How Do I Prove a Trucker Caused My Accident?

 Posted on March 27, 2025 in Truck Accidents

Truck accidents carry a higher rate of severe injury compared to most other kinds of motor vehicle accidents. Victims of these collisions are often left with debilitating, life-changing injuries, racking up thousands of dollars in medical expenses and damage to their incomes. If you or somebody you love has been badly injured in a truck accident, an Illinois personal injury attorney can help you take action to hold the truck driver responsible.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we know just how serious truck accidents can be. When a collision with a negligent truck driver upends your life, you deserve a fair remedy for your damages. Our lawyers have a history of winning significant settlements and verdicts for people injured in commercial truck accidents, including a $3 million verdict on behalf of a woman who suffered a closed head injury in a collision.

Many truck accidents are caused by simple acts of carelessness. When you work with our firm, we will take the time to investigate the circumstances behind the crash to identify all of the liable parties.  

Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents

As part of your personal injury claim, you will have to identify the cause behind the accident as well as the party at fault. Common causes of truck accidents include:

• Driver Fatigue: Truckers often work long hours without breaks. This can lead to fatigue behind the wheel, dulling the trucker’s senses and possibly leading to a loss of consciousness. Falsifying logbook entries to make longer trips puts truckers at greater risk of fatigue.

• Driving Under the Influence: Truckers who drink on the job can endanger others through their impairment.

• Reckless Driving: Truckers may violate road safety laws to save time. These behaviors may include excessive speeding or making unsafe turns.

At Schwartz Injury Law, our lawyers will conduct a thorough crash reconstruction analysis so that we can better understand what led up to the accident.

Severe Injuries Associated With Truck Crashes

Due to the forces involved, truck accidents often carry a higher rate of catastrophic injuries, which refer to injuries with long-lasting health repercussions. Examples of catastrophic injuries in truck accidents include:

• Spinal cord damage

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

• Amputation

• Paralysis

• Severe burns

After a truck accident, it is imperative that you seek out quality healthcare as soon as possible. Not only will this allow you to recuperate from your injuries, but it can also provide you with valuable evidence of your damages for your personal injury claim.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we can file a personal injury claim and handle the hard work of gathering evidence and arguing for full compensation. We will do everything in our power to ease your burdens as you recover from your injuries.

Compensation for a Collision

In order to maximize the value of your personal injury claim, our attorneys will take all of your damages from the truck accident into account. A personal injury claim can factor in different types of damages, such as:

• Economic Damages: These consist of tangible monetary losses, such as the cost of your medical treatment, lost wages, or a reduced income due to a permanent injury.

• Non-Economic Damages: These consist of intangible losses that are difficult to quantify, like pain and suffering or a reduced quality of life after your accident.

Illinois uses comparative negligence when awarding compensation for personal injury claims. This means that if you were partially at fault for a collision with a truck driver, your total amount of compensation could be proportionately reduced. Our lawyers will fight to reduce any liability on your end.

Holding Truck Drivers Liable

When you work with Schwartz Injury Law after a truck accident, we will go to great lengths to hold the truck driver accountable for your damages. During our investigation, we will look for evidence that proves that the trucker was at fault, including evidence that may be out of reach of the general public.

We may be able to extract black box data from the truck that gives us clear insights into how fast the truck was going at the time of the accident. Additionally, we can request the trucker’s logbook to see if fatigue played a role in the accident. Other forms of physical evidence like debris on the road can also give us a clearer picture of how the trucker was operating the vehicle.

All truck drivers in Illinois are required to carry an insurance policy that covers at least $750,000 in liability coverage. We will fight to make sure that you get the most out of this insurance policy, while also pursuing other avenues of compensation.

Other Liable Parties

There may be more than one party at fault for your injuries in a truck accident. Identifying these liable parties is critical for getting the most out of a truck accident, since it provides you with multiple sources of compensation.

Trucks are comprised of many moving parts and transport is made possible by many different parties. Cargo loaders, maintenance crews, parts manufacturers, and the trucking company may all be held at fault for other contributing factors in an accident. Of course, many of these parties will try to deflect or avoid taking the blame for the collision. At Schwartz Injury Law, we will fight for a full settlement, and if necessary, we can take your claim to court. As experienced trial lawyers, we can present a compelling case for your right to compensation.

Contact a Will County, IL Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Getting compensation for a truck accident is rarely easy. Trucking companies will often sweep crucial evidence under the rug, leaving accident victims with no recourse but to pay for their own damages. At Schwartz Injury Law, we are here to stand up for the rights of accident victims. Our Joliet, IL personal injury attorneys can assist you with filing a claim against a truck driver and any other liable parties involved in a collision.

We have the resources, skills, and legal knowledge to effectively handle commercial truck accident claims. To schedule a free consultation today, call our offices at 708-888-2160. The earlier you contact us, the sooner we can start working on your case.