Selecting the right lawyer after a truck accident in Illinois is crucial due to the complex nature of these cases.
Here are some key factors to consider to ensure you find a lawyer who can effectively handle your case:
Every year, thousands are impacted by truck accidents across Illinois, often through no fault of their own. Illinois’ major highways like I-55, I-57, I-70, I-80, and I-90 see a constant flow of large trucks, frequently traveling at high speeds. Combined with Illinois’ near-constant construction and heavy traffic around major cities like Chicago, it’s no wonder that crashes involving tractor-trailer, bus, and delivery van often have devastating consequences.
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll of trucking injuries. Our truck accident lawyers are committed to fighting for your rights.
Our Illinois attorneys are standing by, ready to offer you and your family the compassion, strength, and guidance needed to navigate through your legal journey and secure your future.
Whether your truck crash happened in Chicago, Champaign, Springfield, or somewhere else in Illinois, the truck accident attorneys at The Law Firm for Truck Safety are here to help you stand up against powerful trucking companies, brokers, and their insurers and defense attorneys. We are dedicated to protecting your rights, and ensuring you receive the compensation, dignity, and respect you deserve.
Our firm’s commitment to holding negligent trucking companies accountable has led to a history of million and multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients. Unlike other personal injury firms, we prepare every case for trial and limit our caseload, guaranteeing that each of our clients’ cases receives the resources, care, and compassion it deserves.
Lawyers NBTA Certified in Truck Crash Law
Lawyers with Class A CDLs
Settlements and Verdicts $1 Million and over
Largest Truck Crash Verdict
in Ohio History
Unlike most personal injury law firms that take a wide variety of personal injury cases, we only represent families and survivors affected by a commercial vehicle accident.
This preeminent accreditation from the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) symbolizes our law firm’s commitment to the pursuit of justice and its knowledge within the field of truck accident law. No other firm in the nation has as many NBTA board-certified attorneys as The Law Firm for Truck Safety.
Having first-hand insights into the rules, regulations, and standards of care to which truck drivers must adhere allows us to uncover critical case facts and incorporate technical trucking knowledge into your case in ways other firms can’t.
For many families, justice is often about more than just compensation; it’s about accountability, finding answers, taking another dangerous trucking company off the road, and preventing similar trucking tragedies from happening to others. During our free case review process, we take the time to understand what justice means to you and we work with you to build out a case strategy that helps you achieve your legal goals.
We actively limit our caseload so that we can ensure each of the truck wreck cases we take on receives the attention, care, and resources it deserves.
Our firm’s skill, focus, and resources have allowed us to maximize results for countless Illinois truck crash victims and their families. It has also led our truck crash attorneys to hold various trucking case records across the nation including the largest truck crash verdict to date in Ohio ($42.4M) and the nation’s largest trucking settlement, the year it was received ($34M).
Our personal injury attorneys at The Law Firm for Truck Safety are not intimidated by the possibility of going to trial. Unlike other law firms, we have the resources, knowledge, and previous trial experience to confidently take your case to trial if that is your goal. Even if you do not wish to take your case to trial, working with a law firm with a proven trial track record can help you negotiate your settlement from a position of strength.
Truck accidents are not only common in Illinois—when they happen, they’re often catastrophic.
Here’s a snapshot of the troubling statistics from 2022 that highlight the risks on our roads:
8,248 Truck Accidents:
There were 8,248 truck accidents in Illinois in 2022 underscoring the ongoing risk commercial vehicles pose to automotive drivers, bicyclists, motocyclists pedestrians, and other truck drivers.
Injuries and Fatalities:
Roughly 32% of truck accidents resulted in an injury in 2022. Tragically, 227 people lost their lives in Illinois truck crashes.
Victim Demographics:
An alarming 72% of those killed in truck crashes were the occupants of the other (non-commercial) vehicle involved in the truck crash, illustrating the disproportionate risk semis pose to everyday drivers.
National Ranking: In 2022, Illinois ranked –and regularly does– among the top five states for semi-truck accidents.
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
In 2022 alone, Illinois witnessed a staggering 8,248 truck accidents. Imagine the force of an 80,000-pound semi-truck in a collision: the sheer scale and structure of commercial vehicles mean these crashes frequently result in severe injuries, paralysis, or even death.
But the dangers don’t stop at the impact. Truck accidents can unleash secondary hazards like gas and chemical spills, fires, and debris that endanger everyone on the road and put entire communities at risk.
