At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we have helped injured people since 2002 and bring 75 years of combined experience to serious injury claims.
Our Norwood Park truck accident lawyers represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, workers, and families hurt in crashes involving semi-trucks, delivery vehicles, utility trucks, and other commercial vehicles.
To learn about your legal options, contact us for a free consultation with a Norwood Park personal injury lawyer.
Types of Claims Our Norwood Park Truck Accident Lawyers Handle
Our firm handles claims involving:
- Semi-truck and tractor-trailer collisions.
- Box truck and delivery truck crashes.
- Garbage truck and utility truck accidents.
- Company vehicle collisions.
- Rear-end crashes involving heavy vehicles.
- Wide-turn, sideswipe, and lane-change crashes.
- Jackknife and rollover crashes.
- Pedestrian and bicycle collisions involving commercial vehicles.
- Fatal truck crashes and wrongful death claims.
Who May Be Responsible for a Norwood Park Truck Accident
A truck accident claim may involve several defendants. We do not assume the driver is the only responsible party.
We review the facts to determine whether a claim may be brought against:
- The truck driver.
- The trucking company or motor carrier.
- A company that owned or leased the truck.
- A business that loaded or secured cargo.
- A maintenance contractor.
- Another careless driver who contributed to the crash.
- A government entity, in limited cases involving public vehicles or unsafe public property.
Identifying all responsible parties can affect the available insurance coverage and the amount of compensation that may be recoverable.
How Illinois Fault Rules Can Affect Your Claim
Illinois uses modified comparative negligence in personal injury cases. If you are found partly responsible for the crash, your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50% responsible, Illinois law can bar you from recovering compensation.
Insurance companies know this rule and may try to place unfair blame on you. They may argue that you stopped suddenly, failed to see the truck, drove too fast, or should have avoided the collision.
Our Norwood Park truck accident attorneys respond with evidence, including the crash timeline, vehicle damage, witness accounts, medical records, and trucking records.
Injuries Caused by Commercial Truck Collisions
The force of a truck crash can cause severe injuries, even at lower speeds. Some injuries are obvious right away, while others become more painful over the following days.
Truck accident injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions.
- Neck, back, and spinal injuries.
- Broken bones.
- Shoulder, knee, and hip injuries.
- Internal bleeding or organ injuries.
- Burns, cuts, and scarring.
- Nerve damage.
- Crush injuries.
- Chronic pain.
- Anxiety, sleep problems, and fear of driving.
You should not feel pressured to settle before you understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, work restrictions, and long-term outlook.
Dealing With Insurance
After a truck crash, you may hear from the trucking company’s insurer quickly. The adjuster may sound helpful, but the insurance company’s goal is to limit what it pays.
You may be asked to give a recorded statement, sign a broad medical authorization, accept a quick settlement, or answer questions that shift blame onto you. You may have duties under your own auto policy, but the trucking company’s insurer does not represent your interests.
Before you give a recorded statement or sign paperwork, our legal team can explain what the request means and handle the communication for you.
Compensation Available in a Truck Accident Claim
A truck accident claim may seek compensation for the financial losses and personal harm caused by the crash. Depending on your injuries and the available insurance coverage, your claim may include:
- Ambulance, emergency room, and hospital bills.
- Surgery, therapy, medication, imaging, and follow-up care.
- Future medical treatment.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced earning ability.
- Pain and suffering.
- Disability or disfigurement.
- Loss of normal life.
- Vehicle repair or replacement.
- Rental car and other crash-related expenses.
If the crash caused a death, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim. These claims may include funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, grief, sorrow, and the loss of the relationship the family member provided.
Deadlines for Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Illinois
Most Illinois personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of injury. Wrongful death claims are often subject to a two-year deadline from the date of death. Claims involving public vehicles, public employees, or government entities can require action sooner.
The filing deadline is not the only timing concern. Trucking records, electronic data, video footage, and witness memories can disappear far earlier.
The sooner we are involved, the sooner we can send preservation letters, request records, and begin the investigation.
How Our Norwood Park Truck Accident Attorneys Build Your Claim
Our team is friendly, responsive, and prepared to go to bat for people who work hard and need help after a serious injury.
When we handle a truck accident claim, we can:
- Investigate the crash and preserve evidence.
- Identify the driver, motor carrier, vehicle owner, and insurers.
- Review trucking records, logs, and maintenance documents.
- Coordinate medical records and lien-based treatment options.
- Calculate your current and future losses.
- Handle insurer calls, letters, and settlement discussions.
- Prepare a lawsuit if the insurance company refuses to pay fair value.
Our founding partner previously worked on the insurance side, giving our firm insight into how insurers evaluate claims, defend claims, and negotiate settlements. We use that perspective to protect our clients from low offers and delay tactics.
Choose Charlie for Your Norwood Park Truck Accident Claim
Since 2002, Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. has represented injured people and families throughout the Chicago area. With more than $100 million recovered and 75 years of combined experience, we are ready to help you pursue the compensation available under Illinois law.
If you were hurt in a truck crash, contact us today for a free consultation with a truck accident attorney in Norwood Park. You pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.
