MONROE, New York—Two semi-trucks collided in a head-on wreck on Route 17 in Monroe, New York, on September 15, 2022.
According to news reports, an 18-wheeler was traveling eastbound when it collided with a flatbed tow truck. The tow truck is thought to have been going the wrong way at the time of the accident.
The crash resulted in the closure of Route 17 for nearly five hours, and police have not been able to confirm or deny injuries resulting from the crash.
There is still an active investigation into the cause of the accident. No further details have been reported.
A head-on accident on a highway with traffic separated by a median likely involves negligence
From the initial reports describing this accident, it appears that the circumstances surrounding the crash are relatively rare. It is not that often that a semi-truck travels the wrong way down a busy highway separated by a median. Due to the unusualness of the accident, investigators will have to thoroughly analyze the details of the crash before determining its exact cause. However, it is likely that the driver of the flatbed will share in some, if not all, of the liability for damages and injuries.
Somehow, the driver of the flatbed tow truck was able to travel the wrong way on a typically busy highway for some time without being stopped or pulling to the side of the road. It is incredibly unfortunate that the tow truck had to be stopped by a collision rather than simply correcting its course before a wreck ensued.
After investigators determine how the tow truck made its way onto the wrong highway, authorities and legal experts will likely have to figure out why the driver failed to avoid crashing head-on into another unsuspecting semi-truck driver. Should investigators discover that the tow truck driver was impaired, distracted, or confused, then anyone injured in this accident could have a direct claim against the tow truck driver for damages caused by negligence.
Further, the towing company that employed the tow truck driver could likely be sued for negligence in hiring a driver clearly incapable of following basic traffic laws. Depending on the situation, companies can be held responsible for poor hiring practices, a lack of regular training for employees, and for the actions of their employees when performing job-related functions. It is likely that anyone affected by this accident will be able to successfully sue both the tow truck driver and the towing company for the potentially fatal crash on Route 17.
Attorneys at our firm have counseled hundreds of victims of semi-truck accidents and are experienced in bringing claims against drivers and employers for their negligent actions. We are available to help those impacted by these types of accidents nationwide.
