Jerseyville Truck Accident Lawyer

Jerseyville Truck Accident Attorney

Accidents with large commercial trucks have severe and devastating consequences for everyone on the road. These collisions are more likely to cause catastrophic, disabling, and fatal injuries. An experienced Jerseyville truck accident lawyer is crucial to navigating legal claims for damages after these complicated accidents. Many parties within a trucking company and third parties could be responsible, and a complete investigation is needed to uncover faults.

The devastating consequences of a truck accident can affect someone for the rest of their life. If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a trucking accident, a Jerseyville personal injury lawyer could help recover the damages you are owed and hold the negligent party liable for their part in causing the crash.

What Are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Jerseyville?

Truck accidents and other motor vehicle accidents are typically caused by the negligence of a driver or other party on the road. Truck accidents are more complicated than other car accidents in Jerseyville because many parties could be liable or vicariously liable for a truck accident in Jerseyville, IL. Many parties are responsible for the maintenance, care, and upkeep of trucks and for the scheduling and management of driving those trucks. Sometimes, multiple parties are liable.

Determining liability for trucking accident injuries first requires determining what caused the accident. Some common causes of truck accidents include:

• Distracted Driving: Truck drivers and others on the road can be distracted any time they take their attention or eyes off the road. This may include eating, texting, changing music, or dealing with a GPS system.
• Driver Fatigue: Fatigued drivers are much more likely to cause an accident due to lowered reaction response times. Drivers may even fall asleep on the road. Truck drivers who fail to comply with federal truck regulations for rest and breaks are more likely to be driving fatigued. Truck driver employers may encourage drivers to ignore these breaks and transport items more quickly.
• Reckless Driving: Driving recklessly includes actions like failure to yield, unsafe lane changes, failure to check blind spots, running red lights and stop signs, dangerous turns, and speeding. Reckless driving increases the chances of an accident. Speeding also increases the damage from any accident. Reckless driving may be more likely if truck drivers are given unrealistic deadlines to meet.
• Aggressive Driving: Aggressive driving, like tailgating or cutting off other drivers, often leads to accidents.
• Driving Under the Influence: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal and can cause accidents. Truck drivers with commercial licenses have a much lower legal limit than other drivers. Even prescription drugs can impair a driver’s ability to make rational decisions quickly.
• Improper Maintenance: Commercial vehicles are on the road often, carrying heavy cargo. Maintenance routines are essential to keep trucks safe. Trucks are more likely to malfunction if employers do not ensure trucks are maintained, if an unsafe truck is cleared to be on the road, or if a maintenance team completes faulty repairs.
• Improper Loading: Incorrectly loaded or overloaded truck trailers can cause brakes or tires to fail or trailers to become unbalanced.
• Insufficient Training: Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring their employees are properly trained or have the correct credentials. Inexperienced or untrained truck drivers are more likely to cause accidents.
• Vehicle Defects: Unreasonably dangerous or defective products that make up a truck or other motor vehicle can cause an accident. The designer, manufacturer, or distributor of the vehicle component may be strictly liable.
• Poor Road Conditions: Unsafe road conditions can be caused by inclement weather, poorly maintained roads, or badly designed roads. Drivers have to reduce their speed to reasonable levels when visibility is bad or roads are wet or icy. Other parties may be at fault for failing to maintain roads and road signs.

Jerseyville Truck Accident Law FAQs

Q: How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?

A: How much most truck accident settlements are worth does not tell an injured individual the value of their own claim. Truck accident settlements have the potential to be very high, but not all settlements will be. The value of your truck accident settlement will be affected by factors such as:

• How serious your injuries are
• Your attorney’s skill and abilities
• Whether the case goes to court or not
• How much evidence supports your claim
• How many parties are liable for your injuries
• Your percentage of liability
• The insurance limits of the other party

Q: What Is a Trucking Settlement?

A: A trucking settlement recovers an injured party’s losses from a trucking accident, typically outside of court in Jerseyville. It is settled between the injured party and the at-fault party, and the insurance companies and legal representation of both parties. A trucking settlement could recover losses like:

• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Lost income
• Lost future income
• Pain and suffering

The more significant these losses are, the more significant a trucking settlement should be to compensate for those damages.

Q: What Should You Do After a Truck Accident in Jerseyville, Illinois?

A: After a truck accident, you should take some of the following steps:

1. Call emergency services to report the accident and any injuries.
2. Move vehicles and/or passengers somewhere safe if possible.
3. Receive emergency medical care.
4. Report the accident to the officer on the scene.
5. Do not admit fault.
6. Exchange contact and insurance information from the other parties in the accident.
7. Get contact information from any witnesses on the scene.
8. Document the scene.
9. Report the accident to your insurance provider.
10. Find an attorney.

Q: How Much Does a Jerseyville Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?

A: How much a truck accident lawyer costs can be very different depending on the attorney and the specifics of your case. Most personal injury attorneys charge a contingency fee, meaning they take a portion of the final settlement only if they are successful.

This percentage can be higher or lower based on certain factors. A more complicated truck accident case that requires a lot of resources or goes to court will have higher attorney costs. A more experienced attorney may also have higher rates.

Get in Touch With a Truck Accident Attorney in Jerseyville

Many truck accident claims are against the insurance provider of a corporate trucking company, and these providers have significant resources. You need an attorney to provide you with similar resources and strong advocacy. Contact Joshua R. Evans, Attorney at Law, and see how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.