UNION COUNTY, Illinois- An unidentified 36-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash on northbound I-57 near Anna.
According to initial reports, a tractor-trailer was disabled and partially stopped in the right lane of the highway. A passenger vehicle struck the trailer of the truck, killing the passenger on the impacted side of the vehicle.
No other injuries or fatalities were reported, and an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
No further information was immediately available.
Thoughts on fatal rear-end collisions involving parked semi-trucks
We want to send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the victim of this crash. We hope the investigation provides answers and the opportunity for relief in the wake of this tragedy. As we wait for additional information from authorities, we want to briefly outline some potential avenues for legal recourse that often result from accidents with similar facts.
It is important to recognize that the driver of the passenger vehicle is not immediately at fault for this death. While this is generally the immediate conclusion people draw, the law looks at these accidents differently. Specifically, if the truck was not parked on the side of the road, this accident would never have happened. Thus, it must be determined why the truck was parked on the shoulder of the road.
Tractor trailers often end up broken down on highway shoulders, and our investigations usually determine this is a result of the vehicle owner’s failure to perform routine maintenance. Most mechanical failures can be anticipated and prevented if routine maintenance is performed. Unfortunately, many truck owners postpone or forgo this maintenance to maximize revenue. When a truck fails to be serviced properly and breaks down on the side of the road, the truck’s owner may be responsible for the ultimate injuries caused by the truck’s presence on the roadway.
Alternatively, the truck may have been disabled for improper repairs. Repair companies are responsible for repairing semi-trucks correctly. Failing to perform repairs correctly will subject the repair company to liability. A review of past repairs must be conducted to determine if the truck was disabled due to a recent repair performed incorrectly.
Whatever the cause is determined to be, the victim’s family deserves a thorough and competent investigation that will yield results. Our firm is committed to conducting these investigations free of charge to get our clients the answers and relief they need and deserve. Our deepest sympathies go out to the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time.
