Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial Motor Vehicle and Truck Accidents in Illinois

A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is any vehicle used to transport passengers or property that has a gross weight over 10,000 pounds, is designed to transport more than 15 people at a time, or is used to transport certain hazardous materials.

In 2024, there were 11,294 accidents involving tractor-trailers in Illinois, accounting for 3.7% of crashes within the state, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

Commercial motor vehicle accidents may also involve:  

• City buses
• Coach buses
• Delivery vans (Amazon, FedEx, UPS, etc.)
• Dump trucks
• Plow trucks
• School buses
• Semi-trucks
• Straight trucks or box trucks

Illinois is one of the nation's busiest freight corridors. The state also ranks 6th for the most fatal truck accidents per year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you or a loved one was injured in a truck crash, our Illinois truck accident law firm is ready to take on the insurance companies and trucking corporations standing between you and the compensation you deserve.

Illinois Trucking Accidents vs. Passenger Vehicle Crashes

A crash involving a commercial truck is fundamentally different from a collision between two passenger vehicles — and the consequences are almost always more severe for the people in the smaller car.

Several factors set trucking accidents apart from passenger vehicle crashes:

• Catastrophic injury risk: Occupants of passenger vehicles are 6 to 10 times more likely to suffer injuries or death than those in a truck, due to the sheer size and weight of commercial vehicles.
• Greater property damage: A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, making structural damage to other vehicles far more severe.
• Multiple liable parties: Trucking accidents may involve the driver, the trucking company, a vehicle manufacturer, or multiple insurers, making these cases significantly more complex than standard Illinois car accident claims.
• Well-resourced opposition: Trucking companies and their insurance providers may work quickly after a crash to protect their interests, often offering victims a lowball settlement that doesn’t fully account for the harm they’ve suffered.

In Illinois, tractor-trailers made up just 3.7% of all crashes in 2024, yet accounted for 8.4% of all fatal crashes, according to IDOT. Trucks cause a fraction of IL crashes but a disproportionate share of deaths.

Because truck accidents often involve higher stakes and more parties, having experienced legal representation can make all the difference in your case.

Where Do Illinois Truck Accidents Occur?

Illinois sits at the center of the national freight network. More interstate highways converge here than in almost any other state, and Chicago is one of the busiest truck freight hubs in the country.

However, this volume comes with a cost. I-55, I-74, I-57, and I-90 are considered some of the most dangerous roads in the state, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, get a free case review now to see if an Illinois trucking accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation.

What Causes Truck Accidents in Illinois?

The main causes of truck accidents in Illinois are speed and improper lane use, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Additionally, some trucking companies may encourage drivers to cut corners as a way of maximizing their profits, even though it can put those sharing the road in danger.

Common causes of commercial vehicle accidents include: 

• Distracted driving: 71% of large-truck crashes happened when the trucker was doing something else while driving, like eating, using a cell phone, or adjusting the radio, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
• Driver fatigue or drowsiness: Driver drowsiness can impair a driver’s response time to on-the-road hazards, which increases the risk of accidents.
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol: 17% of CMV drivers were using over-the-counter drugs at the time of a crash, some of which (like cold pills, allergy medicines, and sleeping pills) can induce drowsiness, according to the FMCSA.
• Failure to maintain tires, brakes, and other parts: A poorly maintained vehicle increases the risk of a crash and can turn a preventable issue into a deadly accident.
• Following too closely: 5% of truck crashes happened when the driver followed the vehicle ahead of them too closely, not giving themselves adequate time to brake in the event of an emergency.
• Inadequate surveillance: 14% of large-truck crashes occurred due to the CMV driver’s inadequate surveillance or failure to see approaching traffic, like during a lane change.
• Overloading trucks: Carrying more weight than allowed can strain brakes, tires, and other parts, making trucks harder to control and more likely to cause serious accidents.
• Pay structures that encourage dangerous driving: Compensation systems that reward faster deliveries may push truckers to speed, skip rest breaks, or exceed maximum driving hours, all of which increase the risk of crashes.
• Speeding: 23% of large-truck wrecks involved the truck driver traveling too fast for weather or road conditions, according to the LTCSS.
• Unfamiliar roadways: Of large-truck crashes, 22% occur when the driver is unfamiliar with the roadway.
• Unqualified or untrained drivers: Most truck drivers are required to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). However, many companies send new drivers onto the road with little to no experience.

