Edwardsville Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck Accident Lawyer Edwardsville, IL

Truck accident cases are not like car accidents. The stakes are higher, the injuries are worse, and there are more parties involved. You need attorneys who understand federal trucking regulations, insurance policy structures, and how to hold carriers accountable when their drivers cause catastrophic harm.

Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols has been representing injured clients in Illinois since 1938. Our Edwardsville, IL truck accident lawyer can help you pursue the compensation your injuries demand. Call us for a free consultation.

Why Choose Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols for Truck Accident Cases in Edwardsville, IL?

Attorneys With Real Personal Injury Experience

Zachary A. Pashea focuses his practice on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases. He has represented injured clients in courts throughout the Midwest, from railroad workers to dog attack victims, and has obtained millions of dollars for his clients. That includes cases involving product liability and toxic torts, both of which arise frequently in trucking litigation.

Zach graduated from SIU School of Law in Carbondale and Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. He is admitted to practice in Illinois, Missouri, and Colorado, and before the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Central Districts of Illinois and the District of Colorado. He received the 2017 Pro Bono Rising Star Award from the 3rd Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee and has worked for both the Missouri and Colorado Attorney General Offices.

Joe C. Pioletti handles personal injury and wrongful death cases, workers’ compensation claims, and criminal defense matters. He earned his J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law and is licensed across multiple federal district courts in Illinois and Indiana. In truck accident cases where a fatality occurs or where criminal charges are pending against a driver, that breadth of practice matters.

A Firm Established in 1938

Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols has served Illinois families for over 80 years. A personal injury attorney in Edwardsville, IL from our firm brings decades of institutional knowledge about how local and federal courts handle complex claims. We understand the tactics insurance companies use, and we prepare every case as if it’s headed to trial.

No Fee Unless We Win

We take truck accident cases on contingency. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. That means we assume the financial risk of pursuing your case, not you.

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“Simple and effective. Mr. Pashea guided us through our personal injury situation with total professionalism and realistic expectations. He took the time to completely understand the issue from our perspective and provided feedback that was actionable and leading towards a resolution in our favor. Many thanks.” – Ravi Sripada

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle in Edwardsville

Truck crashes take many forms, and the cause of the collision often determines who is liable and what compensation is available. Our Edwardsville truck accident attorneys handle claims involving:

• 18-wheeler collisions. Fully loaded tractor-trailers weigh up to 80,000 pounds. A crash at highway speed on I-55, I-255, or Route 157 can cause devastating injuries to occupants of smaller vehicles. We investigate driver behavior, carrier oversight, and vehicle maintenance records.
• Jackknife accidents. When a trailer swings outward and folds against the cab, other vehicles have almost no time to react. These crashes often involve improper braking, wet roads, or unbalanced cargo loads. Fatal jackknife collisions frequently lead to multi-vehicle pileups.
• Rear-end truck crashes. A distracted or fatigued truck driver who fails to stop in time can crush a passenger vehicle. Stopping distances for large trucks can exceed 500 feet at highway speeds. When a driver ignores that reality, the consequences are catastrophic.
• Underride accidents. Smaller vehicles can slide beneath the rear or side of a trailer in certain collisions. Underride crashes cause some of the most severe injuries, including decapitation and crushing injuries. Federal regulations require rear underride guards, but side guards are not yet mandated.
• Overloaded cargo crashes. Trucks that exceed federal weight limits or carry improperly secured loads are harder to control and more prone to rollovers. Overweight trucks create hazards for every driver on the road.
• Driver fatigue accidents. Federal hours-of-service regulations exist for a reason. Drivers who exceed their allowed driving hours or falsify electronic logging device records put everyone at risk. We review ELD data as part of every truck crash investigation.
• Hazardous materials incidents. Trucks carrying flammable, toxic, or corrosive materials can cause explosions, chemical burns, and environmental contamination when involved in a crash.
• Delivery and box truck accidents. You don’t have to be hit by a semi to have a serious claim. Commercial delivery vehicles, moving trucks, and box trucks cause significant injuries, and the same negligence principles apply.

Illinois Legal Requirements for Truck Accident Claims

Truck accident cases in Illinois are governed by both state personal injury law and federal motor carrier regulations. Understanding both sets of rules is important because they affect who can be held liable, what evidence is available, and how much time you have to file.

Under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180), families who lose a loved one in a fatal truck crash can pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver, the trucking company, or both. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Illinois is two years from the date of the accident under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death.

Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence standard. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the crash, you cannot recover damages. If your fault is 50% or less, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the injured party in truck cases, which is one reason why having an attorney matters from the outset.

Federal regulations from the FMCSA impose strict requirements on commercial motor carriers and their drivers. These include limits on consecutive driving hours, mandatory rest periods, drug and alcohol testing requirements, vehicle inspection schedules, and driver qualification standards. When a trucking company violates these rules and a crash results, that violation becomes powerful evidence of negligence.

Carriers are also required to maintain minimum insurance coverage. Federal law mandates between $750,000 and $5,000,000 in liability coverage depending on the type of cargo, which means higher policy limits are typically available in truck accident cases compared to standard car crashes.

What Damages Are Recoverable in Edwardsville Truck Accident Cases?

Economic damages cover your measurable financial losses. Medical bills are often the largest category, and in truck accident cases, the numbers add up quickly. Surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, prescription medications, assistive devices, and future medical care all factor in. Lost wages from time missed at work are recoverable, and so is diminished future earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your prior occupation. Property damage to your vehicle and any other tangible losses are included.

Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that don’t come with a receipt. Pain and suffering captures the physical discomfort and limitations you experience during recovery and beyond. Loss of enjoyment of life applies when injuries prevent you from doing things you used to do. Emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of consortium for a spouse are all recognized categories in Illinois.

Punitive damages may be available in cases involving extreme recklessness or willful misconduct. A trucking company that knowingly puts a fatigued or impaired driver on the road, or that systematically falsifies safety records, could face punitive liability. Illinois amended its laws in 2023 to allow punitive damages in wrongful death and survival actions, with certain exceptions.

According to NHTSA crash data, 5,472 people died in crashes involving large trucks in 2023. Over 82% of those killed were not occupants of the truck. The people in passenger cars, on motorcycles, on bicycles, and on foot bear the overwhelming burden when truck collisions occur, and the damages in these cases reflect that.

Contact Pioletti Pioletti & Nichols

Truck accident claims move fast. Trucking companies begin their own investigations immediately after a crash, and evidence like ELD data, dash cam footage, and driver logs can disappear if not preserved quickly. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better your chances of building a strong claim.

We offer free consultations for truck accident cases in Edwardsville, IL. There are no upfront costs, and you owe us nothing unless we recover money on your behalf. We will review the details of your crash, identify the parties responsible, and explain what your claim may be worth.

Contact us to schedule a consultation. We are available by phone and email and respond to every inquiry promptly.