Pritzker Olsen Attorneys

Truck Accident Attorney:
Frequently Asked Questions

Truck Accident Head On CollisionThe following truck accident attorney FAQ is provided by Pritzker | Olsen, P.A., a premier personal injury law firm.  The firm has a national reputation and has been interviewed by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other publications.  In recognition of their achievements, Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman have been named "Super Lawyers” by Law & Politics magazine (2008 and prior years). To contact truck accident lawyer at our law firm about a truck accident, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.

Truck Accident FAQ

What Should I Do to Protect My Legal Rights if I Have Been in a Truck Accident?

  • Report Your Truck Accident to Your Insurance Company.
  • Do Not Talk to Other Insurance Companies or Sign Anything.
  • Do Not Talk to the Trucking Company’s Claims Adjuster or Sign Anything.
  • Take Photographs.
  • Obtain Information and Forward it to Your Truck Accident Attorney.
  • Make Sure Your Police Report is Filed.
  • Report Your Accident to DMV, if Necessary.
  • Photograph and Inspect Vehicle Before Repairs or Demolition.
  • See a Doctor as Soon as Possible after the Truck Accident.
  • Retain a truck accident attorney.

Read a detailed discussion of what to do after a truck accident.  Our detailed discussion of this topic is full of information you may not find on any other website.

What are the Truck Accident Laws and Regulations?

The trucking industry is regulated by both federal and state governments.  This is significant legally, because an accident caused, even in part, by a violation of a law or regulation may lead to higher compensation for anyone injured in the accident, including pedestrians and drivers and passengers of cars, motorcycles, vans, other trucks and other vehicles.  Read more about Truck Accident Law and Regulations.

Who Can be Sued in a Semi Truck Accident Lawsuit?

With truck accidents, it is important to sort out who the liable parties are because the more pockets there are to dip into the better.  Liable parties in a truck accident lawsuit may include (for more information, see “Truck Accident Lawsuit: Who Can You Sue for Truck Accident Injuries and Death?”):

  • The owner of the truck (trucking company, waste management company, construction company) 
  • The owners of the tractor-trailer cab and trailer
  • The owner of the freight
  • The driver of the truck
  • The employer of the driver
  • A parent company of the owner of the truck or employer of the driver
  • The manufacturer of the truck, cab, trailer or any truck part
  • A third-party maintenance company
  • The driver and owner of another vehicle
  • The manufacturer of another vehicle

How are Insurance Companies Involved after a Truck Accident?

Multiple insurance companies may be involved after a commercial truck accident.  Do not talk to them.  Everything you say, even in a friendly conversation, can be used to limit your compensation.  If you retain our law firm, we will communicate with insurance adjusters for you.  Also, do not sign anything without an attorney reviewing it first.  We cannot stress this enough. 

To learn more about commercial truck insurance and compensation for injuries and death, please see “Truck Accident Insurance”and "Lawsuit against a Trucking Company and Insurance."

What Compensation is Recoverable for a Semi Truck Accident?

Below is a general idea of what compensation is recoverable for truck accident injuries and wrongful death.  These will vary, depending on the facts and the applicable laws.
Compensation for Truck Accident Injuries:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Lost future earnings, pain and suffering
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Other damages

Compensation for Truck Accident Wrongful Death:

  • Lost economic contributions
  • Loss of care and companionship
  • Funeral expenses
  • Other damages

I Was a Passenger in an 18-Wheeler Accident. Who Will Pay My Medical Bills? And What if the 18-Wheeler Driver Was Drunk?

If you were a passenger in an 18-wheeler accident, you may have claims against several parties for payment of your medical bills. If the 18-wheeler driver had been drinking, this evidence can be used to prove negligence, and could provide the basis for a punitive damages claim. Read more about compensation for a passenger in an 18-wheeler accident, including medical bills and pain and suffering.

What Should I Look for in a Truck Accident Attorney?

This is what you need to look for as you search for a truck accident lawyer:

  • A truck accident lawyer who has successfully obtained compensation for truck accident victims and their families.
  • A truck accident lawyer that works for a law firm with substantial resources.
  • A law firm that takes care of its clients and their families.
  • A truck accident lawyer that talks to you.
  • A truck accident attorney who listens to you.
  • A truck accident attorney that is recognized by other lawyers as being a good lawyer. Our lawyers have distinguished themselves by winning cases, teaching legal education courses and publishing articles in legal journals. Based on the results of a poll of attorneys, Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman have all been named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine. Attorney Fred Pritzker is also listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
  • You should choose a lawyer you feel you can trust.

Read more about choosing a truck accident lawyer.

Truck Accident Attorney Awards

What if I Was a Passenger in a Car Hit by a Truck?

If you were a passenger in a car hit by a truck, you may be able to sue a number of parties to get compensation for your injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earnings, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life and other damages. For more information, please read Truck-Car Accident: Passenger.

When is a Truck Driver Negligent?

Truck drivers must operate their commercial trucks with the highest degree of care as required by law.  Truck drivers are negligent if they do one or more of the following:

  • Drive too fast
  • Drive too fast for conditions
  • Fail to keep a careful lookout
  • Fail to maintain proper control of their truck
  • Fail to stop, swerve, slacken speed, and/or maintain control of a truck when there is a reasonable likelihood of a collision with another vehicle
  • Drive a commercial motor vehicle in violation of state and federal laws.

For more information, please read Truck Driver Negligence.

What if I Was Hit by a Drunk Truck Driver?

Even if the truck driver was not “drunk” under state law, the driver may have violated federal regulations governing interstate, commercial truck drivers.  Under these regulations, “no driver shall report for duty or remain on duty requiring the performance of safety-sensitive functions while having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater” (49 CFR Part §382.201).  Violation of this regulation is evidence of driver negligence in a lawsuit seeking accident victim compensation.

Read more about, "I was hit by a drunk truck driver. What are my rights?"

 

To contact a lawyer at our law firm for a free consultation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our lawyers or submit our online form for review by one of our attorneys.  We have a proven track record and the resources needed to get you the compensation you deserve. 

Keywords: Truck Accident Attorney, Truck Accident Insurance, Trucking Company Insurance, Insurance Company Claim, Commercial Truck Insurance, Injuries, Wrongful Death, Truck Accident Attorney, Insurance Bad Faith.


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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Wins Millions for Client

Attorney Fred Pritzker won $6,000,000 for a client whose right leg was amputated when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger was struck by a drunk driver. If you have been in an accident with a DUI driver, you may have a cliam against a bar or other place that sells alcohol.

 

Truck Wheel Accident Death

Our law firm recently won $2,850,000 for a family whose loved one was killed by a truck wheel that crashed through a car windshield.  Read about a truck wheel off accident.

 

Tow Truck Accident

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen obtained a $2,750,000 recovery for a 59 year-old truck driver who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the loss of his left eye and significant disfigurement when the tow chain being used to pull the man’s semi tractor-trailer out of a ditch broke loose from a front-end loader to which it was attached.

 

Semi-Truck Crash Settlement

Pritzker Olsen attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman recently obtained a hard-fought $2,560,000 recovery for a couple who were seriously injured in a semi-truck crash. The husband suffered serious head injury (TBI). Read about the semi truck crash settlement.

Our lawyers have recovered millions more for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation about your accident.

 

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