Trucking accidents can happen unexpectedly, and the results can be devastating. Seeking legal representation may help the injured party level the playing field between them and the drivers or companies at fault.

Common Illinois Truck Crash Injuries

In 2025, there were 3,275 injuries and 143 fatalities linked to large truck and bus accidents in Illinois, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The average semi-truck weighs nearly 20 times more than a typical passenger vehicle. In an accident between a CMV and a passenger vehicle, passengers in the car are far more likely to sustain significant injuries than those in the truck.

Injuries resulting from trucking accidents can include:

• Broken bones
• Burns
• Disfigurement
• Hearing or vision loss
• Lacerations
• Loss of limb(s)
• Paralysis
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Death

If you or a loved one was injured in an Illinois truck accident, you may be able to pursue compensation to help cover your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and more.

With our Illinois truck accident attorneys, there are no upfront or out-of-pocket costs — we only get paid if you do, so there’s no financial risk to taking legal action.

How a Truck Accident Lawyer in Illinois Can Help

At Sokolove Law, our truck accident lawyers in Illinois strive to make filing a legal claim as easy and stress-free as possible, so you can focus on your health during this difficult time.

We can handle every step of the process for you, including: 

• Gathering evidence, like police reports, trucking company records, black box data, maintenance logs, and witness statements, to build the strongest possible case
• Identifying all liable parties, such as the driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, or the vehicle’s manufacturer
• Calculating the full value of your claim by accounting for medical bills, lost wages, future care costs, and pain and suffering
• Negotiating an out-of-court settlement to get you the money you deserve faster
• Taking your case to trial if necessary and presenting evidence before a judge or jury

“My experience working with Sokolove Law was amazing. The whole process was really quick. My attorney was supportive and genuinely cared about my recovery. ”
– Alexandra, Crash Victim & Firm Client

If you or a loved one was injured in an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle, we may be able to help you file an Illinois truck accident lawsuit to seek the justice and compensation you deserve.

Play Sokolove Law - Car Accident Testimonial

Video Summary: Hear why Matt chose to file a car accident lawsuit with the help of Sokolove Law. View Transcript.

My name is Matt, and I contacted Sokolove Law after getting in a car accident. I'm a big fisherman, I love to hunt, and I'm always exploring stuff in this area. I go to this beach parking lot regularly to check to see if there are any fish biting. It's a drive I take multiple times a day. It's right down the street. I was just driving along, I was minding my own business, driving the speed limit, and all of a sudden someone was just driving into the side of my car and crashing into it. My car was completely totaled. I ended up on somebody's front yard.

Probably a day or two later, I started having some really, really bad back cramps, which is something that I've never in my life experienced. They were really really bad — I actually fell over because my whole back just seized up. It was just a pain I had never felt before. I probably had to go to physical therapy for somewhere between eight and nine weeks. Once I started having to go to physical therapy and once I started to get medical treatment for this, it felt like that shouldn't be something I have to pay for. It wasn’t my fault. It was someone else’s fault. Somebody was irresponsible and crashed into me. That’s when I started thinking about Sokolove Law.

I reached out to the law firm one week after the accident. The reason I did that was I was interested to see how much money would be available for a crash like this. I've never done anything accident-lawsuit-related in my life until now, and I was very surprised at how easy things were. Honestly, it was just so professionally done. That’s how I would describe it. My experience working with the legal team at Sokolove Law was excellent. It was super simple. They were super professional. Everything was laid out very clearly, and there was no confusion about what needed to be done at all. They did a lot of work to get that settlement done, and I’m really happy that I was able to find them, contact them, and get things done.

