A rush hour semi-truck wreck on an Illinois interstate has left a tractor-trailer driver dead. According Illinois State Police Sergeant Scott Angus, the truck driver was headed west on Interstate 80 near Minooka when he unexpectedly crossed the median, rolled, and came to rest in the eastbound lanes of the roadway. Following the traffic wreck, the 35-year-old truck driver was taken by medical helicopter to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois where he was pronounced dead.
The cause of the fatal wreck is currently under investigation by local authorities. At this time, it is unclear what caused the semi driver to lose control of his vehicle. Angus said the tractor-trailer struck another semi, but damage to the other vehicle was minimal. In addition, a number of truck pieces apparently struck other vehicles on the freeway and the cooking oil the big rig was carrying at the time of the accident spilled on the eastbound roadway. Traffic in both directions of the interstate was reportedly shut down for several hours while police cleaned up the accident scene.
Thankfully, no one else was injured by the semi-truck driver in this situation. Regrettably, that is not always the case. Deadly accidents are commonly caused by inattentive big rig drivers in New Mexico and across the nation. According to data from the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the costs associated with tractor-trailer and other commercial vehicle collisions nationwide exceeded $89 billion in 2011.
In 2010, nearly 3,700 individuals died and approximately 80,000 were injured in a traffic wreck that involved a semi. Only about one-fourth of those hurt and 14 percent of those killed were riding in an 18-wheeler despite that almost 35 percent of tractor-trailer accidents in 2010 were caused by a truck driver. The FMCSA found that the top five big rig crash causes are: failure to yield, speed, obscured vision, failure to maintain the proper lane, and distraction or inattention.
Due to the severity of most 18-wheeler accidents, the victim in a crash that was caused by a tractor-trailer driver may be entitled to receive financial compensation for lost wages and benefits, any disability that resulted from the collision, medical expenses, suffering, and pain. Additionally, certain family members of someone who died in a wreck with a careless or inattentive semi driver may also be eligible to recover for the costs associated with their loved one’s funeral expenses. If you were injured by a negligent big rig driver, you are advised to consult with a quality attorney as soon as you are able.
Contact the Fine Law Firm if you were hurt or someone close to you was killed in a semi-truck crash anywhere in New Mexico. Our hardworking Albuquerque truck accident lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience helping semi crash victims across the State of New Mexico recover the damages they deserve based upon the severity of their injuries. To schedule a free, confidential case evaluation with a knowledgeable advocate, please call the Fine Law Firm at (505) 889-3463 or contact us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Deadly Semi-Truck Accidents Can Occur at Any Time in New Mexico and Nationwide, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, August 28, 2013
CDC Study Finds Truck and Other Commercial Drivers Over Age 65 in New Mexico and Elsewhere More Likely to be Involved in a Deadly Wreck, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, August 28, 2013
Additional Resources:
Semi driver dies after leaving roadway, by Kris Stadalsky, Morris Daily Herald
Update: Yorkville Truck Driver Dies in I-80 Crash, by Shannon Antinori, Plainfield Patch