Who is liable in my truck accident case?

When it comes to commercial truck accidents, liability can be complicated. Our lawyers will hold the right parties accountable.

category: Truck Accidents,Truck Driver Negligence,Trucking Company Negligence

Who can I sue
for my truck accident?


After you or a family member has been injured in a truck accident, you must take legal action to hold the right parties accountable and recover the damages you are owed. The truck accident lawyers of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. in Southern Illinois understand the hurt, stress uncertainty you face after being in a crash with a large vehicle like a semi-truck. With our help and fierce representation, you can recover complete compensation. Call us today at 618-244-5335 or contact us here.

Who is liable in my truck accident case?

Truck accidents and other commercial vehicle crashes differ from typical passenger vehicle accidents, both in form and function. Eighteen-wheelers, big rigs, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers—whatever you call them, commercial trucks are enormous and, by extension, enormously destructive. Being in an accident with a large truck is extremely dangerous, especially if you are in a typical passenger vehicle; a standard semi-truck will be 20 to 30 times the size of your vehicle. The sheer size and weight of large trucks make the impact more dangerous, and the longer stopping distance, truck driver blind spots and potential for cargo spills also make semi-truck accidents more dangerous than those between two similarly-sized passenger vehicles.

In addition to the potential danger of the collision itself, an accident involving a commercial truck differs in its consequent legal proceedings. When you or someone you love is hurt in an accident with a large commercial truck, it is not just the driver and the driver's insurance company on the line to pay for your damages. Because the truck was being operated as part of a business, there are different standards and variety of potentially liable parties. When you get in a truck accident, do you know who to sue?

Parties who may be liable in your truck accident include:

The Truck Driver. Driver negligence plays a role in the large majority of traffic accidents. Truck drivers are not immune. The driver may be liable for your accident if they were speeding, driving while fatigued or driving under the influence or if they failed to use signals or lights, failed to follow the rules of the road or simply behaved recklessly.

The Trucking Company. The trucking company may be liable in the accident depending on the employment relationship between the company and the driver. Trucking companies could be liable for improperly training a driver, hiring a driver with a history of traffic violations, pushing the driver to travel for longer periods of time than regulations allow and other reasons.

The Shipping Company. The shipping company or the people or company responsible for loading the truck could be liable in a truck accident if the cargo was overloaded or improperly loaded. Uneven or too-heavy loads can make the truck more likely to roll over and improperly secured loads can spill onto the highway, causing a catastrophic pileup.

The Mechanic or Maintenance Company. Commercial trucks are required to undergo strict regular maintenance that is tracked in detailed logs. If a mechanical failure that should have been detected and addressed causes the accident, the person or company responsible for performing maintenance and clearing the vehicle for continued use may be liable.

Truck Parts Manufacturers. The company that builds the truck or any of its components may be liable if the accident was caused by a defect. Some common part defects include tire blowouts, brake line failures, steering system failures and airbag defects.

Government Agencies. Sometimes, it may be a condition of the road or surrounding environment that causes the accident. If a loose guardrail is suddenly forced onto the road, debris falls from an overpass or there is a large broken piece of pavement on the road, the government agency responsible for constructing and maintaining the area may be liable.

In a commercial truck accident as in any traffic accident in Illinois, there may be multiple parties at fault. Due to our modified comparative negligence laws, multiple parties may be held liable for their negligence in an accident. If you were in a commercial truck accident and were injured, our truck accident lawyers in Southern Illinois will help you navigate your claim and make sure you recover what you are owed and hold the right parties responsible for their actions.

Get Help With Your Southern Illinois Truck Accident Case Now

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you will need to file a suit against the liable parties to recover the damages you are owed so that you can recover completely and move on from the trauma of a large commercial truck accident. From the complex issues of liability to standing up against the large corporate insurance companies, our truck accident lawyers in Southern Illinois are here to help you. Speak to one of our qualified truck accident attorneys in Southern Illinois today at 618-244-5335 or here.

