Libertyville, IL Truck Accident Lawyers

I cannot express enough gratitude towards Newland & Newland, LLP for their exceptional dedication and hard work in transforming what seemed like an insurmountable negative situation into a positive outcome for my family. Their professionalism, expertise, and unwavering support throughout the legal proceedings were truly remarkable...Throughout every step of the legal process, I was kept well-informed, and never left wondering about the status of my case. Without hesitation, I highly recommend Newland & Newland, LLP to anyone seeking assistance with their personal injury needs.

A collision involving a commercial truck can change the lives of victims in an instant. Due to the massive size and weight of 18-wheelers, delivery trucks, and other large commercial vehicles, these accidents can lead to devastating injuries and financial losses. Victims of truck accidents may encounter complicated legal issues involving multiple liable parties. Resolving these concerns will often require assistance from an attorney who has experience representing clients in complex truck accident cases.

At Newland & Newland, LLP, we help victims of truck accidents take steps to recover the full financial compensation they deserve. With our detailed understanding of industry regulations and the complex web of liability that may include truck drivers, trucking companies, maintenance contractors, and cargo handlers, we can uncover the truth behind the causes of a crash and build a strong case for compensation. Our lawyers fight to protect the rights of clients in Libertyville and ensure that they will have the resources they need to recover and move forward with their lives.

How Our Lawyers Can Help After a Truck Accident

Truck accident cases are rarely straightforward. Unlike other types of car accident claims, these collisions often involve overlapping layers of liability. Our attorneys can assist Libertyville residents who have been injured in truck accidents by:

• Investigating the cause of the accident, including obtaining data from the truck's electronic logging devices (ELDs) and GPS systems, as well as maintenance records and witness statements.
• Identifying all potentially liable parties, such as the truck driver, the trucking company, the shipping broker, or those who were responsible for maintaining or loading the truck.
• Working with medical professionals to fully understand the nature and impact of the injuries suffered by victims.
• Calculating damages that reflect the full scope of the harm suffered by victims, including current and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
• Handling all communications with insurance companies and opposing counsel to ensure that clients are protected from aggressive tactics or lowball settlement offers.

Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents

Truck drivers and trucking companies must follow strict safety standards and regulations. When these regulations are violated, or when safety practices are ignored, dangerous truck accidents can occur. Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Libertyville include:

• Driver Fatigue: Long hours on the road can lead to dangerous levels of fatigue. Drivers may violate federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, or they may fail to get sufficient rest due to medical issues like sleep apnea. Fatigue can affect a driver's reaction time, judgment, and ability to remain focused on the road, increasing the likelihood of a truck accident.
• Traffic Violations: Speeding, unsafe lane changes, tailgating, failure to yield, or other violations can lead to catastrophic crashes, especially when committed by a person operating a vehicle that may weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
• Intoxicated Driving: Alcohol or drug use when operating a commercial truck is a serious offense that can have life-threatening consequences. Impaired truck drivers put everyone on the road at risk.
• Unsecured or Overloaded Cargo: Improperly loaded freight can shift during transit, causing the driver to lose control and leading to rollover accidents or other types of truck accidents. Overloaded trucks can affect braking and cause strain on a truck's mechanical systems. When unsecured cargo falls into the road, it can lead to accidents and injuries for people in other vehicles.
• Mechanical Failures: Worn brakes, defective tires, and broken steering systems are among the mechanical issues that may contribute to truck accidents. Maintenance contractors may be held liable if these problems result from neglected repairs or faulty service.
• Improper Driver Training: Inadequate training can leave truck drivers unprepared for navigating hazardous conditions or handling emergencies.

In many cases, more than one factor may contribute to a crash. For example, driver fatigue and faulty brakes may combine to cause a dangerous collision. A thorough investigation will usually be necessary to uncover all contributing causes of a truck accident.

Liability in Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident liability is rarely limited to the driver alone. Multiple entities involved in the operation and maintenance of a commercial vehicle may share responsibility for a crash. These may include:

• Trucking Companies: Employers may be liable for negligent hiring, insufficient training, or pressuring drivers to violate HOS rules to meet delivery deadlines.
• Cargo Loaders or Shipping Brokers: Companies involved in loading freight may be responsible if unbalanced or unsecured or overloaded cargo caused an accident.
• Maintenance Contractors: Third-party maintenance providers who fail to properly inspect or repair commercial vehicles may bear fault for mechanical failures.
• Vehicle Manufacturers: When design defects or faulty parts were fully or partially responsible for causing a truck accident, the manufacturer may be held accountable through a product liability claim.

At Newland & Newland, LLP, our attorneys will carefully examine the roles played by each party, using discovery tools such as subpoenas, depositions, and expert analysis to identify negligence and build a comprehensive legal claim.

Investigating a Truck Accident

Our lawyers will use a systematic approach to uncover key evidence that may play a role in a truck accident claim. This evidence may include:

• Driver Logs: We can analyze the hours a driver worked to determine if fatigue may have contributed to a crash.
• Onboard Data: Many trucks are equipped with black box technology that captures information related to speed, braking patterns, and more.
• Maintenance Records: We can look at whether a truck was properly maintained and whether safety checks were performed correctly.
• Cargo Documentation: We can investigate who loaded cargo and whether cargo loaders complied with federal regulations and industry safety standards.
• Scene Reconstruction: We can collaborate with accident reconstruction experts to recreate the incident and provide insight into how it occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Truck Accidents

Contact Our Libertyville Truck Accident Attorneys

Following a commercial truck accident, a victim may encounter long-term injuries, financial hardship, and unanswered questions. At Newland & Newland, LLP, our attorneys can provide the legal representation needed in these situations to help victims address their concerns and obtain full and fair compensation. Contact our Libertyville, IL commercial truck accident lawyers by calling 847-549-0000 to set up a free consultation.