Truck Accident Lawyer Fights on Your Behalf
There are more than 17,000 crashes involving large trucks in Illinois each year, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. These wrecks cause roughly 3,000 injuries and 100 fatalities – and they are often preventable. Victims of truck accidents may be able to pursue compensation for damages from the carrier if there was negligence involved.
Accidents involving heavy trucks like semi trucks and tractor trailer trucks are specialized cases that require knowledge of federal laws, evidence preservation, and the tenacity to go head-to-head with the trucking companies’ legal teams. As such, if you or your family member was injured in an accident, you may want to consider calling our firm to request a free, no-obligation consultation with a Cook County truck accident lawyer.
Causes of Truck Accidents
There are multiple factors that can contribute to a truck accident. Weather issues, mechanical defects and riding in a trucker’s blind spots are examples. Most accidents that we handle at our firm are caused by one of two things: distraction and not adhering to federal safety guidelines.
Distraction is deadly on the road. It can include texting or talking on the phone while driving, eating, daydreaming, or conversing with a co-driver. Texting (illegal for semi-truck drivers) takes a driver’s eyes off the road for roughly five seconds, which, at 55 miles per hour, means he or she will travel the length of a football field without glancing at the road. Trucks need extra time to stop, given their size and weight. All forms of distraction should be eliminated.
All truck drivers and carriers are expected to abide by regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For example, truckers/carriers must do the following.
- Only work a certain amount of hours per day and take breaks as the FMCSA prescribes (to reduce driver fatigue)
- Check their cargo at certain points
- Not drive under the influence
- Keep accurate log books of their activity
- Check truck components (brakes, tires, cargo, etc.) before hitting the road
- Ensure their fleet is in good repair
- Follow the rules of the road (don’t speed, allow adequate breaking time, use signals, etc.)
Breaking federal rules not only will make the carrier susceptible to fines and penalties, but it also it increases the risk of crashing. Violating a federal rule can make the carrier legally liable for damages should an accident occur.
The Magnitude of Truck Accident Injuries
It’s often the occupants of passenger cars that collide with trucks who receive the brunt of the injuries – not the truck driver. Because of the size of large trucks, these accidents often prove fatal. Surviving spouses or other beneficiaries will want to talk to a Cook County truck accident lawyer if they lost their loved one in a truck accident to determine if they qualify to file a claim for their losses.
If the victims do survive, they often suffer severe or catastrophic injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Multiple fractures and shattered bones
- Loss of limbs
- Internal injuries
- Severe burns
Above and beyond physical injuries, victims often develop emotional issues related to the trauma, and exorbitant medical bills and loss of income may force them to deal with major financial hardship. In other words, a truck accident completely flips a family’s life upside down.
We can help pursue restitution for damages.
Our legal team at Buttafuoco & Associates handles truck accident cases on a regular basis. It’s our primary goal to help our clients pursue maximum compensation from negligent truck companies – and we have the backgrounds, skills and determination to accomplish just that.
Contact us today at 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free consultation with one of our Cook County truck accident lawyers.
