Champaign 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney Information
If you have a Champaign, Illinois 18 wheeler accident claim, Champaign 18 wheeler accident lawyers are here to advocate for you. Call one of the Champaign 18 wheeler accident lawyers listed on this site for a free initial consultation.
Semi truck, tractor trailer and 18-wheeler accidents are common occurrences on Champaign roads and highways. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people die as a result of 18-wheeler accidents and big rig collisions in the United States each year with a substantial number of 18-wheeler truck accidents occurring in Champaign, Illinois, every day. Due to the high population and highly congested traffic throughout Champaign’s sprawling metropolis, the city of Champaign unfortunately has its fair share of big rig truck accidents. Champaign is home to more than 81,000 people, making Champaign the 11th-most populated city in Illinois, and the fourth-most populated city in the state outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area,18-wheeler accidents and semi truck crashes on Champaign highways are inevitable.
Champaign has immediate access to the interstate highway system. Interstates 72 and 74 provide east-west access, while Interstate 57 provides north-south access. The City is also served by State Route 45 in north-south directions and Routes 10 and 150 in east-west directions. The automobile is still the most common form of transportation in Champaign, with majority of its residents driving to work alone each day.
Semi truck, tractor trailer and 18-wheeler accidents are common occurrences on Champaign roads and highways. If you have a Champaign 18 wheeler accident claim, call one of the Champaign 18 wheeler accident lawyers listed on this site for a free initial consultation.
Champaign 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer
Due to the sheer weight difference of a car versus the weight of an 18-wheeler or tractor trailer, accidents that involve commercial vehicles often times result in severe injuries or even death. Compared to the average weight of an automobile, which is only 5,000 pounds, one can easily see how much more dangerous commercial vehicles like an 18 wheeler can be. That is why if you are injured by a semi truck or commercial vehicle in Champaign, it is important that you choose an experienced Champaign 18-wheeler accident attorney who knows the truck regulations and laws both nationally and for the State of Illinois.
Commercial vehicles go by different names such as:
- Big Rig
- 18 Wheeler
- Tractor Trailer
- Truck
- Semi
Champaign truck accidents caused by an 18-wheeler, big rig, semi truck, tractor trailer, bus or commercial vehicle are common on Champaign streets, avenues and highways. Many of the semi truck crashes that occur in the city of Champaign happen along the major Champaign highways, which include the I-74, I-57, SH 10, I-72, US 45, and US 150.
Types of Trucks
The following trucks do specific things and carry certain types of cargo:
- Bob-Tail Trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Refrigerated trucks
- Flat bed trucks
- Logging trucks
Buses are also considered commercial vehicles as well, but as a rule do not haul cargo. Instead a bus is a transportation vehicle that carries children or adults such as a school bus or commercial bus like Greyhound. School bus accidents or commercial bus accidents are common on Champaign roads and freeways. The causes may vary, but often times the accident is a result of hazardous road conditions or driver negligence.
It is essential to hire a Champaign bus accident lawyer if you have been involved in the following type of accident:
- Champaign city buses;
- transportation buses such as Greyhound;
- shuttle bus accidents when driving to and from the airport, such as Willard Airport; and/or,
- charter bus accidents that occur running back and forth from Lake Geneva.
The ways Champaign truck accidents happen occur are too numerous to list. Blind spots, rear-ends, sideswipes, head-ons, load overturns, jack-knifes are all possible and can result in fatal wrongful death truck accidents.
If you live in Champaign and have a claims for an accident that involved a big rig or an 18 wheeler, your case might be filed at this court:
Champaign County Circuit Court
101 East Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 384-3725
18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve Champaign and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Eastern Illinois, including Arcola, Bloomington, Champaign, Charleston, Clinton, Danville, Decatur, Farmer City, Georgetown, Hoopeston, Mattoon, Paris, Paxton, Rantoul, St. Joseph, Tolono, Tuscola, Urbana, and other communities in Champaign County.
Champaign 18-wheeler accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Champaign 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.
Types of Trucks
Hiring a Champaign 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in an 18 wheeler truck accident in Champaign, Champaign, it is recommended that you hire a qualified Champaign 18-wheeler accident lawyer who is knowledgeable in federal laws and Champaign state laws regarding trucking regulations. Champaign, located in Champaign County, is the fourth-most populated city in the state outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area with extensive roadways and congested freeways due to its high population. Therefore, it is not uncommon for truck collisions, wrecks, crashes and injuries to occur due to the high amount of traffic. If you or a loved one have been injured in a East Champaign truck accident, contact a qualified Champaign semi truck accident attorney today for a free initial consultation.
