In May 2017, the Illinois Department of Transportation released 2015 accident statistics. In that year, there were 11,769 accidents involving tractor-trailers in Illinois, and there were additional accidents involving smaller trucks. Since there are, on average, dozens of tractor-trailer crashes every day in our state, it is important to know some tips and resources that could help you if you are hurt or a loved one is killed in this type of truck accident.
What You Should Know Now To Protect Your Truck Accident Case
As an Illinois driver, it is important to know that:
- Truck accidents are different from car accidents. While all types of crashes have some similarities, there are important differences between car crashes and truck wrecks. Typically, truck accidents are more complex, and there are a greater number of potential defendants. It is, therefore, important to recognize these differences so that a proper investigation can be done and so that the right parties can be held accountable.
- Federal truck regulations exist to prevent accidents. Since trucks can cause catastrophic accidents, the federal government has regulations in place to try to prevent these accidents. For example, federal regulations establish who can get a commercial driver’s license, how many hours a day and week a trucker can work, when drug and alcohol testing should occur, when trucks should be inspected, and more.
- Collecting evidence at the scene of a truck wreck is important. If you are physically able to do so, then it is important to collect whatever evidence you can at the scene of the truck accident. This could include, but is not limited to: pictures of the crash, witness name and contact information, and information about the trucker.
- Trucking companies may try to destroy evidence—but you may be able to prevent it. The trucking company has control over a lot of the evidence that you are going to need to prove what happened in your truck accident case. This could include things such as the truck itself or trucker driving logs, for example. You may be able to make sure that the trucking company protects relevant evidence for you, if you ask in the right way.
- There are mistakes you can make—and avoid—after a truck crash. Certain mistakes could put your fair recovery at risk. Accordingly, it is important that you do not apologize, that you follow your doctor’s orders, and that you get legal assistance as soon as possible.
- You can take action to help protect your truck accident recovery. Collecting evidence, watching what you say and to whom you say it, getting medical care, and consulting with an experienced truck accident lawyer can help you protect your recovery from a truck accident injury.
- Trucks are required to have a minimum amount of insurance. Trucks that travel between states are legally required to have certain amounts of insurance ranging from $300,000 to $5 million, depending on the size of the truck and what cargo it carries.
- You can lower (but not eliminate) your risk of being in a crash. Regardless of how good a driver you are, you cannot prevent every accident. You must rely on other drivers, including truckers, to drive safely. However, you should expect that the defendant(s) in your truck accident case will look closely at your actions or inactions and try to argue that you were at least partially at fault for the accident so that they can reduce their damages.
If you’ve been hurt in a truck crash, then the information above could help you protect your fair recovery.
But There’s More You Can Do to Get the Truck Accident Recovery You Deserve
You have the right to contact an experienced Illinois truck accident lawyer today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Together, we can review your case and we can provide you with additional tips for protecting the compensation that you should recover in a truck accident case. For more information, or to schedule your own meeting, please contact us online or call us directly at 800.800.5678.
