If you have been injured in an Illinois truck accident, you may be able to recover compensation for damages you sustained. However, your right to recover compensation has a deadline. If you do not file your claim before the deadline expires, you will not be able to recover damages. Make sure to speak with an experienced Chicago truck accident injury lawyer for legal guidance and support.
Illinois Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations is a law that establishes a deadline for filing a claim to recover compensation in a personal injury case. If you miss your deadline, you lose your right to seek damages.
The Illinois statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including those involving truck accidents, is two years from the date of the accident or incident that caused your injury. This means you must file your truck accident claim within two years of your accident unless your case falls into one of the rare exceptions established by law.
Since there are exceptions to the two-year filing deadline, you must promptly consult an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney to determine how long you have to file your claim.
Exceptions to the Illinois Statute of Limitations For Truck Accident Claims
While most truck accident claims must be filed within two years of the accident, there are a few exceptions. In some cases, you may have much less time to file a claim, and in others, you may have more time to file.
Examples of truck accident claims that must be filed much sooner include:
- Claims against a government entity. For example, if your accident were caused by a truck owned by a local or state government, or by a negligent government entity, your claim would be governed by special procedures and a shorter statute of limitations.
- Claims involving the Illinois Dram Shop Law. If your claim involves an establishment that served or sold alcohol to a driver who caused your accident, your claim would have a one-year statute of limitations.
Examples of truck accident claims that may have an extended filing deadline include:
- When the truck accident victim is a minor.
- The victim is legally disabled.
- The victim’s injuries are not immediately apparent.
- The defendant is in the military.
- The defendant flees Illinois.
You must consult an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney to determine your filing deadline.
How an Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover Maximum Compensation
An experienced Illinois truck accident lawyer can thoroughly investigate your accident to identify all possible causes and potentially liable parties to maximize the sources of compensation to pay your damages. They can take fast action to help preserve vital evidence before it can be lost or destroyed, and work to uncover proof to build your strongest case.
Your attorney can help establish and accurately value all your current and future damages so you know what a fair settlement of your claim would be. They can negotiate with the insurance companies and defense attorneys to help resolve your claim as quickly as possible. When a fair settlement cannot be reached, they can take your case to trial and demand the full and fair compensation you are entitled to.
Your chances of a successful outcome are significantly greater when an experienced Illinois truck accident lawyer represents you.
Contact Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys Today
If you have been injured in a truck accident in Illinois caused by another party, we want to help you. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys have secured billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients, and we are committed to helping you obtain the maximum compensation for your damages.
Call (630) 394-5189 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your truck accident claim.