Unlike car-on-car accidents, truck accidents and their lawsuits often have more layers of complexity. For instance, a semi-truck collision might involve head-on or side-impact crashes, which, due to a truck’s massive size and heavy load, often cause extensive damage.
Navigating these accidents requires deep expertise and a
thorough understanding of both the law and the devastating
physics of truck collisions.
Common 18-wheeler crashes include:
Each accident type has its unique challenges and potential legal ramifications, often influenced by factors like driver error, unsecured loads, speeding, or mechanical failures. Compounding the issue, truck drivers face grueling schedules, and are under immense pressure to complete their deliveries as quickly as possible, sometimes driving up to 11 hours straight or more, leading to truck driver fatigue, reliance on over-the-counter medications, and distracted driving, all of which increase the likelihood of accidents.
Illinois consistently ranks among the states with the most truck crash fatalities, each year. Trucks present a unique risk to Illinois residents due to their weight and size, whether on a rural road or in a busy urban area like Chicago or Springfield.
Our safety allies at the Institute for Safer Trucking have created an interactive truck crash fatality map that shows where fatal truck crashes in Illinois have occurred throughout the years. We invite you to explore this interactive map and learn more.
In addition to Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, notable trends can be seen on commonly used interstates and state routes like:
Truck accidents in Illinois can be overwhelming, especially if you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury. The steps you take immediately following your crash can significantly impact the outcome of any potential truck accident injury lawsuit you wish to pursue. Provided that you do not need immediate medical attention, it’s crucial to act quickly and follow these important steps to protect your rights and improve your chances of a favorable legal outcome:
Representatives from trucking companies are often on the scene of an accident almost immediately after it occurs to clean up the evidence and thwart your efforts to sue. If you’re physically able, take photos of the scene right away.
We recommend wide shots of the scene as well as photos of both vehicles, skid marks on the road, debris that flew off the truck, road conditions, and anything else you think could have contributed to the accident.
Ensure that the accident is officially recorded. A police report is a vital piece of evidence in truck accident claims.
If others saw your semi accident occur and they are willing to serve as a witness, take down their contact information and their statement given in the police report for your personal records.
Not all injuries or their severity are immediately felt after an accident. It’s always advisable to have a medical examination after a truck crash, to ensure you understand the full scope of any injuries or medical issues that were caused by your crash.
Beyond this, having a medical record of any injuries sustained during your truck accident will be integral evidence in your truck accident injury lawsuit, should you choose to pursue a personal injury claim.
After a truck accident, you will likely be contacted by trucking companies and their insurance providers. Even though they may seem eager to settle your case quickly as an act of compassion, it’s important to recognize that their primary goal is to minimize costs to their client.
Do not be swayed by what might appear to be generous offers. Before accepting any settlement, it is always in your best interest to consult with an experienced semi-truck accident lawyer. An experienced truck crash attorney can provide a second opinion on the fairness of the settlement offer.
In Illinois, when a truck accident results in injury, death, or more than $1,500 in property damage, drivers must file a crash report within 10 days of the accident. Without this report, you may not be able to claim damages later on. It’s also important to note that some damages to your vehicle or yourself might not be obvious at first, which is why it’s a good idea to file a crash report even if you think you are uninjured and your vehicle seems undamaged to cover any issues that might emerge later.
Let The Law Firm for Truck Safety support you on your path to justice, providing the care, compassion, and support you need to move forward.
With decades of experience and a proven track record of securing significant settlements and verdicts, our Illinois team, led by Managing Partner, Michael Leizerman, is dedicated to advocating for truck accident victims. Their deep understanding of the complexities of truck accident cases –from navigating federal regulations to reconstructing accident scenes — ensures that victims receive the full and fair compensation they deserve.
Michael Leizerman is a founder of The Law Firm for Truck Safety and a truck accident attorney in Ohio, which handles truck accident litigation across the United States. He is the co-founder of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA). He concentrates his practice in select catastrophic injury truck collision cases across the country.
The Law Firm for Truck Safety has 5 NBTA board-certified attorneys – more than any other firm in the nation. Combined with our 5 CDLS, our legal team’s knowledge and experience allow us to advocate for your rights, uncover hidden case facts defense counsel desperately tries to hide, courageously take your case to trial, and champion your story, unlike any other personal injury firm in the US.
Selecting the right lawyer after a truck accident in Illinois is crucial due to the complex nature of these cases.
