Know Your Rights After a Devastating Truck Accident

Chicago's highways and city streets are packed with commercial trucks every day on 1-90, 1-94, 1-55, and throughout busy neighborhoods. While these trucks keep goods moving, they also pose serious dangers to everyday drivers. When a trucking collision happens, the injuries are often catastrophic, and trucking companies are quick to protect their bottom line instead of the people they've harmed.

Many victims assume the trucking company will do the right thing. Unfortunately, that's rarely how it works.

How Trucking Companies Avoid Responsibility After Crashes

Large trucking companies operate with one goal in mind: profit. After a collision, their legal teams and insurance carriers move fast to limit liability. They may argue the driver was an independent contractor, blame another vehicle, or claim the victim caused the crash. These are all tactics designed to reduce what they have to pay.

Unlike regular car accidents, trucking collisions often involve multiple responsible parties, including:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• Maintenance contractors
• Cargo loaders
• Manufacturers of defective truck parts

Trucking companies are required to follow strict federal safety regulations regarding driver hours, vehicle maintenance, and load limits. When they cut corners, exhausted drivers, poorly maintained trucks, and overloaded trailers put everyone on the road at risk.

In plain terms: trucking companies want the profits of operating massive fleets without taking responsibility when their negligence causes serious harm.

The Reality of Trucking Collisions: Severe Injuries and Life-Changing Consequences

Truck accidents are not "fender benders." A fully loaded semi can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When that kind of force collides with a passenger vehicle, the results are often devastating.

Victims of trucking collisions frequently suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Multiple broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Permanent disability or wrongful death

Families are suddenly left facing overwhelming medical bills, lost income, long-term care, and emotional trauma, all while trucking companies fight behind the scenes to minimize payouts.

Trucking Safety Violations Are More Common Than You Think

Many truck crashes are preventable. Common causes include:

• Drivers exceeding federally mandated hours-of-service limits
• Distracted or impaired driving
• Poor vehicle maintenance, including brake and tire failures
• Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo
• Inadequate driver training

When trucking companies ignore safety rules, they put every Chicago driver at risk. These violations don't just happen, they are choices made to save time and money.

What to Do After a Trucking Collision in Chicago

If you or a loved one is involved in a trucking accident, taking the right steps early can make a major difference:

• Call 911 and Seek Medical Care Immediately: Even injuries that seem minor can be serious
• Document the Scene: Take photos of vehicles, damage, injuries, and road conditions if you're able.
• Do Not Speak With the Trucking Company's Insurer: Their goal is to protect the company, not you.
• Preserve Evidence: Trucking cases rely on black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records— these can disappear quickly without legal intervention.
• Contact an Attorney Experienced in Trucking Cases: These are complex cases that require immediate action.

LoVerde Law Will Hold Trucking Companies Accountable

Trucking companies have teams of lawyers and insurers working to reduce their responsibility. Injured victims deserve someone fighting just as hard on their side.

At LoVerde Law, we represent Chicago residents injured in serious trucking collisions. We investigate safety violations, secure critical evidence, and hold negligent trucking companies accountable for the harm they cause. Our focus is making sure victims are not overwhelmed, ignored, or pressured into unfair settlements.

If you've been injured in a trucking collision or lost a loved one due to a truck crash, you don't have to face it alone. Contact LoVerde Law for a free, confidential consultation. We'll handle the legal battle so you can focus on recovery and rebuilding your life.