Champaign Truck Accident Lawyer

While there are federal trucking laws governing truck drivers (such as hours-of-service regulations and specialized truck-driver training) to limit the risks of trucking accidents, incidents involving tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and other large trucks frequently occur throughout Central Illinois. On average, 300 large truck crashes occur each year in Champaign County alone [1].

As a semi-truck accident lawyer serving Champaign, IL, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has experience helping injured victims recover fair compensation after serious truck accidents. We have helped several clients recover multimillion-dollar settlements.

Read on to learn more about the process of filing a claim for compensation for a semi-truck accident in Champaign, IL, including how long you have to file your claim, what factors impact your settlement amount, and why it’s important to hire legal representation.

You Have Limited Time to File a Truck Accident Claim in Champaign, IL

The statute of limitations is the amount of time that you have to file a civil lawsuit. If you wait to file a lawsuit after this time period elapses, you will not be able to pursue your case. In Champaign, IL, the current statute of limitations for truck accident cases is two years from the date of injury or death.

Two years go by quickly as you are recovering from a serious injury. Plus, some types of evidence become more difficult to obtain as more time goes by. You should therefore hire a trucking accident lawyer serving Champaign as soon as possible, as this will give them the most amount of time to build your case.

Types of Cases That Our Champaign Truck Accident Attorneys Handle

Our legal team is experienced in working on a wide range of cases involving trucks. Some of the most common types of cases our truck-accident attorneys handle include the following:

• Jackknife accidents
• Rollovers
• Pileup accidents
• Hazardous spills
• Tire blowouts
• T-bone accidents
• Blind-spot accidents
• Wide-turn collisions
• Underride accidents
• Head-on collisions

The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Champaign, IL

The most common causes of truck accidents in Champaign are as follows:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence
• Tailgating
• Drowsy driving
• Poorly maintained trucks
• Inclement weather

Who Can Be Liable for Truck Accidents in Champaign, IL?

There can be different defendants involved in a civil case resulting from a truck crash, not just truck drivers. Here are some parties that could face liability as a result of a truck accident:

• Truck driver – Truck drivers can be liable for their actions or negligence that led to an accident.
• Trucking companies – The trucking company that owns or leads operations for a fleet of contractors can be held liable. In some cases, trucking companies force truck drivers to drive for longer stints than they’re allowed to. In other cases, trucking companies may not have policies in place to properly load cargo.
• Other drivers – Other drivers on the road can also be held liable for a truck accident that they caused.
• Parts manufacturers – If a defective part caused an accident, you can hold the parts manufacturer liable.
• Government agencies – Accidents involving garbage trucks or fire trucks can hold the relevant government agency responsible for those vehicles.
• Autobody shops – Auto body and maintenance shops can be held liable for faulty maintenance if it causes a collision.

Damages Champaign Trucking Accident Victims Can Pursue

The types of damages that you can potentially recover in a truck accident settlement depend on the nature of the case and who is filing a claim. Most damages fall into two categories: economic and non-economic.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are monetary-based losses. These include the following:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Mental health services
• Lost income potential

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are not related to tangible losses. Instead, these are based on intangible factors that courts use calculations to determine. Common non-economic damages include the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of consortium

In some cases where the behavior of truck drivers or trucking companies is particularly egregious, a judge may award punitive damages as a way to punish or dissuade others from engaging in this particularly reckless behavior. Punitive damages are not awarded often and cannot be awarded without other types of damages.

Wrongful Death

For families of victims who died in truck accidents, wrongful death damages can be pursued. These include the following:

• Funeral expenses
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of society
• Mental suffering

How Much Our Champaign Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover

While there is no standardized settlement amount you can expect to receive from your truck-accident settlement, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have helped multiple clients recover multimillion-dollar settlements.

We helped one client recover $18.5 million after suffering permanent injuries from a head-on collision with a large truck. We helped another client’s family recover $14.1 million after our client’s motorcycle was struck by a large truck.

Factors That Affect Truck Accident Settlement Amounts

There are many factors that can impact settlement amounts for truck accidents. The costs of losses can be a big, decisive factor. Generally, you can recover your tangible losses, like medical bills, lost wages, and compensation for damaged property. The more expensive your losses, the higher the settlement.

