Quincy, IL Truck Accident Lawyer

Situated along the Mississippi River and intersected by major roadways like U.S. Route 24 and Interstate 172, Quincy serves as a key commercial hub in Western Illinois. This location brings a steady flow of semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and delivery vehicles through the city. While essential for the local economy, heavy truck traffic also raises the risk of devastating accidents. Collisions with large commercial vehicles often result in catastrophic injuries, extensive property damage, and immense emotional distress for victims and their families.

The legal aftermath of a truck accident involves more than filing a standard insurance claim. These cases frequently include multiple liable parties, complex federal safety regulations, and powerful defense teams employed by trucking companies and insurers. An experienced personal injury attorney at Kanoski Bresney can provide the advocacy and legal knowledge that is needed to obtain maximum compensation. Our firm has recovered over half a billion dollars for clients, and we are prepared to fight for a fair outcome.

Steps After a Truck Accident in Quincy

The moments following a truck accident are critical for victims to protect their health and legal rights. It is important to:

• Seek immediate medical care, even if injuries are not initially apparent
• Report the accident to law enforcement and get a copy of the official report
• Document the scene with photos or videos if it is safe to do so
• Avoid giving detailed statements to insurance companies before consulting an attorney

A lawyer can guide you through these steps and ensure key evidence, such as electronic logging device (ELD) data and camera footage, is preserved before it is lost or destroyed.

Call 217-222-5504 Today to Schedule a Free Consultation

Contributing Factors in Truck Collisions Near Quincy

Truck accidents can stem from a combination of driver error, vehicle issues, and environmental hazards. In the Quincy area, common causes include:

• Driver Fatigue: Long shifts on routes through rural Illinois and across state lines can lead to exhaustion, which impairs a trucker's ability to react quickly.
• Distracted Driving: Mobile devices, dispatch systems, and other distractions remain significant contributors to preventable crashes.
• Speeding: Trucks traveling too fast on winding routes can lose control, especially when carrying heavy loads.
• Falling Cargo: Unbalanced or poorly secured freight can shift, causing rollovers or lost loads on local roadways or highways.
• Defective Equipment: Worn-out brakes, tires, or steering systems may point to poor vehicle maintenance or faulty parts.
• Weather Hazards: Fog rolling off the Mississippi River and icy winter roads create conditions that increase the risk of jackknife and multi-vehicle collisions.

Understanding Liability in Truck Accident Claims

Truck accident cases are often far more complex than collisions involving only passenger vehicles because multiple parties may share responsibility for the crash. In many situations, the truck driver may be liable for negligent behaviors such as speeding, drunk driving, distracted operation, or failure to comply with federal rest requirements. The trucking company itself may also have some responsibility if it hired unqualified drivers, encouraged employees to violate safety regulations, or did not properly maintain its fleet.

In other cases, liability may extend to freight handling companies that improperly loaded or secured cargo. Mechanical failures caused by defective parts or negligent repairs could make manufacturers or mechanics accountable as well. Even government agencies might share fault if poor road maintenance or broken traffic signals contributed to the accident.

Identifying every potential source of liability is critical to building a strong claim and helping victims secure compensation that reflects the full scope of their losses.