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Legally Reviewed by:

Jonathan Rosenfeld
J.D

March 2, 2023

Over $400 Million worth of case results

Awarded The Best Lawyer in 2024 by U.S. News

Nationally Recognized in Legal Community

Were you involved in a rear-end truck collision that resulted in severe injuries or the death of a loved one?

Contact the experienced truck accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, today to discuss your case to ensure that the insurance company representing the other drivers and trucking company pays sufficient financial compensation for your damages.

Our Chicago read-end truck accident attorney, will not stop until the liable parties fully compensate you for the damage they caused through a successful verdict or settlement.

Call us at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today to schedule a free consultation.

When someone is a victim of an accident where a trucker rear-ends them, medical bills, property damage, vehicle repairs, and other expenses can be astronomical. Also, the fight against the trucking company to be fairly compensated can be draining.

Chicago rear-end truck accident attorney

The Inability of Sizeable Trucks to Stop Quickly: The Primary Cause of Significant Rear-End Collisions

An average of 42,000 rear crashes happen each year where the truck strikes another vehicle (per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [1]). These truck crashes are especially dangerous for several reasons:

  • Large trucks are 40 or more times heavier than the passenger cars sharing the roads. The pure weight of these heavy trucks striking a smaller passenger vehicle can cause severe injuries and even death.
  • The stopping distance to a complete stop is much longer for large, heavy trucks
  • In 18% of the accidents studied, three or more vehicles (multi-vehicle collisions) were involved when the truck rear-ended another vehicle
  • Big truck crashes resulted in over 23,000 injuries and over 700 deaths per year of the study

Many rear-end crashes result from distracted driving and not noticing that the traffic up ahead is slowing down. In addition, it is not uncommon for a truck driver to fail to maintain a safe distance between vehicles and anticipate hazards.

Crashes involving a semi-truck represent only a tiny portion of rear-end crashes with serious injuries and fatalities.

However, these truck crashes still are incredibly hazardous to those involved and are why federal regulations strongly emphasize that truck drivers maintain a safe distance between cars and large commercial vehicles.

Are Rear-End Truck Collisions Always the Fault of Truck Drivers?

In most rear-end collisions, the big truck or other commercial vehicle striking from the rear is usually to blame. However, if the vehicle is a large commercial truck, the trucker may have been cited for causing the accident.

Additionally, the trucker’s company will likely be financially responsible to the victims. Most commercial trucks are owned by commercial outfits proficient in fighting legal battles over accident damages and will pay as little as possible.

The complexities of a rear-guard truck collision require every major trucking company to be well-represented by competent injury lawyers with years of experience. Because of that, truck accident victims must have a truck accident attorney to protect their interests through legal representation.

Contact a truck accident lawyer at (888) 424-5757 today to protect your rights.

Rear-End Accident Injuries and Damages

Truck crashes can be violent, leading to severe personal injuries. The weight and velocity of these large truck collisions can harm victims in many different ways like the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions
  • Disfigurement and scarring
  • Hearing and vision loss
  • Broken bones
  • Knee and joint damage
  • Herniated disc
  • Death

Unfortunately, insurance companies covering trucking companies and truck drivers dispute or deny claims brought against their policyholders, and attempt to place the liability on the seriously injured victim.

Rear-End Truck Accident Statistics and Facts

Typically, rear-end truck accident cases involve the front of a heavy 18-wheeler rear-ending the rear of a passenger vehicle, car, or truck traveling slower up ahead. Rear-end truck accident statistics in Illinois include:

  • Rear-end accidents cause the most truck collisions
  • Thousands of injured individuals are seriously injured in accidents involving commercial semi-trucks every year
  • Many front drivers stop in the middle of the road due to vehicle damage without employing hazard lights
  • Distracted driving, fatigue, intoxication, and brake (or another truck part) failure are the leading contributing factors causing rear-end truck accidents
  • Truck drivers are five times less likely to be intoxicated in rear-end crashes
  • Research indicates that most rear-guard crashes occur when a driver decelerates to make a turn or comes to a complete stop, and a rear driver fails to compensate.

Financial Relief After a Rear-End Accident

Truck accident attorneys working on behalf of the injured parties can ensure they recover compensation for their damages.

Your legal team will ensure adequate monetary recovery to pay for hospital bills, lost wages, prescriptions, and rehabilitative care related to the 18-wheeler crash. The victim can also pursue financial compensation for long-term effects like future pain, suffering, disability, and quality of life harm.

