Wheaton Truck Accidents

Wheaton Lawyers Helping Victims of Collisions With 18-Wheelers

 

Wheaton is a city located in the state of Illinois. It boasts a lively downtown with many shops, restaurants, and services. The Downtown Wheaton Association hosts a number of events over the year to promote local businesses. Some of these events include The Chili Cookoff, The French Market, and the Wheaton Wine & Cultural Arts Festival. Wheaton is located in close proximity to I-355 and I-88, and provides access to Illinois state routes 38 and 56 in addition to a number of other busy thoroughfares, which means there are always many trucks on the road. While some are just passing through the area, others are stopping to pick up and deliver goods. Sadly, everything doesn’t always go according to plan, and truck accidents are quite common. If you or your loved one has been injured in a tractor-trailer crash caused by someone else’s carelessness or error, you might be able to recover compensation. At Therman Law Offices, our Wheaton truck accident attorneys can take a detailed look into your case and help you decide what legal steps may be appropriate for you.

Truck Accident Statistics

 

Statistics show that a total of 4,102 people died in large truck accidents across the country in 2017. Seventeen percent of these deaths were occupants of trucks. Sadly, the number of truck occupants who lost their lives was 52 percent higher in 2017 than in 2009. Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation reveals that truck accidents accounted for 3.9 percent of all motor vehicle crashes and 10.2 percent of all fatal crashes.

Filing a Negligence Lawsuit After a Truck Accident

 

When a truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the passengers in the smaller vehicle are extremely vulnerable to injury, and even death. Being hit by an at-fault truck driver means that you should fully be compensated for things like medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, property damage and any other losses stemming from the accident. As a truck accident victim, you may be entitled to these damages and more if you can establish that the accident was the result of negligence, and a knowledgeable truck accident attorney in Wheaton can evaluate whether negligence may have occurred in your case. In the context of truck accidents, negligence takes place when a truck driver causes an accident by failing to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel. Reasonable care is defined as how a reasonably competent truck driver would have acted under the same circumstances. For example, using ‘reasonable care’ on a foggy day is different than on a sunny day where visibility is not limited.

It is important to note that in many cases, an injured party will be able to sue the truck driver’s employer in addition to the truck driver when the accident is the result of truck driver error or wrongdoing and there is an employment relationship between the driver and the company. In other words, a trucking company may be liable for an accident caused by a truck driver’s negligence.

Filing a Products Liability Lawsuit After a Truck Accident

 

If you believe that a faulty truck component was the cause of or contributed to an accident, you may be still be able to recover damages through a products liability claim. Products liability refers to a manufacturer or seller being held liable for placing a faulty product into the hands of a consumer. An experienced Wheaton truck accident lawyer can analyze your case and help you determine your options if this type of claim is a possibility in your situation.

Time Frames to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit

 

Under Illinois law, individuals have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court known as the statute of limitations. When it comes to bodily injury, a plaintiff has two years from the date of the injury to file a claim. However, a plaintiff has five years from the date of the accident to file a claim for injury to property.

Skilled Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Wheaton

 

Truck accidents can be life-changing events. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation. At Therman Law Offices, our seasoned accident attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and options. We understand that dealing with a truck accident can be extremely stressful, which is why we are here to help you every step of the way. To get your claim started, please feel free call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.