Two people were injured in a recent crash between a minivan and a semi-trailer in far northwest Woodstock, IL.
On March 28, 2017, at approximately 3:25 a.m., a 67-year-old Richmond woman was driving her 2005 Dodge Caravan on Hughes Road, approaching U.S.-14, when she disregarded a stop sign, proceeded into the intersection, and was struck by a 2009 Volvo semi-trailer.
Both drivers had to be extricated from their vehicles. A first responder suffered a back injury during the extrication process and was taken to Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center.
The Dodge’s driver was taken to McHenry’s Centegra Hospital, then transferred to Park Ridge’s Lutheran General Hospital, with what the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is calling “serious injuries.” The semi-trailer’s driver, a 65-year-old Arlington Heights man, was treated at Centegra Hospital.
Automobile accidents are sadly an everyday occurrence. There are more than two million crashes in the United States each year, with over 35,000 fatalities in 2015 alone. With small vehicles, many of these collisions are “fender benders,” with little visible damage and minor or no injuries. With large trucks, however, there are no such things as “fender benders”: even “small” collisions can cause big damages.
Truck collisions can be so devastating for a very simple reason: the size of the trucks themselves. Large trucks are 40 or more times heavier than the average vehicle on the road. Because of its sheer weight, when a large truck collides with a small vehicle, even at relatively low speeds, severe injuries can result. These may include broken bones, amputation of limbs, brain damage, paralysis, and even death.
Large truck collisions can be more complex than other collisions because of how many parties may be involved. In addition to the driver, there is usually a commercial transport company the driver works for. There may also be another company that hired the commercial transport company to ship its goods, and possibly even other companies still. It is, therefore, crucial to identify all the parties who are potentially at fault and pursue them within the time limited by law. The failure to identify and pursue the responsible parties in a timely fashion could forever bar you from obtaining the financial compensation you deserve. For all of these reasons, it is advisable to consult with an experienced trucking accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident to ensure you are fully advised of your rights under Illinois law.
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