Were you injured in a truck accident in Skokie, IL?
At Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers, we help injured clients in Skokie pursue full recovery in truck accident matters.
If you were hurt in a crash involving a semi, delivery truck, or other commercial vehicle in Skokie, a truck accident claim can seek payment for your medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering. Our Skokie, IL truck accident lawyer can obtain the driver’s logs and the truck’s electronic data, identify every company connected to the truck, and pursue each available insurance policy.
Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers handles truck crash claims from our office in nearby Northbrook. Book a free consultation with our office.
Truck Accident Lawyer Skokie, IL
A truck accident claim is a personal injury case arising from a collision with a commercial vehicle, such as a tractor-trailer, box truck, dump truck, or delivery van. These cases differ from car accident claims because the driver, the motor carrier, the cargo loader, and the maintenance provider may each share responsibility. Each may also have separate insurance.
IDOT crash records list 24 Skokie crashes involving tractor-semitrailers in 2023, along with 22 involving single-unit trucks. Nationally, FMCSA data counted 5,476 fatal crashes involving large trucks or buses in 2022. A Skokie truck accident attorney treats each of these collisions as a multi-party case from the start.
Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Skokie
Truck collisions take several forms, and each one points to different evidence. Our truck accident attorneys in Skokie, IL handle claims including the following:
- Jackknife and rollover crashes. Sudden braking, excessive speed on curves, and shifting cargo can cause a trailer to swing out or tip over. Electronic logging and engine data show the truck’s speed in the moments before the crash.
- Rear-end collisions. A loaded semi needs far more distance to stop than a passenger car. Following too closely and distracted driving are common causes.
- Wide-turn and blind-spot crashes. A truck turning right at an intersection can sweep into an adjacent lane or crosswalk. Mirror placement and the driver’s training records become part of the investigation.
- Underride collisions. A car that slides beneath a trailer can suffer catastrophic damage to the passenger compartment. We examine the trailer’s rear and side guards and their condition.
- Cargo spills and improper loading. Unsecured or overweight loads can shift, fall, or cause the driver to lose control. The shipper or loading company may share liability.
- Delivery and box truck crashes. Parcel vans and box trucks make frequent stops along Skokie’s commercial streets. The delivery company, a contractor, or a leasing company may be responsible.
- Car accidents. Occupants of passenger vehicles suffer most of the deaths in collisions with large trucks. We handle the car claim and the trucking claim together.
- Motorcycle accidents. A rider struck by a commercial truck faces severe injuries. Lane changes and merging trucks are frequent factors.
- Bicycle accidents. Right-turning trucks and delivery vehicles stopped in bike lanes put cyclists at risk on Skokie’s arterial streets.
Why Choose Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers as My Truck Accident Lawyer in Skokie, IL?
Tracing Every Layer of Commercial Insurance
Motor carriers typically maintain primary liability coverage, and many hold excess or umbrella policies above it. Additional policies may apply when the truck was leased, operated by an independent contractor, or hauling another company’s freight. We identify each policy and its limits before negotiating, so a settlement does not leave available coverage unclaimed. Our truck accident attorneys also review the carrier’s federal safety and inspection history when it is available, because a pattern of violations can support a claim against the company itself. It is the first step our firm takes as a personal injury lawyer in Skokie, IL whenever a commercial vehicle is involved.
Joel Moses has practiced personal injury law for more than 34 years and has earned the respect of colleagues and opposing counsel for his case preparation. Andrew Kass has more than 30 years of experience and is a League Cycling Instructor, a role connected to his long-standing commitment to road safety.
Recovered Amounts From Published Cases
Clients of Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers have recovered over $125 million. Among those recoveries are the following:
- An injured motorcyclist: $3,400,000
- Another motorcycle client: $450,000
- A cyclist hurt in traffic: $90,000
Truck accident cases are taken on contingency, so there is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation.
What Is Important to Understand About a Truck Accident Case?
