If an 80,000-pound grain truck loses control on I-72 outside Carrollton, your sedan doesn’t stand a chance. One moment you’re driving through Greene County’s rolling farmland. The next, your family’s fighting for survival on the side of a rural Illinois highway.
We’ve seen what happens when agricultural trucking companies cut corners on maintenance and training. We’ve sat with families in Greene County living rooms as they face futures they never planned for. And we’ve spent 25 years making sure those trucking companies pay for the devastation they cause.
At Attorney911, we’re not just Illinois attorneys—we’re advocates for Greene County accident victims who refuse to be pushed around by corporate trucking interests. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has spent over two decades battling commercial carriers in federal court, including litigation against Fortune 500 giants like BP in the Texas City refinery explosion that killed 15 workers and injured 170 more. When a truck driver falls asleep at the wheel on Route 67 or a loaded semi blows a tire on the approach to White Hall, we know exactly how to hold every responsible party accountable.
Your life changed in an instant. The trucking company already called their lawyers. What are you doing?
Why Greene County Truck Accidents Demand Specialized Legal Fighters
Greene County isn’t Chicago. When a collision happens on IL-111 near Roodhouse or US-67 through Carrollton, you won’t find a team of investigators automatically dispatched from a downtown skyscraper. The rural highways serving our agricultural communities—the same routes carrying soybeans, corn, and livestock to market—create unique dangers that city-based law firms simply don’t understand.
We’ve handled trucking cases throughout west-central Illinois, from the tight curves near Lake Carroll to the long straight stretches where driver fatigue becomes deadly. We know that when harvest season hits Greene County, the number of grain trucks, combines, and livestock haulers increases exponentially. That seasonal traffic surge brings inexperienced drivers and overloaded trailers onto roads designed for lighter traffic.
Ralph Manginello founded Attorney911 in 1998 with a simple mission: treat every client like family while fighting corporate defendants with the ferocity they deserve. In 2025, we filed a $10 million hazing lawsuit against the University of Houston and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity after a student suffered rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure—demonstrating that we don’t back down from powerful institutions. We’ve recovered over $50 million for families across Texas and Illinois, including multi-million dollar settlements for traumatic brain injuries ($1.5 million to $9.8 million range), amputations ($1.9 million to $8.6 million), and wrongful death claims ($1.9 million to $9.5 million).
Our firm includes Lupe Peña, an associate attorney who spent years working for insurance companies before joining our team. That’s your advantage. Lupe knows exactly how commercial trucking insurers evaluate claims, train adjusters to minimize payouts, and use algorithms to lowball victims. Now he uses that insider knowledge to fight for you. When the trucking company’s adjuster calls your Greene County home, you’ll have someone who literally wrote their playbook on your side.
The Clock Started the Moment That Truck Hit You
Evidence in Greene County trucking accidents disappears faster than you might think. That semi’s electronic control module (ECM)—the “black box” recording speed, braking, and throttle data—can overwrite critical information within 30 days. Dashcam footage gets deleted. Drivers “misplace” their logbooks. Maintenance records suddenly become “unavailable.”
We send spoliation letters within 24 hours of being retained. These legal notices put trucking companies on notice that destroying evidence will result in serious sanctions. We demand preservation of:
- ECM/ELD data showing hours of service violations
- Driver qualification files revealing negligent hiring
- Maintenance records exposing brake or tire failures
- GPS tracking data proving route deviations
- Cell phone records documenting distracted driving
Don’t wait for the trucking company to build their defense. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.
Understanding Illinois Trucking Laws: What Greene County Victims Must Know
Illinois law provides important protections for trucking accident victims, but strict deadlines apply. You have just two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Greene County Circuit Court. For wrongful death claims, the clock starts ticking at the moment of death—meaning families often have less time than they realize.
Comparative Fault in Illinois:
Our state follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule with a 51% bar. This means you can recover damages as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for the accident. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re found 20% responsible, your $100,000 settlement becomes $80,000. Cross that 51% threshold, and you recover nothing. Insurance companies love to inflate victim fault percentages to save money—we fight back with ECM data, reconstruction experts, and witness testimony.
Unlike some states, Illinois places no caps on compensatory or punitive damages in trucking cases. This is crucial for Greene County families facing catastrophic injuries. There’s no arbitrary limit on what a jury can award for your pain and suffering, and when trucking companies act with gross negligence—like knowingly keeping a driver with multiple safety violations on the road—punitive damages can add millions to your recovery.
Federal Regulations That Protect You
Every 18-wheeler operating on Greene County highways must comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR). These aren’t suggestions—they’re federal law, and violations prove negligence.
Hours of Service (49 CFR Part 395):
Truck drivers cannot drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. They cannot drive beyond their 14th consecutive hour on duty. Yet we regularly see drivers violating these rules during harvest season rush periods, often pressured by dispatchers to meet impossible delivery windows.