Share this article:

Down to earth, knowledgeable, handled my legal issue in a timely fashion. 😎

- William Rauen

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category: Truck Accidents,Truck Driver Negligence,Trucking Company Negligence

Who can I sue
for my truck accident?


After you or a family member has been injured in a truck accident, you must take legal action to hold the right parties accountable and recover the damages you are owed. The truck accident lawyers of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. in Southern Illinois understand the hurt, stress uncertainty you face after being in a crash with a large vehicle like a semi-truck. With our help and fierce representation, you can recover complete compensation. Call us today at 618-244-5335 or contact us here.

Who is liable in my truck accident case?

Truck accidents and other commercial vehicle crashes differ from typical passenger vehicle accidents, both in form and function. Eighteen-wheelers, big rigs, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers—whatever you call them, commercial trucks are enormous and, by extension, enormously destructive. Being in an accident with a large truck is extremely dangerous, especially if you are in a typical passenger vehicle; a standard semi-truck will be 20 to 30 times the size of your vehicle. The sheer size and weight of large trucks make the impact more dangerous, and the longer stopping distance, truck driver blind spots and potential for cargo spills also make semi-truck accidents more dangerous than those between two similarly-sized passenger vehicles.

In addition to the potential danger of the collision itself, an accident involving a commercial truck differs in its consequent legal proceedings. When you or someone you love is hurt in an accident with a large commercial truck, it is not just the driver and the driver's insurance company on the line to pay for your damages. Because the truck was being operated as part of a business, there are different standards and variety of potentially liable parties. When you get in a truck accident, do you know who to sue?

Parties who may be liable in your truck accident include:

The Truck Driver. Driver negligence plays a role in the large majority of traffic accidents. Truck drivers are not immune. The driver may be liable for your accident if they were speeding, driving while fatigued or driving under the influence or if they failed to use signals or lights, failed to follow the rules of the road or simply behaved recklessly.

The Trucking Company. The trucking company may be liable in the accident depending on the employment relationship between the company and the driver. Trucking companies could be liable for improperly training a driver, hiring a driver with a history of traffic violations, pushing the driver to travel for longer periods of time than regulations allow and other reasons.

The Shipping Company. The shipping company or the people or company responsible for loading the truck could be liable in a truck accident if the cargo was overloaded or improperly loaded. Uneven or too-heavy loads can make the truck more likely to roll over and improperly secured loads can spill onto the highway, causing a catastrophic pileup.

The Mechanic or Maintenance Company. Commercial trucks are required to undergo strict regular maintenance that is tracked in detailed logs. If a mechanical failure that should have been detected and addressed causes the accident, the person or company responsible for performing maintenance and clearing the vehicle for continued use may be liable.

Truck Parts Manufacturers. The company that builds the truck or any of its components may be liable if the accident was caused by a defect. Some common part defects include tire blowouts, brake line failures, steering system failures and airbag defects.

Government Agencies. Sometimes, it may be a condition of the road or surrounding environment that causes the accident. If a loose guardrail is suddenly forced onto the road, debris falls from an overpass or there is a large broken piece of pavement on the road, the government agency responsible for constructing and maintaining the area may be liable.

In a commercial truck accident as in any traffic accident in Illinois, there may be multiple parties at fault. Due to our modified comparative negligence laws, multiple parties may be held liable for their negligence in an accident. If you were in a commercial truck accident and were injured, our truck accident lawyers in Southern Illinois will help you navigate your claim and make sure you recover what you are owed and hold the right parties responsible for their actions.

Get Help With Your Southern Illinois Truck Accident Case Now

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you will need to file a suit against the liable parties to recover the damages you are owed so that you can recover completely and move on from the trauma of a large commercial truck accident. From the complex issues of liability to standing up against the large corporate insurance companies, our truck accident lawyers in Southern Illinois are here to help you. Speak to one of our qualified truck accident attorneys in Southern Illinois today at 618-244-5335 or here.

Share this article:

recent review:

William Rauen


Down to earth, knowledgeable, handled my legal issue in a timely fashion. 😎

- William Rauen

View All Testimonials