Rockford Truck Accidents

Tenacious Rockford Attorneys for Truck Accident Victims

Many thousands of truck accidents occur every year in Illinois. These accidents occur not only on interstates, but also streets within municipalities. Rockford is the largest city in Illinois aside from the Chicago metropolitan area. As such, it is a hub for numerous delivery trucks and other commercial vehicles. As of 2020, its population was 148,655 spread out over an area of 61.949 square miles. If you were injured in a truck crash, call the dedicated Champaign truck accident attorneys of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca. We seek best results for each of our clients.

Recover Damages After a Truck Accident in Rockford

Unfortunately, drivers are at constant risk of suffering serious injuries in the course of a collision with a much heavier commercial vehicle. Whether you were struck by a truck, semi-truck, tractor trailer or 18-wheeler, it is normal to feel frightened and exhausted as you try to figure out your next steps. You probably have recourse, but it’s important not to talk to the insurer for the truck driver or trucking company before calling lawyers to determine whether you have a claim. Immediately after an accident, a truck driver’s insurer will work to gather evidence that limits an accident victim’s recourse, and you should be represented by an attorney that is equally resourceful and knowledgeable about the evidence that supports your case.

When retained, we will send an accident reconstruction specialist to the site. As a driver, you face the constant risk of being involved in a collision with a larger, heavier commercial vehicle like a truck, semi-truck, tractor-trailer or 18 wheeler. You can sue any responsible party for the losses you suffer due to their negligence or misconduct.

In many cases, there are several victims, all claiming against the truck driver’s insurance policy. It is possible that the truck driver’s policy has insufficient coverage for all the victims claiming against it for their injuries or fatalities. You should seek legal counsel who can carefully examine the situation to determine which parties may bear responsibility for the accident and the extent of their liability.

Proving Liability

Most truck accident cases require our Rockford attorneys to establish negligence. This means we’ll need to show it’s more likely than not: (1) the defendant owes you a duty to use reasonable care, (2) the defendant breached the duty of reasonable care, (3) causation, and (4) actual damages. The duty of care varies according to the circumstances.

Generally, all truck drivers owe a duty of reasonable care to all of those with whom they share the road. A truck driver may breach that duty by speeding, texting while driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, failing to check blind spots, or failing to obey traffic signs and signals.

However, a trucking company also owes a duty of care—it can be held responsible for negligently hiring, supervising or training a truck driver who causes an accident. For example, if a trucking company knowingly hired a driver with a track record of drunk driving accidents, and then the truck driver crashed into you while under the influence, the trucking company could be held liable for negligent hiring.

Comparative Negligence

Defendants often mount their strongest defense by alleging an accident victim’s comparative negligence. If they are successful in using this defense, your damages could be reduced by an amount proportionate to your degree of fault. For example, defendants who are able to prove you were speeding and that your speeding was 20% responsible for an accident in which you sustained $100,000 of damages, the defendants would only need to pay $80,000, and you would be responsible for $20,000 of your own damages. Under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence rule, you will be entirely barred from recovery if you were 50% or more at fault.

Call Seasoned Rockford Trial Lawyers to Discuss Your Lawsuit

Call the effective lawyers of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca for a free consultation at 312-724-5846 or contact us via our online form. We fight for best results for our clients, using insights gained over more than 60 years of experience advocating for accident victims. We also handle SSDI and disability claims.