How Our Truck Accident Attorneys Help
Truck Accident Case Illustration
If you have been injured in a trucking accident in or around Springfield, Illinois, the truck accident attorneys at Noll Law Office can help. They understand that you may be badly hurt and unable to return to work to support yourself or your family. They will work hard on your behalf to ensure you receive a fair settlement for your injuries. Consider the following truck accident case illustration:
Jack is driving late at night, on his way to see his parents in another state. On a long stretch of Interstate 55, a truck driver falls asleep, crossing into Jack’s lane and striking his vehicle. While Jack was able to swerve enough to avoid a deadly head-on collision, the truck struck the back of Jack’s car, sending it into a spin, and a subsequent rollover. Jack sustained internal injuries, broken bones, and facial lacerations that are expected to cause permanent scarring.
After two weeks in the ICU, Jack’s internal injuries are no longer critical, his broken femur has been set, and his broken arm placed in a cast. Jack’s facial scars will not mature for at least six months. Currently, it is emotionally traumatic for him to go out in public. Jack is unable to return to his job as a carpenter, so cannot pay his monthly expenses. The medical bills are piling up and he feels entirely overwhelmed.
Jack could receive significant benefit from retaining the lawyers at Noll Law Office for his case. The Noll Law Office lawyers are familiar with the administrative requirements, log information and other practices truck drivers are supposed to follow. If the trucking company did not follow those practices, a claim may be filed against its insurance company. One of the main goals the Noll Law Office has in a trucking accident is to obtain coverage through larger commercial insurance policies. Due to the potential for more severe injuries, including death, trucking companies are required to carry larger insurance policies compared to a normal passenger vehicle. Once a claim is filed on the large commercial policy, the trucking accident lawyers at the Noll Law Office will seek compensation for medical expenses (including future medical needs), lost wages, scarring, as well as pain and suffering and other applicable damages.
Illinois Truck Accident Statistics
According to the Illinois DOT, in 2019, crashes involving semi-trucks accounted for 3.8 percent of overall crashes, with 11,741 total semi-truck-involved crashes. Semi-trucks accounted for 10.7 percent of fatal crashes during the same year. Across the United States in 2020, the NSC found there were 4,842 semi-trucks involved in fatal crashes. Large trucks accounted for 4 percent of all registered vehicles in the U.S., but 9 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes.
What Is the Most Common Cause of Springfield Truck Accidents?
Although there are many causes of semi-truck accidents (distraction, impairment, lack of training, weather, carelessness, recklessness), one of the top causes is fatigue or drowsiness. According to an NCBI study, truck drivers average about 4.78 hours of verified sleep. Since the “ideal” amount of sleep for an adult is 7.1 hours per day, you can see that truckers are chronically sleep-deprived. Truck drivers are permitted to drive 11 hours straight before required to take a break. Since they don’t get paid unless they are driving, some drivers keep two sets of logbooks and drive even longer hours.
Driving for extended periods of time dulls the senses leading to fatigue. This fatigue increases at night when the body is ready for its natural sleep cycle. A lack of sleep causes truck drivers to be less alert and can affect reaction time, coordination, and judgment. The CDC found that driving while overly fatigued can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Being awake for at least 18 hours is equal to having a BAC of 0.05 percent. After 24 hours, it equates to a BAC of 0.10 percent—higher than the legal limit.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Associated with Springfield Truck Accidents?
Injuries resulting from truck accidents are often severe for those in smaller passenger vehicles. Injuries can include broken and fractured bones, amputations, spinal cord injuries, back and neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries, facial lacerations and disfigurement, burns, and internal injuries. A truck accident that causes such severe injuries can also result in emotional trauma. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not uncommon following a severe trucking accident.
Those involved in a truck accident may experience anxiety, insomnia, or depression. Trauma can be exacerbated when burns or facial lacerations cause disfigurement. The victim may not want to leave their home and may even shun former friends and family members. The pain and suffering portion of a truck accident settlement is meant to cover both physical pain and emotional trauma.
What Should I Do Following a Semi-Truck Accident?
Seeking medical attention is the most important thing you will do following your truck accident. Once you have done that, you should speak to the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Noll Law Office. Their attorneys will help you go through the necessary steps to assert a claim for coverage. They will fight for you every step of the way. Their goal is to alleviate the stress and burden of fighting with the trucking company and their insurance company so the injured person can focus on healing.
How Do I Choose the Best Truck Accident Attorneys for Me?
Choosing a truck accident attorney can seem like “one more thing” when you are already overwhelmed. You need an attorney who will take the burden from your shoulders, giving you time to heal. At the Noll Law Office, its attorneys believe strongly in honest communication with their clients. They are highly skilled negotiators and successful litigators who will use their positive track record for your benefit. The Noll Law Office dedicates itself to providing their clients with personalized attention with its lawyers so you will know who is representing you from day one. You will not be handed off to a junior associate right out of law school. You become part of the Noll Law Office litigation team which will ensure the job is done correctly.
What is the Semi-Truck Accident Injury Claims Process?
The Noll Law Office attorneys will first thoroughly investigate your truck accident. They will determine who the responsible party or parties are and then hold them accountable. Your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages will be calculated. Experts may need to be hired to determine future medical care. The Noll Law Office can file a claim for damages on your behalf and make a demand from the insurance company. Of course, the goal of every insurance company is to pay out as little as possible. The trucking accident lawyers at the Noll Law Office will fight for a fair settlement, filing suit and proceeding forward to trial when necessary. Their firm will aggressively advocate from beginning to end. Contact the Noll Law Office today for a free initial consultation to determine if they are the right lawyers for you.
How is Fault Determined in Springfield, IL Semi-Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents are unique in that there can be more than one liable party. The truck driver may have caused the accident through recklessness, carelessness, impairment, distraction, or fatigued driving. The trucking company could be liable for hiring an untrained driver. They may not have conducted a thorough background check or may be aware the driver is exceeding allowable hours.
If the accident was caused by shifting or falling cargo, the loading company may be partially liable. If the accident was the result of poor truck maintenance—usually tires or brakes—then the maintenance company may share the blame. Finally, if the accident was caused by a defective truck part, your attorney may file a product liability claim against the manufacturer. Liable parties will be identified through a comprehensive investigation of your trucking accident.
Do I Have a Truck Accident Injury Claim?
When you visit the Noll Law Office during your initial consultation, the lawyers at the Noll Law Office will personally meet with you and review your case to determine whether you have a valid claim for your injuries. They will ask you questions regarding the accident and review any paperwork you have. The police report may shed some light on liability. The lawyers will determine what your truck accident claim is worth by calculating medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
How Can Noll Law Office Help?
When you hire Noll Law Office, you will work with Sarah and Daniel Noll directly throughout the process. They take pride in their deep community roots, always working toward positive outcomes for their community members and neighbors. They pay attention to your goals and your best interests. As highly experienced truck accident attorneys, they are committed to fighting for you, your family, and your future. Contact Noll Law Office today.