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According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, trucks, and trucking accounted for almost 20,000 accidents in the state in 2016. Accidents of this nature result in thousands of injuries each year, often due directly to the negligent actions of truck drivers and companies.
If you were injured in a wreck involving a commercial tractor-trailer, a Calumet City truck accident lawyer could assist you. Truck accidents can easily result in catastrophic injuries, leading to an inability to work and significant medical expenses, but a focused personal injury lawyer could help you determine the validity of a claim and fight for compensation for your losses. En Español.
Similarly to car accidents, the potential risk for injury in a truck wreck is high. Crashes can result in many different types of injuries, ranging from broken bones to catastrophic and potentially permanent impairments like traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, and spinal cord damage leading to paralysis.
Depending on the nature and extent of an injury, the aftermath of these accidents can be difficult to manage as well. Accident victims may suffer from high medical costs and be forced to take time from work. Fortunately for injured parties, anyone whose negligence caused an accident may be liable to pay for the damages flowing from injuries, which may include compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering depending on the circumstances.
Commercial trucks tend to be much larger, heavier, longer, and more powerful than passenger vehicles, which puts the occupants of passenger vehicles at increased risk in a collision with a truck or tractor-trailer. Tractor-trailer accidents commonly occur due to legally identifiable negligence, which may take the form of:
Often, negligence will cause accidents and the resulting injuries. By identifying potentially liable parties–such as a truck driver, a trucking company, or the truck manufacturer–a persistent Calumet City truck accident lawyer could help hold these parties liable for the costs of injuries sustained in a crash.
Individuals must file or settle their legal claims for injuries arising from truck accidents in a timely manner. In accordance with 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/13-204, all claims must be filed against all allegedly liable parties within two years from the date of the collision or settled out of court.
There are a few exceptions to this general rule, such as for minors who are injured, but in general, this is a strictly enforced rule. Injury victims who fail to file a claim within this deadline may lose their ability to file a legal action entirely. Consequently, advice from a Calumet City truck accident lawyer on meeting the relevant statute of limitations for a specific personal injury claim may be critical to that claim’s success.
If you suffer a critical injury in a trucking accident, it may be worthwhile to determine if the accident was the result of negligence. A dedicated Calumet City truck accident lawyer could help investigate the facts related to your case, identify potentially liable parties, and hold those entities responsible for your losses. Contact an experienced attorney today to learn what compensation may be available for the losses you incurred as the direct result of your accident.