Emergency responders were unable to revive an accident victim at the scene of a three-vehicle collision. One of the vehicles involved in the morning accident was a semi-truck. The other two vehicles were a minivan and a pickup truck. Police Chief Rick Bleichner told reporters that Mr. Miller suffered fatal injuries as the driver of the pickup. Mr. Miller, was pronounced dead within a half-hour of the impact by McLean County Coroner Kathy Davis.
Public safety crash reconstruction analysts went to work right away to determine the cause of the semi-truck crash. In accidents of this kind, family members of the deceased often choose to launch their own investigation by retaining a truck accident lawyer.
Yes, I want a free accident lawsuit evaluation.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Am I obligated to sign any papers presented to me by the commercial trucking company or its insurance agent?
No. Tell them you want to consult first with a lawyer of your own. You could limit your legal options and reduce your chances to receive fair compensation by going along with companies that have their own interests in mind. They would be satisfied to give you a fraction of what you are owed.
How do I choose the right lawyer?
Look for experience. Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman have recovered tens of millions of dollars for individuals and their families in cases where a semi-truck has caused a wrongful death or serious injury. Contact them online for a free case consultation or call direct and toll-free to their offices: 1-888-377-8900.
Will I have to file a lawsuit?
Your attorney will advise you on the best legal course, but the courts welcome wrongful death lawsuits, truck accident lawsuits, lawsuits against trucking companies and other litigation when it becomes necessary to determine who is legally responsible for the crash.
What if the at-fault truck driver has no money to pay?
An experienced truck accident lawyer knows what parties can be held accountable. The full extent of money owed to next of kin could possibly come from the corporate owner of the truck; the commercial trucking line responsible for the route; the owner of the freight; the manufacturer of the cab, trailer or any truck part; a third-party maintenance company. In many cases these entities are covered by insurance.
How do you prove the truck driver was at fault?
It’s important for your lawyer to move quickly after an accident to recover all available evidence about the crash itself, the semi-truck’s condition, the driver’s log book, the driver’s physical state, whether the driver was distracted, whether the semi was involved in a safety violation or whether drugs and alcohol were involved. Sometimes there are deadlines to collect reports and other data relevant to the crash. A good truck accident lawyer will exhaust all information sources and frame the full extent of the crash and who was at fault with professional accident reconstruction methods. Pritzker Hageman, P.A., employs high-tech animation to make it easier for the judge or jury to understand.
Are there special laws that apply to these cases?
Yes, the trucking industry is regulated by both federal and state governments. This is significant, because an accident caused, even in part, by a violation of a law or regulation may lead to higher compensation.
