Lawsuits Against Major Trucking Companies

When you are injured in a crash involving a major commercial carrier, you are not just fighting a driver; you are fighting a corporation. Companies like UPS, Werner, and Swift have rapid-response legal teams dedicated to minimizing their liability immediately after a crash.

Our Chicago truck accident lawyers have the experience required to mobilize quickly, help preserve the evidence, and advocate for you from the start.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we know these companies. We know their insurers, their tactics, and their history of safety violations. We have successfully litigated against or investigated major trucking companies and secured settlements such as:

Truck Accident Settlements Against Large Carriers and Commercial Operators

• $18,500,000 — Monica was driving home through a busy Chicago corridor when a national semi-truck company’s driver crossed the center line and caused a head-on collision. The force of impact left her with multiple traumatic injuries that required emergency treatment and a long surgical recovery. We moved quickly to secure time-sensitive evidence and built the case around decisions made before the crash, not excuses made after it.
• $12,300,000 — Andre, a union plumber, was crushed while unloading materials at a large construction site after a flatbed truck operation went wrong. The case centered on preventable safety failures involving commercial loading practices, site coordination, and the truck operator’s duty to control the unloading environment. The value of Andre’s case turned on catastrophic orthopedic trauma, the need for ongoing medical care, and the impact on a skilled trade career that depended on physical ability. 
• $6,000,000 — Daniel’s family came to us after a fatal incident involving a truck driver who suffered deadly injuries connected to a fall from the sleeping compartment. The value here reflected the permanence of the harm, the preventability of the incident, and the evidence showing unsafe conditions were allowed to persist. We approached the case with the care it deserved and built it around documentation, industry practices, and the chain of responsibility that extended beyond one individual.
• $5,800,000 — Rosa and her daughter were struck by an 18-wheeler making an illegal turn near a high-traffic Chicago arterial. The collision caused serious injuries that required immediate hospital care and ongoing rehabilitation. Factors that increased the case value included the vulnerability of the occupants, clear proof of an illegal maneuver, and the lasting physical consequences that continued long after the crash scene was cleared. 
• $3,444,000 — Erica and her family were injured on a Chicago-area expressway when a truck-related merging event triggered a violent collision chain. This type of crash often turns into a blame-shift battle, especially when carriers argue the roadway “left no choice.” Our approach focused on traffic dynamics, timing, and what the truck driver could have done differently before the merge became dangerous. The value was driven by documented injuries across multiple family members, credible medical records, and the way the crash altered daily life through pain, missed work, and long-term treatment needs.
• $1,400,000 — Kevin was rear-ended in a serious truck crash that ultimately required L4-5 fusion surgery. The defense in these cases often tries to minimize the mechanism of injury or argue the crash “should not” cause spinal damage. We built the case around objective medical findings, surgical necessity, and the reality of long-term limitations after fusion. We supported the claim with medical documentation, timeline clarity, and a liability narrative grounded in preventable driving behavior.

Why the Carrier Identity Matters

Every trucking company operates under specific Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. However, many prioritize speed over safety. Identifying the carrier allows us to investigate their specific history, including:

• Recurring hours-of-service violations
• A history of hiring unqualified drivers
• Poor vehicle maintenance records
• Systemic failures to supervise fleet safety

When Is the Trucking Company Liable for an Accident?

Many victims assume they can only sue the driver who hit them. However, in commercial trucking cases, the trucking company itself is often financially responsible for the crash. Under Illinois law, you can generally sue a motor carrier under two primary legal theories:

1. Vicarious Liability (Respondeat Superior)

This is the most common path to recovery. If a truck driver was an employee acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the crash, the company is automatically liable for the driver’s negligence. This applies even if the company itself did not make a specific mistake. They are responsible because their employee caused harm while on the job.

2. Direct Negligence

We also file lawsuits alleging the company itself was negligent. This is often the path that allows us to pursue punitive damages. Common grounds for direct negligence include:

• Negligent Hiring: Employing drivers with a history of DUIs, license suspensions, or major safety violations
• Negligent Maintenance: Failing to inspect brakes, tires, or lights as required by the FMCSA
• Negligent Supervision: Failing to monitor driver logbooks or ignoring evidence that a driver is violating Hours-of-Service regulations to meet tight deadlines

In many investigations, we pursue both theories at once. The goal is to establish not only what the driver did wrong in the moments before impact, but also what the company did wrong in the weeks and months leading up to the crash.

If you have been involved in an accident with one of the companies listed just below, get in touch today to discuss your rights and recourse.

