Winning for those who have lost
Accidents involving tractor-trailers, delivery trucks and other heavy commercial vehicles in Chicago are often very serious. Many of these trucks weigh thousands of pounds more than most cars on the road - 70,000 or 80,000 pounds instead of the typical weight of a passenger car at around 3,000 pounds. And since many truck drivers are under constant pressure to get their work done quickly, and drive too far with insufficient rest, many 18-wheelers are often going very fast on congested highways.
But there's no excuse for driving a truck so recklessly. That's why we take such cases so seriously at Coplan & Crane. We're committed to helping people injured in all types of truck accidents. As one of the leading tractor-trailer accident law firms in Chicago and Oak Park, we have helped countless people dealing with serious truck accidents throughout Illinois.
We have a strong track record for obtaining multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for truck accident victims. In one case, we obtained a $2.5 million settlement for the family of a man killed in a head-on collision with an 80,000 pound tractor trailer that crossed the center line of the road. That accident involved a fatigued truck driver. But the causes of truck accidents often cover a wide range.
"What are the leading causes of truck crashes? Level of training. One of the factors we find to be a common contributor to truck crashes is the level of training a trucking company gives its drivers before they allow them to climb behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound truck. You'll see trucking schools. You'll see driver training schools. But the responsibilities of the trucking companies don't end there. " -Greg Coplan
Highway accidents involving trucks and buses in Illinois can be devastating. Due to the sheer size of the vehicles and the high speeds many vehicles travel on the highway, such accidents can often be extremely severe, involve several vehicles and multiple injuries.
At Coplan & Crane, we fight tirelessly for victims of highway accidents in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois, the Midwest, and across the country. Some of the more dangerous highways include I-55, I-57, I-80, I-88 (the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway), I-90 (the Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (the Dan Ryan Expressway) and I-290 (the Eisenhower Expressway). Highway accidents happen for many reasons. When you're dealing with truck and bus accidents on a highway, the reasons range from speeding to distracted driving (drivers using cellphones to talk or text) to erratic behavior and driving under the influence.
Whatever the reason, you shouldn't have to suffer due to someone else's mistakes. We fight for those injured in highway accidents, where we have seen some of the following serious injuries:
"If I am involved in a truck crash and file a lawsuit, will it go all the way to trial? I can tell you that the vast majority of our cases settle. I can also tell you my response to the question when I get it is, we prepare all of our cases as though they are going to be tried. We work very hard to make certain that we gather all the information necessary to represent our clients as well as we can." -Greg Coplan
If you have lost a loved one due to a serious highway accident caused by another driver, you may have grounds for a legitimate wrongful death case. We know how hard it must be to deal with everything in such difficult times. That's why we want to work with you to help your family get your lives back on track.
Discover what we can do for you. Contact our law firm right now. We can answer your questions about your truck accident and find the facts you need to build a strong case. This includes tracking down trucking companies (which are often located far away) and negotiating with insurance providers. They don't intimidate us. That's because we're focused on helping accident victims just like you.
When truck drivers are negligent, many trucking companies send "rapid response teams" of investigators out to the scene of an accident to take witness statements, photographs, and find evidence to defend the case. The trucking company may even download data from the "electronic control module" (ECM) from the engine of the truck to see what its driver did wrong, potentially preventing another data download from taking place. In addition, the more time that passes after a truck crash, the more likely it is the trucking company or truck driver will "lose" or destroy documents that are critically important in establishing liability for the truck driver's misconduct. This is why it's so crucial to contact the experienced truck accident lawyers at Coplan & Crane to find and preserve essential evidence-to protect your rights, and hold the negligent driver and trucking company responsible.
You deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. You deserve to be fairly compensated. Someone else caused your accident. You shouldn't have to suffer financially and physically. At Coplan & Crane, we're prepared to do whatever it takes to help you get back on your feet. Whether it's vigorously investigating your accident or taking your case to trial, we have the experience and determination you need to successfully stand up for your rights.
One of Chicago's major interstate highways, I-55 (also known as the Stevenson Expressway in Cook County) starts downtown at the intersection of Lake Shore Drive (U.S. Route 41 in Illinois) in the city's Near South Side neighborhood. Because of its central location, Interstate 55 can often be congested during rush hour, near Chicago Midway International Airport or when the Bears play at Soldier Field.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident on I-55, Chicago truck accident attorneys Gregory F. Coplan, Benjamin A. Crane and other lawyers at our firm can make sure your truck accident claim receives the attention it rightfully deserves. So whether you were injured in a speeding truck accident on your way to The Field Museum or a distracted driving accident while driving home from McCormick Place convention center, contact our law firm. We can help.
Located in the southern part of Chicago, I-57 cuts through Calumet Park and ends at the intersection of I-94 in Chicago. This major highway only runs through 10 miles of the city before it heads downstate toward Kankakee, Champaign, Matoon, Effingham and Marion. But Interstate 57 in Chicago and the suburbs sees many commuters from Posen, Blue Island, Markham, Oak Forest and other communities in Cook County and farther south from Chicago.
When truck accidents happen on Interstate 57 in Illinois, knowing what to do afterwards can be confusing. The truck driver who caused your crash might not admit wrongdoing. Or maybe the driver fell asleep at the wheel and can't remember what happened. Whatever the circumstances surrounding your truck accident on I-57, we can help protect your rights and get you the money you rightfully deserve.
Running north and south through Chicago, I-90 serves as one of the main highways in the city. Known by several different names in the city (including the Chicago Skyway, Jane Addams Memorial Tollway), Interstate 90 also includes parts of the Dan Ryan Expressway and Kennedy Expressway, two of the busiest highways in Illinois. I-90 and I-94 are even the same road at certain points in downtown Chicago.
Whatever section of I-90 you were traveling on, if you or a loved one were involved in a truck accident there, we can help. We have years of experience working with people involved in serious truck accidents in Chicago and throughout Cook County. So whether you were injured in a rear-end truck accident near Chicago O'Hare International Airport or the driver of a truck fell asleep and crashed into your car on I-90 in the city's South Side, we can help.
I-94 in Chicago connects downtown with many of the city's major highways and suburbs from Calumet City to Skokie. Depending on where you are, I-94 in Chicago intersects with I-55, I-57, I-90 and I-290. Parts of Interstate 94 in the Windy City also have other names, including the Calumet Expressway, Kennedy Expressway and Dan Ryan Expressway, two of Illinois' busiest highways. People also regularly use I-94 to get to the Kingery Expressway (formerly known as the Tri-State Highway, Eisenhower Expressway and U.S. Cellular Field, home of the White Sox.
If you've been injured in an accident caused by a truck driver on I-94 in Chicago, you need to take immediate legal action to protect your rights. Otherwise, you could miss out on compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost income or other expenses due to your crash. Our experienced Chicago truck accident lawyers know how to handle such complex cases. We have done this work for decades. We know how the legal system works in Cook County and have the case results to prove it. Contact us right now.
Running directly west from the intersection of I-90/I-94 in Chicago, I-290 connects downtown with Oak Park and many Chicago neighborhoods, including Near West Side, University Village, Little Italy, Garfield Park and South Austin. Known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway or simply the Eisenhower or the "Ike," Interstate 290 also serves as the major highway for anyone driving to the United Center, home of the Blackhawks and Bulls.
When truck accidents happen on Interstate 290, accident victims know they can trust us to help them recover compensation they deserve after their accident. We know the Eisenhower Expressway well and understand how the justice system works in Illinois. We never take anything for granted. We carefully investigate every case and know how to find the facts you need to win. We're here for you and ready to get to work on your I-290 truck accident claim.