Truck Accidents

The Illinois truck accident lawyers at Ferris & Thompson, LTD are dedicated to defending victims injured in accidents involving trucks, buses, and other large vehicles. We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for people injured in truck accidents caused by the negligence of others. We provide the highest quality legal representation to victims and families all over Illinois.

Trucks and tractor trailers are large transport conveyances used in interstate commerce. In 2010, over 500,000 large trucks and commercial vehicles were involved in accidents, injuring over 100,000 people in the United States. Fatalities are expected to rise as trucks become increasingly popular. Companies that use trucks to transport goods within or across state lines are known as “commercial motor carriers” and require a commercial driver’s license. While commercial carriers are useful in transporting large quantities of goods over long distances, the size and impact of the vehicles they use cause some of the most devastating accidents on the road.

Truck accidents often involve one or more of the following:

• Rollovers
• Load spills
• Jackknife crashes
• Driving while intoxicated (‘DWI’ or ‘DUI’)
• Collision with another vehicle
• Excessive speed or loss of control
• Contact with a guardrail or center divider

In Illinois, the trucking industry is governed by state and federal law. The Interstate Commerce Carrier Act requires motor carriers to have surety bonds or insurance policies “sufficient to pay any final judgment recovered” against them for bodily injury or death resulting from the “negligent operation, maintenance, or use” of the motor vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act likewise makes trucking companies responsible for the maintenance of their vehicles, driver training, drug testing, and compliance with safety standards.

Truck operators are required to carry higher amounts of insurance coverage and are held to higher safety standards than other drivers of other vehicles. They are subject to background checks, random drug testing, and continuing exams to keep their commercial driver’s licenses current. If they are negligent, the injured party may have a cause of action not only against the driver, but the owner and company employing the truck and their insurers. Where the injured victim died as a result of the accident, surviving family can bring a wrongful death action against the driver and company.

If you are injured in a truck accident, you should act quickly to preserve your rights and prevent the loss of important evidence. Prompt investigation of truck accidents is important because there is often extensive damage and a tangle of liable parties, insurance carriers, and witnesses that need to be contacted. Injured victims only have a limited amount of time to gather this sort of evidence and file a claim. Delays cans diminish the value of your claim or bar your right to relief. An experienced attorney can help you identify all liable parties and obtain compensation for your injuries. These may include damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain, disability, and emotional distress.

If you were injured in a truck accident, call an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney today. Mr. Ferris is a former prosecutor who has defended truck accident victims for over 25 years. There is no substitute for experience. Mr. Ferris has successfully represented injury victims across Illinois, helping them achieve the maximum recovery possible so they could get on with their lives. At Ferris & Thompson, LTD, we understand that being in a truck accident is traumatic and are dedicated to providing you with the highest quality representation. To schedule a confidential consultation, call 847-263-7770 or contact us online. We look forward to hearing from you.