If you were involved in a tractor-trailer collision and suffered injuries, you could have a viable claim for monetary compensation.
It is never easy to pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit on your own. For help with preparing your case for compensation, we encourage you to retain the services of a seasoned Orland Park truck accident lawyer with The Kryder Law Group, LLC. You can find out more about our firm during a free consultation with one of our committed injury attorneys.
Our Lawyers are at Your Service
Getting hurt or losing a loved one in a semi-truck crash can upend your life. While you focus on healing, our knowledgeable Orland Park heavy commercial vehicle lawyers can build a case on your behalf.
This job consists of tasks, such as:
Ordering the police report
Gathering photos and reviewing traffic camera footage
Taking witness statements
Naming the liable party or parties
Communicating and negotiating a settlement with the insurance company
Following all state-imposed timelines
Taking your case to court, if necessary
Your dedicated attorney can provide these services for you on a no-win, no-fee basis. Therefore, we do not require any payments upfront or hourly. Instead, they only take their fee out of your final financial outcome. That way, you don’t risk anything when you partner with us.
Compensation You Can File for After a Truck Collision
When it comes to tractor-trailer accident litigation, there are two general forms of compensation that could be available: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages losses are measurable, meaning their exact value could be determined through documentary evidence like receipts or paid bills.
Examples of these damages are:
Medical expenses
Lost wages
Lost earning potential
Vehicle repair or replacement
Non-Economic Damages
These losses are subjective losses that can vary from one person to another. Examples include pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium.
Pursuing the Party Responsible for Your Injuries
When you are involved in a collision with a large commercial truck, your first instinct might be to blame the operator of the commercial vehicle, which is understandable given that many truck accidents occur due to truck driver negligence.
However, in some cases, there could be other parties that also share some of the blame for causing your accident. Alternatively, the truck driver might not be responsible at all.
The Truck Operator
Often, truck crashes result from acts of negligence like speeding or following another vehicle too closely. When truck drivers are careless and cause a collision, it is possible to hold them accountable for any injuries that occur.
Trucking Companies
At times, it is possible to pursue an injury case against both the truck driver and their employer. Often, a legal theory known as respondeat superior will allow you to hold an employer accountable when their employee was negligent within the scope of their employment.
Trucking companies are also frequently negligent on their own. These companies have an obligation to ensure their trucks are safe enough to operate on the roadway. A trucking company could face liability for the failure to repair a damaged truck or for carelessly overloading a trailer.
Government Entities
There are also circumstances where a state or local government could be responsible for a truck accident. Public roadways are the responsibility of specific government entities.
When these governments fail to maintain the roads properly, they could face civil liability for accidents that occur. Governments could also be responsible for roadways that are inherently dangerous due to a design flaw. These design flaws could involve curves that are too tight or inclines that are too steep.
Truck or Part Manufacturers
One of the situations where truck drivers might not face any liability for a crash includes when a truck or part malfunction causes an accident.
These malfunctions could involve anything from defective brakes to failing tail lights. If a defective part is responsible for causing a truck crash, the manufacturer could be liable for any damages that occur.
Be Aware of the Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents in Illinois
The statute of limitations is the legal deadline that applies to every personal injury lawsuit. If you file your suit after the deadline expires, the court will often have little choice but to dismiss your case forever.
In Orland Park, the statute of limitations is governed by 735 ILCS 5/13-202. According to the statute, you have a general two-year window to file a lawsuit before you lose your right to do so forever. This window of time begins expiring the day the accident occurs. Outside of rare exceptions, it is difficult to prevent an expiring statute of limitations from impeding your chance at financial recovery.
You are not on your own when it comes to complying with the statute of limitations. One of the benefits of hiring our firm is that our team can ensure you comply with all of the deadlines that apply to your case. Frequently, we are able to resolve truck accident injury cases long before a lawsuit ever becomes necessary.
Contact an Orland Park Truck Accident Attorney Now
If you are seriously injured in a semi-truck wreck, it could take weeks, months, or years to heal. In some ways, your life might never be the same. An Orland Park truck accident lawyer with our firm could file a case on your behalf while you get your life back on track.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC wants to help you. Contact our firm right away for your free consultation. You won’t pay fees unless and until the end of your case should we secure compensation for you.
(312) 223-1700