If you or someone close to you was recently injured in a commercial truck crash, you might be desperate for answers. Who is to blame for the accident? Will the at-fault party be forced to pay damages? How can I hold the liable party accountable?

Answering these questions is rarely easy. Many different parties can be held accountable for a commercial truck crash, and it is important to investigate all of the possible sources of liability in your case.

The Truck Driver

Many people automatically assume that a commercial truck driver is at fault for a crash. While this is often the case, it is not always the truck driver's fault. The truck driver may be liable for a crash if the driver was driving negligently at the time of the accident. Fatigued driving caused by Hours of Service violations, intoxicated driving, speeding, and inattentiveness are all possible causes of a truck crash.

Rear-end collisions in which one vehicle crashes with the back of another vehicle can lead to serious injuries, including whiplash, and spinal cord trauma. Drivers who cause rear-end accidents may be held accountable for the damages caused by their negligence.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a rear end collision, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover financial compensation. Compensation may be available for your medical bills, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and more.

Is The At-Fault Party Always the Rear Driver?

In the vast majority of cases, the person in the vehicle that is behind the other vehicle is liable for a rear end collision. Rear end collisions are often caused by drivers who are texting and driving, intoxicated, or simply not paying attention. Drivers are expected to keep their distance from the vehicles in front of them to avoid colliding with the vehicles. However, there may be cases in which the driver in the front is liable.

As a parent, your child's safety is likely a top concern. Parents worry about stranger danger, school safety, and other external dangers, but there may also be dangers lurking in the products parents buy for their child. In recent years, dangerous children's products have been recalled due to potential risks of injury or even death. Product liability law holds manufacturers accountable for their products by requiring them to pay for damages resulting from accidents caused by unsafe products.

Types of Product Liability Concerns for Children

The most common product liability claims related to children’s products involve toys, clothing, and furniture. Toys may contain small parts that can be choking hazards or other dangerous pieces, while clothing may have loose threads or adornments that can cause strangulation. Furniture such as cribs may lack proper safety features that could prevent tipping or collapsing.

The companies that design, manufacture, or distribute children's products have a legal obligation to make sure their products are safe for use. If they fail to do so, then they can be held liable if an accident or injury occurs as a result of the product.

Being injured in a fire or explosion is one of the most painful and traumatic things a person can go through. If you or a loved one suffered burns, respiratory injuries, or other injuries in a fire, you may be able to seek justice through a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim is a civil claim brought against a party for that party's negligent or wrongful actions. The defendant in a personal injury claim may be a business, product manufacturing company, property owner, trucking company, negligent driver, or a number of other parties.

Burns and Smoke Inhalation Injuries Caused by Negligence

Modern homes and businesses have smoke detectors, fire escapes, and other fire prevention measures. However, these measures are not always enough to prevent a fire or explosion from occurring. Building code violations, failure to install adequate fire prevention equipment, negligent practices, mistakes, and oversights can lead to fires resulting in severe harm.

Fire-related injuries and accidents may involve:

A wrongful death claim is a civil legal action taken by the representative of a deceased person. This representative is often a surviving spouse or close family member. If your loved one passed away in a fatal car crash in Illinois, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver or other liable parties.

Damages that may be available in a wrongful death claim for fatal car accidents in Illinois include economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can reimburse the deceased person’s family members for financial losses associated with the accident while non-economic damages address the non-financial suffering caused by the death.

Possible Damages in an Illinois Wrongful Death Claim

Losing a loved one is not only shocking and traumatic, but it can also bring significant financial loss. Economic damages recognize this financial suffering by providing compensation through monetary damages.