Driver Qualification (49 CFR Part 391):
Carriers must verify drivers hold valid commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), pass medical examinations, and maintain clean driving records. When a trucking company hires a driver with a history of DUIs or FMCSA violations, that’s negligent hiring, and it makes them liable for your injuries.
Vehicle Maintenance (49 CFR Part 396):
Trucking companies must systematically inspect and maintain their fleets. This includes annual inspections, pre-trip driver inspections, and immediate repair of defects. Brake failures cause 29% of truck accidents—we subpoena maintenance records to prove when carriers deferred critical repairs to save money.
Cargo Securement (49 CFR Part 393):
Agricultural loads must be properly secured to prevent shifting during transport. When a grain trailer overturns on I-72 because of improper loading, the cargo loader and trucking company share liability for the carnage.
The 13 Types of Truck Accidents We See in Greene County
Trucking accidents vary by geography, and Greene County’s mix of interstate highways, rural routes, and agricultural traffic creates specific dangers. Here are the accident types we encounter, with emphasis on those most relevant to our region:
Jackknife Accidents on I-72 and I-70
When a truck’s cab and trailer fold toward each other like a pocket knife, the trailer often sweeps across multiple lanes, crushing anything in its path. In Greene County, these frequently occur during winter weather on the interstate approaches or when an inexperienced driver slams the brakes on a curve near the Jacksonville corridor.
Why they happen: Sudden braking, speed mismatched to conditions (violating 49 CFR § 392.6), empty or light trailers that lack traction, or brake system failures (49 CFR § 393.48).
The evidence we gather: ECM data showing brake application timing, skid mark analysis proving trailer angle, and maintenance records revealing deferred brake adjustments.
Rollover Accidents in Agricultural Zones
Greene County’s flat farmland might seem safe, but rollovers happen here when top-heavy grain trucks take curves too fast or when liquid loads “slosh” and shift the center of gravity. We’ve handled cases where overloaded fertilizer trucks rolled on rural routes, spilling hazardous materials.
Why they happen: Excessive speed on curves, improper cargo distribution (violating 49 CFR § 393.100-136), driver fatigue causing overcorrection, or failure to account for high center of gravity.
The injuries: Crushing trauma, traumatic brain injuries, and chemical exposure burns.
Underride Collisions (The Deadliest)
When a passenger vehicle strikes a semi-trailer and slides underneath, the roof gets sheared off at windshield level. Side underride accidents are particularly common on US-67 when trucks make wide right turns into fields or distribution centers without proper underride guards.
Why they happen: Inadequate rear impact guards (violating 49 CFR § 393.86), failure to signal turns, or stopping suddenly in traffic without reflective warning devices.
The reality: These accidents are almost always fatal. We pursue wrongful death claims against carriers who failed to install proper guards and manufacturers who designed defective trailer systems.
Rear-End Collisions on Rural Routes
An 80,000-pound truck traveling at 55 mph needs nearly 525 feet to stop—about two football fields. When a distracted or fatigued driver crests a hill on Route 108 and finds slow-moving farm equipment ahead, catastrophe follows.
Why they happen: Following too closely (49 CFR § 392.11), distracted driving (49 CFR § 392.82 prohibits hand-held phone use), or fatigue from Hours of Service violations (49 CFR § 395).
Our advantage: Lupe Peña knows how insurance companies try to blame victims for “stopping short.” We use ECM data to prove the truck driver had ample time to react but failed to brake.
Wide Turn Accidents (“Squeeze Play”)
Greene County’s narrow rural intersections and small-town main streets force trucks to swing wide before completing right turns. Passenger vehicles often get caught in the “squeeze play” between the truck and the curb.
Why they happen: Failure to signal (violating 49 CFR § 392.2), inadequate mirror checks, or driver inexperience with trailer tracking.
Tire Blowouts and “Road Gators”
Agricultural haulers often run tires beyond safe tread depths to save money. When a steer tire blows at highway speed, the driver loses control instantly. The resulting “road gator” (tread debris) creates secondary hazards for following vehicles.
Regulatory violations: 49 CFR § 393.75 requires minimum tread depths (4/32″ on steer tires, 2/32″ on others). Pre-trip inspections must include tire checks (49 CFR § 396.13).
Brake Failure Accidents
Poor maintenance budgets kill. When a truck descends the elevation changes near the Mississippi River bluffs with overheated or poorly adjusted brakes, the result is often a runaway truck crash into a Greene County intersection.
The smoking gun: Maintenance records showing deferred brake adjustments or violations of 49 CFR § 393.40-55 regarding brake system requirements.
