An Illinois Man Dies After Being Rear-Ended by a Trucker Who Police Say Was Going Too Fast

Each year, commercial trucks are involved in roughly a half-million crashes. Given the sheer size and mass of big rig trucks, it is no surprise that many of these accidents inflict very serious or fatal injuries upon those in the car, pickup or SUV involved. In fact, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that more than 4,100 people died in large truck crashes in 2018. If you’ve been hurt – or a loved one fatally injured – in an accident caused by a semi-truck driver, be sure you take prompt action in obtaining skilled legal representation from an experienced Chicago truck accident attorney to get the compensation you deserve.

Sadly, a downstate crash from late September became another one of those statistics. J.S., a 36-year-old man from Fairfield, was headed northbound on a rural stretch of U.S. 45 when his Oldsmobile car was rear-ended by a semi. The driver of the semi was unhurt, but the impact killed the driver of the Oldsmobile, according to a WSIL report.

The report also indicated that police cited the semi driver for “driving too fast for conditions.”

The presence of speeding truckers on the roadway is problematic, and, unfortunately, not uncommon. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has identified speeding as one of the top 10 factors in truck crashes. In fact, traveling too fast for conditions is #4 on that list.

In order for your truck accident case to be a fully successful one, you’ll need several things. One thing you’ll need is a proper accident investigation. Getting all the evidence that can help your case often involves accessing the truck’s black box data and reviewing the driver’s logbook. Was the truck driver running behind schedule to meet a deadline? Was the truck driver on the verge of exceeding (or perhaps had already exceeded) the federal regulations that limit how much time a trucker can drive without taking a break (which are known as the “hours of service” restrictions)? All of these things are areas that can bolster your claim of liability.

Additionally, your legal team can engage in investigation of the accident scene itself. Physical evidence at the scene may provide key proof about how the trucker was driving (and was legally negligent) in the moments leading up to the crash.

Getting not just the right judgment, but the right damages award

Of course, simply proving that the trucker (and, by extension, the trucking company) was negligent is only one of the goals you need to reach. Truck accidents – even low speed ones – may inflict catastrophic or fatal harm. If you’ve been severely hurt in a truck crash, you may have suffered damages that are life-changing and perhaps permanently disabling. You may now be facing a lifetime of extensive medical care, massive medical bills and no way to earn income. You’ll need a legal team that can identify the medical and vocational experts necessary to get you the damages award you deserve.

If you’re the loved one of a fatally injured person, then your losses are even greater. That fatal truck crash may have robbed your family of, not only a beloved family member, but also a primary or sole income earner. Again, having the detailed evidence and authoritative experts necessary is often key to getting the full amount you need.

Whatever the details of your truck accident case, and whatever proof you need to achieve a successful outcome, rely on the knowledgeable Chicago truck accident attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca to help you get there. Our experienced attorneys have successfully taken on the trucking companies and insurance companies on behalf of the families damaged by truck crashes for many years. To set up a free case evaluation, contact us at 312-724-5846 or through our website.