Best Chicago Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck accident lawyers in Chicago move fast for a reason. Federal rules require carriers to keep driver duty logs for only 6 months. Wait too long, and the crash record can disappear before your claim is built. The attorneys below deal with these deadlines routinely.

To compile this list, we review Chicago Truck Accident Lawyers based on public information, client feedback, and professional standing.

  • Bar standing and public disciplinary history review
  • Documented case results and courtroom trial experience
  • Peer recognition within the legal community
  • Client reviews, communication, and responsiveness
  • Consistency of public reviews across multiple platforms

Rankings are determined independently based on public information and editorial research.

Leading Chicago Trucking Accident Lawyers for Semi & 18-Wheeler Crashes

Screenshot of the McCready Law Chicago Injury Attorneys Website
10008 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60643, USA

McCready Law is a Chicago truck accident law firm that has represented crash victims since 1999. The practice has recovered over $650 million for clients and now runs 13 offices across seven Midwest states.

The team handles commercial truck, car, bus, and CTA collisions, plus workers' compensation and medical malpractice claims. Cases are taken on a no-fee-unless-you-win basis, and case reviews are free.

Founder Michael McCready built the firm around the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana market. More than 2,700 five-star Google reviews back that reputation.

Screenshot of the McHargue & Jones, LLC Website
105 W Madison St Ste 1600, Chicago, IL 60602, USA

For more than 25 years, McHargue & Jones has represented injured workers and crash victims across Illinois. Partners James McHargue and Matthew Jones lead a seven-attorney team based in the Loop.

The firm splits its work between workers' compensation claims and negligence cases, including truck accidents in Chicago and rideshare crashes. Much of the caseload involves union members: welders, electricians, plumbers, warehouse staff, and construction crews.

Reported results include a $955,000 settlement for a union worker with a career-ending shoulder injury. The firm works on contingency and speaks Spanish.

Screenshot of the Coplan + Crane Website
1111 Westgate St, Oak Park, IL 60301, USA

A $15 million verdict for the family of a woman killed in a trucking collision ranks among the largest results at Coplan + Crane. The firm also settled a fatal semi-truck case for $11.5 million.

Partners Ben Crane, Ted Jennings, and Blake Vance work from offices in Oak Park, downtown Chicago, and Rockford. Their caseload covers auto crashes, medical malpractice, birth injuries, Metra and CTA train accidents, and construction site injuries.

Anyone looking for a truck accident attorney in Chicago with courtroom results in fatal crash claims will find a fit here. Case evaluations cost nothing.

Screenshot of the Jacobson & Tchernev Website
5201 N Harlem Ave, Floor 2, Chicago, IL 60656, USA

Steven Jacobson and Ivo Tchernev run a two-partner practice on the Northwest Side that takes the tough cases other firms turn down. Their work covers trucking collisions, rideshare injuries, snow and ice falls, dram shop claims, and premises liability.

Both attorneys belong to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. The firm also publishes accident guides in Bulgarian alongside English and takes injury claims with no upfront cost to the client.

Screenshot of the Hoey, Farina & McMahon, P.C. Website
444 W Lake St STE 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

Few Chicago practices know railroad injury law the way Hoey, Farina & McMahon does. A jury awarded $33 million to a railworker crushed by a train and $10 million to another crushed between railcars.

Partners James Farina and William McMahon handle FELA claims, FRSA whistleblower suits, and passenger injury cases involving Amtrak, Metra, and the CTA. Semi-truck wrecks, construction accidents, and workplace injury claims round out the docket, and the firm takes cases nationwide.

Screenshot of the Rundio Injury Law Website
1 S Dearborn St, Suite 1430, Chicago, IL 60603, USA

More than $100 million recovered over 25 years puts Rundio Injury Law among the more productive small practices in the Loop. Matt Rundio keeps the caseload small and works each file personally.

Transportation claims fill much of the docket: 18-wheeler wrecks, car and bus collisions, train accidents, and motorcycle injuries. Construction falls, nursing home neglect, and medical negligence cases are also handled. The firm has a track record of standing up to large insurance companies.

Screenshot of the Law Office Of Stephen L. Hoffman LLC Website
3712 N Broadway, Suite 149, Chicago, IL 60613, USA

Stephen Hoffman has represented Chicagoland accident victims since 1990. He runs a solo practice and handles every case himself, from the first phone call through settlement.

His work covers motor vehicle collisions, workers' compensation, premises liability, dog bites, and medical negligence. Hoffman belongs to the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and takes injury claims on a contingency fee basis.

Screenshot of the Berenz Law Network Professional Corporation Website

Based in the Loop with a second office in Northbrook, Berenz Law Network is led by attorney Phil Berenz. He has spent over a decade winning multi-million-dollar results in injury, medical negligence, and fatal accident claims.