Cargo Spills and Hazmat Incidents
Grain spills might seem minor, but they cause pileups when cars skid on loose corn. Chemical tanker rollovers can evacuate entire sections of Carrollton. These cases involve not just the driver, but the loading company, cargo owner, and sometimes chemical manufacturers.
Head-On Collisions
Drowsy driving causes lane departures on two-lane roads like IL-111. When a truck drifts across the centerline near Winchester, the closing speed often exceeds 120 mph combined velocity.
T-Bone Accidents at Rural Intersections
Limited sight distances at unmarked intersections and failure to yield by fatigued drivers create deadly broadside impacts. These often occur at dusk during harvest season when visibility is poor.
Blind Spot (“No-Zone”) Accidents
Trucks have massive blind spots on all four sides. When a trucker changes lanes on I-72 without checking mirrors (violating 49 CFR § 393.80 requiring proper mirrors), passenger vehicles get sideswiped or forced off the road.
Distracted Driving Accidents
Texting while driving a semi is illegal under 49 CFR § 392.82, yet we see it constantly. We subpoena cell records to prove the driver was distracted when they should have been watching the road.
Overload and Weight Violations
During harvest, trucks often exceed Illinois weight limits to make “one more load.” Overweight trucks cannot stop effectively and stress braking systems beyond capacity, leading to catastrophic failures.
Every Liable Party We Hold Accountable
Unlike car accidents where usually only one driver is at fault, trucking accidents involve multiple defendants—all with separate insurance policies. We investigate every potential source of recovery because your damages likely exceed any single policy.
The Truck Driver
Direct negligence includes speeding, distracted driving, impairment, or Hours of Service violations. We examine their driving record, prior accidents, and training history. If the driver holds a CDL from another state with less stringent requirements, that can create additional liability under 49 CFR Part 391.
The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier)
Under Illinois law and the doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are responsible for their employees’ negligent acts. But we also pursue direct negligence claims for:
- Negligent hiring: Did they verify the driver had a valid CDL and clean medical certification?
- Negligent training: Did they teach the driver how to handle agricultural loads on rural roads?
- Negligent supervision: Did they monitor ELD data showing repeated HOS violations?
- Negligent maintenance: Did they defer brake repairs to save money?
We obtain the company’s FMCSA SAFER scores, inspection history, and previous violation patterns.
The Cargo Owner and Loading Company
When a grain elevator loads a truck beyond capacity or fails to secure liquid fertilizer properly, they share liability. We examine bills of lading, loading manifests, and contracts between shippers and carriers.
Maintenance Companies
Third-party mechanics who serviced the truck in Jerseyville or Jacksonville may have improperly adjusted brakes or ignored critical defects. We review work orders and mechanic certifications.
Truck and Parts Manufacturers
Defective tires, faulty brake systems, or inadequate underride guards can trigger product liability claims against manufacturers. We check for recall notices and similar defect patterns.
Freight Brokers
Brokers who arrange transportation but fail to verify carrier safety records can be liable for negligent selection. If a broker chose the cheapest, least-safe carrier to haul cargo through Greene County, they share responsibility.
Government Entities
When poor road design, inadequate signage, or lack of guardrails contribute to accidents on state highways, we pursue claims against appropriate agencies—though sovereign immunity requires careful navigation of notice requirements.
When Catastrophic Injuries Change Everything
The physics of an 80,000-pound truck versus a 4,000-pound car mean catastrophic injuries are the rule, not the exception. We’ve helped Greene County families navigate:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Concussions, contusions, and diffuse axonal injuries from head trauma can permanently alter personality and cognitive function. Our $1.5 million to $9.8 million settlements for TBI victims reflect lifetime care needs, lost earning capacity, and profound changes to quality of life.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Paraplegia and quadriplegia require wheelchairs, home modifications, and 24/7 attendant care. These cases often settle in the $4.7 million to $25.8 million range to cover lifetime medical expenses and lost income.
Amputations
When crush injuries require limb removal, victims face phantom pain, prosthetics costs ($5,000-$50,000 per device), and permanent disability. We’ve secured $1.9 million to $8.6 million for amputation survivors.
Severe Burns
Tanker explosions or fuel fires cause disfigurement requiring multiple skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries.
Wrongful Death
When trucking accidents take loved ones from Greene County families, we pursue claims for lost income, loss of consortium, funeral expenses, and mental anguish. Recent wrongful death settlements in similar cases have ranged from $1.9 million to $9.5 million, with juries sometimes awarding much more when companies act with gross negligence.
