A semi-trailer accident in a construction zone has left three people dead in Effingham County, IL.
Driver Failed to Reduce Speed
The fatal Illinois semi-trailer accident took place on eastbound Interstate 70 in Effingham County around 11:00 a.m. on July 19, 2019. According to the Illinois State Police, a 59-year-old semi-trailer driver was heading eastbound on the highway in a construction zone where traffic had come to a stop. The driver failed to reduce his speed in time and struck the rear of a black GMC Yukon SUV, causing it to crash into a Utility semi-trailer being towed by a tractor-trailer ahead of it.
The driver of the SUV and two of her passengers were killed in the crash. The semi-trailer driver was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.
The Challenge of Semi-Trailer Accident Claims
Pursuing personal injury claims related to semi-trailer accidents can be especially challenging. In most cases, semi-trailers are commercial vehicles, used to transport goods for business purposes. In these circumstances, a crash involving a commercial vehicle may be more complex than other motor vehicle accidents because of the number of parties that may be involved.
In addition to the semi-trailer driver and the driver’s employer, very often another company may have hired the commercial transport company to ship its products. Other companies may be involved as well. It is essential that an injured party identify and pursue all the parties who may be at fault because failure to do so within the time limited by law could forever prevent a victim from obtaining the financial compensation he or she deserves.
Aside from the difficulties inherent in identifying the responsible parties, a semi-trailer accident can be especially devastating because of the size of the semi-trailers themselves. Large semi-trailers are forty or more times heavier than the average vehicle on the road. Because of its weight, when a large semi-trailer crashes into a small vehicle, even at relatively low speeds, severe injuries can occur, including broken bones, amputation of limbs, brain trauma, paralysis, and even death.
Let Our Illinois Semi-Trailer Accident Lawyers Help You
Additionally, the insurance companies representing the parties involved in a semi-trailer accident have a financial incentive to fight a victim at every turn. They may try to downplay or even deny liability to reduce the amount of compensation that the plaintiff may receive. It is crucial that the injured party has somebody to fight back, such as the Illinois semi-trailer accident attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers.
With over $2 billion recovered for our clients and more than four decades in the business, GWC is one of the leading Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois. GWC has the experience, the resources, the determination, and the proven record of success you need to help you obtain the justice you deserve.
If you have been injured in a semi-trailer accident, contact GWC today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys. Call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
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