When Accidents Devastate, We Fight for Your Recovery
Truck accidents can change lives in an instant. At Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C., our award winning attorneys understand the devastating impact these collisions have on victims and their families. Our experienced Chicago truck accident attorneys are ready to stand by your side and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call (312) 957-4166 for a free consultation with our attorneys who charge no fees unless we successfully win your case.
The Unique Challenges of Truck Accidents
When a commercial truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic. Further, the victims’ claims process can be extremely challenging. Here’s what sets truck accidents apart:
- Catastrophic injuries: The size and weight difference between trucks and passenger vehicles often leads to life-altering injuries.
- Complex liability: Multiple parties may share responsibility, including the driver, trucking company, vehicle manufacturer, and cargo loaders.
- Federal regulations: Commercial trucks must follow specific federal and state regulations that don’t apply to passenger vehicles.
Corporate opposition: Trucking companies and insurers have teams of lawyers working to minimize their liability.
Why ChooseWillens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. for Your Truck Accident Case
Top-Notch Experience and Legal Excellence
Founding attorney Matthew Willens has extensive experience with truck accidents and is recognized nationally and by the Illinois legal community as the “Best of the Best” in personal injury law. He has been chosen by his peers to be one of the “Illinois Super Lawyers,” an accolade given to fewer than 1% of Illinois lawyers.
The Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers legal team has decades of combined experience handling complex truck accident cases, helping victims recover millions in compensation.
Insider Knowledge of Insurance Companies
What truly sets us apart is our background in insurance defense. Attorney Matthew Willens previously worked as an insurance company executive, while Attorney David Baez began his career as a defense attorney representing insurance companies. This insider knowledge gives us a decisive advantage when negotiating with adjusters or fighting for you in court. As our clients often say, “It’s like they know the other side’s playbook!”
Proven Success in Truck Accident Cases
Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers are top-rated truck accident lawyers who have obtained significant confidential resolutions of trucking accident matters for severely injured individuals. Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers has secured millions for truck accident victims throughout Chicago and Illinois.
Client-Centered Approach
When you call Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C., you get a professional, compassionate lawyer who will truly listen to your story. We understand you’re going through one of the most challenging periods of your life, so we provide personalized attention and compassionate guidance throughout the legal process.
No Fee Unless We Win
Our firm operates under a results-based payment structure – legal fees apply only when we obtain monetary recovery for your claim. This approach provides access to expert legal advocacy for all truck collision victims, irrespective of their economic status.
Our Approach to Truck Accident Cases
1. Immediate Investigation
We act quickly to preserve crucial evidence before it disappears:
- Securing electronic logging device (ELD) data
- Obtaining driver logs and employment records
- Examining maintenance history
- Interviewing witnesses
- Documenting the accident scene.
2. Expert Consultation
We collaborate with accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and trucking industry professionals to strengthen your case and establish liability.
3. Comprehensive Damages Assessment
We carefully evaluate all aspects of your damages to help ensure you receive full compensation for:
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Rehabilitation costs
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
4. Strategic Negotiation and Litigation
We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, giving us leverage during settlement negotiations. While we strive to reach a fair settlement without a lengthy court battle, we’re fully prepared to take your case to trial when necessary.
Truck Accident Statistics in Chicago & Illinois
The numbers reveal the serious nature of truck accidents in Illinois and across the nation:
- According to the National Safety Council, 5,375 large trucks were in fatal crashes in the US in 2023.
- Another 114,552 large trucks were involved in injury-causing accidents throughout the country.
- In Illinois, semi-trucks were involved in 130 fatal crashes in 2023 alone, according to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
- Many injurious collisions in Illinois in 2023 also involved various large vehicles:
- Tractor-trailer – 1,957 injury crashes
- Single-unit trucks – 1,457 injury crashes
- Farm tractors – 74 injury crashes.
Despite modest improvements in fatality rates, the large number of total crashes indicates the continuing danger on Illinois roads, particularly when commercial trucks are involved.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Chicago
Driver Fatigue
Studies by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration identify driver fatigue as a leading cause of truck accidents. Despite federal regulations limiting driving hours, many truckers push beyond safe limits due to tight schedules and delivery pressures.
Distracted Driving
The use of cell phones, dispatch systems, and in-cab technologies contributes significantly to distracted driving accidents.