Champaign & Champaign Professional Associations
In addition to selecting a qualified Champaign accident & injury lawyer that regularly handles Champaign big rig truck accident cases, you should also check out the attorney’s credentials. For example, is the attorney a member of the Champaign Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, or the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association? All lawyers that practice Champaign truck accident litigation must be active members of the State Bar of Champaign. They may also join other professional organizations, such as:
The Champaign Bar Association seeks to educate its members by promoting public awareness of the law and public service activities, facilitating the Administration of Justice and preserving the the high standards of legal integrity, honor, and good will among its members. The Illinois State Bar Association has more than 30,000 members and is the largest voluntary statewide organization of lawyers in Illinois.
Big Rig Accidents Can Be Devastating
When a negligent truck driver makes the decision to get behind the wheel of their semi tractor-trailer, any driver traveling near them is at risk for serious injury or death. The consequences of an 18-wheeler truck a crash along a Champaign intersection, avenue, or freeway can be devastating, often resulting in very serious injuries that can even lead to death. The sheer force of a speeding 18-wheeler truck is a dangerous weapon that can forever change your life. Under the law if you are involved in such a wreck or an accident, you are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one have been injured in a commercial truck accident in Champaign, LI or Champaign County, it is in your best interest to contact a Champaign big rig truck accident lawyer immediately.
Champaign 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers File in Champaign County, IL
When a truck accident occurs and a lawsuit is subsequently filed, the decision of where to file it is called “choice of venue.” The venue chosen can have legal consequences that affect the outcome of your case. Generally, venue in a truck accident case is proper in any of the following locations:
- the county wherein the accident occurred;
- the county wherein the defendant company’s principal place of business is located; or,
- the county wherein the defendant truck driver resides.
Even though your accident may have occurred in Champaign, the truck company and truck driver will often be from a different state. This is because trucking companies frequently operate in states other than where they are registered. In these cases, the venue where the lawsuit may be filed could be the state where the truck accident occurred, the state where the trucking company is located, or even the state where the trucking company regularly does business, if different. For example, the accident may have occurred in Champaign, Champaign, therefore making venue proper in Champaign County, but the claim may be filed against a trucking company from another state. You need a qualified and experienced Champaign tractor trailer lawyer to decide what the best venue would be in a case like this that crosses state lines.
One court in the Champaign, Champaign County, Champaign, areas include:
Champaign County Circuit Court
101 East Main Street, Urbana IL 61801
(217) 384-3725
18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers Serve Champaign and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Eastern Illinois, including Arcola, Bloomington, Champaign, Charleston, Clinton, Danville, Decatur, Farmer City, Georgetown, Hoopeston, Mattoon, Paris, Paxton, Rantoul, St. Joseph, Tolono, Tuscola, Urbana, and other communities in Champaign County.
Don’t be the victim of a semi driver’s negligence. Hiring a qualified Champaign 18-wheeler accident lawyer is essential if you or a loved one have been injured in a truck collision. Contact a big rig accident lawyer today to ensure you receive expert representation from an attorney who knows how to handle your case.
Types of Trucks on Champaign Highways
There are many types of commercial trucks found in and around Champaign, Illinois. Trucking companies in Champaign offer a wide variety of vehicle choices. Some Champaign trucking companies deal with courier and small package delivery as well. Some companies offer bicycle couriers for downtown Metro areas and will also use an assortment of vehicles ranging from cars, vans and pick-up trucks to large tractor-trailers and bobtail trucks.
Types of Trucks Used By Champaign Trucking Companies:
- 18 Wheeler
- Semi Truck
- Tractor Trailer
- Big Rig
- Semi Trailer
- Box Truck
- Straight Truck
- Flatbed Truck
- Stake Truck
- Bobtail Truck
Be sure to insist on the highest levels of safety by selecting a reputable Champaign trucking company that uses late model vehicles which are inspected on a regular basis.
When to Hire a Champaign 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
In many cases, Champaign 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways a Champaign tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious box truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need a Champaign truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Champaign truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Champaign tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.
Champaign Trucking Companies
Following is a list of trucking companies based in Champaign, Illinois. Services offered include container drayage, loose freight drayage, overweight loads, bonded moves, same day delivery.
Thrift Trucking
Bennett International Transportation
Reynolds Towing Services Inc. |
Steve Gilbert Trucking
Mike Bushman Trucking
Jack Cain Trucking |
Some companies deal with the transport of import and export containers through the Port of Chicago, which is located nearby. |
Truck Accident Attorneys Serve Champaign and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Eastern Illinois, including Arcola, Bloomington, Champaign, Charleston, Clinton, Danville, Decatur, Farmer City, Georgetown, Hoopeston, Mattoon, Paris, Paxton, Rantoul, St. Joseph, Tolono, Tuscola, Urbana, and other communities in Champaign County.
Champaign truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Champaign truck accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.
