Rockford Truck Accident Lawyer

Experienced Legal Counsel for Trucking Accident Victims in Rockford, Illinois

A Rockford truck accident lawyer handles complex cases that other personal injury attorneys in Rockford may not be qualified to handle. Truck accident lawsuits differ from those related to car accidents in many ways, including the extent of the damage, insurance liabilities, and state laws, among many other factors.

Our Rockford truck accident lawyers have helped dozens of clients recover financial compensation after a truck crash.

Settlements Recovered by Our Rockford Law Firm

• $18,500,000 for head-on semi-truck collision
• $5,800,000 for an 18-wheeler making an illegal turn
• $1,400,000 for a rear-end crash
• $3,200,000 for a pedestrian hit by a garbage truck

Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

Our skilled Rockford truck accident attorneys will guide you through every part of a personal injury claim, offering aggressive legal representation that ensures you receive a fair settlement.

Many victims find it difficult to negotiate with insurance companies as they recuperate from physical injuries and heal from emotional trauma. We handle all communication with responsible parties on your behalf and help level the playing field for everyday people.

With a proven track record of success and years of dealing with the trucking industry, we have over 100 combined years of legal experience in seeking justice for truck accident victims. We’ll fight tirelessly for your rights and hold negligent truck drivers accountable for your injuries.

Types of Cases We Handle

The truck accident lawyers serving Rockford at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers work on many different types of truck accident cases. Our law firm has experience with the following types of incidents:

• Truck rollovers
• Sideswipe truck accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Head-on collisions
• Jackknife truck accidents
• T-bone truck accidents
• Wide-turn accidents

We also have experience representing victims in cases involving:

• Commercial trucks
• Semi-trucks
• Tractor-trailer trucks
• Other commercial trucks

What Qualifies as a Truck Accident Case

To make a truck accident claim, we must prove negligence, which has four elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. These are explained as follows.

• Duty of Care: The liable party had a responsibility to you, including following traffic laws and ensuring drivers received appropriate training.
• Breach of Duty: The liable party did not uphold their duty of care. This could be by urging fatigued drivers to get back on the road, providing inadequate training, or texting while driving large trucks.
• Causation: Your personal injury was caused by this breach of duty.
• Damages: You suffered financial losses as a result of the truck accident.

The Most Common Truck Accident Injuries

Injuries sustained in trucking accidents range from minor to serious, depending on the conditions of the incident. The most common truck accident injuries include the following:

• Spinal Damage and Back Injuries: These massive vehicles can cause devastating injuries, including paralysis. Victims may require lifelong care, which should be compensated.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): These are due to blunt force trauma, such as slamming your head against the seat back or dashboard. A TBI can be fatal, or it could cause lifelong disability, such as memory loss, coordination issues, and personality changes.
• Fractures and Broken Bones: Broken bones are serious injuries that require quick medical treatment, as an improperly healed bone can cause significant problems with coordination.
• Internal Organ Damage: Internal injuries result in high medical costs and may mean you can no longer work. We ensure that your future treatment needs are covered in your truck accident claim.
• Burn Injuries: Fuel spills and fires may cause both disfigurement and nerve damage. Burn scars can also limit your range of motion.
• Amputations: In a severe crash, victims may require limb amputation. This life-changing injury should be properly compensated by the responsible individuals.

Since truck accidents usually occur with a larger, heavier truck against a much smaller, lighter vehicle, accident injuries for victims tend to be more severe.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Rockford

Common causes of Rockford truck accidents include:

• Speeding: Rockford limits the speed of trucks above 8,001 pounds to 55 miles per hour (§16-194), but truck drivers may go beyond this in order to make shipments in time.
• Driver Fatigue: Federal regulations require drivers to work no more than 11 hours after 10 hours off, but trucking companies may push their drivers to work more.
• Distracted Driving: Fixing a GPS, making phone calls, or texting can all lead to truck accidents.
• Impaired Driving: Due to their long hours, many truck drivers turn to stimulants to stay awake, which can impair their judgment.
• Inadequate Truck Maintenance: These massive vehicles must receive routine maintenance to function well, but some companies fail to do this.
• Improperly Loaded Trucks: Rockford requires that commercial trucks have their loads properly fastened to prevent harm to others (§16-252), but some companies may fail to check loads before dispatching drivers.
• Inadequate Training: To get a Commercial Driver’s License, truck drivers need to pass a comprehensive written exam and pass a medical exam. Drivers that lack these requirements may cause serious injuries to others.

Liability for Rockford Truck Accidents

Parties that can be held liable include the following.

• Truck Drivers: Our truck accident attorneys will determine whether negligent actions like speeding, drowsy driving, or distracted driving contributed to the accident.
• Trucking Companies: In McQueen v. Green, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that victims can bring both direct and vicarious liability suits against companies for neglectful hiring or supervision.
• Parts Manufacturers: These product liability suits depend upon §735 ILCS 5/13-213, which imposes strict liability on manufacturers.
• Auto Repair Shops: Maintenance workers who provide substandard work can be held liable.
• Government Agencies: You may have a suit against the City of Rockford or IDOT if you were hit by a government truck or if road hazards contributed to the truck accident.

Truck Drivers’ Liability

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration utilizes Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories to determine whether a truck driver is acting safely on the road. This includes:

• Crash history
• Unsafe driving incidents
• Hours of Service noncompliance
• Vehicle maintenance reports
• Alcohol or substance use
• Medical fitness
• Hazardous substance transportation

Every driver is given a BASIC score, and those with low scores may be penalized. If our truck accident attorneys find that a driver has an unacceptably low BASIC score, this can be used to hold them accountable.

Employer Liability

Illinois uses the legal doctrine respondeat superior to determine employer liability in accident cases. To be held accountable, the individual must be an employee, which is considered anyone who provides services for the trucking company, such as an independent contractor or even a volunteer.

Next, the negligent employee must have been operating within the scope of their duties, whether that is driving a load or bringing an empty truck back to the logistics center.

Companies can also be held liable for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, or negligent entrustment, meaning asking employees to do something they’re not qualified to do.

Evidence Used in Truck Accident Claims

Our truck accident attorneys use a broad range of evidence to support your claim. This includes:

• Black box data from the truck
• Eyewitness statements
• The truck driver’s logbooks and employment history
• The trucking company’s maintenance records and any history of infractions
• Accident reports
• Medical records
• Photos and videos of the scene
• Surveillance or dash cam footage

Statistics of Trucking Accidents in Rockford

In 2023, Rockford police reported 7,432 motor vehicle accidents to the Illinois Department of Transportation, including a variety of different commercial vehicles. These include:

• Single Unit Truck With Trailer: 9 accidents
• Tractor With Semi-Trailer: 35 accidents
• Tractor Without Semi-Trailer: 3 accidents
• Single Unit Truck: 18 accidents
• Other Vehicle With Trailer: 9 accidents

Damages Awarded to Rockford Trucking Accident Victims

In a Rockford truck accident, victims can pursue both economic and non-economic damages that include the following:

• Medical Expenses: We will help you get compensation for past and future medical bills.
• Lost Wages: Our attorneys can pursue compensation for both past and future lost income.
• Property Damage: If your car or personal belongings were damaged, we’ll ensure you are reimbursed.
• Pain and Suffering: We will interview witnesses and medical professionals to get a clearer picture of your physical pain, emotional suffering, and trauma.
• Wrongful Death: This can include funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and grief.
• Punitive Damages: These are awarded for extreme negligence or recklessness, meant to punish the responsible party.

You Have Limited Time to File a Truck Accident Claim in Rockford, IL

Under Illinois law, you have a set amount of time after the accident to file a truck accident lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations, and one exists for nearly every type of lawsuit that can be filed.

The statute of limitations in Rockford, Illinois, for personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death cases is two years from the date of injury or death (§735 ILCS 5/13-213). That means you have exactly two years from the date of the accident to have your case filed in court. Otherwise, you will not be able to take legal action against the at-fault parties.

What to Do Following a Truck Crash in Rockford

Your safety is the primary concern after a truck crash. Follow these steps as soon as possible:

• Get to a safe space and call 911.
• Assess yourself for injuries while waiting for the Rockford Police Department to arrive
• Get details from the truck driver, including insurance information, company name, and contact details.
• Take photos and videos of the accident scene.
• Get medical treatment at a local hospital.
• Don’t speak to insurance companies without your attorney present.
• Contact a Rockford lawyer for a consultation.

Dealing With Insurance Companies Following a Trucking Accident

To start the legal process, you must file a claim with the relevant insurance companies. However, these companies do not want to pay out for a truck accident claim, as they typically involve very serious – and expensive – injuries.

Their tactics include:

• Urging you to admit fault
• Denying your claim
• Threatening you with legal action
• Offering a quick but low settlement amount
• Claiming your injuries are unrelated to the accident
• Accusing you of filing a false insurance claim

This is why you need an experienced attorney by your side who can protect you from the games that insurance companies play.

Rockford Truck Accident FAQs

Can I get compensation for permanent disfigurement after a truck accident?

Yes, we have helped numerous clients receive fair compensation for permanent disfigurement. This is considered part of your non-financial losses and will be calculated using an injury multiplier. This can range from 1.5 times to 5 times your financial losses based on the severity of the injury.

Can I still recover damages if I’m partly at fault for my truck accident?

Yes, it’s possible to pursue compensation even if you are partly at fault. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence (§735 ILCS 5/2-1116). This means that partially responsible parties can still sue as long as they are less than 50% to blame, but their compensation will be reduced based on their liability.

Can I sue multiple parties?

Yes, you can sue multiple parties. Truck crashes are complex, so such an incident often has multiple liable individuals and organizations. This can include drivers, the trucking company, maintenance workers, the City of Rockford, or the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Our personal injury lawyers will thoroughly investigate the accident and identify all liable parties so that we can seek compensation from everyone involved.

Consult a Rockford Truck Accident Lawyer Near You!

We have helped recover millions for other clients, and we can do the same for you. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not have to pay anything up-front for our Rockford personal injury law services.

Contact our Rockford law firm today for a free consultation by filling out our contact form or calling us toll-free at (888) 424-5757. A member of our law firm is available 24 hours a day to take your call.

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I was in a car accident with a semi truck .I was injured pretty badly but I made it. Then I contacted this law firm. I had an amazing experience with this law firm.Thanks again guys!

– vapreece cook

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All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.