Accidents involving trucks are some of the most expensive vehicular collisions. Accident & Analysis Prevention reports that the average cost of damages stemming from a collision between a passenger vehicle and a large truck can push upwards of $60,000 and can be considerably higher if additional vehicles were involved. The Illinois Department of Transportation also attests to the danger of large trucks, noting that related accidents cause a disproportionate amount of injuries and fatalities.
If you or a loved one were in an accident involving a truck, then you may have a case for compensation, and multiple parties could be responsible for your losses. Call our team of skilled injury attorneys at the Kryder Law Group, LLC today at for a free consultation and to find out how a Springfield truck accident lawyer can help.
In this Article
Trucks Pose Greater Danger Than Smaller Vehicles
Due to their weight and size, large trucks generally inflict more damage to the occupants of the smaller vehicle upon colliding. According to the National Safety Council, the number of injuries from large truck-involved crashes has been on the rise since 2009.
At the Kryder Law Group, LLC, we understand that there are many reasons why an accident may occur. Determining these elements is key to assigning liability and moving forward in pursuing compensation. Truck accidents are exceptionally complex. We may be able to find that more than one entity played a role in your collision, including the trucker, their supervising company, and the organization responsible for the truck’s construction.
The Truck Driver Could Be Responsible for Your Injuries
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 94% of accidents are the result of driver error. To cut down on these instances, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented Hours of Service Regulations designed to mandate various trucking actions and behaviors. However, not all truckers follow these rules, which increases the likelihood of them causing an accident.
Some of these risks include:
The frequent long shifts that some drivers undertake, which can lead to increased fatigue and a decline in reflexes
The use of stimulants or other drugs used to stay awake during long-haul routes
Inexperience, leading to poor defensive driving reflexes and overall operation
Speeding, since many drivers are incentivized by “the mile” delivery quotas
The risks that large trucks present to other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians only becomes greater at night and in dangerous driving conditions. If you were the victim of a truck driver’s error, you may be able to collect compensation and a Springfield tractor-trailer crash attorney could help.
Trucking Companies May Take Unacceptable Risks
Some trucking companies are more focused on profits than they are about the safety of other motorists. Should we find that the trucker’s supervisor contributed to your accident, we may be able to hold them responsible. Under the doctrine “respondeat superior,” we have the opportunity to move forward with a civil action against the driver and their supervisor.
Other actions that may result in the trucking company’s liability include:
Permitting or even encouraging drivers to be on the road for stretches other than those allowed by FMCSA
Failing to screen drivers for drug or alcohol use upon hiring and at regular intervals, especially if they had reason to do so
Overloading trucks with excessive cargo, which affects how effectively the truck can come to a complete stop
Not maintaining a safe fleet of trucks through regular vehicle check-ups and quick action to take an unsafe vehicle off of the road
Instilling a culture where drivers are encouraged or asked to take unnecessary risks, such as driving in dangerous weather
A Springfield truck crash attorney who has a background in handling these types of cases will be able to provide insight into any negligence in your case that occurred at the company level.
The Truck’s Manufacturer
One of the services that our team provides is consulting with experts to learn more about the specific details of your case. Such an expert may include someone who has professional experience in automotive construction and repair. During a diligent 18-wheeler wreck attorney’s investigation in Springfield, if we find that a defective vehicular component hindered the trucker’s ability to drive safely, then we may be able to pursue this entity for your losses.
For example, if you were rear-ended by a truck, and we discover that the brakes were not properly installed, we may be able to take this route of assigning responsibility.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC Provides Many Services
If you were injured or lost a loved one in an accident involving a large truck, understand that a lawyer can be immensely helpful in helping you pursue financial recovery.
Some of the tasks that a lawyer may handle include:
Deciding which defendant (or defendants) are responsible for your losses
Conducting an independent investigation to assign liability and establish negligence
Consulting with experts, such as mechanics and doctors, to learn more about the elements present in your collision
Handling your case for compensation from beginning to end — we can even represent you in court in a lawsuit
Advocating for a fair settlement on your behalf
A lawyer’s job encompasses so many tasks that it is difficult to name them all. The services your legal team will provide will depend on the unique needs of your situation.
Compensation in a Truck Accident Case
If your Springfield semi-truck collision lawyer is successful in proving that you were the victim of negligence, you may be entitled to compensation including (but not limited to):
Coverage of medical bills related to your accident
The cost of rehabilitation for mental and physical injuries
Lost earnings
Reduced earning capacity
Childcare costs
Pain and suffering
If you wish to pursue losses that we have not listed here, you may want to disclose those details with your lawyer.
Get in Touch with a Springfield Truck Accident Attorney to Start Your Claim
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident, now is the time to reach out for assistance. Call our team at the Kryder Law Group, LLC today for a free consultation in which we will answer any questions that you have. Do not wait to reach out to a Springfield truck accident lawyer, as time may be a factor in your ability to move forward with legal action.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Britt C.
Andrew Kryder went above and beyond to help me out with a case that I brought to him. He was prompt, attentive, and extremely thorough. It was a pleasure to work with him!