The practice takes on 18-wheeler and bus crashes, prescription errors, dog bites, and catastrophic brain injuries. Clients repeatedly point to how quickly he returns calls and texts.

Screenshot of the Kurasch & Klein, LTD Website
100 N La Salle St Ste 2005, Chicago, IL 60602, USA

AV-rated and repeatedly named Illinois Super Lawyers, Donald Kurasch and Daniel Klein have built their reputation in Cook County courtrooms. The firm settled $7.5 million for a badly injured infant and $4.8 million for two visiting workers.

Cases range from tractor-trailer wrecks and construction injuries to fire and explosion claims and product liability. Staff speaks Polish and Spanish.

Screenshot of the Karchmar & Lambert, P.C. Website
211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1400, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

Karchmar & Lambert is a South Side-focused injury practice with over 50 years of combined trial experience. Semi-truck wrecks, nursing home neglect, and police misconduct claims sit alongside a $5 million recovery for a bus crash victim.

Screenshot of the Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC Website
230 W Monroe St, Suite 1920, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

Representing injured Chicagoans since 1970, this West Loop firm has recovered more than $400 million. Jonathan Fleisher and Charles Falkenberg handle trucking collisions, nursing home abuse, birth injuries, and medical negligence claims.

Screenshot of the Joel Gould Law Offices Website
5839 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634, USA

Attorney Joel Gould has handled more than 400 trials across 35 years of practice. From his Northwest Side office, he takes truck and car crash claims, workers' compensation, nursing home abuse, and criminal defense.

Screenshot of the Whiting Law Group, Ltd. Website

Whiting Law Group takes trucking cases and nothing else. Timothy Whiting founded the trial practice nearly 20 years ago, and other Chicago lawyers regularly refer commercial crash claims to his team. Spanish-language service is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Illinois?

Usually two years. Illinois gives most injury claims two years from the date of the crash under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. Claims involving the CTA, Pace, or a city vehicle generally have a one-year statute of limitations. Wrongful death claims run for two years from the date of death.

What does a Chicago truck accident attorney cost?

Nothing upfront. Nearly all injury firms in Cook County work on contingency, taking a percentage of what they recover. Case costs like expert fees and depositions are usually advanced by the firm. Ask how those costs are handled if the case does not settle.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes, up to 50%. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. Your award drops by your share of fault. Cross 50% and recovery is barred entirely.

Why are trucking cases different from car crash cases?

More defendants, more rules. A single wreck can involve the driver, the carrier, a broker, a shipper, and a maintenance contractor. Federal safety regulations govern hours, inspections, and cargo loading. Each layer is another possible source of compensation.

What evidence disappears first after a truck crash?

Electronic and paper records. Duty logs and supporting documents only have a six-month federal retention floor. Engine control module data can be overwritten once the truck returns to service. An early preservation letter is the standard fix.

How long does a Chicago trucking case take?

Often a year or more. Straightforward claims can settle in months once treatment ends. Cases filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County face a busy docket and full discovery. Serious injuries take longer because the medical picture has to stabilize first.

Types of Truck Accident Cases in Chicago

Semi and tractor-trailer crashes. The Dan Ryan, the Eisenhower, and the I-80 corridor carry heavy freight traffic day and night. Jackknife and underride collisions in these lanes often cause catastrophic injury.

Delivery and box truck collisions. Warehouse and last-mile traffic runs through neighborhood streets and alleys. Drivers on tight schedules hit cyclists, pedestrians, and parked cars.

Cargo and loading failures. Improperly secured freight shifts, spills, or falls into traffic. Liability may sit with the shipper or the loading crew rather than the driver.

Driver fatigue cases. Hours-of-service violations show up in duty logs and dispatch records. Proving them usually requires early access to carrier data.

Fatal truck accidents. Families bring a wrongful death claim through the deceased person's estate. Damages can include lost financial support and loss of companionship.

How to Choose a Truck Accident Lawyer in Chicago

Ask how quickly they send preservation letters. Federal record rules leave a short window. A firm that moves in the first weeks protects the evidence your case depends on.

Check their trucking experience specifically. Federal motor carrier regulations are their own body of law. Some Chicago firms handle only commercial crash claims; others take them alongside general injury work.

Ask who investigates the crash. Serious cases need reconstruction experts and downloaded truck data. Find out whether the firm funds that work and who does it.

Confirm they try cases. Carriers and their insurers settle differently with firms that take verdicts. Ask about recent Cook County trial experience.

Read the fee agreement closely. Contingency percentages and cost handling vary between firms. Get the terms in writing before you sign.

What Affects Truck Accident Settlements in Chicago

The settlement value in a trucking case depends on a few factors. Injury severity and future medical needs carry the most weight. Commercial policies are larger than typical auto coverage, which raises the ceiling. Shared fault reduces the award, and pain and suffering are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Insurance companies push back hardest when liability is disputed, so documented medical bills and lost income matter. A local attorney can review the file and give you a realistic range.