Here are some key factors to consider to ensure you find a lawyer who can effectively handle your case:
Law firms that limit their practice to truck accidents understand just how different truck crashes are from standard car accidents. Truck accidents and their personal injury lawsuits involve specific legal and regulatory knowledge. A firm that focuses solely in this complex area of law will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of your case.
Choose an attorney who practices in Illinois. Familiarity with the local legal nuances of Illinois law and federal trucking regulations is essential for effective representation. This local expertise ensures your lawyer is well-versed in the specific laws and regulations that will impact your case.
Investigate the lawyer’s history of handling truck accident cases. A strong track record of successful outcomes is a good indicator of a lawyer’s skill and competencies. Remember, great representation is about more than compensation amounts; read testimonials and case studies to see how past clients felt about the compensation they received and if they were treated well throughout their legal journey.
Sometimes, achieving the justice you deserve means taking your case to trial. In the legal arena, trial experience is a critical skill not all personal injury attorneys possess.
It’s crucial to choose a lawyer who is willing and adept at presenting cases before a jury. Even if you wish for your case to settle, when your truck accident lawsuit is represented by a trucking lawyer who is prepared to go to trial, it can enhance your position in settlement negotiations, as opponents tend to offer more equitable settlements when they know your attorney is prepared to win in court.
Remember, there are no damage caps in Illinois for personal injury cases, so a lawyer with a strong courtroom track record is great to have on your side, if settlement negotiations stall or if the offers are unsatisfactory, ensuring you receive the compensation you truly deserve.
When filing a truck accident lawsuit in Illinois, you will need to determine who was responsible for the crash. A skilled attorney can help you determine if another party was liable for the crash and if you, therefore, have a case.
Here are just a few of the parties you may need to name in your lawsuit if you were in a truck accident in Illinois:
The truck driver: If the truck driver involved in your accident was distracted, driving while fatigued, drunk, or otherwise impaired; if they failed to perform regular maintenance or properly secure their cargo, or if they were speeding, they could be found responsible for the crash.
The trucking or logistics company: Very often the trucking company the truck driver was driving for can be named in your lawsuit. If the company hired unqualified drivers or drivers with a bad record, failed to train their drivers, failed to schedule enough rest time or incentivized their drivers to skip their scheduled rest times, or if they failed to maintain their fleet, you may be entitled to compensation from the trucking company.
Maintenance crews: If the driver or trucking company outsources maintenance to a third party and that business fails to catch or resolve the issue that fully or partially caused the accident, the maintenance company could be found liable as well.
Parts manufacturers: When a crash is caused by a mechanical failure in the truck, Illinois truck accident lawyers may look into the company that manufactured the faulty part. If the manufacturer of the truck or truck part failed to conduct appropriate testing or knew the part was faulty but didn’t recall it, they could be named as a defendant in your truck accident lawsuit.
Third-party partner: Depending on the circumstances around your crash, there are several other third-party companies that could be named in your lawsuit. For instance, if your crash was caused by an unsecured load and someone other than the driver packed the cargo and/or loaded the vehicle, they could be named in your lawsuit as well.
A government entity: In some circumstances, a local or state entity could be named in your lawsuit. If your accident was caused by an unsafe city vehicle like a bus, fire truck, or police car, you may be entitled to compensation. A government entity may also be a possible defendant in your claim if you can prove that the roads were poorly maintained and caused your truck accident. While government entities do benefit from some level of immunity, a seasoned truck accident attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Determining liability and how many parties you can name in your lawsuit is complex. That’s why it’s necessary to enlist the help of an experienced Illinois truck accident attorney. By failing to include every possible party in your lawsuit, you could be leaving significant money on the table. But more importantly, you may be allowing drivers, trucking companies, or other parties to continue their unsafe practices.
It should be noted that Illinois has adopted modified comparative negligence as the standard for recovery of damages. This means that you can recover damages for accidents even if you were partially responsible for the accident. As long as you were less than 50% at fault for the injury or damage, you can sue the other party for a percentage of the damages.
Handling a truck accident claim in Illinois can be quite challenging, especially because your attorney will need to prove that the other party’s behavior reached a certain threshold of negligence.
Insurance and trucking companies have many resources and are very experienced at defending these claims. They are also very skilled at finding legal loopholes that allow them to avoid accountability for their client’s dangerous and unsafe business decisions.
Pursue justice and find answers with experienced truck accident lawyers by your side.
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