Each year, many people are killed or sustain serious injury or death from accidents involving trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles. These accidents often are the result of poorly trained drivers, drivers being pushed to work an excessive number of hours, driver inattention and carelessness. Unfortunately, the drivers of larger commercial trucks sometimes forget they must share the road with smaller passenger vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists. Accidents happen when these drivers fail to take adequate precautions. Accidents can also occur when trucks or buses are not adequately maintained or equipped.

Making a successful claim against negligent truck drivers and their employers requires an intimate knowledge of trucking rules and regulations. The attorneys at Tapella & Eberspacher have the comprehensive knowledge and experience of commercial vehicle litigation needed to bring a successful claim or lawsuit. We will collect copies of all of your medical records and medical expenses for review by our in-house nurse. In the most serious accidents, we will hire an expert accident reconstructionist or a civil engineer to help explain to a jury how the accident occurred. In some cases, we will also obtain other experts. We routinely work with an excellent network of surgeons, radiologists, toxicologists, and other health care professionals. We also retain experts from various disciplines, including economists, and life care planners.

A commercial trucking company will hire accident investigators, and assemble a team of defense attorneys within minutes of being notified of an accident. Within days of an accident, the trucking company or its defense team may attempt to contact you or your family to discourage you from filing a lawsuit, and try to bully you or your family into quickly accepting a small settlement. If you are involved in an accident with a truck, bus or other commercial vehicle, contact us immediately to protect your rights.

If you are involved in an accident involving a truck, bus or other commercial vehicle, you should call the police and seek immediate medical attention as soon as possible, either through a visit to an emergency room, or through your primary care physician. Very often symptoms will not be felt until days after the accident. More importantly, only a medical professional can determine whether you have sustained a head or neck injury that requires urgent care. A physician will perform x-rays or other scans to confirm or rule out injuries, such as fractured vertebrae in your spine, or intracranial bleeding (head bleed). Even minor, low speed accidents can result in significant and permanent injuries.

Following an accident, it is also important to immediately contact the police so that a record of the accident is made. This is true even for minor accidents. The responding police officers will create a report that reflects your recollection of the how the accident occurred. They will also identify any witnesses, report their version of events, and record witness contact information so they can be reached in the future.

A traffic accident can be a very stressful event, however, it is important to remain calm and avoid a confrontation with any other drivers involved in the accident. Take photos of the accident scene before the vehicles are moved, but only if it can be done safely. Also, make sure not to interfere with the work of the police.

In the days after an accident, it is necessary to schedule a visit with a doctor if you have on-going pain complaints. Defendants will often argue that your lack of visits with a physician or surgeon establishes that you were not truly injured. Likewise, large gaps in visits to your doctor will also give a defendant a reason to argue that your ongoing pain is related to something the occurred after the accident.

If someone in your family has suffered a catastrophic injury or you believe you may have a wrongful death claim, call our Central Illinois office at 217-639-7800, our St. Louis Metropolitan area office at 618-628-3800 or contact us online. We handle cases throughout Missouri and Illinois. We offer a free consultation and evaluation. If we take your case, there are no attorney fees unless you receive compensation.