The extent of your injuries is a major factor in the total settlement amount you’ll receive. The more substantial or catastrophic your injuries, the higher your settlement payout is likely to be—which is why most Champaign wrongful death cases tend to be of higher value than other types of cases.

The types of insurance coverage required for trucking companies and truck drivers could mean that the insurance companies will pay out higher amounts for truck accidents than for other types of commercial vehicles.

Federal trucking laws mandate that motor carriers, trucking companies, and other commercial vehicles, such as large trucks, carry substantial insurance coverage. This often translates into more substantial settlements.

Other factors include the quality of available evidence and witness testimony. The stronger your case, the more you can expect to potentially receive as compensation.

The Most Common Truck Accident Injuries

A large truck has much more force and weight than a smaller vehicle, and the injuries sustained in truck accidents therefore tend to be much more severe than in Champaign car accidents. The most common truck accident injuries we see are as follows:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Neck injuries
• Amputations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal injuries
• Disfigurement
• Wrongful death

The Time It Takes to Settle a Truck Accident Personal Injury Lawsuit

The time that it takes to settle cases involving truck accidents is around six months or longer. Every case is different, but some factors can speed up or slow down the time it takes to achieve a resolution.

The requested settlement amount is one factor that can influence how long it takes to settle. Larger requests tend to require a court verdict, as insurance companies are much more likely to settle smaller requests through negotiation.

The extent of the injuries sustained is another factor. Wrongful death cases and claims involving catastrophic injuries generally take longer to settle than simpler and more straightforward cases do.

Cases that require going to court almost always take longer to settle than those where an agreement can be reached beforehand. Going to court takes time to schedule and prepare—then you are at the mercy of the court’s schedule.

The Cost of Hiring a Champaign Truck Accident Attorney

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. We don’t charge anything for consultations or our services. Instead, we take a small percentage of the settlement we help you to recover. And if we don’t recover compensation – you owe us nothing.

Filing Truck Accident Claims With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

After you receive immediate medical treatment from the emergency room, the next step is to contact a truck accident lawyer to discuss your potential case. By speaking with a trucking accident attorney from our law firm, you can generally expect the following process.

Free Consultation

During your free consultation, you will discuss the specifics of your truck accident and the injuries sustained with a truck accident attorney serving Champaign. Based on their feedback, you can make an informed decision about what steps to take next.

Case Investigation

Should you decide to pursue a civil lawsuit against the truck driver, trucking company, or other responsible parties, your Champaign truck accident lawyers will begin to investigate your case.

This includes gathering your medical records, the police report, and witness testimony, and trying to find surveillance footage from businesses near your accident site. If needed, this might also mean consulting with experts and hiring the services of accident-reconstruction specialists.

Negotiations

A big part of what your Champaign truck accident lawyer will do is negotiate with the insurance companies of the trucking company, truck driver, and other parties involved in your case. Our truck accident lawyers attempt to get maximum compensation without going to court, if possible.

Not all cases can be settled through mediation and negotiations. In these cases, your lawyer is prepared to provide you with legal representation throughout the entire court process.

Contact an Experienced Champaign Truck Accident Lawyer Today!

If you suffer injuries from an accident with commercial trucks, it is important to remember that you can recover compensation to cover your expenses, including emergency room bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has a deep understanding of what it takes to get maximum compensation for civil cases resulting from accidents with commercial vehicles.

We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and our Champaign truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You will not pay anything up-front for our services, and we will only get paid if you get paid.

Schedule a free consultation with a semi-truck accident lawyer serving Campaign, IL, by contacting our law firm. Fill out our contact form or call us toll-free at (888) 424-5757.

Related Practice Areas

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• Champaign Car Accident Lawyer
• Champaign Personal Injury Lawyer
• Champaign Uber Accident Lawyer
• Champaign Lyft Accident Lawyer
• Champaign Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
• Champaign Rideshare Accident Lawyer
• Champaign Wrongful Death Lawyer
• Champaign Construction Accident Lawyer
• Champaign Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
• Champaign Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Resources: [1] Illinois Department of Transportation

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.