Bethalto Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck Accident Lawyers Fighting for Bethalto and IL Residents
The Bethalto Truck Accident Lawyers of Dixon Law provide the greatest level of care and legal guidance for Bethalto and IL residents. If you, a member of your family, or someone you love has been affected by a truck accident, and you’ve suffered terrible injuries, loss of work, and are now dealing with tremendous medical bills, you need a truck accident lawyer to protect your interests. The Bethalto Truck Accident Lawyers at Dixon Law can guide you through your truck wreck case and ensure that the needs of your family, whether they be financial, medical or anything else are fully met during this period of difficulty. Whether you need financial assistance because of loss of work, medical bills, or to pay for the costs of recovery associated with any injuries sustained because of the truck accident, Christopher R. Dixon and the Dixon Injury Firm can and will provide you with expert truck accident legal guidance If you’ve been involved in a truck crash, call our Bethalto truck accident lawyers now at (314)-409-7060
Truck Accidents in Bethalto and IL – Truck Crash Attorney
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in a recent three year study, large truck (like tractor trailers and semi-trucks) accidents caused the deaths of 10,823 people and 242,000 injuries. Large trucks are detailed as being over 10,000 pounds and are primarily used for commercial purposes. They are commonly referred to as semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, or tractor trailers.
When such a massive amount of weight is moving at highway and interstate speeds, any accident will be a catastrophic one. These larger, heavier trucks aren’t agile and take 40% longer to stop than the average automobile. Accidents involving 18-wheelers are approximately 25% more likely to result in fatalities than accidents involving other types of passenger vehicles.
Despite these facts, insurance carriers for truck drivers will attempt to shift the blame away from their driver and to the other driver or circumstances out of their drivers control. The difference in weight is massive – a tractor-trailer may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, whereas most cars weigh less than 4,000 pounds – truck drivers usually survive any accidents involving a car. The drivers of cars involved in these crashes are far more likely to be hurt or killed.
Common Causes of a Truck Crash – Semi-Truck Accident Attorney Bethalto
A variety of factors involving truck drivers can lead to accidents. Some of the most common ones are:
- Texting and Driving
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Changing Lanes when it’s not safe
- Failure to obey the rules of the road
- Being Needlessly Distracted
- Wet or icy road conditions
- Making an improper turn
- Operating the truck in a careless or imprudent manner
- Overcorrecting
- Passing with insufficient room
- Alcohol use
- Drug use
What are the Federal Regulations for Truck Drivers? – Truck Wreck Attorney Bethalto
The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established in 2001. Their mission is to study why injuries and deaths occur in wrecks, and how to make vehicles more safe in the event of a crash. The FMCSA enforces safety regulations, monitors safety systems, targets high risk drivers and carriers, as well as works to spread safety awareness.
This governing agency enforces a large number of rules and regulations with respect to truck driver regulation, vehicle regulations, company regulations, Hazmat regulations, and regulatory guidance.
The Aftermath of a Semi Truck Accident – Truck Crash Lawyer Bethalto
Trucking Companies are usually protected by large, powerful insurance firms. These firms hire investigators who aggressively search out reasons to keep the company from paying the entirety of what they are owed. The job of the investigators is to prove that the tractor trailer driver’s version of events is true. They will manipulate the “evidence” available at the scene of the accident to shift blame away from their driver. A case of this severity shouldn’t be taken on alone, you need an experienced Bethalto, IL truck accident lawyer who is familiar with these tactics and can successfully counteract them.
Immediately following your truck accident, the insurance corporation will attempt to use your confusion against you; Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Do not give a written or oral statement to any representative of the trucking company
- Do not sign anything
- Photograph the scene (skid marks, off road tire tracks, yaw and scuff marks, etc.)
- Get the names and contact information of any potential witnesses
Once you are safe after the accident, you should contact a truck accident attorney in Bethalto to safeguard your claim. Some of the evidence that will be preserved will include:
- Data from the “black box.” Many semis are equipped with systems that record such important evidence as the speed at which the truck was traveling at the time of the accident, braking information and engine speed.
- Log books. Truck drivers are required to keep log books detailing the number of miles they drive and the hours they spend off duty.
- Radio recordings. Recordings of communications between a truck driver and his or her dispatcher may contain important information about the events leading up to an accident.
This evidence will help investigators determine whether any Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations were broken and protect your truck accident case.
Bethalto Injury and Truck Accident Lawyers
The Truck Accident Lawyers of Dixon Law and their legal services are backed by recent cases and testimonials from clients. Chris’ firm has helped recover more than $34,000,000 for clients and their families. Regarding truck crashes, Dixon’s injury attorneys in Bethalto have handled cases involving the following:
Truck Accidents affect entire families. Our Bethalto Truck Crash Attorneys fight for the restitution and recovery of Bethalto families because we are dedicated to helping our clients get back to the lives and careers they had before the accident. It’s our job to help Bethalto clients and their families get through these difficult situations.
Experienced Bethalto Truck Accident Lawyers
Truck Drivers in today’s aggressive economic climate are driving longer hours, for lower wages, and are often speeding to meet deadlines. Your truck crash may have been caused by a violation of a FMCSA regulation. Your case may depend upon speaking with an attorney who has experience in dealing with these regulations and their violations. Large corporations must be held accountable for placing the public in needless and unnecessary danger in the name of company profits.
If you have been injured, or a loved one has been killed as the result of truck or tractor trailer crash, our experienced Bethalto injury lawyers are standing by to help. Our lawyers have been recognized as Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association and are Life-Time Members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
For a FREE consultation, call (855) 402-7247 or (314) 409-7060, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is NO FEE unless we win.
The Dixon Truck Accident Firm provides a number of legal services. These include: