Our Lawyers Can Help You Get Answers.
Attorneys at Pritzker Hageman recently won $10 million for a man who was suffered severe second, third and fourth-degree burns. The exact cause of the explosion was not known when Pritzker Hageman took the case. Their client had suffered through the cleaning and debriding of the burns on over 60% of his body, the daily dressing changes, and numerous surgeries. He wanted to know why there was an explosion and who was responsible, and the Pritzker Hageman attorneys got answers and the $10 million settlement for our client.
Pritzker Hageman attorneys have been named “Super Lawyers” every year since 2004. Pritzker Hageman law firm is on the U.S. News & World Report “Best Law Firms” list.
Determining Who to Sue for Compensation
A semi-trailer crashes into a car, and both vehicles are engulfed in flames. The driver of the truck, a passenger in the truck and a passenger in the car are all badly burned, and the driver of the car dies. Who is legally responsible?
Legal responsibility in these cases involves finding out who is responsible for the crash, and then determining who is responsible for the resulting explosion and fire. These cases are complex, and you will need a lawyer who has experience. If the commercial vehicle driver is at fault for the crash, others may also be legally responsible, including a trucking company, the company that is shipping the freight (for example, Walmart or Amazon), the company that serviced the vehicle, a manufacturer.
Was the Explosion and Fire Caused by a Defective Product?
If you hire our attorneys to represent you, we will immediately hire the best forensic engineers to help us independently investigate your case. This investigation always includes a thorough examination of the commercial semi-tractor and trailer to determine if a defective part caused the explosion and fire. Cases involving defective parts are called product liability cases, and our firm has a national reputation for success in this area.
Company truck accident explosions and fires can be caused by the following:
- fuel system breaches due to the force of the impact during the crash, although federal safety standards have lessened this problem;
- defective fuel tank (design, placement, maintenance);
- defective fuel line (placement, maintenance);
- defective muffler (design, placement, maintenance);
- defective electrical system (design, placement);
- defective wheel bearings;
- tire (underinflated or duals that touch);
- overheated brakes;
- grease deposits under the trailer.
If your loved one was burned or killed in a crash explosion or fire, contact attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman to request a free lawsuit evaluation. If you hire Pritzker Hageman law firm to represent you, we are not paid unless you win.
Semi Truck Driver Dies in Crash Fire
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman won a settlement for the family of a driver (Driver 1) who died while driving a 2010 International tractor-trailer (Vehicle 1) westbound on Interstate 94. Driver 1 hit a 1997 Freightliner semi tractor (Vehicle 2) that was illegally stopped in the same westbound lane of I-94. Vehicle 1 then burst into flames. According to the preliminary investigation report, Driver 1 survived the crash and was killed by the intense post-crash fire. The investigation found that he was unable to escape from the cab and died of “catastrophic thermal injuries.”
State patrol that arrived on the scene said they smelled marijuana on Driver 2, who was not seriously injured in the crash. Driver 2 was charged with Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle and Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle, both felonies, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
In addition, Fred and Eric found evidence that Driver 2 was talking with his girlfriend on his cell phone at the time of the crash.
Tanker Truck Overturns on Turnpike and Explodes, Killing the Driver
A tanker truck, holding more than 8,500 gallons of gasoline, overturned and exploded, killing the operator and closing a section of the Turnpike for more than 12 hours. The driver of the tanker truck was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to New Jersey State Highway Patrol. The tanker, which was traveling northbound on the Turnpike, swerved to avoid several mattresses and box springs that had just fallen off of a white cargo van. The truck driver’s evasive action caused the fuel in the tanker to shift and the tanker to flip over a guardrail. The entire rig was engulfed in flames within seconds.
Woman Rear-Ended by Semi-Truck Dies When Fire Spreads to Car
A car was stopped in traffic at an intersection behind a tractor trailer. The car was rear-ended by a grain truck that failed to stop. The car was pinned between the two 18-wheelers, when the cab of the grain truck caught fire and flames spread to the car. The driver of the car, a 29-year-old woman, tragically died.