Truck Accident Attorneys in Chicago, Illinois

January 1, 2026 / Comments Off

1. Levin & Perconti

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries from trucking collisions, construction vehicle accidents.

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, override accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on truck collisions, cargo spill accidents, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents.

Legal Services: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, electronic logging device (ELD) data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims.

Background: Chicago personal injury law firm with extensive experience in trucking accident litigation. The firm has secured significant verdicts and settlements in complex trucking cases. Attorneys are admitted to practice in Illinois state and federal courts.

Location: 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60654

Contact: (312) 332-2872 | https://www.levinperconti.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery is obtained).

2. Clifford Law Offices

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, wrongful death from truck accidents, aviation accidents, product liability, construction accidents.

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents, blind spot accidents, rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, tire blowout accidents, driver fatigue accidents, cargo spill accidents, hazardous material accidents.

Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, vicarious liability claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, accident reconstruction, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims.

Background: Clifford Law Offices has achieved numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, including trucking accidents. The firm has been recognized by various legal organizations. Partners have been selected as Illinois Super Lawyers.

Location: 120 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 3100, Chicago, IL 60602

Contact: (312) 899-9090 | https://www.cliffordlaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis.

3. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, wide turn accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, head-on collisions, brake failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo spill accidents.

Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, wrongful death claims, property damage claims.

Background: The firm has achieved record-setting verdicts in Illinois personal injury cases. Attorneys have significant trial experience in trucking accident litigation. Multiple attorneys have been recognized in legal publications.

Location: 150 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60601

Contact: (312) 372-1227 | https://www.salvilaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement.

4. Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C.

Practice Focus: Truck accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, semi-truck collisions, commercial vehicle accidents, delivery truck accidents, construction vehicle accidents, bus accidents, wrongful death from truck accidents, catastrophic injuries.

Background: Chicago personal injury firm with experience handling trucking accident cases. The firm has secured significant settlements for truck accident victims throughout Illinois.

Location: 120 W. Madison Street, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60602

Contact: (312) 219-2175 | https://www.chicagolawyer.com

Consultation: Free consultation, no fee unless recovery.

5. John J. Malm & Associates

Case Types Handled: Jackknife accidents, rollover accidents, underride accidents, override accidents, wide turn accidents, rear-end collisions with trucks, brake failure accidents, driver fatigue accidents, overloaded truck accidents, cargo spill accidents.

Legal Services: FMCSR compliance investigation, trucking company negligence claims, driver negligence claims, vicarious liability claims, hours of service violation investigation, ELD data analysis, black box data retrieval, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, wrongful death claims.

Background: Illinois personal injury law firm with experience in complex trucking accident litigation. The firm handles cases throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois.

Location: 200 W. Adams Street, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60606

Contact: (312) 212-4700 | https://www.malmlaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee basis.

Truck Accident Laws and Regulations in Illinois

Statute of Limitations: Illinois provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from truck accidents under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. The deadline generally runs from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the statute of limitations is also two years from the date of death.

Property Damage Claims: Claims for property damage resulting from truck accidents must be filed within five years of the accident date under Illinois law.

At-Fault Insurance System: Illinois operates under an at-fault insurance system. The party responsible for causing the accident is financially liable for damages.

Comparative Negligence: Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. An injured party can recover damages only if they are 50% or less at fault for the accident. If the injured party is found to be 51% or more at fault, they are barred from recovering any damages. If the injured party is 50% or less at fault, their recovery will be reduced by their percentage of fault.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements: Illinois requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 for property damage (25/50/20).

Commercial Truck Insurance Requirements: Commercial trucks operating in interstate commerce must carry minimum liability coverage as required by federal law. Trucks carrying non-hazardous freight over 10,001 pounds must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage. Trucks hauling hazardous materials may require $1 million to $5 million in coverage.

Vicarious Liability: Illinois recognizes respondeat superior, holding employers vicariously liable for accidents caused by employees acting within the scope of their employment. Trucking companies can be held liable for negligent acts of their employed drivers.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: Federal trucking regulations, including hours of service rules and vehicle maintenance requirements under 49 CFR, are applicable in Illinois state courts. Violations of FMCSR regulations can establish negligence.

Statute of Repose: Illinois has a four-year statute of repose under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, setting an absolute deadline for personal injury claims regardless of when the injury was discovered.

Government Entity Claims: Claims against Illinois state government entities or local municipalities have different procedures and shorter deadlines. The Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act may require notice within one year of the incident.

No Damage Caps: Illinois does not impose caps on economic or non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, including truck accident cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline to file a truck accident lawsuit in Illinois?

In Illinois, you have two years from the date of the truck accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death. Illinois also has a four-year statute of repose, setting an absolute deadline. If a government vehicle was involved, special notice requirements and shorter deadlines may apply. Consulting with an attorney promptly is important to preserve evidence and comply with all applicable deadlines.

How does Illinois’ comparative negligence rule affect my truck accident case?

Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence system. You can recover compensation only if you are 50% or less at fault for the accident. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any damages. If you are 50% or less at fault, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you suffered $100,000 in damages and were found 30% at fault, you would recover $70,000. Insurance companies often try to shift blame to plaintiffs to reduce their liability.

Who can be held liable for a truck accident in Illinois?

Multiple parties may be held liable in an Illinois truck accident case. These include the truck driver for negligent operation such as speeding, distracted driving, driving under the influence, or violating hours of service regulations, the trucking company for negligent hiring, training, supervision, or for pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic schedules, the owner of the truck if different from the driver or trucking company, cargo loading companies for improperly secured loads, manufacturers of defective truck parts, and maintenance contractors who performed inadequate repairs. Illinois applies respondeat superior, holding employers liable for employee negligence within the scope of employment.

What types of damages can I recover in an Illinois truck accident case?

You may recover economic damages including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and rehabilitation costs. Non-economic damages may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, disability, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Illinois does not cap these damages in truck accident cases. In cases involving willful or wanton conduct, punitive damages may be available.

How long will my Illinois truck accident case take to resolve?

The timeline varies depending on case complexity, severity of injuries, and willingness of insurance companies to negotiate. Simple cases may settle within months, while complex cases involving multiple defendants, serious injuries, or disputes about liability may take one to three years or longer if they proceed to trial. Truck accident cases involving federal regulations and multiple insurance policies are typically more complex than standard car accident cases. The two-year statute of limitations is the deadline to file suit, not to complete the case.