If you have been injured in a truck accident in Illinois that another party caused, you may be able to recover significant compensation for your damages. To secure compensation, you will need to file a claim and be prepared to prove causation, liability, and the value of your current and future damages. Make sure to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Chicago for legal guidance.
Determining Causation and Liability
You will first need to determine and be able to prove what caused your accident and what party or parties are liable for your damages. Determining causation and liability requires careful investigation of the facts surrounding your accident.
While driver negligence may have been a cause of your accident, there are often additional negligent parties involved. Trucking companies, maintenance and repair businesses, vehicle and equipment manufacturers, and others may have contributed to the cause of your accident.
At Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys, our truck accident lawyers possess the experience and expertise to thoroughly investigate all potential causes and identify potentially liable parties. We know what to look for and how to uncover the evidence to build your case.
Gathering Evidence
You will need to gather the contact information for all drivers involved in the accident, as well as proof of their insurance coverage. You should also obtain contact information for all eyewitnesses to the accident, and take photographs and video footage of the accident scene.
You will also need to obtain the accident report, estimates of your property damage, medical expenses, proof of lost wages, and evidence of other costs and losses sustained due to the accident.
Some of this evidence will not be immediately available. For example, the total costs of your medical expenses may not be known for several weeks or months.
Additionally, if your case is not resolved quickly, you will need to conduct discovery and gather much more evidence to prepare your case for trial.
Filing a Claim With An Insurance Company
Insurance companies often contact accident victims immediately after a crash. Their goal is to either obtain information from you that can be used to help them deny or devalue your claim, or to get you to accept a quick settlement offer before you have a chance to consult an attorney.
While it is essential to file a claim with the insurance company and put them on notice, you will not know the extent of your damages until you have recovered from your injuries and have accurately valued all current and future damages.
Filing Deadlines
A statute of limitations is the law that establishes a deadline for filing a claim to recover compensation in a truck accident case. If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover damages.
The Illinois statute of limitations for personal injury claims related to truck accidents is generally two years. This means you must file your claim within two years of your accident. However, there are some exceptions to the two-year filing deadline. You must consult an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney to determine whether your accident is subject to an exception. You could have less or more time to file, depending on the facts of your case.
Filing a Lawsuit
If you are unable to reach a fair settlement of your claim, you can take your case to trial to demand the full value of your damages.
At Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys, our truck accident lawyers are excellent negotiators. The vast majority of our cases are resolved favorably for our clients without going to trial. However, we have a proven record of trial success and have helped secure billions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
Contact an Experienced Illinois Truck Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a truck accident in Illinois, you deserve to be represented by an experienced truck accident attorney. A Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys, a Chicago personal injury lawyer can handle every detail of filing your claim, protecting your rights, and helping you secure maximum compensation for your damages.
Call (630) 394-5189 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your truck accident claim.