Truck Accident Attorneys in Chicago

Truck crashes are far more common than many people realize. There are around 500,000 trucking accidents every year in the United States and about 4,500 of them are fatal. 130,000 individuals are injured in truck accidents each year and over 2,000 are injured in Illinois alone.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Typical causes of commercial truck accidents include:

• Faulty truck and parts maintenance
• Improper maintenance of trucks and their parts
• Truck part manufacturing defects
• Truck driver error, including speeding, driving under the influence, drowsy driving and other errors
• Car driver error, such as tailgating large trucks
• Jackknifing, which is often itself the result of incorrect braking or mechanical errors
• Poor driver screening or training
• Overweight cargo

If you’ve been in a truck accident, it’s important to consult with a Chicago truck accident lawyer to ensure that your interests are protected and that you have the legal support you need. Truck accident lawyer, George Argionis, has had years of experience prosecuting trucking accident cases.

What Is the Difference Between Truck Accidents and Car Accidents?

Many drivers assume that truck accidents are just like any other car accident and that insurance will handle all the details and costs. In fact, there are a few important differences between truck and car collisions:

• The claims are more complicated with truck collisions: A truck may be owned by one company, rented by a second and carrying cargo for a third. It may be driven by an independent contractor. All these factors can make the claims process more complicated, meaning you need an Illinois truck accident attorney to find all liable parties in your case.
• Truck drivers have more protection: Truck companies have teams of attorneys and powerful insurance. In an accident, they may blame the car driver, even if the motorist was not at fault. To protect your driving record and get the compensation you need, consult with a Chicago truck accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident.
• The injuries are more serious with truck accidents: The size of a truck means injuries from this type of collision tend to be more serious and more expensive to treat. For these reasons, it’s essential to consult with an Illinois truck accident lawyer to ensure more of your costs are covered.

There are many federal laws that trucking companies must follow to ensure the safe driving of trucks on our roads. An experienced trucking lawyer like George Argionis will make sure to investigate whether the trucker and trucking company followed all the federal rules.

Chicago Truck Accident FAQ

Involvement in a truck accident can be a life-altering experience that leaves you with many questions. It can be hard to know whether a legal claim exists and, if so, how to approach it. We’ve answered some common questions below to help you make decisions regarding your claim and, if applicable, moving forward with filing.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for a Truck Accident?

In general, you must start your claim process within two years of the collision date. Exceptions may exist in specific circumstances, and your lawyer will know for sure when they apply.

The sooner you involve legal representation, the better. Doing so gives your attorney the most time to prepare a successful case for you.

Should I Sue a Trucking Company?

When you’ve experienced a collision, you should consult an experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer. The team of attorneys at Argionis & Associates is familiar with the types of damages you could receive and the legal process required to file a claim for compensation.

Our professionals work on contingency, meaning we only get paid if we successfully negotiate or litigate your claim for you. There’s no risk in discussing your case with us!

I Was Partially at Fault for a Trucking Accident. Can I Still Collect?

Illinois has a law called modified comparative negligence. You can sue regardless of fault, though you can only recover damages if you are less than 50% responsible.

Under the modified comparative negligence standard, each at-fault party bears a percentage of the blame. If your actions contributed 25% to the collision, you could receive 75% of the award total — the rate other parties are accountable for. For example, with a $100,000 award, you’d collect $75,000.

Your Argionis & Associates attorney will work to ensure fault is fairly assigned so you get the best possible settlement.

What Questions Should I Ask a Lawyer About a Truck Accident?

Once you’ve decided to hire an attorney after your Chicago truck accident, you should ask your potential representation some questions to ensure they’re a good fit for you. You can use these as a starting point:

• How do you get paid?
• What kind of communication should I expect, and who is my primary point of contact?
• What is your experience with truck accidents?
• How many cases have you handled successfully?
• What kind of settlement can I expect?
• Are you willing to go to court if negotiations aren’t productive?

Make a note of any additional questions that occur to you so you can ask them at your consultation.

How Much Is the Average Semitruck Accident Lawsuit?

Semitruck accidents can be complex since many parties may share fault. Plus, each victim’s injuries, damages and income differ. Your Argionis & Associates attorney will go over your unique case details with you to give you more information about the compensation you can expect.

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Semitruck Accident?

Many semitruck accident claims finalize with a settlement from the insurance company, and several factors can affect the time frame of this process. More complex claims may take longer, and court cases can take years to settle.

Factors to Consider If You Find Yourself in a Truck Accident

If you’re in a truck accident, you’ll want to consider a few factors. For example, there may be multiple types of investigation needed. The insurance carrier for the trucking company will conduct an investigation, and the police will launch their own, as will your own insurance company. There may even be other car drivers involved.

Your injuries are also more likely to be long-term with this type of accident. Serious injuries from a truck accident, such as soft tissue injuries or spinal cord trauma, can mean years of treatment and slowly increasing medical costs. You need an experienced truck collision lawyer in Chicago to ensure you get a fair offer.

A truck collision attorney in Chicago can help you navigate the claims process. If you’ve been in a tractor-trailer collision or semi-truck rollover and are seeking an attorney, contact truck accident attorney George Argionis at (312) 782-4545 for a free consultation. With our law firm, you’ll always speak to an attorney about your case. We’ve handled tractor-trailer rollovers, semi-truck collisions and other trucking accident cases in Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and other parts of the U.S. Contact us today.