Facts About Semi-Truck Accidents and Your Legal Rights

Most people in the United States spend a lot of time driving on roads, such as going to and from work, picking up kids at school, and going to the grocery store. When driving on the road, it is common to see semi-trucks, whether on the road behind you, in front of you, in the lane next to you, or heading the opposite direction you are. Because of the massive size of semi-trucks, collisions with semi-trucks can cause severe, permanent, and often fatal injuries.  

There are four questions you might have about semi-truck crashes and your legal rights: 

• How Many Semi-Trucks are on the Road?   
• How Many People are Killed in Semi-Truck Crashes in the United States?
• What Type of Injuries are Caused by Semi-Truck Crashes?  
• What are My Legal Options After a Semi-Truck Crash?

1. How Many Semi-Trucks are on the Road?

Over the past 10 years, the number of semi-trucks on the roads has increased a lot. There are over 12 million semi-trucks and buses on the roadways of the United States. This increase means that there will be more crashes on streets, interstates, and highways caused by semi-trucks that result in catastrophic and fatal injuries. 

2. How Many People are Killed in Semi-Truck Crashes in the United States?

Over 5,000 people are killed in semi-truck accidents each year in the United States. Over 200 of these fatal semi-truck crashes have occurred in Illinois in the past 2 years.. The majority of these fatalities are passengers in automobiles who were hit by semi-trucks. Because of the size of a typical semi-truck, passengers of automobiles often suffer fatal injuries. 

3. What Type of Injuries are Caused by Semi-Truck Crashes?

Approximately 180,000 people in the United States suffer injuries each year in crashes involving semi-trucks. Injuries from semi-truck crashes are often severe, permanent, and catastrophic. Injuries might include broken bones, back or spinal cord injuries, deep cuts from glass and other materials that break off in a collision, and amputations. These injuries can be debilitating and permanent. 

4. What are My Legal Options After a Semi-Truck Crash?

A semi-truck crash is a personal injury claim. If you or a loved one are the victim of a semi-truck crash, you must speak to an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your rights and interests while you or your loved one focus on getting better. 

After a semi-truck crash, an insurance adjustor or claims representative from the semi-truck driver’s insurance company may contact you. Insurance adjustors or claims representatives will try to speak with you to gain information, attempt to get you to agree to certain statements or try to make you resolve your claim for an unjust amount. It is important to retain a truck accident attorney as soon as possible so the attorney can deal with any communication with the insurance company to protect your rights. 

If you or a loved one suffered injury from a semi-truck crash, you may be entitled to compensation for what was lost in the crash. This compensation includes medical bills and expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of a normal life, and disability. 

If you have lost a family member because of a semi-truck accident, you may pursue a wrongful death claim against the semi-truck driver for the death of your family member. This is called a wrongful death case. The law allows spouses, children, parents, and siblings to pursue wrongful death claims. You must speak to an attorney with experience in wrongful death cases to determine who is the appropriate person to pursue the wrongful death claim.

In a wrongful death case, you are entitled to compensation for the loss of your family member. This compensation includes the loss of the relationship between you and the family member, the grief and sorrow you have experienced, the loss of love and companionship between you and the family member, and the salary or other services the family member gave to you. 

In personal injury cases and wrongful death cases, there is a time period within which a lawsuit must be filed. This is called the statute of limitations. If the lawsuit is not filed within the time period set by the statute of limitations, then the claim is barred and a lawsuit cannot be filed. In Illinois, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases and wrongful death cases is two years. That means you have two years from the date of the semi-truck crash to file a lawsuit for a personal injury case or a wrongful death case caused by a semi-truck crash. Therefore, it is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. 

Speak to the Chicago Truck Accident Attorneys at Vinkler Law Offices

If you or your family member was involved in an accident with a semi-truck, our Chicago truck accident lawyers are here to provide you with the legal advice and guidance you need. Speak with an experienced attorney before you have any conversation with an insurance adjustor or a claims representative from the semi-truck driver’s insurance company. At Vinkler Law Offices, our injury attorneys have extensive experience helping victims and their families get justice and full and fair compensation for their injuries. 

Contact us today for a free consultation and case review.