What Are Important Aspects of a Truck Accident Case?
Truck cases depend heavily on records the carrier controls. These are the issues we address first:
- Evidence preservation. Electronic logging devices, engine control module data, dashcam video, and dispatch records can be overwritten. A preservation letter sent promptly asks the carrier to keep them.
- The driver’s qualifications. Licensing, training, and driving history all matter. Commercial drivers hold different CDL classes depending on the vehicle they operate.
- The type of carrier. Whether the truck was engaged in interstate or intrastate hauling affects which companies are involved and what records exist.
- Shared fault. Insurers often argue that the other driver contributed to the crash. Under Illinois fault rules, your recovery is reduced by your own percentage of fault and barred if it exceeds 50%.
- Multiple defendants. Under the joint liability rules, a defendant found 25% or more at fault can be required to pay the full award, and all liable defendants share responsibility for medical expenses.
Most Dangerous Locations for Truck Accidents in Skokie
The following roads see regular commercial truck traffic through Skokie.
Dangerous streets
- Old Orchard Road. The route to Westfield Old Orchard and the Skokie Courthouse, with an Edens Expressway interchange that carries heavy delivery and commuter traffic.
- Dempster Street. An east-west commercial corridor with an Edens interchange where semi-trailer crashes have closed lanes.
- Touhy Avenue. A busy route along Skokie’s southern edge, with an Edens interchange shared with Lincolnwood.
- Oakton Street. A busy crossing whose Edens overpass was the subject of a recent IDOT bridge replacement contract, bringing work-zone conditions to the area.
- Gross Point Road. A diagonal arterial that crosses the Edens, where a fatal crash once closed the northbound lanes for six hours.
Dangerous highways
- Edens Expressway (I-94). An interstate through Skokie where semi-trailer rollovers near Dempster Street and Old Orchard Road have blocked every lane in one direction.
- Skokie Boulevard (US 41). A divided highway through the village, where IDOT has funded signal-timing work at Main Street.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Truck Accident Cases
Truck collisions often cause injuries that require surgery and a long recovery. Compensation can include:
- Hospital, surgical, and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of a normal life
A Skokie truck accident lawyer documents each of these losses with medical records, wage statements, repair estimates, and testimony from treating physicians.
Some injuries, including concussions and spinal damage, become apparent only in the days after a crash. Medical records created as soon as symptoms appear help connect delayed injuries to the crash.
The motor carrier is generally responsible for its driver’s negligence on the job. It may also be liable for its own negligent hiring, training, or maintenance practices, which allows a claim against the company even when the driver’s conduct is disputed.
What Is the Truck Accident Case Timeline?
Truck cases usually take longer than car accident claims because more parties and records are involved. In the first days, we send preservation letters and gather the crash report, photographs, and witness accounts. The carrier’s insurer may contact you during this period and ask for a recorded statement.
Carrier records and electronic data are then analyzed, often with an accident reconstructionist. Once your treatment reaches a stable point, we present a demand to each insurer.
If the claim does not settle, the lawsuit is filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Skokie falls within the court’s Second Municipal District, which sits at the Skokie Courthouse on Old Orchard Road. Most injury suits must be filed within Illinois’ two-year filing window.
What Should You Bring to Your Truck Accident Consultation?
These items help us begin identifying the companies involved:
- The crash report number or the information exchange form from the scene
- Photographs of the truck, including the company name, DOT number, and trailer markings
- Your auto insurance policy and claim numbers
- Medical records and bills
- Any letters or messages from the trucking company’s insurer
At the consultation, a truck accident attorney from our office explains which companies may be liable and what coverage is likely available. By the end of the meeting, we will let you know whether our firm is able to accept your case.
Reach Out to Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
Our Skokie truck accident lawyer can identify the companies behind the truck involved in your crash and the insurance available to cover your losses. Consultations are free. Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers collects no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to start the conversation.
