Truck Accident Attorneys Serving The State of Illinois

No type of vehicle collision is as devastating as one between a truck and a passenger car. In most instances, either the truck driver or someone else is to blame – the driver of the car, as well as any other occupants that might be present, are typically innocent victims. They shouldn’t have to face the incredible financial burdens this kind of accident can create.  If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, the law firm of Penn Kestner & McEwen is here for you. We have a team of truck accident lawyers who have years of experience taking on – and defeating – formidable opposition across Illinois. No matter how large the trucking company and its insurer may be, we’ll have the skill and resources it takes to make sure your rights are protected at every turn.

Learn more about what we may be able to do for you by using our online form for a free case review. You can also give us a call at (800) 732-3070.

Illinois Truck Accident Lawyers - Penn Kestner McEwen The Trucking Lawyers Personal Injury Attorneys

How Common are Truck Accidents in Illinois?

In 2020, there were more than 9,200 truck accidents in Illinois, leading to 119 fatalities and 311 severe injuries. These accounted for nearly 4% of all total crashes, and 3.1% of all crashes that caused an injury.

Causes of Truck Accidents

Just like most types of vehicle wrecks, an accident involving a semi-truck can have a lot of different causes, including the following.

Trucker Fatigue

Driving a truck can be a lucrative profession. But the people who do this job earn every penny they make. They often have to be away from their families for weeks at a time, and they’re always having to meet high-pressure deadlines. Drivers will oftentimes do whatever they can to do just that – even if it involves remaining behind the wheel when they’re exhausted. This, of course, will typically lead to horrible results.

Driving While Under the Influence

Staying awake for a truck driver will sometimes mean resorting to powerful drugs, such as amphetamines. But when those drugs wear off, the driver will come off of their high so quickly that they become a danger to everyone else sharing the road with them.

Even worse, however, is when a driver will have a few drinks and still take a semi on the road. It’s hard enough operating a commercial truck while sober. When under the influence, it can be impossible to do so safely.

Negligent Maintenance

It’s bad enough when someone who owns a four-wheel vehicle decides to get on the road with bald tires, faulty brakes, or some other serious issue. But when a truck driver fails to check their rig – in clear violation of federal regulations – that can lead to a catastrophe. Trucking companies will often be guilty of neglecting problems as well, all in the name of meeting deadlines and boosting their profits as high as they can possibly go.

Faulty Cargo Loading

There are some instances where an accident will be out of the control of the truck driver, or even the trucking company. Third-party businesses are sometimes hired to load semi-trucks. It’s oftentimes a more efficient way to keep trucking schedules on time. But when employees of these businesses are negligent, that can cause huge problems.

Cargo that’s not loaded in the proper fashion can come loose during transit. When this happens inside a trailer, that can put far too much weight on one side. The driver can easily lose control, leading to a severe accident.

Types of Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents

The average passenger car weighs about 4,000 pounds. The average commercial truck is 20 times heavier. It’s not hard to imagine, then, that when a truck strikes a car, the car will suffer much more damage than if it had been hit by another four-wheel vehicle. The injuries are usually much worse as a result. These are some of the more common severe injuries that occur.

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Internal injuries
  • Amputations
  • Burns
  • Broken bones
  • Death

Multiple Parties Can be Liable for a Truck Accident

Injury victims can, in many cases, earn significant compensation after a truck accident. One of the reasons why is that more than one party can be to blame. The driver could have been drunk or tired. The trucking company might have failed to repair the brakes – or those brakes could have been negligently manufactured.

There is a chance that your attorney could take action on your behalf against several different parties, helping you receive much more money as a result.

How Can an Illinois Truck Accident Attorney Help You?

Before all of the potentially liable parties can be identified, however, a detailed investigation must take place first. If you hire a truck accident attorney who has a lot of experience, they’ll know exactly how to conduct that investigation. This will not only determine who was to blame, it will also gather the proof it takes for you to have the best chance of winning your case.

What is My Claim Worth?

Your medical bills, lost wages and destroyed property will all cost money, of course. These financial losses are known as damages. The investigation will also determine the worth of your case – the amount of money your attorney will demand from all parties that played a role in causing the accident.

Do I Need to Hire a Truck Accident Attorney?

Since the severity of the injuries stemming from a truck accident is so much worse, the treatment required is a great deal more expensive. Truck insurance policies can easily top $1 million, or even $2 million. Insurers and trucking companies fight hard to protect them.

At Penn Kestner & McEwen, we’re not intimidated by our opponents, no matter how big they might be. We’re always completely confident when going up against them, because we know we have the truth on our side – and that’s much more powerful than an insurance company’s high-priced legal team.

Let us put our experience to work for you. Schedule a free evaluation of your case by calling (800) 732-3070 or contacting us online as soon as possible.