Find The Best Truck Accident Lawyer In Chicago (2025)

How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost in Chicago, IL?

Truck accident lawyer fees are usually contingent on the outcome of a claim. You can expect to pay a percentage of any settlement or damages award to your lawyer as a legal fee. However, you only pay this fee if the lawyer wins or settles your case. If the lawyer loses, you pay no legal fees.

The typical contingency fee ranges from 33.3% to 40%. Under the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, a lawyer can set a reasonable fee based on their experience, the complexity of the legal issues, the time required for the case and other factors.

How to Hire a Chicago, IL, Truck Accident Attorney

Start your lawyer search by gathering recommendations. Current and former clients are often good sources. Colleagues and opposing attorneys can also give you insight into a lawyer’s skills, knowledge and professionalism.

Interview several lawyers by scheduling some free consultations. During the consultations, ask about the lawyer’s prior experience handling truck crash cases. These cases often involve issues different from those in car accidents, trip and fall accidents or other personal injury cases.

Also, ask about fees so you have a clear understanding of what you will pay for the lawyer’s services.

Average Truck Accident Settlement in Chicago, IL

There is no data about the average truck settlement in Chicago. The typical car accident settlement amounts with injury are about $30,416 nationally. However, truck accidents tend to cause more serious injuries than car accidents, so these settlements are often far higher than the average. In fact, nationally, the average truck accident settlement is $103,654.

Moreover, trucking companies must carry large insurance policies and surety bonds under federal law. According to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, trucking companies carrying nonhazardous materials must have at least $750,000 in coverage to pay for losses caused by crashes. The FMCSA requires even higher limits for trucking companies that carry hazardous material.

Since trucking companies have more resources to pay for crash injuries and property damage, the typical settlement will be higher than for a passenger vehicle crash. It’s more likely to cover all your losses since trucking companies can access larger insurance policies and bonds to pay for them.

Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Illinois

A lawyer might file a truck accident lawsuit when an insurer or surety has denied their client’s claim.

In other words, your truck accident lawyer in Chicago will likely start by filing claims with the trucking company’s insurers and sureties. These companies will investigate the claim and decide whether to accept or deny coverage.

Your lawyer may recommend filing a truck accident lawsuit if the other party denies your claim. A lawsuit will involve arguing your case and presenting evidence in court.

How Does a Truck Accident Lawsuit Work in Chicago?

A lawsuit begins with pleadings. After filing the initial paperwork, the lawyers gather evidence by requesting documents and conducting depositions. You may need to give a deposition in which you answer questions under oath. This testimony will provide a preview of what you might say at trial.

The lawyers will continue to discuss settling the case. As they review the evidence, the lawyers will better understand your losses and the cause of the crash. This will aid in their negotiations.

If your case does not settle, it will go to trial. You can request a jury trial when you file your lawsuit. The jury will view the evidence and render a verdict. If the verdict favors you, the jury will also set the amount that the trucking company must pay.

Types of Truck Accident Cases in Chicago, IL

One of the primary ways to categorize truck accident cases is by the source of the alleged negligence. Trucking companies are liable for employee negligence under the respondeat superior doctrine.

This doctrine makes a trucking company liable when an employee causes an accident due to negligent driving. For example, a driver who commits a traffic violation like failing to yield the right-of-way or speeding may be negligent.

The company is also liable for its own actions, separate from the actions of its employed drivers. Thus, a company may be liable if it fails to exercise reasonable caution in any of the following areas:

• Screening drivers, including independent drivers, before hiring them
• Conducting drug and alcohol testing
• Maintaining and repairing trucks and trailers
• Loading and securing cargo
• Scheduling drivers appropriately to minimize overwork and fatigue

Since insurers and sureties cover all sources of trucking company liability, you can recover the same compensation whether the trucking company or the driver was negligent.

Contact ConsumerShield for a Referral for a Truck Accident Lawyer in Chicago

A truck accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for the losses caused by your injuries by standing up to trucking companies, insurers and sureties. ConsumerShield educates truck crash victims about the law and helps them find legal representation. Contact us for a free case evaluation and attorney referral.