Whether you’re driving on a highway, interstate, or town road, it’s likely you regularly share the road with tractor-trailers. These vehicles are crucial for delivering goods and services all over the country, but they can cause severe or even fatal crashes. If you’ve been involved in a wreck, a Buffalo Grove, IL truck accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices can help.
Our attorneys are firm believers that accident victims deserve the best chance at recovery. When a collision upends your life, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for your losses. To determine if doing so is right for you, let’s start by taking a look at the semi wrecks that occur in Buffalo Grove.
Truck Accidents in Buffalo Grove
With Route 83 running through the center of Buffalo Grove, the area is no stranger to motor vehicle accidents. While most of those crashes only result in property damage and some minor injuries, there are those that cause severe or even fatal injuries. Accidents with the worst consequences are often those involving a passenger vehicle and tractor-trailer.
In February 2020, a semi-truck pulling a trailer loaded with nearly 40,000 pounds of cargo crashed into a 2015 Toyota minivan as it attempted to turn left from southbound Route 83 onto eastbound Westmoreland Drive. While the minivan passenger was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
No matter what circumstances surround your truck accident, it’s important to seek medical attention and ensure that your health and wellbeing are intact.
Who Is at Fault for My Semi Wreck?
Determining who is responsible for a wreck is crucial. It’s often the only way the victims will have the opportunity to recover compensation for their losses. When it comes to truck accidents, the at-fault party is usually one of the following:
- Truck Driver
- Trucking Company
- Manufacturer
Truck driver negligence is not uncommon when a crash has occurred. Because of their hours on the road, truckers are at risk of becoming distracted or fatigued—both of which can be dangerous behind the wheel. There’s also the matter of the driver staying in control of their vehicle. Tractor-trailers are often the largest vehicles on the road, which means they can be harder to control—especially in inclement weather or construction zones.
It’s a bit more challenging to prove the trucking company was at fault for your accident, but it can most certainly be done. Trucking companies are responsible for maintaining their vehicles and hiring the right employees. If the owner of a truck company fails to inspect their semis, disregards mechanical issues, or hires inexperienced or negligent drivers, they can be held accountable if those factors resulted in a collision.
Big rigs are made up of many parts—all of which have to work together correctly in order for the truck to operate correctly. Auto manufacturers are tasked with building safe and reliable vehicles. In the event something happens, like a steering mechanism goes out or the brakes give, and it can be traced back to issues with production, your attorney can fight to hold that manufacturer accountable.
No matter who was responsible for your wreck, Thomas Law Offices is prepared to provide you with strong legal representation.
Recovering After a Tractor-Trailer Collision
The aftermath of a truck accident has the potential to be disastrous. In addition to the property damage to your vehicle, you’ll also need to figure out the extent of your injuries. Both of those can result in serious financial losses and the ability to make more income.
If you believe one of the parties we discussed above may have had something to do with your accident or another party, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim. If you choose to do so, you’ll benefit from working with a truck accident attorney.
When you seek legal representation from Thomas Law Offices, we’ll start by investigating your situation and building a case on your behalf that proves how and why your crash happened. Depending on the evidence we need to prove your case, we may have to call on outside experts like accident reconstructionists or physicians.
Once we’ve established negligence on the part of the other party, we can focus on obtaining the compensation you need to recover. Monetary awards are typically broken down into economic and noneconomic losses. Economic damages are those that can be directly calculated, like lost wages and medical bills. Noneconomic damages are more subjective, as they’re based on your pain and suffering. In the event gross negligence resulted in your collision, punitive damages may also be available.
While many claims have negotiations that result in a settlement offer, that’s not always the case—especially when a trucking company hires a legal team to try to prove you were partially responsible for what happened. If that’s the case, we won’t hesitate to head to court with a lawsuit to get an official verdict from a judge or jury.
Schedule a Consultation With Thomas Law Offices
If you or a loved one has been in a crash with a tractor-trailer, a Buffalo Grove truck accident lawyer from Thomas Law Offices is here to help. All you have to do is reach out to us to schedule a case evaluation. We’ll review what you’ve through, explain your legal rights and options, and help you determine if pursuing a claim is in your best interests. Contact us today to learn more.
Who We Are
Reviews
