Springfield Truck Accident Lawyer
From major highways like I-55 and I-72 around Springfield, to various local roads, large trucks are often a constant presence. There are many types of large trucks that transport materials and goods on Illinois roads, including semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and larger delivery vehicles for Amazon, UPS, and other companies. Given that these trucks are all much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, collisions that involve large trucks tend to be particularly severe. If you or someone you love sustained serious or life-threatening injuries in a truck crash, it is important to seek legal help. Contact our experienced Springfield truck accidents lawyer today.
- Delivery Truck Accidents
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Drowsy or Fatigued Driver Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Failure To Yield Accidents
- Garbage Truck Accidents
- Hit & Run Accidents
- Improper Turn & U-Turn Accidents
- Red Light Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- Speeding Accidents
- Stop Sign Accidents
- Texting While Driving Accidents
- Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Uninsured Driver Accidents
Learning About Springfield Truck Accidents
Large truck crashes are on the rise, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). Recent data shows that large truck fatalities have risen by about 17 percent, and approximately 68 percent of the people who were killed were occupants of other passenger vehicles involved in collisions with trucks. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists represented about 15 percent of those deaths.
What causes most trucking collisions in the Springfield area? There are many different causes, such as:
- Truck driver error, including but not limited to drowsy or fatigued driving, drunk driving, aggressive driving, and distracted driving;
- Negligent upkeep or maintenance for the truck;
- Truck defect, such as defective truck brakes or defective tires;
- Negligent repairs on the truck;
- Improper loading of a trailer or overloading of a delivery vehicle;
- Hazards on the roadway, such as uncleared debris;
- Another motorist’s negligence, including a negligent car or SUV driver or motorcyclist; and
- Inclement weather.
Liability for Springfield Truck Accidents
Liability for a Springfield truck accident will depend upon the cause of the crash. In many truck crash cases, more than one party may be liable for a person’s injuries. Given that trucking collisions often result in permanent disabilities or fatalities, it is important to be able to file a claim against a defendant with deeper pockets, such as the owner of the truck or trucking company. Examples of parties who may be liable for a truck accident in Springfield include but are not limited to:
- Truck driver;
- Driver of another vehicle who is negligent;
- Owner of the truck;
- Employer of the truck driver;
- Company that improperly loaded the truck;
- Designer or manufacturer of a defective truck part;
- Mechanic or mechanic shop where the truck was negligently repaired or serviced; and/or
- Owner of the property where the collision occurred.
To determine liability, it is important to work with an attorney who can assess the specific facts of your case. It is also important to remember that certain causes of crashes, like inclement weather, might appear as if nobody is at fault, but usually truck collisions in inclement weather result from the truck driver’s or another motorist’s failure to drive safely under the conditions. As such, drivers and other parties often are still liable for collisions that occur in heavy rain, snow, or low visibility.
Contact Patel Law, PC Today
Anyone who has been injured in a truck crash or who is dealing with the death of a loved one in a fatal trucking collision may be able to seek compensation through a truck accident claim. Contact our experienced Springfield truck accident lawyer today to find out more about filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
