Chicago Box Truck Accidents

Interstate Truck Crashes

According to the American Trucking Association, commercial trucks make up 14.4% of all registered vehicles. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that more than 3.5 million people work as truck drivers, making truck driving one of the most widely held occupations in the country.

Commercial vehicles could weigh up to 40 tons when fully loaded and towing cargo, which is twenty times heavier than the average passenger vehicle. Due to their enormous size, weight, and the force of impact they can cause in a collision, crashes involving large trucks frequently result in severe, catastrophic, or fatal injuries and devastating property damage. The truck accident lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. have represented crash victims for over 40 years. You can contact us to learn more about your legal options for pursuing financial recovery if you were injured in an interstate truck crash.

Get help from the nearest truck accident attorney in Chicago

Major Interstates in Chicago and Throughout Illinois

If you were hit by a large commercial truck in Illinois, you should speak to an experienced truck accident attorney right away. Time is of the essence because it can take time for your lawyer to build a robust and compelling truck accident case on your behalf.

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., our knowledgeable interstate lawyers can launch an independent investigation into the collision, gather witness statements, and get started on your claim while you focus on your recovery. We routinely represent those who’ve been injured in truck crashes on Illinois interstates, such as:

Our lawyers understand how complex truck crash cases can be. We will work tirelessly to help you seek a settlement that covers any expenses you incurred after the crash. We handle cases on a contingency-fee basis so that you won’t owe us any upfront legal fees. Our attorneys only get paid if they secure compensation for you.

Illinois Truck Collision Statistics

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 11,741 tractor-trailer crashes in Illinois in a recent year. Tractor-trailers made up about 3.8 percent of all motor vehicle crashes that year. Over half of all fatal truck crashes occurred in urban areas, while 48 percent occurred in rural areas.

Truck crash fatalities decreased by 4.8 percent from the year before, though 116 people still lost their lives in truck accidents across the state. Most fatalities were occupants of other vehicles. In fact, 89 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in truck crashes in one recent year, while just 17 fatalities were tractor-trailer occupants.

Causes of Semi-Truck Crashes

Commercial truck collisions have many causes. Most truck crashes are caused by driver error. Some of the most common causes of semi-truck crashes include:

Parties other than the truck driver sometimes contribute to truck collisions. By conducting a thorough, professional investigation of the incident, your attorney can uncover the facts of your case and determine who is responsible for your injuries.

Legal Responsibility for Interstate Trucks in Chicago, IL

Determining who is responsible for a truck crash can be especially tricky. When two passenger vehicles are involved in a crash, the person who caused the wreck is typically liable for the other person’s expenses and losses.

However, if you were involved in a truck crash, there may be more than one at-fault party. Some of the most common liable parties in a truck collision include:

  • The truck driver
  • The trucking company
  • The truck’s owner
  • Third-party maintenance companies
  • Cargo loading companies
  • Defective truck part manufacturers

A seasoned truck accident attorney can help you identify the party or parties who contributed to the crash. Any party that is found to have contributed to it can be held liable through a personal injury claim.

Proving Negligence in Interstate Truck Accident Cases

The first step in proving liability for a truck crash is establishing negligence. To do this, you will most likely need to secure the services of an experienced truck accident lawyer.

A lawyer will have the skills and resources to gather evidence of liability, including:

  • Cell phone records
  • The truck driver’s logbooks
  • The truck’s black box
  • Trucking company and cargo company records
  • Surveillance video and traffic camera footage
  • The driver’s blood-alcohol-concentration (BAC) results
  • Accident reconstruction expert testimony

For your case to be successful, you’ll have to show the at-fault party was obligated to protect you from harm and that they failed to uphold that responsibility. For instance, if a truck driver was texting just before a crash, that would most likely be considered negligence. If a cargo loading company failed to secure cargo properly, that would also likely be considered negligence.

You will also have to demonstrate that the at-fault party’s negligence directly led to your injuries and that you suffered compensable losses due to the incident. Losses can be financial or non-financial in nature.

Financial Compensation after an Interstate Truck Incident

Some of the most common types of losses you can be compensated for after a truck crash include:

  • Medical expenses
  • Rehabilitative care
  • Lost income
  • Lost or reduced future income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Vehicle repairs or replacement

Even if the truck driver or another entity is clearly at-fault for the wreck, it won’t always be easy to obtain the compensation you deserve. Insurance adjusters are notorious for reducing or denying claims for all sorts of reasons to save the insurance company money. If multiple parties contributed to the collision, you might have to face off against multiple insurance companies.

That’s why it’s crucial to retain an attorney from the outset. Hiring a knowledgeable legal professional to independently calculate the value of your claim and negotiate with the insurance company can be extremely helpful while you are trying to recover from your injuries.

Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. Today

Were you injured in a truck crash caused by another party’s negligence? If so, reach out to the Illinois truck accident lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today to find out how our experienced legal team can help you pursue the financial relief you deserve. Our diverse team of top litigators has recovered more than $2 billion to date. We are ready to help you, too. Contact us right away for a free consultation.