The 48-Hour Evidence Preservation Protocol
If you’re reading this immediately after an accident in Greene County, time is critical. The trucking company already dispatched a rapid-response team to the scene. Their lawyers are already working to minimize your claim. Here’s what happens to evidence if you don’t act:
- ECM/Black Box Data: Overwrites in 30 days or less
- ELD Logs: Only required to be kept for 6 months, but often “lost” sooner
- Dashcam Footage: Deleted within days
- Driver Qualification Files: “Misplaced” if they show negligent hiring
- Maintenance Records: Suddenly “unavailable” when they prove deferred repairs
We don’t wait. Within 24 hours of being retained, we send preservation letters to:
- The trucking company and driver
- Their insurance carrier
- Maintenance facilities
- Cargo owners and loaders
- Any entity with potential liability
These letters create legal consequences for destroying evidence, including court sanctions and adverse inference instructions (where the jury is told to assume destroyed evidence would have hurt the defense).
Client Success Stories: Real Results for Real People
We don’t just talk about fighting—we deliver results. Our client testimonials speak to the difference we make:
Donald Wilcox had another firm reject his case before finding us. “One company said they would not accept my case. Then I got a call from Manginello… I got a call to come pick up this handsome check.”
Chad Harris experienced our family-first approach: “You are NOT a pest to them and you are NOT just some client… You are FAMILY to them.”
Glenda Walker appreciated our tenacity: “They fought for me to get every dime I deserved.”
Ernest Cano summed up our litigation style: “Mr. Manginello and his firm are first class. Will fight tooth and nail for you.”
These aren’t just words—they’re promises we keep for every Greene County client. When Kiimarii Yup lost everything in an accident, we didn’t just win the case; we helped him gain “so much in return plus a brand new truck” within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions for Greene County Trucking Accident Victims
Do I really need a lawyer, or can I handle the insurance company myself?
You absolutely need a lawyer. The trucking company has attorneys, adjusters trained to minimize your claim, and millions in insurance backing them. As client Angel Walle discovered, we “solved in a couple of months what others did nothing about in two years.” Insurance companies offer unrepresented victims pennies on the dollar.
How much does it cost to hire Attorney911?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency—standard 33.33% if settled pre-trial, 40% if we go to trial. You pay nothing unless we win. We advance all investigation costs, expert fees, and court expenses. If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Under Illinois law, you can recover as long as you are 50% or less at fault. Don’t let the trucking company intimidate you into accepting blame. We use ECM data and reconstruction experts to prove exactly what happened.
How long will my case take?
Simple cases with clear liability might resolve in 6-12 months. Complex trucking litigation involving multiple defendants and catastrophic injuries can take 18-36 months. We move as fast as possible while maximizing your recovery—rushing means leaving money on the table.
Will my case go to trial?
Most cases settle, but we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. Insurance companies know which lawyers are afraid of the courtroom—and they lowball those attorneys. Ralph Manginello’s 25 years of federal court experience and admission to the Southern District of Texas means we can and will try your case if the offer is unfair.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor, not an employee?
We investigate the relationship. Often, “independent contractors” are actually employees under federal law, making the trucking company liable. Even if truly independent, the carrier may be liable for negligent selection or the owner-operator’s insurance applies.
Can I get treatment if I don’t have health insurance?
Yes. We work with medical providers who treat on liens—meaning they get paid from your settlement. Don’t let lack of insurance stop you from getting the care you need.
Hablamos Español—¿Puedo recibir ayuda en español?
Absolutely. Associate attorney Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish and provides direct representation without interpreters. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911 para una consulta gratuita.
Your Next Steps: Protection Starts with a Phone Call
If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident anywhere in Greene County—whether on I-72 near Carrollton, US-67 through Roodhouse, or a rural route near White Hall—your choices in the next 48 hours will determine the value of your case.
The trucking company is already building their defense. They’re photographing the scene, interviewing witnesses, and coaching their driver. Their insurance adjuster will call you within days with a lowball offer, hoping you’ll sign away your rights before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Here’s what you do right now:
- Get medical treatment—even if you feel “okay.” Adrenaline masks serious injuries.
- Document everything—photos of vehicles, scene, injuries.
- Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company.
- Call Attorney911 at 1-888-ATTY-911—available 24/7 for Greene County emergencies.
When you call, you’ll speak with a team that includes a former insurance defense attorney who knows exactly how the trucking company will try to minimize your claim. You’ll get Ralph Manginello’s 25 years of experience fighting for injury victims. You’ll get a firm that treats you like family, not a file number.
As client Jacqueline Johnson said: “One of Houston’s Great Men Trae Tha Truth has recommended this law firm. So if he is vouching for them then I know they do good work.”
We’re ready to fight for you. Are you ready to fight for your family’s future?
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911) today for a free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win. Se habla español.
Attorney911 / The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC
Serving Greene County, Illinois, and communities throughout the state
Offices in Houston, Austin, and Beaumont, Texas
Licensed in Texas and New York
Ralph Manginello, Managing Partner (Bar #24007597)
Lupe Peña, Associate Attorney (Bar #24084332)