Finally, if the crash claimed the life of a loved one, qualifying surviving family members may petition for wrongful death damages to account for lost support, companionship, and related losses.

There are many options available to you after a rear-end accident in Chicago. The important part is to work with the right law firm.

Types of Sizeable Vehicles Involved in Truck Accident Claims

Many other vehicles on the road can cause horrific accidents. One should always be aware of the following:

  • Tow trucks
  • Fire trucks
  • Garbage trucks
  • Semi-trailer tractors
  • Flatbed trucks
  • Logging trucks
  • Emergency vehicles

Work With Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys

A team of experienced personal injury attorneys and legal advocates could jumpstart your efforts toward relief and recovery by initiating the following actions:

  • Conducting investigations to determine the cause of the accident
  • Interviewing important witnesses
  • Communicating with insurance companies and other drivers involved
  • Consulting your medical records to help evaluate your damages
  • Filing a comprehensive claim for damages within the applicable statute of limitations

To learn about what you need to do (and when you need to do it) in Chicago to pursue compensation and other relief after a rear-end truck accident, speak with a member of our team today!

Rear-End Truck Accident Injuries FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions related to injuries and fatalities. We appreciate that these questions may give rise to other concerns not addressed here.

Consequently, contact our law firm today for a free consultation with a truck crash attorney who can address the concerns related to your situation.

What Is the Most Common Injury Caused by Rear-End Crashes?

The force of the impact from being hit from behind can cause whiplash when the head and neck muscles stretch from the back-and-forth motion. Typically, a whiplash injury involves soft tissue damage ranging from the back of the head to the upper back that can last for weeks or months.

What Kind of Damage Can a Rear-Guard Collision Cause?

Most rear-end truck accidents cause collision damage to the trunk, bumper, and back of the car or truck, instantly devaluing the vehicle’s worth. Extensive damage to the back of the vehicle can cost thousands of dollars in repairs.

Should You Go to the Hospital If You Get Rear-Ended?

Some accident victims feel fine in the moments after the accident. However, it is still vital to have EMTs (emergency medical technicians [2]) transport you to the hospital for a qualified health professional evaluation.

What Happens to Your Body in a Rear-End Collision?

The impact in rear-end truck accidents can cause a catastrophic injury that, over time, forms scar tissue in the neck, shoulders, and back of the head. Without proper treatment, the damage can eventually lead to a loss of range of motion, radical wear and tear to the spine and shoulders, and joint degeneration.

Some victims of rear-end accidents develop post-traumatic osteoarthritis and bone spurs in the affected areas from catastrophic injuries when involved in accidents involving large trucks.

Should I Get a Lawyer If I Got Rear-Ended by a Truck Driver?

Police usually cite the driver who rear-ended the vehicle ahead for failing to stop safely. However, if you were hit and want to file a compensation claim with the trucker’s insurance company, the claims adjuster might not respond with adequate compensation in their first settlement offer.

Your rear-end truck accident attorney can negotiate to ensure you receive ample compensation to cover all your medical expenses, hospital costs, lost earnings from time away from work, mental anguish, pain, and suffering.

Victims of large truck rear-end collisions need legal counsel to be compensated fairly for their injuries and losses. Commercial truck companies have experienced lawyers working to protect their interests, and victims must come prepared to fight for what they deserve.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our law firm understands the complexities of accident cases and will go after all the entities responsible for your losses.

Contact us today to schedule a free meeting to discuss your options at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call), or use the contact form to schedule an initial, free consultation.

All sensitive or confidential information you share with a truck accident attorney from our law firm will create an attorney-client relationship to ensure it remains private.

Resources: [1] NHTSA, [2] WebMD

Client Reviews

Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.

- Michonne Proulx

Extremely impressed with this law firm. They took control of a bad motorcycle crash that left my uncle seriously injured. Without any guarantee of a financial recovery, they went out and hired accident investigators and engineers to help prove how the accident happened. I am grateful that they worked on a contingency fee basis as there was no way we could have paid for these services on our own.

- Ethan Armstrong

Jonathan helped my family heal and get compensation after our child was suffered a life threatening injury at daycare. He was sympathetic and in constant contact with us letting us know all he knew every step of the way. We were so blessed to find Jonathan!

- Giulia

This lawyer really helped me get compensation for my motorcycle accident case. I know there is no way that I could have gotten anywhere near the amount that Mr. Rosenfeld was able to get to settle my case. Thank you.

- Daniel Kaim

Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial.

- Lisa
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