Johanna Bukowski
1 month ago
Ed and Maggie have both been a pleasure to work with! They keep you up to date on your case, clearly explain the process and next steps along the way, respond quickly to any questions and always offer different options to discuss details (email, phone, text, Zoom, etc.). What I appreciate more than anything, is their genuine compassion and concern for you as a person. They both demonstrate true empathy for what is most likely one of the most unexpected and traumatic events in a person’s life and do everything they can to ensure justice is served. I highly recommend Collins Law!
Jeff Matticks
2 months ago
I became aware of Collins Law Group after I was involved in a motorcycle, several years ago. Since that time I have reached out to Ed Manzke, at Collins Law Group, for assistance in a couple of other areas. In each instance, I have found Ed and his team to be very helpful with great communication, keeping me informed every step along the way. Everyone who I have interacted with, at Collins Law Group, demonstrated that they are interested in building relationships so that you know who you can turn to for any of your legal needs.
Ella Folson
3 months ago
Chris and John were attentive and thorough to my needs throughout my entire case. I appreciate the all the time and effort they took. I will be recommending their services going forward to family and friends! Thank you so much for all your help!
J. Savv
3 months ago
Ed Manzke was very patient and kind with helping me and my sister with our mom’s case. He often took the time out his day to explain everything to ensure we understood what was going on. The law firm itself is organized making our whole process run smoothly. I appreciate Ed and his team.
Unique Morris
3 months ago
Ed Manzke was very informative, clear and honest when it came to my mother and father’s case. He took his time with all of my questions and concerns, making sure that no questions went unanswered and that there was no room for confusion with our case. I’m forever grateful for Ed and everyone at the law firm.
Nick Erlenbaugh
3 months ago
Collins Law was recommended to me after I was involved in an accident with a semi-truck. Amber Blevins was exceptional to work with. She is a total pro at what she does and made the process as easy as she could for me. Ed ensured I received the best outcome possible and exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who might be shopping around for an attorney!
Dwayne Kurfirst
3 months ago
I want to take a moment to recognize John at Collins Law for the incredible work he did in helping my mom secure her settlement. It wasn’t a quick or easy process—it took time, patience, and persistence—but John stayed committed every step of the way. What stood out most was his professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for getting the best possible outcome. He kept us informed, navigated the complexities with confidence, and ultimately delivered results that truly made a difference for our family. If you’re looking for someone who will put in the work, stand by you through a long process, and follow through, I highly recommend John and the team at Collins Law.
Helen Montague
5 months ago
We are fortunate to have had the chance to work with John Risvold as he represented my brother in his case. Professional, personable and authentic in his manner, John kept us informed throughout the long process, and was always available to respond to my many questions. Having never been involved with a law suit, I really appreciated John's patience (especially since I am 1,000 miles away) and his genuine care for my brother's well being. We are forever grateful, John. Thank you.
Matthew Malone
6 months ago
I had an excellent experience being represented by Collins Law Firm. Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins were amazing to work with and truly helped me in my time of need. Both were extremely personable and knowledgeable throughout every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend them for anyone’s legal needs.
Ronnie Sanchez
6 months ago
I had an excellent experience with The Collins Law firm. Amber was extremely helpful, kind, and friendly throughout the entire process. She took the time to explain everything clearly whenever I didn’t understand something, which meant a lot to me. I truly felt supported and informed. I will absolutely seek Collin’s help again if I ever need legal assistance in the future. Thank you again :)
Maddie Scheele
6 months ago
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins. They are truly the best of the best. The efficiency and professionalism throughout the entire process of my case has been unmatched. What I really want to point out, though, is the empathy and compassion both Amber and Ed hold. That was the true difference maker. I knew they both prioritized my well-being and made that their number one priority. They represented me to their highest capabilities through every step of my case, and I cannot thank them and Collins Law Firm enough.
