JEROME COUNTY, Idaho—A three-vehicle crash resulted in four people sustaining serious injuries after two Freightliner semi-trucks and a Nissan hatchback collided on I-84. The accident occurred on October 19, 2022, at 8:53 p.m. near mile marker 163.
Police reports suggest that a 32-year-old female was driving a 2012 Freightliner semi-truck westbound on I-84 when she veered off the roadway, went through the median, overturned the truck, and came to rest in the eastbound lanes. Another female, 57, was traveling eastbound on I-84 in a Nissan hatchback when she struck the first semi-truck, disabling the vehicle on the interstate. A man from Florida was also traveling eastbound in a 2023 Freightliner and hit the Nissan.
Both female drivers were airlifted to nearby hospitals for treatment of severe injuries. The male Freightliner driver and a child passenger were taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
The crash necessitated the closure of the eastbound lanes of I-84 for over five hours, resulting in a massive traffic jam.
The accident is actively being investigated to determine causation. No other details about the crash have been released.
Multiple parties may be required to compensate the injured for harm sustained in this crash
Since the first Freightliner overturned and blocked two lanes of traffic, it is relatively simple to see how the truck driver could be liable for this accident and the resulting injuries, as well as the employer. However, authorities often overlook other contributing factors after they have designated someone to take the blame, leaving injured victims with inadequate resources to fully recover for the harm suffered in the accident.
There may even be more responsible parties, especially if the first semi-truck lost control due to a mechanical failure or manufacturing defect. Manufacturers often produce defective vehicles. When truck manufacturers fail to prioritize safety in the building and design of their products, drivers injured due to those failures can hold the manufacturer responsible for their injuries, pain, and suffering. Thus, tires, brakes, and steering mechanisms must be thoroughly investigated to ensure drivers and their passengers are not foregoing needed compensation to fully cover the cost of their injuries.
Since three vehicles were involved in this crash, including two semi-trucks, it will be critically important to identify all parties responsible so the injured can receive total compensation for their harm. Trucking companies often do not carry sufficient insurance coverage to pay the medical costs of those injured in collisions with their trucks, let alone the damages for the pain and suffering of victims and their families. A manufacturer, on the other hand, has ready access to insurance and additional funds, which can be used to supplement the compensation for victims. Therefore, in multi-vehicle collisions like this, claims against multiple parties are often needed for the injured to receive fair compensation under the law.
