On Saturday, August 4, Chayenne O. Burgos of Palm Bay, FL, was injured in a big-rig on big-rig collision on I-80 near the Geneseo exit.
The accident began at approximately 7 PM when Barry Barlow of Panama City, FL, apparently lost control of the 18-wheeler he was operating, causing it to leave the road, cross the median, before re-entering traffic on the other side.
Upon regaining the road, now travelling against the flow of traffic, Mr. Barlow’s truck almost immediately collided with a 2006 Peterbilt car-carrier operated by Mr. Burgos. Both vehicles flipped, and both caught fire shortly after coming to a rest.
Authorities are investigating whether low visibility may have played a role in the incident.
According to official crash reports, Mr. Barlow died before first responders could arrive at the scene. Mr. Burgos, however, suffered significant injury and had to be transported to an area hospital for further observation and treatment.
Missouri and Illinois offer a widespread system of personal injury laws meant to protect parties who are injured through another party’s negligent acts.
The party seeking relief will be entitled to compensation in the form of payment for any lost wages, pain and suffering, any damaged property, and any medical bills incurred as a result of the accident that are not a result of his or her own negligence.
Missouri law states that you have five (5) years to file your personal injury lawsuit, unlike Illinois law which allows only a two (2) year period, though you never want to wait that long to file a claim. Some cases require a good deal of discovery and preparation, so the sooner you contact an attorney to file the case, the better your odds of recovering everything you are owed will be.
One of the most common questions we field when interviewing potential clients is; why does it matter if the vehicle that struck me was a big-rig or other large commercial vehicle? Large commercial vehicles often have different kinds of rules and regulations which govern their operation, and they always have a different type of insurance than that used by normal, non-commercial, drivers. All of these issues make big-rig wrecks unique, though just as easily handled by an experienced litigator such as those at the Roach firm.
Some accident victims are reluctant to hire an attorney because they think they cannot afford one. However, most personal injury attorneys, including Kevin Roach, are only paid if you receive a settlement or a verdict in your favor.
You do not pay anything up front.
Also, remember that the statistics show that people who hire a personal injury attorney usually end up receiving far more accident compensation than if they handled the case on their own – on average, 3.5 times more. The bottom line is – you will most likely receive more for your injuries by hiring an experienced and proven auto accident personal injury attorney.
Kevin Roach is one of those attorneys. He is a highly experienced and well-rated attorney who has practiced personal injury law since 2001. Kevin oversees every personal injury case to ensure that you receive the maximum financial award for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering.
If you still have questions about your car, truck, or motorcycle accident, please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Roach today for a free consultation, (866) 519-0085.