Leticia Pink
6 months ago
Ms. Maggie Galka is an experienced environmental (radon) attorney who prioritizes her clients' health and safety in her legal practice. She maintains thorough records and offers strategic advice while working with government agencies. Ms. Galka demonstrates key values such as integrity, expertise, respect, empathy, and compassion essential for positive outcomes. Her professionalism, follow-up and communication skills are excellent. Ms. Galka's guidance extends beyond legal issues, and the Collins Law Firm advocates strongly and effectively for clients. We sincerely thank Collins Law Firm, and in particular Ms. Galka, for helping our family reach a successful outcome and for their meaningful impact on our community. I strongly recommend Ms. Galka and Collins Law Firm as an outstanding legal firm.
Megan
7 months ago
I can’t say enough good things about John Risvold at The Collins Law Firm. From start to finish, John was professional, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the process, and always made me feel like my case truly mattered. His dedication, attention to detail, and genuine care made a stressful situation much easier to handle. John’s expertise and clear communication built a lot of trust, and I’m very grateful for his hard work. I would highly recommend John Risvold to anyone looking for a reliable and skilled attorney.
David Bretti
7 months ago
(Translated by Google) They are very responsible in what they do, they were able to resolve my case quickly and efficiently, I especially recommend Mr. Chris for always being in contact and being honest throughout the process 👏🏻 (Original) Son muy responsables en lo que hacen, pudieron resolver mi caso de forma rápida y eficaz, recomendando, especialmente el Se Chris por siempre estar en contacto y ser sincero en todo el proceso 👏🏻
Jas R.
7 months ago
Amber was very thorough, informative, and made this process very easy for me, which I greatly appreciated considering all the events that led up to this point. Justice isn’t always served, but working with Collin’s Law Firm really me feel that my injuries were tangibly worth something, and that to some degree, justice was served. Would highly recommend this law firm to anyone seeking out a personal injury firm/attorney.
Amy Ressen
8 months ago
I wana say a huge thank you to the Collin’s Law firm and Chris Gauthier for helping me with my Complicated case. They helped me put my life back together after a horrible incident that I didn’t think I could over come. Chris was always good about communicating and he made sure I got what I deserved! I highly recommend this law firm they were so kind and reassuring that things would work out. Thank you again for all the hard work and being there to help me through the process when I didn’t know where to turn to for help! Thanks again Chris and The Collin’s Law firm!
Lauren Dryanski
9 months ago
I had an exceptional experience with Collins Law Firm . A special thank you to Chris, my lawyer, and Patti, the legal assistant. They helped me navigate my car accident proceedings from start to finish, and I always felt like I was in great hands. Chris was incredibly knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and explained everything in a way I could understand. He always made sure I felt informed and supported, especially when it came to legal details I wouldn’t normally know. Patti was also wonderful—very helpful, communicative, and always made sure I had everything I needed throughout the process. I never once doubted this team. They made everything easy and stress-free. I would absolutely recommend Collins Law Firm to anyone in need of legal support!
Will Brooks
10 months ago
John brings impressive expertise and heartfelt dedication to every matter he handles. His thoughtful approach and clear communication make it easy to trust his advice, and it’s evident he is committed to fighting for what’s right with both professionalism and empathy. John’s balance of insightful expertise and warm, personal attention truly sets him apart.
Icela Hernandez
11 months ago
If ever needed. I will gladly go to the Collins law firm again. They were always quick to respond any questions. Happy to say case is closed and all went well .
Sharif Maadi
1 year ago
I’ve had the opportunity to co-counsel with John Risvold and he is a great attorney. He brings a high level of experience, strategic insight, and tenacity to every case. Truly an asset to the personal injury field. Rest assured, your case is in good hands with this firm
Illinois Truck Underride Accident Lawyer
In a normal rear-end collision, the car's bumper, crumple zones, and airbags do their job. In an underride crash, none of them get the chance. The passenger vehicle slides beneath the truck or trailer, and the trailer bed meets the windshield. These are among the most violent crashes on Illinois highways, and they are also among the most preventable, which is exactly why they make strong cases when the evidence is secured in time.
