Truck Accident Lawyer Chicago, IL

A collision with a semi-truck on the Dan Ryan, the Eisenhower, or a city street near a warehouse district can cause injuries far more serious than a typical car crash. A truck accident lawyer in Chicago, IL can find out whether the driver or the trucking company broke federal safety rules, secure the records that prove it, and pursue compensation from every responsible party. Jacobson Injury Firm represents people hurt in truck crashes throughout Chicago. Contact the firm for a free consultation.

How Truck Accident Claims Work in Illinois

A truck accident claim is a negligence claim. Negligence means someone failed to act with reasonable care and that failure caused harm. Illinois is an at-fault state, so the people and companies responsible for the crash are responsible for the losses that follow.

Truck cases add a second layer: federal safety rules. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates commercial trucks that travel in interstate commerce. When a driver or carrier breaks one of these rules, that violation can be strong evidence of carelessness. Key federal rules include:

• Hours of service.Under the FMCSA hours-of-service rules, a property-carrying driver may drive no more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving.
• Drug and alcohol testing.After certain crashes, including any fatal crash, the carrier must test the surviving driver for alcohol and drugs under 49 CFR 382.303.
• Driver qualification.Carriers must keep a qualification file for each driver under 49 CFR Part 391, including the employment application, driving record reviews, and medical certification.
• Inspection and maintenance.Carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain the vehicles they control under 49 CFR Part 396.
• Under 49 CFR 387.9, for-hire interstate carriers hauling general freight in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, with higher amounts for many hazardous materials.

The firm’s article on what federal trucking regulations mean for a truck accident claim explains these rules in more depth.

Why Truck Accidents Happen in Chicago

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning describes metropolitan Chicago as the nation’s premier freight hub. According to CMAP, trucks make up about one in seven vehicles on Illinois’s urban interstates, and some facilities in the Chicago area carry more than 30,000 trucks a day.

Much of that traffic meets in the middle of the city. The Jane Byrne Interchange, where the Kennedy and Dan Ryan (I-90/94) meet the Eisenhower (I-290), serves almost 400,000 vehicles a day, and IDOT reports that one in four of them is a truck.

Trucks are also a regular presence on city streets. Chicago Police crash records on the City of Chicago Data Portal show about 1,900 tractor-trailers and more than 3,800 single-unit trucks involved in crashes on city streets in 2025. Those numbers do not include expressway crashes.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Chicago

Jacobson Injury Firm investigates truck crashes caused by:

• Driver fatigue from pushing past hours-of-service limits
• Worn brakes, tires, or lights that a proper maintenance program should have caught
• Cargo that was overloaded, poorly balanced, or not secured
• Wide right turns and blind-spot collisions on narrow city streets
• Speeding or unsafe lane changes in expressway construction zones and merges
• Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Carriers that hired or kept drivers with poor safety records

What Compensation Can a Truck Accident Victim Recover?

An injured person may seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including surgery, rehabilitation, and future care
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Disability and disfigurement

Because interstate trucking companies must carry far higher insurance limits than ordinary drivers, more coverage is often available in a truck case. When a crash is fatal, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act allows the personal representative of the person who died to bring a claim for the family.

Who Can Be Liable for a Chicago Truck Accident?

A truck crash often involves several businesses, and each may carry its own insurance. Depending on the facts, responsible parties can include:

• The truck driver, for speeding, distraction, impairment, or driving beyond the hours-of-service limits
• The motor carrier, which is generally responsible for its drivers’ conduct on the job and for its own failures, such as poor hiring, training, or maintenance
• The owner of the trailer or tractor, when it differs from the carrier
• The shipper or loading company, when cargo was loaded unsafely
• A repair shop, when faulty work caused a brake or tire failure
• A parts manufacturer, when a defective component played a role

Illinois also uses a modified comparative fault rule. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, an injured person found more than 50% at fault cannot recover, and a person 50% or less at fault has the award reduced by that share. Trucking insurers often argue that the car driver was partly to blame, so a truck accident lawyer in Chicago, IL works to preserve evidence before it is lost. The firm’s overview of Chicago truck accident claims covers the evidence used in these cases.

What Should You Do After a Chicago Truck Accident?

If it is safe to do so, an injured person should:

• Call 911.Chicago Police respond on city streets, and the Illinois State Police generally handle expressway crashes.
• Get medical care right away.Chicago’s Level I trauma centers include Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, and UChicago Medicine.
• Photograph the truck.Capture the company name, USDOT number shown on the truck, trailer number, and license plates.
• Get witness contact information.Truck crashes often happen in heavy traffic, and witnesses leave quickly.
• Do not sign anything from the trucking company’s insurer.Speak with a lawyer first.
• Act quickly to preserve records.A lawyer can send the carrier a written demand to keep logbook data, inspection records, and video.

How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim in Illinois?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years after the cause of action accrued, usually the date of the crash. A wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years after the death.

If a City of Chicago truck, such as a garbage or snow plow truck, caused the crash, the deadline is generally one year under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. Some federal records do not have to be kept for long, so waiting can mean losing key proof.

No Fee Unless We Win

Jacobson Injury Firm handles truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. There is no upfront cost, and no attorney fee is owed unless the firm recovers compensation.

Clients work directly with attorney Adam Jacobson, who is licensed in Illinois, Florida, New York, and Connecticut. He prepares each case as if it may go to trial. The firm’s case results include a $478,000 recovery in a truck accident case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do federal trucking rules apply to my case?

Most semi-trucks hauling freight across state lines must follow FMCSA rules on driving hours, driver qualification, maintenance, drug and alcohol testing, and insurance. A violation of these rules can help prove the driver or carrier was careless.

What if the trucking company says the driver is an independent contractor?

Liability depends on the facts, including who owned and controlled the truck and whose operating authority the driver was using. A lawyer can review the contracts and federal filings to identify every company that may be responsible.

Can I recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes, if the injured person was 50% or less at fault. The award is reduced by that percentage. A person found more than 50% at fault cannot recover under Illinois law.

How long does a truck accident case take?

Truck cases often take longer than car cases because they involve more parties, more records, and larger insurance policies. The timeline depends on the length of medical treatment, how quickly records are produced, and whether the case goes to trial.

How much does a truck accident lawyer cost?

Jacobson Injury Firm works on a contingency fee basis. Clients pay nothing upfront, and there is no attorney fee unless money is recovered.

Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Chicago, IL

Jacobson Injury Firm’s Chicago office is listed on its Google Business Profile: Jacobson Law Offices, 1 E Erie St Ste 525, Chicago, IL 60611. Trucking companies and their insurers move fast after a crash. A truck accident lawyer in Chicago, IL can level the field by securing federal records, identifying every responsible party, and pursuing full compensation. Contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to schedule a free consultation.