Large trucks move millions of tons of goods through Illinois each year, making highways like I-55, I-80, and I-294 some of the busiest freight corridors in the nation. Unfortunately, that traffic also brings danger. At Collins Law Firm, we’ve represented countless victims injured in catastrophic truck crashes caused by driver error, fatigue, and equipment failure.
Understanding why these accidents occur is the first step toward prevention—and toward holding negligent parties accountable.
Illinois truck accidents often result from a mix of human error, mechanical failure, and poor maintenance. The following causes appear most frequently in crash investigations by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):
Long-haul drivers often exceed safe limits despite federal Hours-of-Service regulations. Fatigue slows reaction time and impairs judgment—similar to driving drunk.
Example: A driver nods off while traveling northbound on I-55 near Joliet, drifting across lanes before striking a median barrier and another vehicle.
Legal Note: Under federal law, carriers are liable if they encourage or fail to prevent hours-of-service violations.
Texting, GPS use, dispatch messages, and even eating behind the wheel can divert attention for just seconds—enough time for a fully loaded truck to travel the length of a football field.
Illinois bans all handheld cellphone use by commercial drivers, yet distraction remains one of the top cited factors in truck collisions.
A tractor-trailer weighing 80,000 pounds requires far more distance to stop than a passenger car. Excessive speed, tailgating, or unsafe lane changes often lead to rear-end or rollover crashes, especially in congested areas like I-290 near Chicago.
When a driver violates posted limits or industry safety protocols, both the operator and the trucking company can be held responsible.
Truck stability depends heavily on balanced cargo. If freight isn’t secured properly, it can shift, causing jackknifing or overturning.
Example: An overloaded gravel truck that exceeds Illinois’ axle-weight limits may blow a tire and roll over, injuring nearby motorists.
Legal Impact: Liability may extend to the shipping or loading company under federal cargo-securement standards.
Brake failure, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions frequently trace back to skipped inspections or falsified maintenance logs.
Carriers must comply with FMCSA §396 rules requiring documented pre-trip inspections and immediate repair of safety-critical issues. Failure to do so is clear negligence under Illinois tort law.
Although rare compared to fatigue or distraction, impairment by alcohol, prescription drugs, or stimulants can have devastating results. Illinois applies stricter BAC limits to commercial drivers (.04 percent). A positive test after a crash almost guarantees civil liability and federal penalties.
The nationwide driver shortage has led some carriers to shorten training programs. Inexperience with braking distances, wide-turn dynamics, or mountain-grade handling often ends in tragedy.
Carriers are required to maintain proof of driver qualifications and training; missing or incomplete records strengthen a negligence claim.
Illinois’ severe winters create slick surfaces and reduced visibility. Truckers must adjust speed and following distance accordingly.
Failure to reduce speed during snow, fog, or heavy rain can amount to negligence because professional drivers are expected to anticipate and adapt to hazards.
Truck accident cases often involve multiple defendants, including:
An experienced attorney can determine which combination of parties is legally responsible.
To succeed in a truck accident claim, you must show the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused measurable damage.
Key evidence includes:
Prompt investigation is crucial because many carriers only preserve digital data for six months.
Our firm’s investigative team immediately secures black-box data, driver qualification files, and maintenance records to build a detailed liability profile. We frequently work with accident reconstruction experts, mechanical engineers, and human-factors specialists to identify every responsible party.
This comprehensive approach has led to significant recoveries for victims of highway crashes throughout Illinois.
Under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/13-202), most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the accident—so timing matters.
Victims of truck accidents may recover damages for:
Our attorneys assess every economic and non-economic loss to pursue full justice.
Truck accidents on Illinois highways often result from preventable mistakes—driver fatigue, distraction, mechanical failure, or poor maintenance.
If you or a loved one has been injured, you deserve experienced representation that understands both state and federal trucking laws.
Collins Law Firm has decades of experience handling complex truck-injury claims across Illinois. Call (630) 527-1595 today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
