Lake County Truck Accident Lawyer

Last Updated on August 3, 2026 by Patrick A. Salvi II

If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident in Lake County, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you identify the parties responsible for the crash and help hold them accountable.

The skilled lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. are here to help you with all aspects of your Lake County semi-truck accident claim. Our diverse team of well-respected litigators has fought successfully for the rights of our clients for more than 40 years. We have recovered more than $3.5 billion in compensation for our clients, including the largest personal injury compensatory verdict award for an individual in Illinois’ state history. Our trial record includes a $17.9 million truck accident verdict, reflecting our readiness to take trucking companies to court when they refuse to offer fair compensation.

Why You Need a Lawyer After a Truck Accident in Lake County

Truck wrecks in Lake County often result in severe or fatal injuries. You have likely incurred expenses you were not prepared for because of the crash. You should not have to face mounting medical bills and lost wages due to someone else’s negligence. A Lake County truck accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for the damages you sustained.

Trucking companies often have powerful insurance companies and teams of attorneys ready to protect their financial interests. They will try everything in their power to minimize the amount they pay out. Fortunately, a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer can help balance the scales by:

Gathering crucial evidence to support your injury claim
Explaining your legal rights and options
Standing up for your rights
Fighting back to hold trucking companies accountable for the harm you have suffered

With so much on the line, don’t try to handle your claim by yourself. Turn to the skilled truck accident lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for help. Backed by the resources of our firm’s Chicago truck accident lawyers, our Waukegan-based attorneys bring more than 40 years of trial experience and over $3.5 billion recovered for injured clients to every Lake County truck accident case.

Compensation for Your Truck Accident Injuries

If you have been injured in a truck accident near Waukegan, IL, caused by a negligent truck driver, trucking company, third-party maintenance company, or another entity, you shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for the losses you’ve incurred. Some common types of compensation you could be entitled to include:

Medical expenses
Vehicle repairs or replacement
Lost wages
Loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering, including mental anguish

If you lost a loved one in a truck accident, you and other surviving family members could be eligible to pursue a wrongful death action against the party responsible. You could potentially recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial and emotional support, and more. While nothing can ever bring your loved one back, a compassionate semi-truck accident lawyer will help to ease the financial burden caused by a negligent trucking company.

Time Is Limited to File a Claim After a Truck Wreck in Lake County

If you are considering legal action in the aftermath of a truck accident, it is important to act promptly. The Illinois statute of limitations sets a two-year time limit to file a personal injury lawsuit.

It is a good idea to hire a lawyer as soon as possible after an injury accident. It takes a significant amount of time and effort to investigate the crash, identify all potentially liable parties, and negotiate a settlement. If the other side refuses to settle or makes a lowball offer, your lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit.

If you wait until it is too late to get a lawyer involved, the court will usually refuse to hear your case.

Waukegan Truck Accidents

Waukegan is the seat of Lake County, and it is home to the second office of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., placing our attorneys within the community we serve. Situated along the Lake Michigan shoreline near I-94 and US Route 41, the city sees steady commercial truck traffic moving between Chicago and southern Wisconsin each day. When a heavy tractor-trailer collides with a passenger vehicle on these crowded routes, the people in the smaller vehicle frequently suffer catastrophic injuries. Our firm represents Waukegan truck accident victims and their families, working to hold negligent drivers and trucking companies fully accountable for the harm they cause.

18-Wheeler and Semi-Truck Accidents in Lake County

Semi-trucks and 18-wheelers move through Lake County in large numbers, particularly along the Tri-State Tollway (I-94) and the US routes that connect Waukegan, Gurnee, North Chicago, and Zion. A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, many times the weight of a passenger car, which is why 18-wheeler accidents involving these vehicles so often produce severe and life-altering injuries. Underride collisions, jackknife wrecks, and rollovers on these high-speed corridors can leave occupants of smaller vehicles with spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and other permanent conditions. Our attorneys investigate the driver, the trucking company, and the vehicle’s maintenance history to determine how each truck accident occurred and who bears responsibility.

Major Highways in the Waukegan, Illinois Area Where Accidents Happen

A truck accident could happen almost anywhere, but collisions occur most frequently on highways and interstates. A few of the major highways in the Waukegan area where truck accidents often occur include:

I-94
S. Route 41
S. Route 45
Illinois Route 137

The commercial corridors that carry the heaviest truck traffic through Lake County include I-94, the Tri-State Tollway that is the site of many serious I-94 truck accidents, together with US Route 41, US Route 45, IL Route 137, and IL Route 120.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Lake County

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

Speeding: Speeding is particularly dangerous in a commercial vehicle. Due to their large size and weight, trucks take longer to slow down or come to a complete stop than passenger vehicles do. If a truck driver was speeding and caused an accident, they could be liable for any injuries and damage they cause.

Drowsy driving: Truck drivers frequently spend many hours behind the wheel. As a result, they may struggle to focus on the road or may nod off for a moment. If a driver failed to get enough rest or if they violated hours-of-service regulations and were driving while tired, the driver and/or the trucking company may be liable if they injure others.

Distracted driving: Another common cause of truck accidents is distracted driving. If a truck driver was texting, making a phone call, eating or drinking while driving, or was otherwise distracted at the time of an accident, compensation may be available for the resulting damages.

Drunk driving: Driving a truck while under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts the driver and other motorists at risk. Driving a truck while intoxicated is so dangerous that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established a significantly lower blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for truckers. Anything above .04 percent is considered impaired driving, according to these federal rules.

Defective truck parts: Sometimes, faulty truck parts are to blame for an accident. In these scenarios, there are multiple parties who may be at fault. Any entity along the supply chain that was responsible for designing, manufacturing, testing, and installing the defective part could potentially be liable for injuries if the part fails and causes an accident.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

In most cases, Illinois law allows two years from the date of the injury to file a truck accident lawsuit, under the personal injury statute of limitations (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Certain circumstances, such as a claim against a governmental entity or the wrongful death of a loved one, can shorten or otherwise alter this deadline. Because critical evidence can disappear quickly after a crash, it is wise to consult an attorney well before the two-year period expires. If you miss the applicable deadline, the court will generally refuse to hear your case.

Where is my Lake County truck accident case filed?

Lake County truck accident lawsuits are filed in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, located in Waukegan, the county seat. Even if your crash occurred in another Lake County municipality such as Gurnee, North Chicago, or Zion, your case will proceed through the Waukegan courthouse. Our attorneys regularly handle litigation in the 19th Judicial Circuit and understand the local rules and procedures that apply there.

Which office handles my Waukegan truck accident case?

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. maintains a Waukegan office at 218 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan, IL 60085, which serves clients throughout Lake County. Handling your case from this location allows our attorneys to meet with you close to home and to remain near the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, where Lake County truck accident lawsuits proceed. You may arrange a free consultation with our team at either our Waukegan or Chicago office, whichever is more convenient for you.

Our Lake County Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident in Lake County, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. right away. Our well-respected trial attorneys have extensive experience helping those who have been hurt in truck accidents get the compensation and justice they deserve

Put your trust in a firm that has the right skills and experience to handle your case. We are committed to getting you the maximum compensation possible for your truck accident claim. For a free consultation, call our office or contact us online now.