It comes as no surprise to Illinois truck crash attorneys that the Illinois Department of Transportation reports more than 95,000 truck accidents in the state in 2007.  Those truck accidents resulted in more than 350 deaths and more than 15,000 injuries.

What to Do If You Are in a Truck Accident

Whether you are the driver of the truck or the driver or passenger of another vehicle, it is very important to know what to do at the scene of a truck accident and afterwards as you begin your recovery.  The first thing that you want to do is get prompt medical attention for your injuries.  If you are physically able to then you should trade contact and insurance information with the other driver.  If the other driver is employed by someone else then it is important to get the employer’s contact information as well.

After you have sought appropriate medical care, it is time to think about your long term physical and financial recovery.  You may be able to recover damages if the other driver’s legal negligence caused your injuries.  In order to determine if the other party was legally at fault you should consult with your Illinois truck crash attorney who will evaluate the elements of negligence:

  • The Other Driver Owed You a Duty of Care: If the driver was operating a motor vehicle on a public road then he owed other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists a duty of care.
  • The Other Driver Breached the Duty of Care: If the other driver failed to obey the traffic rules or otherwise acted in a manner in which a reasonable driver would not act then the driver breached his duty of care.  For example, if the driver was speeding, driving while intoxicated, sleeping or using his cell phone then he likely breached his duty of care.
  • The Other Driver’s Breach of his Duty of Care Caused the Plaintiff’s Injuries: the other driver’s actions must have been the legal and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.
  • The Plaintiff Must Suffer Injuries: the plaintiff must have suffered harm in order to compensated.

Choosing an Illinois Truck Accident Attorney

It is important to choose an Illinois truck accident lawyer who has extensive experience litigating and negotiating settlements for personal injury cases.  The lawyers at Dolan Law Offices have the experience and are committed to helping their clients receive a fair verdict or settlement.

Dolan Law Offices represents patients who suffered injuries from truck accidents  throughout Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area, including Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County, and the towns of Aurora, Addison, Chicago Heights, Joliet, Hillsdale, Plainfield, Rolling Meadows, Des Plains, Schaumburg, Palatine, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Wheaton, Waukegan, Inverness, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Elgin, Bartlett, Itasca, Bloomingdale and Oak Park.

Please contact us today for a free consultation.  The Chicago truck accident attorneys of Dolan Law Offices will not collect a fee from you unless your case results in a monetary verdict or settlement.