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Illinois Truck Accident Claim Overview (Part B)

Insurance Adjusters and Settlements

The insurance companies involved in your Illinois truck accident will assign an adjuster to your claim. This person is responsible for obtaining all the evidence in support of the accident, determining the degree of fault for both parties, and then offering a settlement. They may seem friendly and sympathetic, but the adjuster's goal is to make sure their company is protected and has to pay the least amount of money possible.

Before you speak to any adjuster, you should have the counsel of an experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer. Many adjusters will try to dissuade you from hiring legal counsel, because most victims who have the help of a Chicago truck accident lawyer often receive larger settlements. This is because the adjuster knows that with a lawyer on your side you'll be well aware of your legal rights and have the ability to take your claim to trial if the initial settlement is too low.

If you are offered an initial settlement from the insurance companies you should not accept until it has been reviewed by a trusted Chicago truck accident lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to help you consider the offer and determine if it is a fair amount of compensation for your specific injuries and expenses. They will also warn you of the dangers of certain clauses in the settlement that may prevent you from reopening the claim if future medical expenses occur.

The Dangers of an Illinois Truck Accident

An Illinois truck accident with a commercial truck, no matter what type, carries additional hazards due to its size, weight, and potential cargo types. There are many factors that can lead to an Illinois truck accident including:

Rollover crashes due to excessive speed and cargo shift;
Jackknife accidents;
Underride/Override accidents;
Cargo spills;
Intoxicated or impaired/fatigued drivers; and
General driver negligence.

The injuries that result from many Illinois truck accidents can be severe including:

Traumatic brain injury;
Spinal cord injury;
Permanent disability;
Disfigurement;
Loss of Limbs; and
Death

Because all of these factors can often contribute to large medical expenses, rehabilitation, property damage, and lost wages or permanent loss of work, your family may need the compensation offered from a settlement in a truck accident claim just to get by. An experienced Chicago truck accident lawyer can help take the burden out of establishing, filing and following through with an Illinois truck accident claim.

Hiring a Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer

Even experienced, safe drivers run the risk of being involved in a serious Illinois truck accident. Beyond your initial recovery, injuries in these types of accidents are often serious and result in permanent disability or disfigurement which can cause loss of the ability to work, years of rehabilitation, serious medical bills, and have a significant impact on your life.

A Chicago truck accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in an Illinois truck accident claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation - 312-263-1080

As a service to the residents of Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and Illinois in general, the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Illinois and can result in serious injuries and/or fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

-- single-car accidents such as SUV rollovers;
-- accidents due to hazardous road conditions; and
-- accidents caused by distracted, aggressive, and/or drunk drivers.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.