Underride crashes come in two main forms. Rear underride happens when a car strikes the back of a trailer, often one that is stopped, slow-moving, or poorly marked in the dark. Side underride happens when a car strikes the side of a trailer crossing or turning across traffic, frequently at night when an unlit trailer can be nearly invisible across a roadway. In both, the car's occupant compartment takes the impact at head level. The injuries that follow are catastrophic: traumatic brain injury, cervical spine damage, and a disproportionate share of fatalities.
Federal law has required rear impact guards on most trailers for decades, under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 223 and 224. In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration strengthened those standards to match more protective Canadian requirements. But two gaps remain, and they matter in litigation. First, a guard only works if it is intact: rusted, bent, or improperly repaired guards fail, and federal regulations require carriers to maintain their equipment. Second, there is still no federal requirement for side underride guards, an omission safety advocates have fought for years. NHTSA formally sought comment on side guards in 2023, but as of today, most trailers on Illinois roads have nothing between their wheels but air.
The toll is also undercounted. The Government Accountability Office found an average of about 219 reported underride deaths per year from 2008 through 2017, and concluded the true number is likely higher because police crash reports often have no standard way to record an underride.
Underride cases reward a wider investigation than the typical crash, because the failure is often about the equipment and the company, not just the driving:
And because the company's maintenance and inspection practices are usually in play, an underride case often becomes a trucking company negligence case, with the discovery reaching inspection records, repair histories, and the carrier's safety program.
The single most important step in an underride case happens in the first days: inspecting and preserving the trailer before it is repaired, scrapped, or put back in service. The guard's condition, weld points, rust, and prior repairs tell the story of the crash. So do the trailer's conspicuity tape, its lighting, the carrier's inspection reports, and the crash scene itself. We send a preservation letter immediately and, where needed, get a court order before the evidence rolls away.
Lack of underride guards, or subpar underride guards, are the most notable cause of underride crashes. These guards, when designed properly, can prevent a passenger car from going underneath a semi-truck on impact and can save the lives of the driver and passengers. Unfortunately, many of the trucks on the road do not have these guards or have guards that will break on impact, rendering them pointless.
Poor visibility. Accidents between passenger vehicles and semi-trucks are much more common at night. Trucks without reflective tape, or with poorly maintained reflective tape, or failed brake lights all contribute to this statistic. Trucking companies are supposed to make sure their trucks are as visible as possible on the road; when they do not uphold this responsibility, fatal crashes happen.
Truck driver negligence is another major cause of underride crashes. If a truck driver turns out into the middle of traffic negligently or slams on their brakes unexpectedly, the likelihood of a vehicle crashing into the side or back of the truck is extremely high. This negligence, combined with a lack of reflective tape or underride guards, creates a recipe for disaster.
Hazardous weather and/or road conditions are another cause of underride crashes. Bad weather, construction, and hazards on the road can all contribute to underride crashes. Slippery conditions can cause a truck to jackknife which can in turn cause an underride accident. Poor visibility, heavy fog, and slick roads can cause a car to slam into a truck from the rear resulting in an underride accident.
A crash in which a passenger vehicle slides beneath a truck or trailer, so the impact hits at windshield level instead of engaging the car's bumper and crumple zones. That is why these crashes are so often fatal or catastrophic even at moderate speeds.
Most trailers must have rear impact guards meeting FMVSS 223 and 224, strengthened by NHTSA in 2022. There is no federal side underride guard requirement, which is why side crashes remain a major hazard.
Potentially the driver, the motor carrier, and in some cases the trailer manufacturer. The guard's condition and the carrier's maintenance records usually decide which theories are strongest.
Because the trailer is the central evidence and it will be repaired or returned to service quickly. A preservation letter needs to go out immediately.
If an underride crash injured you or took a family member, the trailer that caused it is the case, and it needs to be preserved this week, not next month. Call Collins Law Group at (630) 527-1595 or use our contact form. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win.
Every truck crash is different. If your case falls outside the situations described above, our our Illinois truck accident attorneys handle the full range of commercial truck and tractor-trailer claims across Illinois. Related case types we handle include:
