Orland Park Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers
Sharing the road with an 80,000-pound semi-truck on a busy Illinois interstate can be an unnerving experience. The sheer size and weight disparity between a commercial tractor-trailer and a standard passenger vehicle creates a dangerous imbalance. In the event of a collision, the occupants of the smaller vehicle almost always suffer the most severe consequences. An accident involving a large truck is rarely minor; it is often a catastrophic event that results in life-altering injuries or, in the most tragic cases, wrongful death.
At SFG Law Firm, we understand that a commercial truck accident claim is fundamentally different and far more complex than a typical car crash case. These incidents involve intricate federal regulations, multiple potentially liable corporate entities, and aggressive legal teams deployed by trucking and insurance companies to minimize their financial exposure.
Our attorneys have the experience, resources, and dedication required to level the playing field for victims in Orland Park, Joliet, Chicago, and throughout the surrounding communities. We are committed to meticulously investigating your case and holding all negligent parties accountable for the immense harm they have caused.
Why Are Truck Accident Claims So Complex?
Unlike a collision between two passenger cars, a crash involving a commercial truck immediately triggers a complex set of legal and logistical challenges. The stakes are higher, the regulations are more stringent, and the opponents are more formidable. Understanding the layers of complexity involved in these cases is essential for anyone seeking justice after a serious collision.
The Web of Multiple Liable Parties
In a typical car accident, liability often rests with one of the drivers involved. However, in a trucking crash, the list of potentially responsible parties is extensive. Because the trucking industry operates on a chain of different service providers, a single accident could involve:
- The Truck Driver: For errors like speeding, fatigue, or distracted driving.
- The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): For negligent hiring practices or pressuring drivers to ignore safety rules.
- The Vehicle Owner: If the truck or trailer is leased from a separate entity.
- Cargo Loaders: If improperly secured, the freight shifted and caused the driver to lose control.
- Maintenance Providers: If a third-party shop failed to fix brakes or steering components correctly.
- Manufacturers: If a defective part, such as a tire blowout or engine failure, caused the crash.
Identifying and pursuing claims against all responsible entities is a difficult but critical task. If a claimant misses one liable party, they may not be able to recover the full compensation needed for their recovery.
Strict Federal and State Regulations
The trucking industry is governed by a dense web of safety regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and state-level departments like the Illinois Department of Transportation. These aren’t just “suggestions”; they are strict laws designed to keep the public safe from 80,000-pound vehicles.
Key regulations include:
- Hours-of-Service (HOS): Rules that dictate exactly how long a driver can be on the road before they must rest.
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Standards: Requirements for training and medical fitness.
- Vehicle Inspection Protocols: Mandates for daily and periodic inspections of brakes, lights, and tires.
- Weight and Size Limits: Rules to prevent trucks from becoming top-heavy or unable to stop.
A successful claim often hinges on proving that a violation of these regulations contributed to the crash. This requires an in-depth audit of driver logs, GPS data, and maintenance records to find discrepancies.
The Digital “Black Box” and Data Retrieval
Modern commercial trucks are equipped with Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and Event Data Recorders (EDRs), often referred to as “black boxes.” These devices record vital information in the seconds leading up to a crash, such as travel speed, braking patterns, and throttle position.
While this data is invaluable, it is not always easy to access. Trucking companies are often hesitant to hand over this data voluntarily, and in some cases, the data can be overwritten if it is not preserved immediately via a “spoliation letter” sent by a legal representative. Navigating the technical and legal requirements to secure this electronic evidence is a primary hurdle in these claims.
Aggressive Corporate Defendants
Commercial trucks are often owned by large, multi-million-dollar corporations with powerful insurance carriers and high-priced legal teams. Their immediate response to a crash is to protect their interests.
In many cases, these companies dispatch “rapid-response teams” to the scene of an accident within hours—sometimes while the victims are still being treated by emergency responders. These teams work to control the narrative, interview witnesses, and gather evidence that minimizes the company’s liability. Facing off against these well-funded legal machines requires a level of resources and investigative power that standard car accident claims simply do not demand.
Catastrophic Injury and Long-Term Costs
Due to the immense forces involved in a collision between a small passenger vehicle and a massive semi-truck, the injuries are frequently life-altering. Victims may suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord damage, amputations, or severe internal organ damage.
The financial “stakes” are significantly higher because the cost of care for these injuries can reach into the millions of dollars over a lifetime. Properly calculating these costs requires more than just adding up current hospital bills; it requires:
- Life Care Planners: To estimate the cost of future surgeries, home modifications, and in-home care.
- Vocational Experts: To determine the impact on the victim’s ability to work and earn a living.
- Economists: To account for inflation and the “time value” of money over several decades.
Higher Insurance Policy Limits
Because the potential for damage is so high, commercial trucks carry insurance policies with much higher limits than standard passenger cars. While this means there is more money available to compensate victims, it also means the insurance companies will fight much harder to avoid paying out.
An insurance adjuster in a minor “fender bender” might settle quickly to save administrative costs. In a truck accident where the policy limit might be $1 million or $5 million, the insurance company will employ every possible tactic to delay, devalue, or deny the claim. They may argue that the victim was partially at fault or that their injuries were pre-existing.
Strict Federal and State Regulations
The trucking industry is governed by a dense web of safety regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and state-level departments like the Illinois Department of Transportation. These aren’t just “suggestions”; they are strict laws designed to keep the public safe from 80,000-pound vehicles.
Key regulations include:
- Hours-of-Service (HOS): Rules that dictate exactly how long a driver can be on the road before they must rest.
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Standards: Requirements for training and medical fitness.
- Vehicle Inspection Protocols: Mandates for daily and periodic inspections of brakes, lights, and tires.
- Weight and Size Limits: Rules to prevent trucks from becoming top-heavy or unable to stop.
A successful claim often hinges on proving that a violation of these regulations contributed to the crash. This requires an in-depth audit of driver logs, GPS data, and maintenance records to find discrepancies.
The Digital “Black Box” and Data Retrieval
Modern commercial trucks are equipped with Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and Event Data Recorders (EDRs), often referred to as “black boxes.” These devices record vital information in the seconds leading up to a crash, such as travel speed, braking patterns, and throttle position.
While this data is invaluable, it is not always easy to access. Trucking companies are often hesitant to hand over this data voluntarily, and in some cases, the data can be overwritten if it is not preserved immediately via a “spoliation letter” sent by a legal representative. Navigating the technical and legal requirements to secure this electronic evidence is a primary hurdle in these claims.
Aggressive Corporate Defendants
Commercial trucks are often owned by large, multi-million-dollar corporations with powerful insurance carriers and high-priced legal teams. Their immediate response to a crash is to protect their interests.
In many cases, these companies dispatch “rapid-response teams” to the scene of an accident within hours—sometimes while the victims are still being treated by emergency responders. These teams work to control the narrative, interview witnesses, and gather evidence that minimizes the company’s liability. Facing off against these well-funded legal machines requires a level of resources and investigative power that standard car accident claims simply do not demand.
Catastrophic Injury and Long-Term Costs
Due to the immense forces involved in a collision between a small passenger vehicle and a massive semi-truck, the injuries are frequently life-altering. Victims may suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord damage, amputations, or severe internal organ damage.
The financial “stakes” are significantly higher because the cost of care for these injuries can reach into the millions of dollars over a lifetime. Properly calculating these costs requires more than just adding up current hospital bills; it requires:
- Life Care Planners: To estimate the cost of future surgeries, home modifications, and in-home care.
- Vocational Experts: To determine the impact on the victim’s ability to work and earn a living.
- Economists: To account for inflation and the “time value” of money over several decades.
Higher Insurance Policy Limits
Because the potential for damage is so high, commercial trucks carry insurance policies with much higher limits than standard passenger cars. While this means there is more money available to compensate victims, it also means the insurance companies will fight much harder to avoid paying out.
An insurance adjuster in a minor “fender bender” might settle quickly to save administrative costs. In a truck accident where the policy limit might be $1 million or $5 million, the insurance company will employ every possible tactic to delay, devalue, or deny the claim. They may argue that the victim was partially at fault or that their injuries were pre-existing.
Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents in Illinois
While road conditions or the actions of other drivers can play a role, a significant number of truck accidents are caused by negligence on the part of the driver or the trucking company. Our firm thoroughly investigates all potential causes, which often include:
- Driver Fatigue: The pressure to meet demanding delivery schedules can lead drivers to violate federal Hours-of-Service regulations, which are designed to prevent drowsy driving. An exhausted driver can exhibit the same impaired judgment and slowed reaction times as a drunk driver, making critical and often fatal mistakes.
- Distracted Driving: Using a cell phone, interacting with a dispatching device, adjusting a GPS, or eating while behind the wheel of a 40-ton vehicle is exceptionally dangerous. Even a momentary lapse in concentration can cause a truck to drift from its lane or fail to stop in time.
- Inadequate Training: Some trucking companies cut corners by failing to provide their drivers with sufficient training on safety protocols, defensive driving techniques, and how to handle challenging road conditions or emergency scenarios. This lack of preparation can have devastating consequences.
- Driving Under the Influence: Despite strict federal regulations and routine testing, some commercial drivers operate their vehicles under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prohibited prescription medications, creating an extreme danger for everyone on the road.
- Overloaded or Improperly Secured Cargo: When a trailer is loaded with more weight than is legally allowed, it severely impacts the truck’s braking ability and stability. Similarly, if cargo is not properly balanced and secured, it can shift during transport, potentially causing the driver to lose control or leading to a rollover.
- Inadequate Maintenance: Federal law requires trucking companies to perform regular, documented inspections and maintenance on their fleets. Failure to properly maintain critical components like brakes, tires, steering systems, and lights can lead to catastrophic mechanical failures on the highway.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving: A truck driver who is speeding or driving aggressively due to current road conditions has less time to react and needs a much greater distance to stop. The immense momentum of a speeding tractor-trailer makes any resulting collision far more destructive.
Types of Commercial Trucking Accidents We Handle in Orland Park, IL
The dynamics of a commercial truck crash are unique, leading to specific types of accidents that are particularly destructive. Legal practices prepared for complex litigation are equipped to handle claims involving all forms of tractor-trailer collisions:
Jackknife Accidents: This occurs when a driver brakes too hard or loses control, causing the trailer to swing out to a 90-degree angle with the cab, resembling a folding pocketknife. This phenomenon is often triggered by improper braking on wet or icy roads, downshifting too quickly, or operating the rig at excessive speed.
The swinging trailer can sweep across multiple lanes of traffic, creating a massive and unavoidable hazard for other vehicles, trapping them against the barrier or pushing them off the roadway entirely. Establishing fault in these cases requires an analysis of the road conditions, the truck’s braking system maintenance, and the driver’s adherence to slowing protocols.
Rollover Accidents: Because of their high center of gravity, especially when loaded, semi-trucks are susceptible to rolling over, particularly during sharp turns, sudden evasive maneuvers, or while speeding on curved entrance or exit ramps. A rolling truck can crush smaller vehicles in its path and spill its cargo across the roadway, creating secondary hazards that lead to further collisions. Rollovers can also be precipitated by shifting cargo—a direct violation of federal securement rules—or poorly maintained tires that lead to a blow-out and loss of control.
Underride Collisions: These are among the most lethal types of big rig accidents. An underride collision happens when a passenger car slides underneath the side or rear of a truck’s trailer, often during low-visibility conditions or when the truck is stopped unexpectedly.
Even with safety guards mandated on trailers, the force and height mismatch mean the top portion of the car is frequently sheared off, resulting in catastrophic or fatal injuries to the occupants. Claims involving underride collisions often require an examination of whether the underride guard (DOT bumper) met federal structural standards or whether the truck was improperly stopped in a travel lane.
Wide Turn Accidents: Also known as a “squeeze play,” this type of crash often happens in urban areas like Chicago or Joliet when a truck driver swings wide into the left lane to set up for a right turn. In doing so, the driver may fail to adequately check their blind spots (known as the “No-Zone”), trapping and crushing a smaller vehicle in the space between the truck and the curb or guardrail. Proving liability here involves scrutinizing the truck’s route planning, the use of turn signals, and the driver’s adherence to mirror usage protocols.
Lost Load Accidents: Improperly secured cargo can break loose and fall from the trailer onto the highway, creating a sudden and dangerous obstacle course for following vehicles. This can cause drivers to swerve violently and trigger chain-reaction collisions, or the debris itself can directly impact and severely damage other vehicles.
The legal basis for recovery in lost load cases is often based on the concept of strict liability, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) specify detailed rules for cargo securement, requiring the trucker and the loading company to ensure that cargo is stable and immobilized. A violation of these rules can immediately establish a breach of duty.
Investigating Liability after a Chicago Trucking Crash: Who Can Be Held Responsible?
A critical component of a successful truck accident claim is identifying every party that shares responsibility for the crash. Our investigation extends far beyond the driver to look at the entire chain of commerce and operation.
The Truck Driver
The driver’s actions are often the primary cause of a crash. We investigate potential negligence, such as violations of Hours-of-Service rules, distracted driving, speeding, operating under the influence, and failure to maintain proper logbooks.
The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)
The company that employs the driver can be held vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence. Furthermore, the company can be held directly liable for its own negligence, including:
- Improper hiring practices, such as failing to conduct thorough background checks.
- Insufficient driver training programs.
- Pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines that encourage speeding or violating safety regulations.
- Poor vehicle maintenance schedules and failure to ensure trucks are in a safe operating condition.
- Failure to monitor drivers for compliance with federal safety rules.
Cargo-Related Parties
The entities responsible for loading the truck can be held liable if the crash was caused by an improperly loaded trailer. This includes:
- Loading dock personnel and warehouse operators.
- Third-party logistics companies and shippers.
- Liability can stem from overloading the trailer, failing to properly distribute the weight of the cargo, or failing to properly secure the load to prevent it from shifting.
Equipment Manufacturers
If the accident was caused by the failure of a critical component, the manufacturer of that part can be held responsible under product liability law. This includes defects in brakes, tires, steering mechanisms, or other essential systems.
The Catastrophic Injuries Common in Truck Wrecks
The immense force and weight involved in a collision with a commercial truck often result in devastating, life-altering injuries. We draw upon our deep understanding of complex medical issues to ensure the full extent of a victim’s trauma is understood. Common injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): The violent impact can cause severe brain trauma, leading to permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality changes, and a complete loss of independent function.
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI): Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia), requiring a lifetime of medical care, adaptive equipment, and personal assistance.
- Multiple Bone Fractures: Victims often suffer complex fractures to the limbs, ribs, and pelvis. These injuries frequently require multiple surgeries, the implantation of hardware, and can lead to post-traumatic arthritis and permanent mobility limitations.
- Crush Injuries and Amputations: When smaller vehicles are compressed by a truck, victims may suffer devastating crush injuries that result in severe tissue damage, major nerve injuries, and traumatic or surgical amputation of limbs.
- Severe Burns: Truck accidents can result in fires or the spill of hazardous materials, causing third or fourth-degree burns that require extensive skin grafting, cause permanent disfigurement, and leave deep psychological scars.
- Internal Organ Damage: The blunt force trauma of a truck crash can cause life-threatening damage to vital organs, sometimes leading to permanent organ dysfunction or failure.
Damages Available to Truck Accident Victims in Illinois
When a commercial semi-truck, often weighing 20 to 30 times more than a standard passenger vehicle, is involved in a collision, the resulting injuries are typically catastrophic. The impact extends far beyond physical harm, disrupting victims’ lives through immense financial strain, emotional trauma, and long-term instability. Victims of a negligent truck crash are legally entitled to seek compensation for the full range of their losses under Illinois law.
Our primary, unwavering goal in every case is to secure a financial recovery that not only addresses your immediate financial burdens but also ensures your long-term stability, necessary medical care, and continued quality of life. This requires a comprehensive evaluation of all harm suffered, dividing potential compensation into distinct categories of recovery.
I. Economic Damages: The Calculable Losses
Economic damages represent the calculable, out-of-pocket financial losses resulting directly from the accident. These amounts are generally proven through invoices, receipts, employment records, and projections from medical and financial professionals.
A. All Past and Future Medical Expenses
The complexity and severity of truck accident injuries mean medical expenses often far exceed those associated with a typical car crash. Compensation must cover the entire lifecycle of your recovery and ongoing care, including:
- Emergency and Acute Care: Costs associated with ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, initial surgeries, and hospital stays following the incident.
- Physician and Consulting Fees: Fees for orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, internal medicine specialists, and other necessary consultants.
- Medication and Equipment: The cost of prescription medications, durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs or specialized beds), and prosthetic devices.
- Lifelong Rehabilitation: This is often the largest component. It covers extended physical therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive therapy for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and pain management treatments. For permanently injured victims, this category includes the cost of home modifications, live-in care assistants, and future medical procedures predicted over a full lifetime.
B. Lost Wages and Income During Recovery
If your injuries prevent you from returning to work, even temporarily, you are entitled to reimbursement for all wages and benefits lost from the date of the crash through the date of settlement or verdict. This includes salary, hourly wages, bonuses, commissions, and lost vacation or sick time usage. For victims who were self-employed or worked irregular hours, establishing this loss requires detailed documentation of past earning history.
C. Loss of Future Earning Capacity
This type of damage is crucial for victims with permanent or long-term disabilities that prevent them from returning to their pre-crash profession or diminish their ability to earn at the same level. Calculating this loss requires input from vocational experts and economists. These professionals analyze your age, education, work history, remaining physical limitations, and life expectancy to project the net amount of income and benefits you would have reasonably been expected to earn over your remaining working years had the collision never occurred. It ensures that a devastating injury does not lead to lifelong financial destitution.
D. The Cost of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, and Vocational Training
Beyond basic medical costs, recovery may necessitate specialized services aimed at helping you adapt and reintegrate. This includes vocational training if a career change is mandatory due to physical restrictions, or home healthcare and attendant care services necessary to perform daily tasks like bathing, cooking, and mobility.
E. Property Damage
Though often the smallest component, this covers the full cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle, including the loss of use of the vehicle during the repair period.
II. Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for Intangible Losses
Non-economic damages compensate for the profound, intangible losses that have no exact price tag but fundamentally diminish the quality of life. Proving these requires compelling testimony, detailed medical records, and consistent documentation of the impact on daily life.
A. Physical Pain and Suffering
This encompasses the actual physical discomfort, chronic pain, and enduring agony caused by the injuries. It is calculated based on the severity of the injuries, the duration of the recovery process, the invasiveness of medical treatments (including multiple surgeries), and the potential for permanent pain.
B. Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish
A catastrophic truck accident often inflicts severe psychological damage alongside the physical harm. This includes debilitating conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, insomnia, and fear of driving. These damages cover the cost of therapy, counseling, and psychiatric treatment required to manage these serious emotional wounds.
C. Loss of Enjoyment of Life
When injuries limit a victim’s ability to participate in the activities that previously brought meaning and joy—such as hobbies, sports, travel, exercise, or spending quality time with family—this constitutes a loss of enjoyment of life. This award recognizes the value of the life you have lost and the limitations imposed on your future.
D. Permanent Scarring and Disfigurement
Severe crashes often leave lasting physical reminders, such as permanent scars, burn injuries, or loss of limbs. Compensation is awarded for the visible disfigurement and the psychological distress caused by these permanent changes to the victim’s appearance and self-image.
E. Loss of Companionship and Consortium
This claim is typically filed by the victim’s spouse or, in some cases, children. It accounts for the loss of intimacy, affection, society, comfort, services, and support that the injured party provided before the accident.
III. Punitive Damages
In a limited number of cases, where the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious—for instance, if a trucking company knowingly allowed an unqualified or severely fatigued driver on the road, or actively falsified logbooks—it may be possible to pursue punitive damages. These damages are not intended to compensate the victim but rather to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar, reckless conduct by others in the industry. The legal standard for securing punitive damages is significantly higher than that for economic and non-economic compensation.
Holding Negligent Trucking Companies Accountable
At SFG Law Firm, our legal advocates maintain a deep focus on complex commercial vehicle accident litigation. We are not intimidated by large trucking corporations, their complex corporate structures, or the vast resources of their insurance carriers. We believe that when a company’s pursuit of profit leads to a conscious disregard for established safety protocols, they must be fully held accountable for the devastating harm they cause.
Our approach is founded on methodical, thorough preparation. Our legal team employs comprehensive investigative resources, including accident reconstruction experts, logistics analysts, and biomechanical engineers, to build a fact-based, irrefutable narrative of negligence. We meticulously review all relevant documents, including driver logbooks, maintenance records, roadside inspection reports, and black box data recorders, to uncover regulatory violations.
We prepare every case as if it will proceed to a full trial. This strategy is not merely aggressive; it is fundamental to effective client advocacy. By demonstrating our complete readiness to argue the facts before a jury, we position ourselves to negotiate from a position of undeniable strength, maximizing the likelihood of a favorable financial resolution for you and your family.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a semi-truck, you do not have to confront this legal and financial battle alone. Our dedication is to handle the legal complexities with rigor and integrity, allowing you to focus completely on your physical and emotional recovery.
Contact our office to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation by calling 708-942-8400 today. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you will not pay any fees unless and until we secure a financial recovery for your case.
Holding Negligent Trucking Companies Accountable
At SFG Law Firm, we are not intimidated by large trucking corporations or their insurance carriers. We believe that when a company’s pursuit of profit leads to a disregard for public safety, they must be held fully accountable for the harm they cause. Our legal team meticulously prepares every case as if it will go to trial, a strategy that positions us to negotiate from a position of strength and demonstrates our readiness to fight for you in court.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash involving a semi-truck, you do not have to face this fight alone. Let us handle the legal complexities so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery. Contact our office to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation by calling 708-942-8400 today. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning you will not pay any fees unless we win your case.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Chicago Commercial Truck Accident Claims
Why is a truck accident case different from a car accident case?
A truck accident case is much more complex due to the severe injuries involved, the presence of multiple liable parties (driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, etc.), a unique set of federal and state trucking regulations, and the aggressive legal tactics used by large corporate defendants.
What is the first thing I should do after a truck accident?
Your immediate priority is your health. Seek emergency medical attention, even if you feel fine, as many serious injuries have delayed symptoms. Then, contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible to preserve critical evidence and protect your legal rights from the trucking company’s investigators.
How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Illinois?
For most personal injury claims in Illinois, including those from truck accidents, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury. If you fail to file a lawsuit within this time frame, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation forever.
The trucking company’s insurance has already offered me a settlement. Should I take it?
You should never accept an initial settlement offer without speaking to an attorney. Insurance companies often make quick, lowball offers to victims before the full extent of their injuries and long-term medical needs are known. Accepting an early offer could leave you with insufficient funds to cover your future costs.
Who can be held responsible for my injuries?
Multiple parties can share liability in a truck accident. This can include the truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of the truck or trailer, the company that loaded the cargo, and the manufacturer of any defective parts that contributed to the crash.
What kind of evidence is important in a truck accident case?
Critical evidence often includes the truck’s electronic data recorder (“black box”), the driver’s logs, maintenance and inspection records, cargo manifests, and post-accident drug and alcohol test results. An attorney can act quickly to ensure this evidence is preserved before it can be lost or destroyed.
What if I was also partially at fault for the accident?
Under Illinois’s modified comparative negligence law, you can still recover damages as long as you are not found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident. Your final compensation award would be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Our firm serves clients in Orland Park, Tinley Park, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Joliet, Chicago, Mokena, Will County, Cook County, Kankakee County, and the surrounding areas.