Springfield Truck Accident Attorney

Accidents involving large commercial trucks often lead to major injuries and significant property damage for those in regular vehicles involved. At Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC, we are standing by to help if you need a Springfield truck accident attorney by your side. We understand how challenging it can be to recover compensation from insurance carriers and aggressive trucking companies, and our Springfield personal injury lawyer is ready to fully investigate every aspect of your claim.

We Know How To Properly Handle Serious Truck Accident Claims

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a car, motorcycle, or other type of vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer or other commercial truck in central Illinois, call an attorney at the Illinois truck accident law firm of Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC, in Springfield. We are a team of effective, experienced personal injury trial lawyers with a proud record of recovering full and fair monetary damages on behalf of people injured because of truck driver negligence or truck company indifference. We offer a free consultation to review your case and explain your options. We represent truck accident victims on a contingency fee basis. If we cannot help you recover compensation for your injuries and financial damages, you will not pay attorneys’ fees.

Why Semi Truck Accident Cases Require An Experienced Lawyer

Truck companies know they face significant liability if they are sued because of negligence. Often, these companies carry additional personal injury liability insurance coverage, and many even self-insure to pay claims that exceed their coverage limits. These companies are often large, national, or multinational corporations with teams of experienced defense lawyers protecting their bottom line. A common strategy is to offer an early settlement that appears sufficient but may be significantly below the full extent of damages the victim is entitled to. We aggressively pursue full and fair compensation and work to keep as much money in your pocket as possible.

We offer zealous representation for people seeking damages resulting from any type of truck accident in central Illinois, including:

• Truck driver DUI, drug and alcohol abuse
• FMCSA violations
• Truck driver fatigue, asleep at the wheel
• Load violations, overweight or unbalanced load
• Truck maintenance violations
• Unsafe stops, improper emergency stopping procedures
• Construction zone accidents
• Drive-under accidents, jackknife accidents
• Illegal lane changes, truck driver reckless driving, speeding

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents cause serious injury to victims, and most of the causes of those accidents are preventable. When you work with a truck accident lawyer in Springfield, we will work hard to determine all potential factors that played a role in the cause of your accident. That enables us to assign fault to all parties involved. The following are some of the most common causes of truck accidents.

• Driver error: One of the most common causes of truck accidents is driver error, which includes any instance in which the driver did not operate the truck in a way that would be considered expected.
• Driver fatigue: A driver who is tired is less capable of maneuvering safely or handling fast-changing conditions.
• Poor vehicle maintenance: Trucks must be maintained properly to ensure they remain safe on the roadways.
• Road conditions: Poorly maintained roads can cause serious injury and losses when a driver cannot control the vehicle. Poor lighting can also be a factor.
• Speeding: Speeding behind the wheel of a truck is highly dangerous since it takes much longer for trucks to stop.
• Aggressive driving: This may include driving too close to other vehicles or switching lanes in an unsafe manner.
• Cargo-related injuries: When cargo is not secured properly, it may shift unexpectedly, and the truck driver may not be able to control the movement of the truck.
• Intoxication: A truck driver who is intoxicated is unable to operate a vehicle in the safest manner possible.

These common causes of truck accidents in Springfield are very commonly preventable. With good oversight and proper skill, truck drivers can avoid many of these risks.

How Much Compensation is Available for a Springfield Truck Accident Case?

Individuals who sustain injuries caused by the negligent actions of a truck driver, trucking company, or another third party may be able to recover various types of compensation for their losses. Our attorneys work diligently to recover economic and non-economic damages for every truck accident victim that we assist.

Economic damages after a truck accident include various calculable losses individuals will likely incur. By using receipts, bills, and estimates that come in after the incident, our team will work diligently to win our clients the best possible compensation for the following:

• Emergency medical bills arising due to the crash
• Ongoing hospital and doctor office visits
• Medical devices and prescription medications
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Lost wages if an individual cannot work
• Loss of future earning potential if a disability arises
• Property damage expenses

Non-economic damages in these particular cases revolve around what many consider “pain and suffering” a person endures as a result of the crash. The main issue with these types of losses is that there are no receipts, bills, or invoices to necessarily add up to reach a total. There are various accepted legal non-economic damage calculation processes that our team will use to help ensure clients recover compensation for their

• Physical pain and suffering damages
• Emotional and psychological distress
• Loss of quality of life

There is no set amount of compensation paid to track accident victims in Illinois. Rather, factors such as injury severity, the length of the recovery, whether or not they were shared fault, and the level of property damage can affect total compensation payouts.

How Is Fault Determined in Illinois Semi-Truck Accidents?

To determine fault in a semi-truck accident, the police or insurance company will look at all factors available, including all evidence that demonstrates what occurred. Ultimately, the evidence at the scene, witness statements, and information from truck logs can help to demonstrate what occurred and ultimately help to determine who is at fault.

To determine fault, the victim must show that the truck driver engaged in some type of action or inaction that caused the accident to occur and that the accident caused injuries sustained. Negligence is often assigned by the police officer responding to the scene or the insurance companies. However, your truck accident lawyer in Springfield can help to verify fault and build evidence to support your claims.

What Documents Are Needed to File a Truck Accident Claim?

To file a truck accident claim, you must present all evidence you have to the insurance company. This includes:

• All evidence that demonstrates who was at fault. That includes the police report.
• Documentation of your injuries suffered as a result of the accident, such as medical reports.
• Data from other losses you have, such as documentation proving you missed work and suffered damage to your vehicle, is needed.
• Information from witnesses that demonstrates other losses, such as emotional trauma or pain and suffering.
• Expert witness statements can help solidify your claims and demonstrate losses.

Your Springfield truck accident attorney will handle the actual process of submitting a claim. If necessary, they can answer questions and negotiate a settlement that is fair to you. While paperwork is important, providing a compelling amount of evidence that demonstrates your claims is a must.

Deadline for Filing a Truck Accident Claim in Illinois

It is imperative for truck accident victims to remain aware of the deadlines associated with filing these claims. First, the insurance carriers involved are going to require that the accident get reported very soon after the incident occurs. Failing to promptly file an insurance claim could result in the carrier delaying or denying the claim altogether.

Overall, the personal injury statute of limitations in Illinois is two years from the date the injury occurs. This means that a truck accident victim has a two-year window from the date the incident occurs to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent party, or they will not be able to recover any compensation for their losses.

Paying for a Springfield Truck Accident Lawyer

Paying for a Springfield truck accident attorney does not have to be impossible. At Holley, Rosen & Beard, LLC, we handle truck accident claims on a contingency fee basis. This means that clients never worry about paying legal fees until after we successfully recover compensation for their losses. In the event our team is not successful, clients pay absolutely no legal fees at all. Additionally, we handle all upfront and out-of-pocket costs related to your claim.

More Than 50 Years Of Experience Representing Your Interests

From offices in Springfield, our lawyers advise and represent clients in communities throughout central Illinois. Contact us at (217) 632-8131 or (877) 671-5884 today to arrange a free initial consultation with an experienced Springfield truck accident attorney at our firm.