When the case was settled, I felt very relieved. I felt very happy, actually, because things were done, the check was there, and I didn’t have to deal with any of this anymore. I wish that my car didn’t get totaled, but I ended up getting a new car out of it, and, you know, everything’s going well now. I would recommend other people contact a firm like Sokolove Law after a car accident because injuries from car accidents aren’t always immediately apparent. It could be something that flares up later, like in my case. My back hurt more and more over the following days after the accident. I just feel like not enough people know what their options are when they get into a crash. You don’t have to just call the insurance company. You can talk to an attorney. It doesn’t cost you any money to speak to an attorney at all. It’s completely free to speak to them. I don’t see why you wouldn’t do it if you’re injured in a car accident. It’s a very simple process, and you can get money out of it.

Statute of Limitations for Truck Accidents in Illinois

The statute of limitations for truck accident claims in Illinois is 2 years from the date of the accident (735 ILCS 5/13-202) or 2 years from the date of a loved one’s death from a trucking accident (740 ILCS 180/2).

If you miss the filing deadline in your case, you may lose your chance to pursue compensation altogether. It’s important to contact an Illinois truck accident lawyer as soon as possible in order to protect your legal rights.

Maximizing Commercial Truck Accident Settlement Amounts

If you or a loved one was in an accident with a commercial motor vehicle, you may have already been contacted by a trucking company’s insurance adjuster. These professionals will typically make a settlement offer to avoid court.

In many cases, that offer doesn’t come anywhere close to the true costs of the victim’s injuries. However, an experienced truck accident attorney in Illinois can compile evidence and fight for a higher payout.

Many different factors go into Illinois truck accident settlements​, like:

• The severity of your injury
• Medical costs, both current and future
• Lost wages if the wreck left you unable to work
• Any pain, suffering, or emotional trauma you have experienced
• Out-of-pocket expenses relating to the accident

While there’s never a guarantee of compensation in any case, our Illinois trucking accident attorneys are prepared to fight hard for everything you deserve.

$25 Million Illinois Truck Accident Verdict

In one case, a jury awarded $25 Million to the family of a 23-year-old U.S. Marine who passed away after colliding with a tractor-trailer on I-55 in Illinois.

The truck, which had broken down in a through lane, reportedly didn’t have the federally required lights, cones, and flares to warn other drivers of the dangers ahead. Additionally, the driver lacked the proper qualifications to operate the vehicle in the first place.

“He had never been given any sort of training whatsoever. And when they were asked about it, the owners of the company essentially said, ‘Well, he was a friend of ours, and he needed to make a couple extra dollars.’”
– Illinois Truck Accident Lawyer

Illinois Truck Accident Statistics

Large trucks are a constant presence on Illinois roads. When something goes wrong and an accident occurs, the consequences can be severe.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT):

• In 2024, there were 11,294 crashes involving tractor-trailers.
• Accidents with tractor-trailers accounted for 3.7% of all crashes in Illinois but 8.4% of all fatal crashes, more than double their proportional share.
• Deaths from tractor-trailer accidents included 15 truck occupants, 7 pedestrians, and 83 occupants in other vehicles.
• Large trucks involved in work zone crashes resulted in 12 fatalities and 266 injuries.
• Fatal truck crashes in Illinois most often occur Tuesday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• In Illinois, at least 50 fatal truck accidents took place on urban roads, while 41 took place on rural roads.
• There were approximately 1,141 school bus crashes across the state in a single year, leading to 2 deaths and 164 injuries.

Behind every one of these statistics is a real person and a real family. If yours was affected, our Illinois truck accident attorneys are here to help.

Get Help from Our Illinois Truck Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a truck or commercial vehicle accident, our Illinois truck accident attorneys may be able to help you fight for justice and financial compensation.

At Sokolove Law, we have decades of experience and a long track record of success, recovering over $10.5 Billion for injured clients nationwide, including many in Illinois.

There are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with our team — we only get paid if you do.

Call (800) 995-1212 or fill out our contact form to find out how we may be able to help you after a truck accident.

Illinois Trucking Accident Lawyer FAQs