Chicago Truck Accident Attorney
Regular cars and SUVs are no match for semi-trucks. If a regular-sized vehicle is hit by one of those 80,000-pound or more trucks, the aftermath can be devastating. Injuries suffered in these crashes are often life-changing. If you have been in one of these accidents, you do not have to fight the trucking companies and their insurers on your own.
At Flanagan Injury Law Group, LLC, our founding attorney L. Michael Flanagan, has extensive experience helping the victims of commercial truck wrecks recover compensation. A life-long resident of Chicago’s South Side, Mr. Flanagan knows how to aggressively seek the compensation you deserve in your personal injury case. He is ready to stand up for you against trucking companies and their insurers.
Featured Case Results In Past Trucking Accidents
| Recovery | Accident Type | Case Details |
|---|---|---|
| $2,400,000 | Semi-Tractor Rear-End | Will County: Client required lumbar surgery and decompression after being struck by another semi-tractor while on the job. Settled weeks before trial. |
| $1,800,000 | High-Speed Semi Crash | Cook County: Rear-end collision corroborated by an independent witness. Client suffered permanent spinal injuries requiring fusion surgery. |
| $1,750,000 | Fatal Commercial Crash | Lake County: Wrongful death recovery for a decedent struck by a commercial vehicle. Successfully resolved through mediation shortly before trial. |
| $1,200,000 | Pedestrian Hit-and-Run | Commercial Vehicle: A pedestrian was struck by a fleeing commercial vehicle. Firm secured video evidence; client suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and fractures. |
| $1,000,000 | Trucking Accident | Case against trucking company: Our client suffered a fractured femur, and we were able to recover funds in less than 24 months. Although the police report was not favorable, our team of experts and investigators were able to able to obtain the company’s policy limits. |
| $950,000 | Commercial Hit-and-Run | Commercial Hit-and-Run: Our firm sent investigators to the scene immediately to recover critical physical evidence that proved the client’s case. |
Disclaimer: The settlements and verdicts listed above are specific to the facts of each case. These results are for informational purposes only and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future legal matter.
Why Commercial Truck Accidents Demand An Experienced Attorney
People sometimes fail to realize how different semi-truck accident claims are from those involving cars. In many car accidents, the injuries will range depending upon the severity of the crash. However, in trucking accidents, the injuries are often much more significant, and the damage much more extensive. This makes commercial truck accident litigation much more complicated than the run-of-the-mill car accident.
In regular motor vehicle accidents, the insurance companies involved have much lower stakes than trucking accident claims. While they will still attempt to settle a claim for as little as possible in a car accident, in a truck accident the claims are much higher due to the serious nature of the injuries suffered. Insurance companies may fight over every last penny. Trucking companies may try to contest the claims because it hurts their bottom line.
An experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer knows how to prepare a comprehensive case that can protect your claim. At our firm, we understand the ins-and-outs of these cases, and are fully committed to helping you recover.
The Evidence Needed To Support A Semi-Truck Accident Claim
Trucking companies are regulated by Illinois state agencies as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These agencies have specific rules that must be followed by trucking companies and their drivers, and when an accident happens, it’s essential to begin examining the evidence of the crash as soon as possible to prove the trucking company’s negligence.
We act fast to obtain and review the critical data in these accidents, including:
- The “Black Box”: Trucks need to have Electronic Control Modules (ECM), which receive data regarding the speed of the truck, the braking patterns of the drive, as well as the throttle position of the vehicle at the moments before the crash. All of this can helps us establish the driver or company’s negligence in a crash.
- Driver Logbooks: Driver logbooks are mostly electronic now, so we can quickly gather this information to determine if the operator was driving in excess of hours-of-service limits.
- Maintenance and Inspection Records: Understanding the maintenance history of the truck is critical to knowing if it played a role in the crash. This can also help us show that the company was aware of potential issues with the vehicles that lead to the accident happening.
- Company Hiring Practices: Knowing how the company hires drivers, as well as the training they provide its employees, allows us to show that the company may have been negligent in their hiring practices or other day-to-day functions that may have placed motorists at risk.
Frequent Truck Accident Locations on Chicago’s South Side
Because Chicago is a vital transportation to the entire midwest, we constantly need to share the road with large semi-trucks each day. These 80,000-pound plus vehicles traveling throughout the city mean that accidents can happen almost anywhere at any time. We represent people injured in crashes throughout the city, including high-traffic areas on the South Side including:
- The Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94): Many accidents happen here due to the heavy traffic as well as frequent merges required when roadways come together/split off.
- The Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94): This is a route that is frequently traveled by 18-wheelers due to a heavy industrial presence near the road.
- Interstate 57 (I-57): Often a roadway that can see a high number of rear-end crashes due to trucks traveling at greater speeds than inside the metro area.
- The Chicago Skyway: Often traveled by trucks heading out of Chicago to Indiana in times of high-traffic and congestion.
Most Causes Of Commercial Semi-Truck Crashes
With the increased traffic, the potential for accident is always high. However, even with more vehicles on the roadway, the vast majority of people make it through the day without an incident. Most of these accidents happen due to actions of fellow motorists or truck drivers, or due to negligence on the part of the tricking company.
We review the accident as part of our thorough preparation in semi-truck wreck claims. The most common reasons for crashes that we see include:
- Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers face heavy pressure to make it to their next destination as quickly as possible. They may be in violation of Hours of Service (HOS) safety regulations, which can mean they did not get the required amount of time off of the road when the accident occurred.
- Blind Spot “No-Zone” Collisions: Trucks have many more blind spots than normal cars. It is much harder for a truck driver to see a car in a blind spot.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo: There are weight limits for truck loads. When loads exceed those limits, or when loads are not secured properly, it may result in the load shifting when the truck makes a turn or hard braking. This can cause jackknife or rollover accidents, both of which can be extremely dangerous to surrounding vehicles.
- Equipment or Brake Failure: Trucking companies are required to perform regular maintenance on vehicles, as well as have them inspected. We review the records to determine if companies took any shortcuts regarding inspection or repair.
- Distracted or Impaired Driving: Drivers may be on their phones or under the influence when a crash happens. We can review the evidence to determine if impairment or distraction were factors in the collision.
What Is Your Chicago Truck Accident Case Worth?
We are often asked how much a trucking accident case is worth, and the only way we can answer that right now is “it depends.” Several different factors influence the value of a personal injury claim. At Flanagan Injury Law Group, we review those factors to determine what compensation may be available to you, which may include:
- Past and Future Medical Bills: The serious injuries often mean extensive medical care. We connect the costs of your care to the injuries suffered in your accident.
- Lost Income and Diminished Earning Capacity: Some of these injuries may be significant enough that they prevent you from being able to return to your previous life or career. We make sure you are compensated for these changes.
- Pain and Suffering: These injuries can make doing almost anything impossible while recovering. We help you recover compensation for the pain and suffering you endured in the aftermath of the accident.
Contact A South Side Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer Today
You should not wait to reach out to an attorney after a crash, as trucking companies have begun building their defense the moment an accident happens. There is a very limited amount of time to preserve the evidence that we need to establish the factors most responsible for the accident. Additionally, Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Attorney L. Michael Flanagan, an attorney on the Illinois Personal Injury Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, offers entirely free, no-obligation consultations to discuss your claim. Take the first step toward holding the trucking company accountable. Call our South Side Chicago office today at 773-789-5870 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation.