Champaign Flatbed Truck Accident Attorneys Represent Injured Truck Drivers
Truck drivers who operate an 18-wheeler truck or big rig on the busy roads and highways of Champaign such as I-74, I-57, can become injured when a major commercial vehicle collision occurs. Truckers often say, “Ride with me for just one day and you will see what it is like ‘out there’…it’s not always the trucker’s fault…”
It is not uncommon to see a big rig wreck, semi crash or major accident involving semi truck drivers in Champaign, LI. Champaign’s freeway system, which is made up of miles of freeways and expressways in a metropolitan area and has immediate access to the interstate highway system. Interstates 72 and 74 provide east-west access, while Interstate 57 provides north-south access. The City is also served by State Route 45 in north-south directions and Routes 10 and 150 in east-west directions. The danger of an 18-wheeler truck accident is not just confined to injured people in automobiles, but can end up injuring the truck driver affecting their livelihood and family’s livelihood as well as the automobile driver. So, when a Champaign 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer is contacted, be it by an automobile driver who has been injured or a truck driver that has been injured at the dangerous hands of another, you will need an expert Champaign truck injury lawyer to fight for your rights.
The Semi Truck Driver is Not Always at Fault
When an 18-wheeler is moving down a Champaign road or highway, such as I-74, I-57, SH 10, I-72, US 45, US 150 at high speeds, it is nearly unstoppable and can easily turn a motorist’s everyday commute into a lethal situation. Although a passenger car is lightweight, in comparison, and can easily maneuver in and out of lanes on Champaign highways, it is no match for a big rig truck. If the two vehicles are unable to avoid a collision, wreck or crash, the driver of the passenger car will be lucky to escape with their life.
A driver of a passenger vehicle could easily be killed as a result of veering out of his lane and then smashing into a tractor trailer truck let’s say on the U.S. 59 Southwest Freeway which is just under the beltway in Champaign. If the trucker tried to avoid hitting the passenger car but was unable to avoid the wreck or crash, then this would be a case where the accident was caused by the driver of the passenger vehicle and therefore the trucker would not be at fault.
Truck Driver Facts
- Two of your fellow truck drivers die each day in accidents
- 33,000 people driving large trucks are injured each year
- 6.3% of U.S. truck drivers are injured each year.
Injured Truckers Need Legal Representation
A qualified Champaign 18-wheeler accident attorney should offer a free case review. If they decide to take on your legal matter, they should not require an up-front fee. Truckers with a trucking injury claim are generally taken on a contingency fee basis. In other words, your Champaign truck accident attorney is only paid if you receive compensation for your injuries.
Injured Truckers Need to Know Their Rights
As a trucker, you have rights you need to be aware of. It is not uncommon for aggressive insurance companies to contact you shortly after the accident in an effort to try to get you to settle quickly and convince you that you want the matter to go away. In many cases, injuries are not so quick to heal. Many times the injuries can be permanent, long-lasting, and career-threatening. That is why you need a competent Champaign truck accident lawyer that is not only prepared to mediate a resolution, but also prepared to take your case to court.
When Negligence Changes a Trucker’s Life
Qualified Champaign truck accident lawyers know exactly how to provide nationwide representation for truckers injured in trucking accidents caused by a variety of negligent acts and mechanical malfunctions, including:
- Rear-end, Head-On Crashes and Jackknives
- Poor Maintenance, including Tires and Brakes
- Driver Fatigue
- Unsecured Loads
- Aggressive Driving
- DWI/Drug Use
- Lack of Reflectors and Poor Visibility
Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, litigation can be very complex. Hiring a semi truck accident attorney who specializes in the numerous trucking laws throughout the United States is essential for a successful verdict outcome. For more information about trucking laws or to schedule an appointment with an experienced commercial truck injury lawyer, contact a truck injury attorney today.
When an 18 Wheeler accident occurs, your Champaign truck accident lawyer will check the truck driver’s credentials to see if he/she attended an accredited Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) school. In Champaign, Illinois, one truck driving school is C J's Drivers Training Center 2710 North Water Street, Decatur, IL, although there are many others throughout the country. See the Nationwide List of Accredited CDL Schools for a more comprehensive list.
Resources for Truck Drivers |
Trucking Schools (earn your CDL):
CJ's Drivers Training Center
Star Truck Driving School
|
Occupational Health Care Facilities
Safeworks Illinois: Fletcher David J MD
Manor Care Health Services |
Companies that provide towing services for big rig |
Bartley Garage |
Reynolds Towing |
Contact a Champaign 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney for a free initial consultation. |
Truck Accident Lawyers for Injured Truckers Serve Champaign and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Eastern Illinois, including Arcola, Bloomington, Champaign, Charleston, Clinton, Danville, Decatur, Farmer City, Georgetown, Hoopeston, Mattoon, Paris, Paxton, Rantoul, St. Joseph, Tolono, Tuscola, Urbana, and other communities in Champaign County.
Champaign truck accident attorneys for injured truckers are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact a Champaign 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.