Potential Liable Parties in a Truck Accident Claim

 Posted on June 13, 2025 in Truck Accidents

Preliminary data for 2024 shows there were 6,681 accidents in Illinois involving large trucks. Those collisions injured 3,190 people and killed 147 more. When a semi-truck causes a crash, many people assume the truck driver is the only one responsible. In some cases, that is true. However, many truck accidents involve more than just one mistake or one at-fault party. Other individuals or companies may also share legal liability for causing the crash and paying your damages, depending on the cause of the crash and how the truck was operated, maintained, or loaded.

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a semi accident, identifying every liable party is important. It often takes a detailed investigation to find out who was involved and what mistakes were made. Our skilled Peoria, IL truck accident attorneys can investigate your crash, determine who is liable for paying your damages, and fight to help you secure the highest available amount.

Who Can Contribute to Causing a Tractor-Trailer Accident?

A single semi crash can have several contributing factors. To collect compensation for your injuries, property damage, and other losses, you need evidence linking a specific party’s negligence to those losses. If more than one party caused your crash, we can help you pursue multiple claims.

Truck Drivers

Many collisions are caused by negligent driving errors, such as:

• Driving while fatigued, drunk, or high
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
• Distracted driving
• Tailgating
• Improper passing or merging

These and similar mistakes can easily lead to truck accidents. At 80,000 pounds, a fully loaded tractor-trailer can cause catastrophic and fatal injuries.

Trucking Companies

These companies are responsible for hiring qualified drivers, providing proper training and ensuring that all safety regulations are followed. If a company allows a driver with a poor safety record to stay on the road or pressures drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines, that company could be held liable.

Truck Maintenance Companies and Truck Owners

Commercial trucks must be inspected regularly and kept in safe condition. If a mechanical failure, like a tire blowout or faulty brakes, contributed to causing the crash, the truck owner or maintenance company might share fault.

Trucking companies often outsource repairs and inspections, which means a third-party maintenance provider could be held accountable if they failed to identify or fix a safety issue. Truck owners who knowingly required drivers to operate unsafe trucks or did not authorize needed repairs may also share the blame.

Cargo Loaders

Improperly secured or unbalanced cargo, as well as loads that are overweight, can cause a truck to tip over or jackknife. If the cargo shifts during transit, it may cause the driver to lose control of the truck. When a separate company is responsible for loading, balancing, and securing the cargo, that company may be liable if poor loading practices contributed to the wreck.

Parts and Truck Manufacturers

If the truck or any of its parts had a defect that led to the crash, such as faulty brakes, tires, or steering components, the company that made the part or vehicle may face liability through a product liability claim. If defective straps or chains used to secure loads contribute to an accident, those manufacturers could also be liable.

Other Parties

Other parties can also contribute to semi-truck collisions. Other drivers can cause them. A government entity might be liable if poor road conditions were a factor. Even pedestrians entering a roadway in front of a tractor-trailer could share fault.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer for a Truck Accident Claim?

As you can see, determining fault for causing an accident can be extremely complex. Your accident-related damages may be extremely high, but that does not mean an insurer will voluntarily pay as much as you are entitled to.

Not only can we investigate your crash to gather supporting evidence, but we can also fight with every liable insurer to maximize your compensation. We can handle all the legal legwork while you focus on putting your semi accident in the rearview mirror.

Consult Our Experienced Springfield, IL Truck Accident Lawyers

If a semi accident has harmed you, our dedicated Champaign, IL personal injury attorneys are ready to help you hold the at-fault parties accountable. Request your free consultation today by contacting Kanoski Bresney online or calling us at 888-826-8682.