Taylorville Truck Accident Case Illustration
Being involved in a trucking accident can leave you severely injured, unable to work, and unsure of what you need to do to protect your future. Truck accidents are typically very serious for those in a smaller passenger vehicle. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds as opposed to a 3,000-pound passenger vehicle. Consider the following case illustration from our Taylorville truck accident attorneys:
George and Ginny are on vacation headed down a freeway to their destination. George notices that the semi-truck on his right has marginally crossed the line that divides the lanes but doesn’t think much of it. Suddenly, the truck crosses right in front of George, slamming on the brakes without sufficient warning. George crashes into the back of the semi-truck. The accident is serious—George suffers a broken femur, lacerations, a concussion, and a bruised kidney. Ginny’s injuries are even more severe—a spinal cord injury, serious internal bleeding, broken ribs, a punctured lung, and several broken bones.
George and Ginny are in their 40s, both at the height of their career. While George is eventually able to return to work, Ginny will never be able to work again. She is now in a wheelchair, unable to do many of the things she once enjoyed. It is discovered that the truck driver fell asleep at the wheel. Despite the truck driver clearly being at fault, the trucking company’s insurer is refusing to to pay George and Ginny. Desperate, they contact the Taylorville truck accident attorneys at the Noll Law Office for personalized service to help them obtain compensation from the insurance company.
The attorneys at the Noll Law Office understand the fear, uncertainty and anger George and Ginny are going through. They know that the couple needs time to heal and rethink their future while the attorneys address the legal issues and advocate for them. In consultation with their clients, medical providers and experts, the lawyers at the Noll Law Office will submit a demand upon the insurance company. If the insurance company does not negotiate in good faith, the attorneys will file a lawsuit in Christian County seeking compensation for medical bills both past and future, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. The Noll Law Office will not let the insurance company shortchange their clients and will aggressively fight for the rights of their clients.
Local Accident Resources
Those injured in a Taylorville truck accident may find the following accident resources helpful:
- Taylorville Memorial Hospital—201 E Pleasant Street, Taylorville, IL 62568—(217) 707-5555
- Taylorville Urgent Care—1510 W. Springfield Road, Taylorville, IL 62568—(217) 824-8244
- Taylorville Police Department—108 West Vine Street, Taylorville, IL 62568—(217) 824-2211
What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Each truck accident is unique in some way, yet there are common causes of truck accidents. Distracted driving is becoming more and more common. Truck drivers often eat their meals while driving as a means of saving time. They may also talk on their phone or set their GPS while driving. Since they are often in unfamiliar places, simply trying to navigate their way through heavy traffic can be distracting. The drivers can become tired after long hours on the road. They have blind spots when driving. At times, driving in inclement weather can be difficult. While brakes are a leading cause of truck accidents, tires, improperly loaded or overloaded trailers, and faulty equipment manufacturing can also cause accidents.
Under Illinois law, trucks must be inspected periodically, although they are still subject to impromptu inspections for safety purposes by the Illinois State Police and other government agents. The Federal government puts together a yearly Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts report, which compiles statistics about fatal, personal injury, and property damage collisions involving trucking accidents. Large trucks tend to cause more severe injuries. Similarly, the State of Illinois compiles Illinois Roadway Crash Data reports, which organizes available crash data into summaries for study and research. Generally, the Illinois Department of Transportation reports that while only a small percentage of vehicular collisions involve large trucks, those same large truck accidents accounted for higher levels of fatalities. Crash Facts and Statistics are compiled, breaking down various fact patterns from collisions that occur in Illinois.
What Are Some Common Injuries Seen from Truck Accidents?
Truck accident injuries for those in smaller passenger vehicles are often severe, even catastrophic. These injuries may include crush injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, limb loss, facial disfigurement, spinal injuries, and more.
Emotional pain is often tied hand in hand with physical injuries. The financial cost is also incredibly high— a single hospital stay can rise to over $100,000.00.
What Should I Do Following a Semi-Truck Accident?
The most important things you can do for your future following a truck accident are to seek immediate medical attention and follow up as needed until you are healed. You should also notify the police and hire experienced truck accident attorneys. Your future health may depend on getting the medical attention that you need. The Noll Law Office practices in Taylorville and is well versed in litigating vehicular collision. They believe you deserve a fair settlement that will fully cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages, and have a long history of helping central Illinois families get back on their feet following catastrophic accidents.
What is the Semi-Truck Accident Injury Claim Process?
It’s helpful to have our Taylorville truck accident attorneys in your corner, so that you can focus on healing from your injuries while your attorney negotiates with the vehicular insurance company on your behalf. Oftentimes, that insurance company will not cover your medical bills until you are done receiving medical treatment. In those cases, it may be best to run your medical bills through your personal health insurance to avoid being sent to collections while you heal. You can also set up a periodic payment plan with the medical providers. Sometimes, there will be “medical payments,” coverage, which is a no fault medical payments coverage that pays bills regardless of who caused the collisions. Your attorney can discuss these options more fully with you.
The Noll Law Office attorneys will comprehensively calculate your medical specials, including your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. If they need to hire an accident reconstructionist to show who caused your accident, they will. They know how to litigate truck accidents and understand the claims processes. If the insurance company will not agree to a full and fair settlement, they will file your case in Christian County or the court of competent jurisdiction.
If suit is filed, then the case will move forward to “discovery,” which is just a fancy legal word for exchanging evidence between the parties. This includes photographs, police reports, witness information, and any other tangible evidence that may be used at trial or deposition.
The case then moves towards depositions. Typically, depositions will be taken of the witnesses, including you and the defendant. Depositions will also be taken of your physicians, so that the doctors can explain to the jury how you were hurt, and that your injuries were caused or aggravated by the truck accident.
After discovery is completed, both parties will start filing different pre-trial motions that will be specific to the facts of your case. Any competent attorney should be able to explain to you what those common motions in limine, motions for summary judgments, and other common motions are.
The case then moves towards trial. A jury is picked through a process called voir dire. Evidence is submitted to the jury (or judge, if a jury is waived), and a verdict will be rendered. The case may or not may appeal.
All of this is a very simplified explanation of the claims process. But it demonstrates why you want to find an experienced, local attorney who will meet directly with you to discuss the merits of your case.
Whether your case is settled outside of court, or determined by a jury or judge, you should typically receive your check within about six weeks of settlement or verdict unless it is appealed. You may wonder what your claim is worth. The value of your claim is determined in part by your medical expenses and lost wages, but at the end of the day, if you go to trial, a lot will depend on the skills of your attorney and the juror sitting in the jury box. If you will be off work for a longer period of time and will need ongoing medical treatments, the lawyers at the Noll Law Office know how to obtain experts to calculate future lost wages and future medical expenses as well.
How Can Noll Law Office Help Me?
From the moment you meet with the lawyers at the Noll Law Office and throughout the case, you will speak directly to your attorney. They believe strongly that honest communication with their clients combined with extensive litigation experience leads to more successful outcomes. The Noll Law Office attorneys represent clients with their clients’ best interests as their guide. It is always free to talk to them as they offer free initial consultations to determine if they are the correct lawyers for you, and they are familiar with litigating in Taylorville, Illinois, with extensive family and friends in the area. They do not take a fee unless they are able to successfully obtain a settlement or court verdict in your favor. Contact the Noll Law Office today for exemplary legal representation following your Taylorville truck accident.