You can face a long road to recovery after a truck accident. A Joliet personal injury lawyer from Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. can help you along that road.
We have secured over $100 million for our collective 6,000 clients served and are ready to fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Connect with a truck accident lawyer in Joliet today. We’ll get right to work.
A Joliet Truck Accident Attorney Is Ready to Help
In Illinois, the statute of limitations for truck accident claims is usually two years from the accident date. The faster you connect with an attorney, the better. To file against the negligent party, we first need to investigate the accident and identify that party.
Investigations produce the strongest evidence when carried out soon after the crash. It’s easier to track down witnesses, and those witnesses are more likely to have vivid recall of what happened the less time that passes. Footage from mounted cameras or dashcams is also more likely to remain intact.
Physical evidence from the accident location and the vehicles involved is more available too. Your Joliet truck accident lawyer can send a preservation letter, ensuring any evidence in the other side’s possession remains secure and accessible. Once we gather evidence and determine liability, we can file your claim.
Truck Accidents Often Lead to Devastating Outcomes
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) collects truck accident crash statistics. The most recent full year of data shows Illinois experienced 6,594 truck crashes. These crashes produced 143 fatalities and 3,153 injuries.
The common injuries in truck accidents range from bone fractures, whiplash, and other soft tissue damage to catastrophic injuries. More moderate injuries can heal over time and with proper care, but still require time off from working and earning income, and cause pain.
Catastrophic injuries, such as brain trauma or spinal cord damage, can devastate the lives of victims and their families. Partial or full paralysis, and diminished cognition and physiological functioning are possible permanent outcomes.
These kinds of injuries can destroy earning potential, demolish finances, and send families into chaos. A truck accident attorney in Joliet will demand compensation.
Possible Negligent Parties in a Truck Accident
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. is equipped to dig through the details of your accident and find who is negligent. In truck accidents, there are a variety of possibilities.
They include:
- The Truck Company: They may fail to vet or train drivers, take unsafe drivers off the road, fail to adhere to maintenance schedules, or pressure drivers to drive longer and faster than regulations allow.
- The Truck Operator: Drivers must comply with all traffic laws, avoid dangerous driving practices, and follow all regulations governing hours on duty, mandatory rest, and other behaviors.
- A Vehicle Manufacturer: Preventable vehicle defects or malfunctions could lead to crashes and leave manufacturers liable.
- Truck Inspectors or Mechanics: Failure to recognize or repair mechanical problems can leave dangerous trucks on the road, putting all who encounter them in danger.
- A Government Office: Road maintenance, traffic signals, and street lighting fall under government purview, and lapses that cause accidents could leave the respective office liable.
- Another Vehicle Driver: A third-party driver could breach their duty of care to other drivers by driving recklessly or failing to obey traffic laws.
Our team knows the FMCSA regulations and what a truck’s operation must follow. We also know the procedures for filing against companies, private individuals, and government entities. No matter who caused your accident, we are prepared to hold them accountable.
We Fight for the Highest Compensation Available
Sometimes, insurance offers a settlement for a truck accident early on. Do not accept any offer until your Joliet truck accident attorney reviews it. Often, these fast offers are the at-fault party’s attempts to get you to agree to less than you deserve before you realize what your claim is actually worth.
Your attorney will assess your consequences with care and fight for the highest compensation you can receive for a truck accident claim. Damages can cover your economic and non-economic losses.
Economic damages recoup accident-related financial expenses, including medical bills, income loss, and property damage. If applicable, your attorney will seek future care costs and lost earnings.
Non-economic damages recognize the value of your physical pain, emotional stress, and reduced enjoyment of life. You may not be able to participate in activities and events as you once did.
Your injuries could leave you depressed and isolated. Your family life may suffer. These non-tangible consequences hold great worth and warrant acknowledgment.
How Comparative Negligence Affects Compensation Amounts
Illinois follows a comparative negligence system for personal injury claims, including those for truck accidents. Per Section 2-1116 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, victims who are more than 50% to blame for an accident cannot seek damages. Those who can file can still see their compensation reduced in proportion to whatever lower percentage of blame they bear.
The at-fault party’s representatives will take, or create, opportunities to put blame on you. Doing so helps reduce their payout or prevent one altogether. You need a team prepared to combat these attempts. With over 75 years of combined experience, our team is up to this task.
We know what to expect and how to plan for the unexpected, so nothing takes us by surprise. Your attorney will come to the negotiating table equipped with a strategy and armed with evidence. If the other side refuses to cooperate, we can help you decide whether going to trial is the best way forward. If so, you can count on us for fierce, effective representation at all court proceedings.
Choose Charlie and Get the Exceptional Representation You Deserve
Refuse to settle for less. Choosing Charlie is the first step in getting the justice you deserve. Reach out for a free consultation and put your claim in the strategic, capable hands of a Joliet truck accident lawyer from Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C.
We will put all of our experience, insight, and energy into fighting for the best possible claim resolution.
