Truck Accidents
Serious Truck Crashes Demand Serious Legal Representation
Truck accidents are among the most devastating collisions on Illinois roads. Due to their massive size and weight, accidents involving commercial trucks can cause catastrophic injuries, long-term disabilities, or even wrongful death. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Illinois is a major trucking corridor, with thousands of large commercial trucks traveling I-90, I-94, I-80. and I-55 every day.
- The average fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, making even low-speed crashes potentially deadly.
- Federal law requires trucking companies to maintain driver logs and electronic data, but this evidence can be lost if not secured quickly.
- Victims who hire experienced truck accident lawyers recover significantly higher settlements than those who go it alone.
At Rundio Injury Law, our Chicago truck accident attorneys have the experience, resources, and proven track record needed to take on trucking companies, insurance carriers, and their legal teams. We focus on preserving critical evidence, identifying all liable parties, and fighting to maximize the recovery of our clients.
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Why Are Truck Accident Cases Different than Car Accident Cases?
Truck accidents are far more complex than car accidents because they involve federal trucking regulations (FMCSA rules) and may involve state rules. In truck accident cases, there is also the potential for there to be multiple liable parties, like the truck driver, river, truck company, cargo loaders, truck maintenance contractors, and truck manufacturers, which leads to more complex litigation.
In some cases specialized commercial vehicles, like buses, are involved which have unique safety requirements. Despite the type of commercial vehicle involved, trucking insurance policies are usually larger than the automobile insurance policies, so there is more money at stake. This means commercial insurance companies hire aggressive, skilled attorneys to defend them. This means it is critical for the injured party to hire an attorney who knows how to handle trucking litigation from start to finish.
Preserving Critical Evidence
After a truck accident, or any accident really, time is of the essence. Key evidence can be lost or destroyed if not preserved quickly. Be aware of getting access to the following to improve your case:
- Driver time logs (to detect hours-of-service violations and driver fatigue)
- Electronic Control Module (ECM) or “black box” data (speed, braking, engine activity)
- Dashboard and surveillance video from the truck or nearby cameras
- Truck maintenance and inspection records
- Cargo loading documents that may show improper or unsafe loading practices
Rest assured though, Rundio Injury Law works closely with accident reconstruction specialists, trucking experts, and forensic investigators to secure and analyze all this evidence before it disappears.
What Are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
There are a variety of causes for Truck crashes. Most of them result from negligence, such as:
- Driver fatigue or drowsy driving
- Distracted driving (phones, GPS, dispatch devices)
- Speeding or unsafe lane changes
- Overloaded or improperly secured cargo
- Poor vehicle maintenance or defective equipment
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
What Are the Injuries That Can Occur in Truck Accidents?
The sheer force of a truck collision can cause life-changing injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Multiple fractures and crush injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Severe burns or lacerations
- Fatal injuries leading to wrongful death claims
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
It can be very difficult to think straight after a truck accident, we get that. The one thing you need to remember is this: Safety comes first. If necessary, call 911.
- Seek medical care even if injuries aren’t obvious.
- Photograph and take video of the accident location/scene, vehicles involved, and any visible injuries you have. This documentation will help your case.
- Collect contact and insurance information from all drivers involved in the accident and contact information for all witnesses.
- Contact Rundio Injury Law as soon as possible to ensure evidence is preserved.
How Much Could You Receive For Your Injuries in a Truck Accident?
No two accidents are the same. The amount of the settlement or jury verdict in your case depends on many factors, like the nature and extent of your injuries, the amount of your past and future medical bills, the amount of your lost income, the extent of your pain and suffering, and the impact the crash has on your daily life. Some cases resolve for thousands of dollars, while others involving severe or life-changing injuries can resolve for millions or tens of millions of dollars.
Rundio Injury Law is the Experienced Law Firm for Trucking Cases
When you work with us you’ll get over 25 years of successfully handled high-profile truck accident cases throughout Illinois. We know how to confront powerful trucking companies and their insurance companies, ensuring our clients receive maximum compensation for their injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, please don’t wait. Contact Rundio Injury Law today for a free consultation and let us start preserving the evidence that could make or break your case.
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Truck Accident Cases We Handle
Driver Fatigue
Truckers tend to be behind the wheel for long periods of time as they make deliveries across the nation. Trucking companies are supposed to regulate how long drivers work and when they sleep and take breaks, but recent reports suggest that many trucking companies do not enforce these regulations and may even threaten their drivers to work more hours than is legal. This can cause devastating crashes when a trucker is sleep-deprived.
Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving is dangerous. Drivers can be easily distracted by cell phones, text messages, using their smartphones, or even changing the radio. Distracted driving is especially dangerous for professional truck drivers because their truck and trailer weigh so much the chances for devastating injuries in a collision are much greater than if a car or smaller vehicle was involved.
Overloaded Cargo
To save time and money, some trucking companies try and overload their cargo trailers to an unsafe capacity. This can make it easier for the trailer to topple or tip over when making a sharp turn or during windy conditions. Unsafe loading procedures can additionally cause a truck to become unstable on the road.
Drug or Alcohol Use
Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving costs lives. Truckers are at risk to drive while intoxicated just as regular drivers are.
Faulty Equipment
Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to inspect each truck each day before it is put in service. They are required to inspect the truck brakes, turn signals, and head and tail lights. Bad brakes or lights or turn signals that are not working on a truck can lead to truck accidents.
Improper Braking
When a driver of a trailer tractor is forced to make a quick stop or brakes too suddenly, their trailer is prone to swing forward at a faster rate than the truck’s cab due to momentum. This can cause the trailer to swing forward at an angle, forming a diagonal-shaped “jackknife” position. A jackknifing truck can cause major damage—without warning—to all other vehicles and occupants near it.
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