What to Know About Box Truck Accidents
Did you suffer injuries in a box truck collision in Chicago? If so, you should not have to face the prospect of unexpected medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering from a crash that was not your fault alone. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you pursue the compensation you need to fully heal and move forward with your life.
What Is a Box Truck?
A box truck is a large commercial vehicle that can weigh up to 33,000 pounds. Also called a cube truck, a box truck is characterized by its box-like shape, roll-up doors, and enclosed cargo area. The United States Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, moving companies, and construction vendors often use box trucks in their business operations.
How an Experienced Chicago Box Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you sustain injuries in a box truck crash in Chicago, the experienced truck accident attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can handle the legal aspects of pursuing the compensation you deserve, allowing you to focus on healing.
When you hire a Chicago box truck accidents lawyer from Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., you will work with a law firm that has secured over $2.5 billion for its deserving clients. Although past results do not guarantee future success, our esteemed law firm recovered the largest compensatory verdict award to an individual plaintiff in Illinois history. Our personal injury attorneys have also secured more than 350 verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more, including a $17.9 million jury verdict for a woman injured in a semi-tractor trailer crash.
With over 20 proven litigators and 35 support personnel, our legal team has the knowledge and resources to build a robust truck accident case that stands up to any challenges from trucking companies and their high-powered insurers.
Dangers of a Box Truck Accident
Box trucks outweigh cars and SUVs by tens of thousands of pounds, making them a dangerous companion on Chicago’s congested roadways. Their higher center of gravity makes them prone to tipping over, and their cube-like shape creates large blind spots, increasing the likelihood of hitting smaller vehicles, motorcyclists, and bicyclists when changing lanes.
However, the most common threat from box trucks comes from commercial truck drivers. Whether due to inexperience or negligence, a truck driver who fails to follow the rules of the road or violates Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations puts every motorist in harm’s way.
Types of Box Truck Accidents
Because of the unique combination of a box truck’s size, weight, and shape, they are at a greater risk for particular types of crashes, such as:
- Blind-spot crashes – Box trucks have large blind spots on all sides. A delivery truck driver who fails to recognize or check blind spots before changing lanes can easily sideswipe a car next to it.
Rollovers – Box trucks are more susceptible to rollover accidents because of their height and shape. Rollovers are particularly dangerous because they can strike and crush multiple vehicles or people in their path.
Loading/unloading accidents – Since box trucks are primarily used for moving goods or packages, properly secured cargo is crucial. Other drivers are at risk if unsecured cargo throws the truck off balance or spills onto the road.
Common Causes of Box Truck Collisions
Crashes involving commercial vehicles occur for many reasons, such as:
- Truck driver error
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Unexpected stops
- Poor cargo securement
- Improper maintenance
- Inadequate training
Who Is Responsible for Box Truck Accidents?
Determining liability for a box truck accident can be complicated. A Chicago truck accident attorney will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the crash to identify all potentially responsible parties. Possible defendants include:
- Truck driver – The driver may be at fault if they failed to operate the box truck safely or broke state and federal trucking laws. For example, truckers who speed, tailgate, or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be liable if their actions cause a collision.
- The truck company – If a trucking company employed the driver, it could be financially responsible for the driver’s negligence through the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. The company could also be directly liable if negligent hiring, inadequate training, or insufficient supervision of the driver led to the crash.
- The box truck manufacturer – If a truck component failed and contributed to the crash, the parts manufacturer may be partially at fault.
Financial Compensation You Can Recover in a Truck Crash
Truck accident victims often suffer severe injuries that require intensive medical treatment and have a prolonged recovery period. Paying off medical bills, particularly if you cannot work due to your injuries, can cause immense stress and financial hardship.
Fortunately, Illinois law allows injured people to seek compensation when they suffer harm due to another party’s carelessness. Working with an experienced truck accident lawyer can help maximize your box truck accident claim.
To place an estimated value on your truck accident lawsuit, your attorney will inventory your financial losses and examine the impact the box truck crash had on your life. In Illinois, you can recover compensation for actual economic losses as well as intangible ones like pain and suffering. A knowledgeable lawyer will know how to place an appropriate value on your case and demand every dollar you deserve.
Potential compensation in a box truck accident claim may include money for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, or other rehabilitative services
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Loss of consortium
Contact Our Truck Crash Lawyers for a Free Consultation
For over 40 years, the Chicago truck accident lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. have helped injured people demand justice and accountability after being hurt in collisions caused by others’ negligence. If you or a loved one needs top-tier legal representation following a crash with a box truck or delivery van, call or contact our law firm today for a free consultation.
