Panel Truck Accidents

Injury Attorneys Serving Wheaton, Schaumburg, and Surrounding Illinois Cities

Panel truck accidents can have devastating consequences for everyone involved. In the most serious cases, these accidents can result in death. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a panel truck accident, you need to consult a seasoned Schaumburg or Wheaton truck accident lawyer without delay. At Therman Law Offices, we are committed to pursuing compensation on behalf of truck accident victims throughout Illinois. With decades of combined legal experience, we provide personalized and detail-oriented representation at every step of the way.

Bringing a Claim Based on a Panel Truck Accident

A panel truck is a small van typically used to transport goods. Described another way, panel trucks are windowless cargo vans often used to deliver consumer products. While these vehicles are smaller than tractor-trailers, they are still bigger than traditional cars and must be operated with great care. As delivery services expand across the country, panel trucks are becoming increasingly common. Unfortunately, drivers often feel immense pressure to make timely deliveries and can be tired, fatigued, or inattentive behind the wheel, all factors that sometimes cause accidents. Other common causes of panel truck accidents include but are not limited to:

• Insufficient training;
• Stress or pressure;
• Failing to yield;
• Excessive speeding;
• Failing to check blind spots for traffic; or
• Sudden stops when trying to locate a destination.

If you or someone close to you has been injured in a panel truck accident that was not your fault, you can likely hold the at-fault truck driver liable through a negligence claim. Negligence takes place when a driver fails to drive in the manner that a sensible or prudent driver in the same situation would have driven, thereby causing an accident and injuries to a victim. Put another way, a driver may be considered negligent if he or she fails to use reasonable care on the road, and that failure results in an accident. The failure must be the legal cause of the accident; it cannot be speculative or remote.

Once negligence is established, a plaintiff can recover a variety of damages in a panel truck accident case. These damages typically include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, costs of future care, and any other out-of-pocket losses related to the accident. Of course, the exact amount of compensation that you will be entitled to obtain in a given case will depend on the nature and extent of the injuries suffered.

It is important to note that truck drivers are required to adhere to certain state and federal regulations. These regulations are designed to promote safety and help minimize the risk of accidents. Truck owners are obligated to maintain their vehicles to make sure that the truck and its components are in safe working order. If a driver fails to maintain their truck, and, for example, faulty brakes lead to an accident, this may be evidence of legal fault in the case.

When a driver causes an accident in the course of employment, the driver’s employer may also be liable for the accident under the theory of vicarious liability. This does not apply to independent contractors but only to actual employees. However, in some cases, it is possible that an employee has been mislabeled as an independent contractor. Our attorneys can examine the nature of the relationship for you and make sure that your rights are protected throughout the entire legal process.

Get Assistance from an Attorney Following a Truck Crash in Wheaton or Schaumburg