Joshua Martens passed away in a head-on collision with semi-truck
ELKHART COUNTY, Indiana – Joshua Martens, 48, died after colliding with a semi-truck on U.S. Highway 20. The crash occurred around 5:00 p.m. near County Road 31, near Middlebury, Indiana.
According to police reports, Martens was driving on the road when he crossed left of center for unknown reasons and crashed into an oncoming semi-truck.
Martens was allegedly not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver did not sustain any injuries.
No further information about the crash was immediately available.
Thoughts on fatal truck accident on U.S. Highway 20
In accidents where a passenger car veers off-course and collides with a semi-truck, the driver of the car is often portrayed as being at fault. In some cases, however, the series of events leading to the tragic accident tell a different story. Although Martens could have been distracted before crossing the center line into oncoming traffic, there are other possible explanations that should not be overlooked by investigators.
For instance, Martens may have swerved into another lane to avoid an animal on the roadway. Or, he could have lost control of his car due to inclement weather conditions. In any circumstance, the truck driver’s actions in the moments before the crash must be investigated, too. Perhaps the semi-truck driver would have been capable of taking evasive action but did not because the driver was distracted. In that case, the semi-truck driver may share in the liability for the crash.
Additionally, commercial trucking companies are responsible for ensuring their truck drivers are properly trained on safety protocol. If the semi-truck involved in this accident was owned by a commercial company and the driver failed to act with the utmost regard for safety, Martens’ family might have a path of legal recourse against the truck driver, the trucking company, or both.
Of course, Martens’ family may need to hire skilled lawyers specializing in semi-truck accidents to get all answers needed to make an informed decision of whether to pursue legal action in this case. Although we cannot say, with certainty, that the semi-truck driver or a trucking company has any fault in Martens’ death, the victim’s grieving family should not be barred from seeking justice simply because this case seems so simple on its face.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Martens’ family and loved ones at this difficult time. Should any wrongdoing be uncovered here, our firm offers comprehensive legal strategies to explore all possible avenues of remedy for those involved in accidents with semi-trucks.
