Truck Accidents

A significant number of collisions involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles result from preventable human error. Regrettably, when these massive 80,000-pound trucks collide with vehicles that are a mere fraction of their weight, the consequences are often life-altering, causing catastrophic injuries or fatalities. When negligence is the cause—whether on the part of a truck driver, a trucking company, or another entity—victims have the legal right to seek compensation for their losses.

Contact Gardi, Haught, Fischer & Bhosale LTD for a free case evaluation if you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident. Our experienced team handles many truck accident cases involving intoxicated drivers, fatigued drivers, distracted drivers, maintenance failures, negligent hiring, and improperly loaded trailers. With a track record of successful verdicts and settlements and over a century of combined legal experience, you can trust our firm to provide the necessary representation.

Request your free case evaluation today with one of our truck accident lawyers by calling (847) 944-9400or contacting us online.

Who Is Liable in Truck Accident Cases?

Truck accident claims differ from other motor vehicle cases, often being highly complex due to various factors, especially the issue of liability.

In a typical car accident case, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver, who is typically the sole liable party. However, in truck accident cases, injured parties usually file claims against the trucking company, not the truck driver. Employers are generally responsible for their employees’ conduct under respondeat superior laws. Consequently, the trucking company can be legally liable for damages even when the truck driver acted negligently and caused the accident.

Nevertheless, there are situations where the trucking company may not be liable. For instance, if the truck driver was violating company policy, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when an external factor significantly contributed to the accident. In such cases, where, for example, a defective truck tire blows out on the highway, causing the truck driver to lose control and collide with your car, the manufacturer or distributor of the defective tire could be held partially or entirely liable for your damages.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Given the complexity of liability in truck accident claims, it is crucial to determine how the accident occurred and what factors contributed to it. Identifying the accident’s cause allows our team to bring a claim against the responsible party effectively.

Some common causes of large truck and commercial vehicle accidents include:

Truck Driver Negligence: This includes actions such as eating, drinking, or texting while driving, other forms of distracted driving, failing to follow traffic laws or road rules, driving while tired or falling asleep at the wheel, inadequate vehicle maintenance (if the responsibility of the driver), and more.

Truck Driver Misconduct: In contrast to negligence, misconduct implies a higher level of intent. Examples include drunk or drugged driving, reckless driving such as swerving between lanes or excessive speeding, aggressive driving like cutting off other drivers or engaging in road rage behaviors, and more.

Negligent Trucking Company Practices: Examples include negligent hiring or supervision, failure to conduct background checks on truck drivers, encouraging or failing to penalize drivers for violating federal hours-of-service regulations, imposing unrealistic quotas or schedules, or punishing truck drivers for not meeting them.

Defective Trucks/Truck Parts: Defectively designed or manufactured trucks and truck parts contribute to these accidents annually. Common defective truck parts include tires, braking systems, engine components, headlights and taillights, reflective strips, backup signals, cargo doors, and more.

Poor Weather Conditions: While no one can be held responsible for the weather, truck drivers are obligated to drive more cautiously in adverse conditions. This may involve reducing speeds, using daytime headlights, or waiting for particularly unsafe conditions, such as icy roads.

Essential Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

Following any collision with a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle, you should take the following steps:

Call the police and/or 911 at the accident scene. Ensure you obtain a copy of the police report and maintain all medical records.
Seek medical care and follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan promptly. It is crucial not to delay seeking medical attention. If there is a gap between the accident and your treatment, the insurance company may argue that your injuries resulted from another cause.
Refrain from making statements to the other party’s insurance company until you consult a truck accident attorney. The truck driver will have a lawyer paid for by the trucking company’s insurance provider, so you also need an experienced truck accident attorney.

Choose A Truck Accident Lawyer To Contribute Powerful Resources & Experience For Your Claim

At Gardi, Haught, Fischer & Bhosale LTD, our team of seasoned truck accident attorneys collaborate with a team of medical and other experts when handling truck accident cases involving catastrophic injuries like brain and spinal cord injuries. Our truck accident lawyers often work with accident reconstruction experts, life care planners, vocational rehabilitation specialists, economists, liability specialists, and other professionals to build each case. Our approach is to pursue the maximum possible verdict or settlement for our clients.

We possess the legal knowledge and skill to aggressively pursue maximum compensation for lost wages, medical care, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and other damages. As a purposefully small firm, we focus our vast resources on a limited number of cases, pooling our insight, experience, and investigative skills into helping you secure the financial resources you need.

Contact One Of Our Top Rated Truck Accident Attorneys Today

For exceptional client service and experienced representation in any truck accident case, contact Gardi, Haught, Fischer & Bhosale LTD to speak with one of our highly experienced truck accident lawyers. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee, meaning you pay nothing unless you win.

Call our office at (847) 944-9400for a free initial consultation.

Request A Free Case Evaluation