Improper Training & Inexperience
Many truck accidents occur because drivers receive inadequate training for handling large commercial vehicles, especially in challenging conditions like Chicago’s harsh winters or heavy urban traffic.
Mechanical Failures
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires rigorous maintenance for commercial vehicles. However, brake failures and tire blowouts remain among the most common mechanical issues leading to serious truck accidents.
Improperly Secured Cargo
Regulations strictly govern weight distribution in commercial trucks. When cargo is improperly loaded or secured, it can shift during transport, causing the truck to become unstable or even overturn during turns or sudden stops.
Traffic Violations
Drivers must follow all traffic laws, yet speeding, improper lane changes, and running red lights remain common factors in truck accidents throughout Chicago and Illinois.
Weather Conditions
The substantial mass and dimensions of commercial trucks make them especially susceptible to hazardous driving conditions. Slippery or icy roads, low visibility, and storm debris can increase the likelihood of truck accidents.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accidents frequently result in severe, life-changing injuries:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
TBIs often require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. The financial impact is substantial: victims frequently face enormous medical bills while being unable to work during recovery.
Spinal Cord Injuries
These are often catastrophic injuries that result in partial or complete paralysis. Patients require lifelong care and adaptive equipment.
Multiple Fractures
The immense impact force in truck collisions can cause not just broken bones but crushed bones or multiple fractures throughout the body, often requiring surgical intervention.
Internal Injuries
Hemorrhaging and trauma to essential organs like the liver, kidney, and spleen often result from high-impact truck collisions.
Severe Burns
Truck crashes frequently involve fuel fires that can cause third- or fourth-degree burns requiring specialized treatment.
Psychological Trauma
Many victims suffer from PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other psychological effects that impact their quality of life long after physical injuries have healed.
Safety Tips for Sharing the Road with Trucks
Here are critical safety tips to reduce your risk of a truck accident:
Always Use Restraints Properly
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that correct seat belt usage can decrease the risk of accident death by as much as 60% among light truck occupants.
Prioritize Roadway Vigilance
When operating vehicles near large commercial trucks, exercise heightened caution. More than just obeying traffic rules, also be aware of the truck’s blind spots, stopping distance, and turning space.
Maintain Awareness Across All Roadway Classifications
Numerous motorists believe highways are particularly hazardous due to their velocity and congestion. Yet many fatal incidents actually occur on state routes, US highways, and municipal streets. Remain constantly attentive regardless of which type of roadway you’re traveling.
Respect Weather Conditions
In the Chicago area, rain can be as dangerous as snow for driving conditions. When sharing the road with large trucks in bad weather, increase following distance and reduce speed.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
- Obtain medical evaluation: Prioritize your physical wellbeing above all else. Certain injuries may not be obvious at first, manifesting symptoms only after time has passed.
- Notify law enforcement: Contact police authorities to ensure documentation through an official collision report.
- Document the scene: If possible, take photos of the vehicles, your injuries, and the surrounding area.
- Collect relevant information: Obtain the commercial driver’s full identification, contact information, trucking company affiliation, and applicable insurance documentation.
- Refrain from recorded communications: Decline to provide documented statements to insurers or accept preliminary settlement proposals without legal counsel.
- Engage legal representation: The sooner you reach out to Willens & Baez, the quicker we can implement strategies to safeguard your interests and develop your legal claim.
Time Limits for Filing a Truck Accident Claim
In Chicago, the time limit for filing a personal injury claim against an at-fault party is two years from the date an injury occurs. However, exceptions may shorten this period, particularly if a government entity is involved.
Don’t delay in seeking legal representation. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and crucial deadlines may pass. Contact Willens & Baez as soon as possible after your accident.
Contact Our Award-Winning Chicago Truck Accident Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois, the nationally recognized legal team at Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. is here to help. Our proven track record of success in truck accident cases speaks for itself:
Our Truck Accident Victory Record
- $2,250,000 settlement – Truck accident wrongful death case
- $1,500,000 settlement – Family of a maintenance worker killed in a truck accident
- Multiple six-figure settlements – For victims of commercial vehicle collisions
As a personal injury law firm, Willens & Baez is highly trusted by clients and the legal community alike. With us, you get a legal team that’s proven competent and genuinely committed to helping you recover.
Take the first step toward maximum compensation and recovery. Call us at (312) 957-4166 for a free consultation and no-obligation case evaluation. Remember: We charge no legal fees unless and until we win your case. Contact Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. today.
