Who pays for medical bills after a truck accident?
Truck Accidents - June 10, 2025
In Illinois, determining who pays for medical bills after a truck accident can be complicated. The truck driver, the trucking company, other motorists, or other outside parties could be liable. Working with a qualified Gurnee truck accident lawyer from Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates can help you determine who is liable in a truck crash. They will also guide you through the truck accident insurance claims process to secure a fair settlement.
How does auto insurance work in Illinois?
All drivers must carry certain types of auto insurance under Illinois law to cover liability for bodily injury and property damage. The minimum amounts are $25,000 for injuries ($50,000 per accident for all victims) and $20,000 for property damage. Trucking companies and independent truck owner/operators must also carry insurance, often at much higher amounts, since these collisions cause significant injuries or death.
Trucking companies operating in Illinois are subject to insurance requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Trucking company liability typically starts at a minimum of $750,000 in coverage and can increase to $5 million if the trucks carry hazardous substances. Your truck accident attorney can seek a truck accident settlement for medical costs, lost income, and other out-of-pocket costs.
Who covers injuries in truck accidents in Illinois?
You’ll need strong evidence to show who caused the crash for your truck accident medical expenses. It’s not always just the truck driver or trucking company at fault, since other drivers may have swerved into the driver’s lane. A parts manufacturer may have sold defective components to the trucking company, or inspectors may have failed to find brake failures that led to your crash.
As described by the Illinois Department of Insurance, your attorney can hold multiple parties accountable for paying medical bills after a truck accident under the state’s comparative negligence statutes, if the evidence supports it. You could file claims against each party’s insurance coverage or consider filing personal injury lawsuits.
What insurance options do I have for truck accident injury compensation?
To seek compensation from insurance providers for truck crash medical coverage, your attorney will assess a number of potential avenues:
- Filing a claim against the truck driver’s or trucking company’s insurance policy
- Filing a claim on your personal automotive policy for collision or comprehensive coverage
- Suing for medical bills in a truck accident personal injury lawsuit
You may also turn to your personal health insurance after a truck accident to cover immediate and emergency treatment. Another option is using personal injury protection (PIP) in a truck accident if you purchased this coverage, which is not required in Illinois.
If you win a settlement from other companies, your personal insurer may work to recover its payments from those parties through the process of subrogation. Your lawyer will explain how this could affect your claim or settlement.
How does my truck accident attorney determine fault in a truck accident for my medical bills?
After a truck crash, medical coverage depends on showing who is at fault. Your lawyer can explain how fault is determined in a semi-truck accident, along with any Illinois trucking regulations that can impact your claim. By reviewing the crash scene and collecting other materials, your attorney will strive to show what happened and how the liable party hurt you.
Using photos, witness statements, videos, accident reconstruction reports, police records, medical reports, and other evidence, your lawyer will establish fault. If the trucking company was negligent, your attorney will request training, maintenance, inspection, and other records to demonstrate to the insurance company or a courtroom why they should be held financially accountable for your medical bills.
Contact us to make sure you get the compensation you deserve
At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, we understand the complexities of commercial truck accident liability and how to secure appropriate compensation for your medical bills and other losses after a crash. Schedule a free consultation today by calling (800) 985-1819 or through our contact form to speak with a dedicated Gurnee truck accident lawyer and learn more today.