Trucking Companies We Investigate and Sue

• Hirschbach Motor Lines, Inc. – Refrigerated freight carrier that frequently moves loads through Chicago’s cold-chain routes, where tight delivery windows can lead to rushed decisions on I-55, I-90, and I-294.
• Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. – One of the largest trucking groups in the country, with constant exposure on Chicago-area expressways, where identifying the correct corporate entity is often the first liability battle.
• FedEx Freight – LTL carrier with frequent pickups and deliveries across Chicago and Cook County, where dock schedules and dense urban traffic collisions often intersect.
• FedEx – National delivery network operating throughout Chicago neighborhoods and industrial corridors, where contractor relationships and control issues can shape who is legally responsible.
• UPS – High-volume carrier moving daily through Chicago streets and expressways, including the Kennedy and Dan Ryan, where schedule pressure can collide with public safety.
• Old Dominion Freight – Major LTL carrier serving Chicago-area terminals and distribution routes, making dispatch decisions and maintenance documentation critical after a crash.
• Swift Transportation – National fleet with heavy Chicago traffic exposure on I-80, I-88, and I-294, where driver supervision and maintenance practices often become the center of litigation.
• Schneider National – Carrier with a strong intermodal footprint tied to the Chicago rail network, where container moves and equipment condition can determine liability.
• JB Hunt – Major intermodal carrier moving containers in and out of Chicago freight hubs, where chassis responsibility and contractor chains often matter as much as driver conduct.
• XPO – Freight and logistics operator running constant routes through Chicago’s industrial corridors, where dispatch communications and time pressure often influence crash causation.
• RL Carriers – LTL carrier with local Chicago delivery patterns, where vehicle inspections and terminal practices can become crucial when collisions occur in city traffic.
• Amazon – Logistics network that operates across Chicago through delivery partners and contractors, making corporate identity and control essential issues in serious crash lawsuits.
• AAA Cooper Transportation – Regional LTL carrier running Chicago-area routes where high stop frequency and equipment upkeep often become central to post-crash investigations.
• ABF Freight System – Major LTL carrier operating through Chicago freight lanes, where dispatch choices, dock procedures, and equipment condition can drive liability evidence.
• Cardinal Logistics – Dedicated contract carrier serving Chicago distribution networks, where customer deadlines and route expectations can create foreseeable safety failures.
• Covenant Logistics – Long-haul carrier moving freight through Chicago’s interstate ring, where hours-of-service compliance and supervision often become key liability issues.
• CR England – National fleet frequently seen on Chicago corridors like I-55 and I-90, where driver training and qualification records often become critical after major collisions.
• CRST – Carrier with multiple operating divisions moving through Chicago freight routes, where determining which entity controlled safety decisions can shape the lawsuit.
• Estes Express Lines – Major LTL carrier serving Chicago terminals and local deliveries, where inspection records and dock scheduling practices often matter after crashes.
• Prime, Inc. – Interstate carrier traveling heavily through Chicago’s trucking corridors, where maintenance, driver monitoring, and dispatch pressure can become central evidence.
• Stevens Transport – Refrigerated freight carrier operating in Chicago-area supply chains, where urgency and winter conditions can magnify brake and traction risks.
• US Xpress – Nationwide carrier with frequent Chicago expressway exposure, where logbook compliance and supervision decisions often define the case posture.
• Werner Enterprises – Major carrier running high volumes through Chicago’s interstate network, where safety compliance history and maintenance records often surface early.
• Western Express – Large carrier commonly traveling through Chicago freight corridors, where driver qualification and supervision can be decisive in litigation.
• YRC Freight – Legacy freight carrier serving Chicago-area commercial routes, where equipment condition and documentation gaps can become central proof of negligence.

Don’t See the Company Listed?

There are thousands of motor carriers operating in Illinois. Even if the company that hit you is not listed above, our process remains the same. We investigate the corporate entity behind the truck to ensure you receive maximum compensation. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Where Do Major Truck Accidents Occur?

Major interstate carriers like UPS, Schneider, and JB Hunt heavily rely on Chicago’s freight network to move goods across the Midwest. Consequently, high volumes of commercial traffic and severe collisions are concentrated on specific expressways.

Our team has deep experience investigating semi-truck crashes on the region’s most dangerous trucking corridors, including:

• The Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94)
• Interstate 55 (Stevenson Expressway)
• The Kennedy Expressway (I-90)
• The Eisenhower Expressway (I-290)
• The Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94)
• The Tri-State Tollway (I-294)
• The Stevenson Spur (I-355)
• The Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90)
• The Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88)
• The Kingery Expressway (I-80/I-94)

If you or a loved one has been injured by driver negligence or the profits-first mentality of one of these corporations, we are here to help.

Free Case Review: No Recovery, No Fee

Whether your accident involved a major national carrier on I-90 or a local delivery truck on a city street, the cost of justice should never be a barrier. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we handle all truck accident claims on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing up front, and we only get paid if we secure a settlement or verdict for you. Contact us to book a free consultation with a Chicago personal injury lawyer.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.