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Plainfield Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial trucks transport goods and services all across the country. With Route 30, 59, and 126 running directly through Plainfield, and Interstate 55 running on the outskirts of the village, it’s not uncommon to see large trucks driving through the area. While most pass through with little to no incident, accidents do happen. If you’ve been involved in a wreck, you’ll benefit from seeking guidance from a Plainfield truck accident lawyer.

A tractor-trailer crash has the potential to leave victims with serious physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Often times, human error is the cause of the wreck. When a truck driver is negligent, a trucking company fails to maintain their vehicles properly, or a manufacturer makes a mistake, other vehicles on the road, particularly smaller passenger vehicles, are at risk of getting into an accident.

At Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, we’re here to help Plainfield accident victims recover compensation for the losses through personal injury claims. To understand why legal action is available to crash victims, let’s take a look at the impact truck accidents have on Plainfield.

Truck Accidents in Plainfield

Even though Plainfield is a small village, a number of crashes involving commercial vehicles happen in and around the area every year. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the area saw over 1,700 accidents involving single-unit trucks, tractors with semi-trailers, and tractors without semi-trailers in 2018. Hundreds of those crashes resulted in injury and eight were fatal.

While the Department of Transportation has yet to release facts and statistics for 2019, a significant number of tractor-trailer accidents occurred that year as well. In one crash, in November 2019, Illinois State Police identified the man killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Route 126 and Ridge Road. The crash happened after a semi-trailer entered the intersection after the traffic light had turned red. A pickup truck was struck by the semi and the semi rolled into another vehicle that was stopped at the red light.

Realizing you or a loved one has been involved in a crash is overwhelming. If you believe the trucker or another party is to blame for what happened and you decide to pursue a truck accident claim you will need a lawyer who understands truck crash litigation. There are a number of types and causes of semi collisions.  Understanding how and why these crashes happen will help you build a claim that provides maximum compensation for your injuries.

What Are the Most Common Types of Tractor-Trailer Crashes?

The type of tractor-trailer accident you’re in is usually based on the position of impact. How a truck driver hits you can be an indicator as to what was happening in the moments leading up to the collision. Some of the most common types of semi wrecks include the following:

  • Jackknife. A jackknife accident occurs when a semi’s trailer swings out past the cab, forming an “L” or “V” shape. These accidents often happen when the truck driver loses control of the vehicle. In the event this occurs at high speeds in a traffic-dense area, it’s likely multiple vehicles will be involved.
  • Rollover. Because of their size, tractor-trailers have a high center of gravity. This means that they are susceptible to rollover accidents. Sharp turns and inclement weather are two common contributing factors to rollover accidents. When a large truck flips, it could crush vehicles in other lanes or lose potentially hazardous cargo.
  • Override. Override accidents happen when a tractor-trailer drives over top of the vehicle in front of them. This can happen if a truck is distracted or if they do not have the room they need to brake. These accidents often result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
  • Underride. Similar to override crashes, underride collisions happen when a smaller vehicle runs into the back of a tractor-trailer. While this would be considered a rear-end crash if the vehicles were the same size, it’s called an underride because the smaller vehicle is likely to get stuck underneath the trailer.
  • Lost Load. As mentioned, commercial vehicles haul a variety of goods and services. Some of those goods are hazardous or very large, so it’s important that the trailers are loaded properly. When they’re not, there’s the risk of the cargo flying off and hitting other vehicles or spilling on the roadway.

No matter what type of crash you’ve been involved in, your truck accident attorney will investigate the circumstances and help you determine how best to proceed to maximize your compensation in order to protect your future.

Building a Strong Truck Accident Claim

The strength of a truck accident claim is dependent upon the details of the accident and the efforts of your lawyer during the settlement negotiation or litigation. To build a strong case from the beginning, your attorney will focus on gathering evidence, interviewing potential witnesses, working with experts to develop strong, appropriate testimony, and properly working-up your damages claim so you receive the maximum compensation so that you can focus on getting your life back in order.

Immediately following a crash, it’s important to seek medical attention. Not only do you want to ensure your personal safety and well-being, but receiving medical attention will help your claim. You’ll have reliable records of your injuries. The physical trauma can also indicate the type of crash you were in.

If possible, you’ll also want to gather and preserve evidence from the scene of the accident. This could involve taking photographs or videos of the scene, the damage to the vehicles, and photographs or videos of your injuries. Speak with any witnesses to see if they’re willing to provide you with their contact information. Your lawyer will use the evidence you collect with the police report and their own findings to determine what happened.

With most claims, you’ll be dealing with an insurance company. An adjuster will be assigned to your case and they will conduct their own investigation. It’s important to let your lawyer handle these conversations so nothing is said that could jeopardize your claim.  If you speak to an adjuster without the assistance of a lawyer, you may unknowingly say something that can hurt your claim.

Throughout the truck accident claim process, your Plainfield injury attorney will focus on proving how you were wronged and that you are owed compensation for your injuries. Depending on the circumstances, you could be eligible for economic and noneconomic damages, including money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of a normal life and more.

Contact Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP

If you’re dealing with serious injuries or the loss of a loved one after a truck crash, a Plainfield truck accident lawyer can help. We recognize the struggles that come with dealing with the aftermath of a tractor-trailer crash. In order to maximize your chances of making a full recovery physically and mentally, you need to have a secure financial future.  Hiring an experienced trucking lawyer who understands the issues and works the case may be the difference between the success or failure of your claim.

Because of the nature of truck accidents, taking legal action can be complex. Fortunately, Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP has extensive experience handling all types of cases. No matter who the at-fault party is, we’ll conduct a thorough investigation to determine what when wrong and why.

While many personal injury claims result in a settlement offer, that’s not always the case. While we will do our best to negotiate with the opposing party to get you a full and fair settlement offer, we won’t hesitate to take your claim to court if getting a jury verdict is necessary.

The sooner you get in touch with a truck accident attorney after your crash, the better your chances are of receiving the compensation you’re owed. To learn more about your legal rights and options or to get started on your claim, contact us for a free, no obligation consultation today.

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