Orland Park Truck Accident Attorney

Maximizing Compensation After a Truck Accident in Orland Park, IL

As one of the major freight hubs in the U.S., the Chicago area sees heavy semi-truck traffic. Unfortunately, more tractor-trailers on the roads increase the risk of truck accidents. Collisions involving big rigs can lead to catastrophic injuries, fatalities, and other related losses. Victims and their families can take steps to recover compensation from the parties who were responsible for these accidents.

The damages in Commercial truck crashes are usually quite high, and insurance companies may be reluctant to pay claims. Truck accidents can include other complications, as well. To get as much compensation as you deserve, you need the assistance of a dedicated personal injury lawyer. When you receive legal help from the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we will work diligently to protect your best interests, and we will fight aggressively to maximize your settlement.

Important Facts About Big Trucks

Did you know that a fully loaded truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds? That is approximately 20 times as much as the average passenger vehicle. With a length of 72 feet and a height of 13.5 feet, these behemoths dwarf most other cars.

Tractor-trailers use air brakes, which have a delay between when the driver presses the brake pedal and when the brakes start to engage. At a speed of 65 mph, a truck needs almost twice the distance as a car to come to a complete stop.

A truck's blind spot is so large that some call it "no man's land." Even the most attentive truck driver cannot see vehicles or other objects in this blind spot, which increases the likelihood of a collision.

Motorists who do not recognize these differences may think that trucks can easily maneuver, slow down, or stop. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Many collisions happen because car drivers merge too closely in front of a truck or attempt to pass them, not realizing that they are not visible to the truck driver. These accidents may involve other vehicles, resulting in injuries to drivers and passengers through no fault of their own.

What does all this add up to? Regardless of the cause of the collision, drivers and passengers in passenger vehicles are much more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries than truck drivers. Victims who are injured in truck accidents deserve compensation, but that is a lot easier said than done unless the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. is representing you.

Why Truck Accident Claims Are So Complex

If you handle your truck accident case alone, you may not know how to overcome the many possible challenges, which may include:

Multiple-Party Liability

In an average car accident, one driver may be the only liable party. However, there are multiple parties who may share liability for a truck accident, including:

• The driver
• The trucking company
• The truck owner
• Truck maintenance companies
• Cargo loaders
• Parts manufacturers

It often takes a thorough investigation to understand how and why a truck accident happened and who was to blame. You probably lack the experience, legal knowledge, and resources to undertake an effective investigation. The Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. can handle these issues for you.

Shared Fault

You may be partly responsible for causing a truck accident. In Illinois, you can still get compensation from other at-fault parties as long as your degree of responsibility is less than 51 percent. However, any settlement you get will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. Our attorney can help ensure that fault is assigned correctly and work to maximize the compensation you receive.

Insurance Company Strategies

Insurance companies are notorious for utilizing various underhanded tactics and strategies to undermine claims, particularly in cases with high damages. They may attempt to assign a higher degree of fault to you to reduce or eliminate your payout. Other tricks they may attempt to use include:

• Offering an unreasonably low settlement amount
• Using the statements you have made against you to minimize the amount you may receive
• Claiming that your injuries and related losses are not as serious as they are
• Denying valid claims

When you work with the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we will not stand for this kind of treatment. We will always fight to protect your best interests.

Damages in Truck Accident Cases

The amount of compensation you may receive will depend on several factors that are unique to your case. You may be compensated for damages such as:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitative care
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Losing the ability to enjoy life
• Pain and suffering

Attorney J. Francis Barker will calculate your damages and negotiate for the highest possible amount of compensation. If an insurer refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer, he can work with you to take your case to court.

Eligible survivors of fatal truck accident victims may obtain compensation through a wrongful death claim. The Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. can help with this type of claim and ensure that family members will be able to address their financial and personal losses.

Contact Our Dedicated Orland Park, IL Truck Accident Attorney

The Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. can provide you with effective legal representation that makes a difference. Our founder, Attorney J. Francis Barker, will handle your case personally, giving you the benefit of his considerable experience, skill, and legal knowledge. From our office in Orland Park, we handle truck accident cases in Cook, Will, and DuPage Counties. Contact us at 708-321-1223 to speak with our knowledgeable personal injury attorney. Your consultation is free, and you will not pay fees unless we recover compensation for you.