Unlike standard car accidents, truck accident liability is rarely limited to a single driver. A St. Charles truck accident lawyer can identify the multiple individuals or companies may share responsibility for your accident. Identifying each party is critical to recovering full compensation for your injuries. Schedule a free consultation to speak with a lawyer and to discuss your legal options today.
Illinois Is an At-Fault State for Truck Crashes
Illinois operates under an at-fault system for truck crashes. This means that a party who causes a crash is financially responsible for the resulting damages. Injured victims may seek compensation by filing an injury claim with the insurance company for the truck driver or trucking company.
Illinois also follows a modified comparative fault rule. Truck crashes often involve overlapping negligence by drivers, companies, and third parties, making comparative fault an important rule for injury claims.
Under this law, you may recover compensation from any party that played a role in causing the accident. If you share some blame, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 15% at fault, your recovery would be reduced by 15%. However, if you are mostly to blame (51% or more), you’ll be barred from recovering compensation.
It’s important to note that trucking companies and insurers may exaggerate your level of blame in an attempt to reduce your payout. An experienced attorney can push back on false blame accusations.
Common Liable Parties in Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident claims frequently involve multiple defendants. Identifying all responsible parties can substantially increase the amount of compensation available through available insurance policies.
Common parties that may be liable include:
- The truck driver if they were speeding, distracted, impaired, or violated federal regulations
- The trucking company, for unsafe hiring practices, inadequate training, poor supervision, etc.
- The vehicle owner or leasing company, if they failed to properly maintain the truck
- Maintenance or repair providers for negligent repairs or missed defects
- Cargo loading companies for improperly securing or overloading cargo
- Manufacturers of defective truck components
In many cases, each defendant may attempt to deny responsibility or shift blame onto another party. This finger-pointing is common in high-value truck accident claims.
A Truck Accident Lawyer in St. Charles Can Help You Identify All Liable Parties
Determining who is legally responsible for a truck accident requires a detailed investigation. Your attorney will review electronic logging device data, event data recorders, maintenance logs, employment records, and surveillance footage to determine what went wrong. They will also analyze whether the truck driver or the trucking company violated federal law in the lead up to your accident.
An experienced truck accident attorney in St. Charles will uncover all forms of negligence that contributed to the crash. Your attorney will also help you track and calculate your losses related to the accident. By identifying every liable party and applicable insurance policy, an attorney helps ensure that no source of compensation is overlooked.
If you were injured in a truck accident, contact Feagans Law Group today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options and how we can help you pursue full and fair compensation.