Well-trained, experienced drivers are typically behind the wheel, but in some cases, accidents occur when mechanical components fail to operate as expected. These are devastating accidents, often causing the loss of life and severe disabling injuries.
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we can help you. Hire an inadequate braking ability truck accident lawyer in Chicago to advocate for you and uncover who is at fault. Our Chicago truck accident lawyers have over 75 years of combined experience.
Why Inadequate Braking Ability Happens
Trucks, including 18-wheelers, have complex braking systems that are necessary to stop up to 80,000 pounds of cargo moving at high speeds.
These braking systems require careful maintenance and routine inspection to ensure they are working properly. Drivers have specific training on when and how to stop to avoid accidents in virtually all conditions.
Yet, failures occur, and people’s lives are on the line. The most common reasons these braking accidents occur include:
- Overheated brakes, often from a lack of proper maintenance and upkeep, or improper braking methods
- Lack of maintenance in general, including worn brakes that are not replaced routinely as expected by the manufacturer
- Driver error, including slamming on the brakes frequently or failing to apply pressure properly
- Fading brakes from constant downhill use
- Overloaded trailers that put too much pressure on the braking system
- Poor adjustment of air brake systems
- Lack of proper inspection on a routine basis
Inadequate braking ability is disastrous. If the brakes cannot work properly, the truck cannot stop and will collide, causing serious damage and injuries. These accidents are often avoidable with proper care and use.
When that does not happen, and you suffer injuries, you can file a claim against those who are at fault with the help of our Chicago personal injury lawyers.
Proving Inadequate Braking Ability Caused Your Injuries
If you believe a truck’s brakes failed, or something else occurred mechanically to cause a truck to strike you, seek out the help of our attorney. We will investigate to determine what occurred by gathering evidence from multiple sources and piecing together your claim.
To prove inadequate braking ability caused your injuries and losses, our attorneys will seek data such as the following:
- Maintenance logs as required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations
- Documentation of service provided to the brakes, including who performed the service and what they did
- Documentation that shows the truck was properly inspected prior to the trip, as expected under the law
- Expert examination of the truck’s brakes to determine the condition and wear level
- Dash camera footage that may show what the driver experienced prior to the accident
- Witness statements that clarify what occurred
- Manufacturer data and other reports of accidents related to the braking of the same vehicle or the brake manufacturer
We review all the data to build a robust claim. We want to pinpoint exactly who failed in their responsibilities before the truck took off on that trip, putting your life at risk.
Our truck accident lawyer in Chicago has the experience and resources, along with the network required, to get to the bottom of what happened to you.
Our Chicago inadequate braking ability truck accident attorney will advocate for you throughout this legal process.
Who Is At Fault in Your Case Depends on the Details
It is very common for more than one party to be at fault in an accident like this. Using the evidence we uncovered, our legal team will pursue clarity on who is at fault.
Some of the most common parties to be at fault in these accidents include:
- The truck driver, if they failed to operate the vehicle properly
- The truck owner for any mechanical errors related to poor maintenance and upkeep
- Manufacturers of the truck or components of the truck, if those are faulty and caused the accident
- Third-party repair parties who failed to do their job
- Cargo loading companies that overloaded the truck beyond safe measures
As a victim, you have the right to pursue legal action against all parties at fault and seek fair compensation for any losses you have suffered.
With our experience on your side, you can expect the Chicago inadequate braking ability truck accident lawyer at Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., to aggressively pursue compensation from everyone who let this happen to you.
What Your Chicago Truck Accident Case Is Worth
Victims of truck accidents like this often face years of recovery from physical and emotional injuries and must navigate mounds of medical bills. There is no simple way forward, but our experience works for you in each of these cases.
We will review all your losses and aggressively pursue fair compensation. Some of the most common losses you may have include:
- Medical expenses from the accident and throughout your recovery
- Ongoing or long-term expected medical care needs and costs
- Loss of income and earning ability if you cannot do the same work again
- Healthcare costs for in-home support or future disease or injury care
- Property damage to your vehicle or other assets
- Pain and suffering for all you are going through
- Disfigurement for scars, burns, and amputations
- Emotional trauma due to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder
- Loss of quality of life due to limitations on hobbies and activities you love
- Loss of consortium, due to damage to relationships
What happened to you is not fair, and while our legal team cannot take away all of the pain you faced, we can make sure your voice is clearly heard by the insurance companies responsible for these trucking companies.
Many times, these are preventable accidents, and when that is the case, our advocacy fights for truly fair compensation for you.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Inadequate Braking Ability Truck Accident Attorney in Chicago Now
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. has decades of experience fighting for victims of truck accidents in Chicago and the surrounding area. With a 99% success rate and over $100 million in recovered losses, you can expect us to fight fully for your best outcome.
Meet with our inadequate braking ability truck accident lawyer in Chicago now. You pay us nothing up front, and you only pay our legal services when you win your case.
