Item: Kreisman Law Offices Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Rating: 5
Author: C.B.

How to Value a Truck Accident Case

If you or someone you love is involved in an accident involving a truck on a highway, road, street or thoroughfare and have sustained injury or death, many of the first questions that arise is how the truck driver and his or her company compensate for the injuries or death of the ones involved.

Statistically, a truck accident case if it involves a motor vehicle such as a car, SUV or motorcycle, the injuries to occupants of these vehicles are often devastating. On average, truck accident cases bring large verdicts in Illinois. More than 3% of all truck accident settlements or jury verdicts are over $5 million.

The way to evaluate the compensation for an injured or killed driver or passenger of a motor vehicle involved with a truck is to identify the injuries of each person. The first step would be to consider what the medical bills and the medical reports indicate, what the doctor’s prognosis is for the future and what the costs associated with the medical care in the past and in the future might be. These are questions answered by the medical records and associated documents and later by the testimony of the treating physicians or expert witness physicians who would opine as to the future medical costs necessary for the care and treatment of the injured.

Furthermore, the occupation of the injured in a truck accident is also an important factor in determining damages. Did the injured or killed support a family, have gainful employment and then of course, what is the earnings of each of these individuals? Those numbers are calculated on past lost income and then an economist or other expert would calculate what the loss of future income might be depending on the age of the person who was injured or killed.

The sources for analyzing truck accident cases and damages associated with each case can be found by studies by the review of Illinois and Cook County jury verdicts and by analysis by statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In handling and evaluating truck accident cases, Kreisman Law Offices when called upon will immediately investigate each and every aspect of the case. That means a professional will be on site to photograph, videotape the scene, take witness statements, preserve all evidence, including the “black box” that is found in most, if not all, commercial trucks and many other vehicles. In addition, commercial truck drivers are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to maintain a log book of hours driven. There are rules set out by state and federal law that limit the number of straight hours that a commercial truck driver may be on the road. These facts are all critical in determining fault in truck accident cases. Too often truck accidents are caused by fatigued drivers or even drivers who are taking prescription medicines that impair a driver’s ability to navigate the truck and trailer under extreme circumstances.

Because truck drivers, their supervisors and truck companies are protective of their drivers, there may be a tendency to lose or destroy important evidence. That is why it is imperative that the family of those who are injured or killed contact Kreisman Law Offices immediately so that these items may be preserved and evidence contained rather than lost or destroyed.

Most truck accidents come in several forms. In many cases, truck accidents occur because the driver is unable to control his truck and trailer to avoid crashing into vehicles in front of it. Another common occurrence of truck accidents is the jackknifing of large trucks or semi-trailers because of the sudden stop where the load shifts causing the trailer to jackknife. The most likely occurrence of a semi-trailer jackknifing is when the trailer is empty or half empty.

Another common cause of truck accidents is the fact that trucks themselves, because of their size and weight are hard to maneuver. Truck drivers often have a hard time making turns that cause car crashes, SUV crashes and motorcycle accidents. Sometimes the truck accidents that Kreisman Law Offices has handled is when a truck driver runs over the sidewalk injuring pedestrians or a bicyclist. Many times truck drivers make wide turns that also are dangerous and cause accidents.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling serious truck accident cases for more than 40 years. Because of our experience and resources, we are best prepared to maximize value in truck accident cases.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a truck accident, please call Robert Kreisman of Kreisman Law Offices for a free and immediate consultation or fill out a contact form on our website.

Robert Kreisman of Kreisman Law Offices has been handling truck accident cases and cases for more than 40 years. Kreisman Law Offices has prevailed in trials and settlements in Chicago, Illinois and surrounding communities and has successfully resolved cases for those injured or killed in truck accidents.

With our 40 years of experience in trying and settling truck accident cases Kreisman Law Offices provides the best possible services to our clients and have achieved unsurpassed results. Our service is unmatched. Please call us 24 hours a day at 312.346.0045 or toll free 800.583.8002 for a free and immediate consultation, or complete a contact form online. There is no charge for a consultation that will include an evaluation of your case, assessment of damages such as lost income, lost wages, medical and hospital bills, past and future pain and suffering, loss of normal life and wrongful death.

★★★★★

“We were devastated when our 31 year-old son was killed by a negligent driver. Kreisman Law Offices did everything to help us through this very difficult time, including coming out to the house several times which was a comfort. My wife and I were extremely pleased with Mr. Kreisman’s compassion and care for this very tragic and troubling time.” C.B.

“Bob Kreisman did everything possible in handling the trial of this case. It was devastating that I traumatically lost my leg above the knee in this truck accident. However, it was not an easy case to win. His staff was so prepared for the trial that it was not surprising that the settlement offers continued to rise until we finally accepted the multi-million settlement while the jury was still deciding the case. My wife and I were delighted that we could secure our future with this settlement. We thank Mr. Kreisman and his incredible staff for working so hard for our benefit.” T.P.

“My mother died because doctors dropped the ball. I called Robert Kreisman and he immediately set up an appointment for my entire family. We met at his offices and I was very comfortable that he would do the best for my dad and my brothers. He spent hours with all of us in preparing for depositions and he hired top notch experts, all of which contributed to an incredible settlement before trial. I know that he is dedicated to his cases and particularly to the people he works for and the people who work with him. He continues to be generous in contributing annually to my mother’s memory and to make known to the public the signs and symptoms of brain tumors.” V.S.

“My dad was ignored and mistreated at the nursing home that we placed him in. It didn’t take long for us to realize that we made a big mistake, particularly after my dad developed these terrible bedsores. We transferred him as we were contacting Mr. Kreisman. He was referred to us by a lawyer we have known for a long time and respect his opinion. Mr. Kreisman and his staff worked tirelessly to resolve this case. We were fortunate to have his services and will recommend him to anyone.” T.J.

Submit a Law Firm Client Review